Medical irrigation device and method

Abstract

An apparatus for supporting an extremity during tissue debridement and capturing fluid and tissue resulting from tissue debridement includes an extremity-supporting base. The apparatus may further include a barrier shroud. The apparatus can be used in tissue irrigation and debridement procedures to contain and control drainage of fluid and tissue. The apparatus supports a patient extremity, such as an arm or a leg. The base has a length, proximal end (i.e., nearest the patient's body), and distal end (i.e., farthest from the patient's body). The shroud can have a top portion, bottom portion, and shroud drainage opening. A method includes debriding tissue from a patient extremity supported by the base and at least partially enclosed within the barrier shroud, which acts as a shield for fluid and tissue emanating from the extremity. Fluid and tissue exit the shroud through a shroud drainage opening.

1 . An apparatus for supporting an extremity and capturing fluid and tissue resulting from tissue irrigation and debridement, comprising:
 an extremity-supporting base configured to support an extremity of a patient during tissue irrigation and debridement, the extremity-supporting base having:
 a proximal end positioned nearest a patient's body during use; 
 a distal end opposite the proximal end; 
 a bottom surface; 
 a support surface; and 
 a total of two opposing sidewalls extending above the support surface and longitudinally along sides of the support surface; 
   the support surface and the two opposing sidewalls forming a trough of fixed length longitudinally extending from a first point near the proximal end of the extremity-supporting base to a second point near the distal end of the extremity-supporting base and being adapted for placement and support of an extremity thereon,   the extremity-supporting base having a height that decreases from the first point to the second point so that the trough slopes downwardly between the first point and the second point,   the extremity-supporting base being open at the proximal end and open at the distal end to enable fluid to move distally along the trough toward and beyond a distal end of the trough.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the downwardly sloped trough providing a continuous support surface of fixed length that is downwardly angled at a constant angle of decline along an entirety of the trough to facilitate movement of fluid and tissue toward the distal end of the trough during tissue irrigation and debridement. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the two opposing sidewalls are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the extremity-supporting base further including a sloped proximal surface that slopes downwardly from the first point toward the proximal end. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , the extremity-supporting base further including a curved cut-out portion between the proximal end of the base and the sloped proximal surface. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a barrier shroud adapted to at least partially cover an extremity on the support surface of the extremity-supporting base. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the barrier shroud is adapted to fully enclose the extremity-supporting base including the bottom surface. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , the barrier shroud including a drainage opening positioned to receive fluid passing distally beyond the distal end of the trough. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , the barrier shroud including a wall or dam distal of the drainage opening and a drainage tube in fluid communication with the drainage opening. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , the barrier shroud comprising a flexible sheet material. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the extremity-supporting base comprising an open-cell foam material. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , the extremity-supporting base further comprising a flexible fluid-impermeable coating on said open-cell foam material. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for supporting an extremity and capturing fluid and tissue resulting from tissue irrigation and debridement, comprising:
 an extremity-supporting base configured to support an extremity of a patient during tissue irrigation and debridement, the extremity-supporting base having:
 a proximal end positioned nearest a patient's body during use; and 
 a distal end opposite the proximal end, 
   the extremity-supporting base forming a trough of fixed length extending from a high point near the proximal end to a low point near the distal end and configured to provide a support surface for an extremity,   the trough sloping downwardly from the high point to the low point at a constant angle of decline.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the extremity-supporting base comprises an open-cell foam material. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a barrier shroud that at least partially covers an extremity on the support surface of the extremity-supporting base. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , the barrier shroud further comprising a drainage hole through which fluid and tissue can drain during tissue irrigation and debridement. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for supporting an extremity during tissue debridement and capturing fluid and tissue resulting from tissue debridement, comprising:
 an extremity-supporting base configured and adapted to support an extremity of a patient during tissue debridement, the extremity-supporting base having:
 a proximal end positioned nearest a patient's body during use, 
 a distal end opposite the proximal end, 
 a bottom surface, and 
 a trough forming a support surface of fixed length; 
   a barrier shroud positionable and adapted to fully enclose the extremity-supporting base, including the entire bottom surface, and adapted to at least partially enclose an extremity supported by the support surface of the extremity-supporting base; and   a drainage passageway at or near a distal end of the barrier shroud that provides drainage of fluid and tissue during tissue irrigation and debridement.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , the extremity-supporting base comprising an open-cell foam material. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the distal end of the extremity-supporting base is open to enable fluid to move distally along the trough toward and beyond a distal end of the trough. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the drainage passageway is disposed distal of the distal end of the trough.