Patent ID: 8603254

Claim:
A method for the in situ clearing of blockages in artificial tubes completely or partially disposed within a living being, said method comprising: coupling a first end of a releasably-securable flexible clearing member to a controller and wherein said controller remains outside of the living being; inserting a second working end of said flexible clearing member into an opening in the artificial tube; energizing said controller such that said flexible clearing member experiences repetitive motion and positioning said flexible clearing member such that said second working end of said flexible clearing member comes into repetitive contact with the blockage for clearing the blockage therein; wherein said flexible clearing member clears the blockage when positioned within a straight portion or within a curved portion of the artificial tube; wherein said repetitive motion comprises reciprocating motion that occurs along a longitudinal axis of the artificial tube; wherein said step of inserting a second working end of said flexible clearing member into an opening in the artificial tube comprises inserting a second working end that includes a wire that is movable within a stationary sheath and wherein a first wire end is coupled to a controller actuator that generates said reciprocating motion; and wherein said step of coupling a first end of a releasably-securable flexible clearing member to a controller comprises magnetically-coupling said flexible clearing member to an actuator shaft through a flexible diaphragm that seals a portion of said controller.