Body-space drainage-tube debris removal

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a debris removal system is provided for a body-space drainage system having one or more body tubes with a body tube lumen disposed therein. The debris-removal system comprises an elongated cleaning member and a cleaning head adapted to be advanced distally at least a portion of a length of the body tube lumen to dislodge debris therein. A collapsible sheath can be used to maintain a sterile field in the body tube lumen while the cleaning member is being used by enclosing at least a portion of the cleaning member that is not contained within the body tube lumen, and permitting external digital manipulation of the cleaning member through the sheath to advance and/or retract the cleaning member, and cleaning head, in the body tube lumen.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A debris-removal system comprising:
 a. a body tube having a first body tube lumen;   b. a cleaning member extending distally from a proximal opening of the body tube and adapted for manipulation within the body tube lumen;   c. the cleaning member comprising a flexible filament adapted to traverse a curvature of the body tube lumen when advanced through the body tube lumen by manipulation from a proximal end of the cleaning member.   
     
     
         2 . The debris-removal system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible filament is selected from the group consisting of semi-rigid wire, plastic rod, and tubing. 
     
     
         3 . The debris-removal system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cleaning head disposed at or adjacent a distal end of the flexible filament. 
     
     
         4 . The debris-removal system of  claim 3 , the cleaning head being configured such that it permits free flow of material past the cleaning head through said lumen regardless whether the cleaning head is at rest within the lumen or is being actuated therein to dislodge debris. 
     
     
         5 . The debris-removal system of  claim 1 , the cleaning member being configured such that a distal end of the flexible filament cannot exit a distal end of the body tube upon actuation of the cleaning member. 
     
     
         6 . The debris-removal system of  claim 1 , further comprising an irrigation port adapted to expel a fluid within the body tube lumen effective to assist in dislodgment and/or break-up of debris therein. 
     
     
         7 . The debris-removal system of  claim 6 , the fluid being expelled under pressure in the form of a fluid jet adapted to mechanically dislodge and/or break up said debris. 
     
     
         8 . The debris-removal system of  claim 1 , further comprising a collapsible sheath in communication with the body tube lumen and adapted to contain at least a portion of the cleaning member that is not contained within the body tube lumen. 
     
     
         9 . The debris-removal system of  claim 8 , the collapsible sheath comprising a rotatable coupling to couple the proximal end of the cleaning member to a manipulation device. 
     
     
         10 . The debris-removal system of  claim 1 , the flexible filament further comprising a flexible filament lumen defining a suction path for collection and removal of debris. 
     
     
         11 . The debris-removal system of  claim 1 , the first body tube lumen branching into a plurality of second body tube lumens. 
     
     
         12 . The debris-removal system of  claim 3 , wherein actuation of the cleaning member causes a corresponding actuation of the cleaning head to dislodge debris within the body tube lumen without compromising a sterile field within the body tube. 
     
     
         13 . The debris-removal system of  claim 1 , the body tube lumen being under a vacuum drawn from a proximal end of the body tube during actuation of the cleaning member. 
     
     
         14 . The debris-removal system of  claim 1 , further comprising a manipulation device coupled to the cleaning member. 
     
     
         15 . The debris-removal system of  claim 14 , the manipulation device being effective impart vibratory motion to the cleaning member.