Device for Treatment of Venous Congestion

Abstract

A device for treatment of venous congestion provides for subcutaneous introduction of anticoagulant through an incision positioned within a collection shell for withdrawal of an effused material. A widened delivery tip provides dispersal of the anticoagulant and may be agitated to disrupt clot formation.

1 . A method for the treatment of venous congestion comprising:
 (a) implanting through an incision in the skin of a patient, a tip of an anticoagulant delivery conduit, the tip having a larger cross-sectional area than the conduit to disperse more widely the anticoagulant beneath the skin;   (b) surrounding the incision with a shell, the shell having a rim and defining an inner volume, the shell further having a suction port communicating with the inner volume;   (c) delivering an anticoagulant through the delivery conduit; and   (d) withdrawing recovered blood and anticoagulant through the suction port.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further including the step of injecting a bolus of anticoagulant at the region of the incision prior to step (a). 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  including the step of periodically rotating the conduit to prevent the formation of clots. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  including the step of periodically reciprocating the conduit axially to prevent the formation of clots. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the tip is positioned to extend in part through the opening of the skin separating, the opening in the skin beyond that required of the conduit. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the tip dispenses the anticoagulant through a plurality of openings in the tip. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  including the step of abrading edges of the tissue surrounding the tip with edges of the tip contacting the tissue to promote bleeding and disrupt clotting. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 3  including the step of sensing flow of recovered blood, and controlling the motion of the conduit as a function of the sensed flow. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1  further including the step of introducing air to a region proximate to the patient's skin to agitate liquid at the patient's skin. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  including the further step of:
 (e) reintroducing the recovered blood into the patient as an autotransfusion   
   
   
       11 . A device for the treatment of venous congestion comprising:
 a shell having a rim adapted to abut a patient's skin to define a suction area circumscribed by the rim and an inner volume;   a pressure sensitive adhesive on the rim to attach the rim to the patient's skin;   a conduit supported by the shell for the delivery of anticoagulant; and   a suction port attached to the shell through which recovered anticoagulant may be drawn from the inner volume