Gas insufflation and suction/irrigation tubing

Abstract

A medical tubing being flexible and kink-free as gas insufflation tubing and non-collapsible as suction/irrigation tubing is provided. The tubing is lightweight and thin-walled. The tubing has a generally rigid but thin walled with a structural shape or is generally soft and thin-walled tubing with a hard re-enforcement.

1 . A gas insufflation, suction and irrigation medical tubing comprising:
 a tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen, the lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the tubular body; and   a support coupled to the tubular body, the support being less compliant than the tubular body.   
   
   
       2 . The tubing of  claim 1  wherein the tubular body has a shape arranged to accommodate the support and the tubular body has a wall thickness that is less than the wall thickness of the support. 
   
   
       3 . The tubing of  claim 2  wherein the tubular body has convolutions. 
   
   
       4 . The tubing of  claim 3  wherein the tubular body has asymmetrical corrugations. 
   
   
       5 . The tubing of  claim 1  wherein the support comprises a wire connected to the tubular body. 
   
   
       6 . The tubing of  claim 5  wherein the wire is plastic. 
   
   
       7 . The tubing of  claim 6  wherein the wire is braided. 
   
   
       8 . The tubing of  claim 6  wherein the wire is coiled. 
   
   
       9 . The tubing of  claim 6  wherein the wire is formed into a mesh pattern. 
   
   
       10 . The tubing of  claim 1  wherein the support comprises a plurality of interconnecting rings connected to the tubular body. 
   
   
       11 . The tubing of  claim 1  wherein the tubular body is a first outer tubular body and further comprising a second inner tubular body and a third inner tubular body, each having a length and diameter less than a length and diameter of the first outer tubular body, the second inner tubular body extending coaxially with the first outer tubular body within the lumen of the first outer tubular body and the third tubular body extending coaxially with the second outer tubular body within the second outer tubular body. 
   
   
       12 . The tubing of  claim 1  the tubular body is a first outer tubular body and further comprising a second inner tubular body, the second inner tubular body extending coaxially with the first outer tubular body within the lumen of the first outer tubular body, the second inner tubular body being less compliant than the first outer tubular body. 
   
   
       13 . The tubing of  claim 1  wherein the proximal end of the tubular body is arranged to be coupled to a vacuum, an irrigator and a gas insufflator. 
   
   
       14 . A gas insufflation, suction and irrigation medical tubing comprising:
 a tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen, the lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the tubular body;   a support coupled to the tubular body, the support being less compliant than the tubular body; and   a container having a housing and a shaft enclosed in and connected to the housing, the tubular body being housed in the housing.   
   
   
       15 . The tubing of  claim 14  wherein the distal end of the tubular body extends from the housing and the proximal end of the tubular body is enclosed in the housing with portions of the tubular body between the proximal and distal ends of the tubular body enclosed in the housing and arranged to encircle the shaft. 
   
   
       16 . The tubing of  claim 15  wherein the shaft is rotatable. 
   
   
       17 . The tubing of  claim 15  wherein the shaft is a first shaft and further comprising a second shaft, the second shaft enclosed in the housing and being parallel to the first shaft. 
   
   
       18 . The tubing of  claim 17  wherein the tubular body is arranged to encircle the first and second shafts. 
   
   
       19 . The tubing of  claim 17  wherein the tubular body is arranged to encircle the first and second shafts in a figure eight pattern. 
   
   
       20 . A gas insufflation, suction and irrigation medical tubing comprising:
 a lightweight tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen, the lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the tubular body; and   a support coupled to the tubular body and having means for increasing flexibility, resisting kinks and withstanding vacuum and irrigation pressures.   
   
   
       21 . The tubing of  claim 20  wherein the means for increasing flexibility, resisting kinks and withstanding vacuum and irrigation pressures comprises a plurality of convolutions along the tubular body and a plurality of coiled wire disposed within the plurality of convolutions. 
   
   
       22 . The tubing of  claim 21  wherein the vacuum pressure is about 1 Torr and the irrigation pressure of about 16 psi.