Integrated Infusion and Aspiration System and Method

Abstract

An integrated infusion and aspiration system includes of a flow control system and a catheter assembly. The catheter assembly includes an infusion catheter and an aspiration catheter, each having ports located at the distal end of thereof. The distal ends of the catheters are separated so that the aspiration catheter ports can be positioned on an opposing side of a surgical wound site from the infusion catheter ports. Methods of operation of the integrated infusion and aspiration system provides for uninterrupted aspiration with concurrent controlled delivery of an infusion solution such that the infusion solution is substantially evenly dispersed of over the wound site.

1 . A method for percutaneous infusion and aspiration of an internal wound site, the method comprising: 
 infusing a wound site with a dose of a solution at a periodic interval;    aspirating the wound site at a first flow rate during the infusion of the solution and for a first time period thereafter; and    aspirating the wound site at a second flow rate after expiration of the first time period but prior to the next infusing of the solution, the second flow rate being greater than the first flow rate.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the periodic interval between infusions is greater than the sum total of the duration of the infusion and the predetermined time period.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aspirating is continuous.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution comprises an analgesic, anesthetic, antibiotic, antiseptic, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       5 . A method for percutaneous infusion and aspiration of an internal wound site, the method comprising: 
 infusing the wound site with a dose of a solution;    aspirating the wound site at a first flow rate during the infusion of the solution; and    aspirating the wound site at a second flow rate either immediately upon completion of infusing the solution or at a time period after completion of infusing the solution.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising repeating at periodic intervals the act of infusing the wound site with a dose of a solution.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the aspirating is continuous.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the solution comprises an analgesic, anesthetic, antibiotic, antiseptic, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       9 . A method for percutaneous infusion and aspiration of an internal wound site, the method comprising: 
 infusing the wound site with the solution at a substantially constant rate; and    aspiration the wound site at alternating flow rates.    
   
   
       10 . A method of  claim 9 , wherein the aspiration is continuous.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the solution comprises an analgesic, anesthetic, antibiotic, antiseptic, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       12 . A method for percutaneous infusion and aspiration of an internal wound site, the method comprising: 
 passing a catheter assembly through a single incision, the catheter assembly comprising: 
 an aspiration catheter having at least one port formed thereon; and  
 an infusion catheter having at least one port formed thereon;  
   positioning the at least one port of the aspiration catheter on one side of the internal wound site and the at least one port of the infusion catheter on a substantially opposing side of the internal wound site;    periodically infusing the wound site with a dose of a solution through the infusion catheter; and    aspirating the wound site through the aspiration catheter at alternating flow rates.    
   
   
       13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the act of passing the catheter comprises at least a portion of the aspiration catheter or infusion catheter being disposed within a lumen of the other of the aspiration catheter or infusion catheter.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the aspirating is continuous.  
   
   
       15 . The method as  claim 12 , wherein the at least one port of the aspiration catheter and the at least one port of the infusion catheter are each disposed outside of a blood vessel.