Self-cleaning surgical suction device and method of use

Abstract

A surgical suction device is disclosed that includes a suction tube having a first longitudinal axis, a proximal opening, and a distal opening; a guide tube that is substantially coextensive with and parallel to the suction tube, and has a second longitudinal axis, a proximal opening, and a distal opening; a stylet having a proximal end and a distal end; and a junction point having a proximal opening and a distal opening; wherein the stylet is disposed along the second longitudinal axis and encircled by the guide tube, and urging the stylet through the guide tube along the second longitudinal axis through the junction conduit translates the distal end of the stylet to the distal opening of the junction point. The guide tube may effectively cut the length of the handle member in half.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A suction device comprising:
 a suction tube having a first longitudinal axis, a proximal opening, a distal opening, and an entry port disposed proximate to the proximal opening;   a guide structure having a first guide lumen coaxially disposed between a proximal opening and a distal opening and a second longitudinal axis; and   a stylet having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the stylet is disposed within a ring structure and includes a ring configuration, the stylet expands into the suction tube by operation of a shape memory material having a first state in a ring configuration and a second state that transitions from the first state to longitudinally translate the stylet to a junction point including a curvature towards the entry port, and the second state of the stylet prevents backward fluid flow or suctioning from the suction tube; a handle member having a proximal vacuum connector, an intermediate region, a distal attachment region, and a vent disposed on the intermediate region in fluid communication with the vacuum connector that are each in fluid communication with one another, wherein the distal attachment region is in contact with the proximal opening of the suction tube such that the proximal vacuum connector is in fluid communication with the suction tube, and wherein the handle member further comprises a vent-surrounding member disposed on the intermediate region, and the ring structure includes a length at least about ⅕ to about ⅖ the length of the handle member, and the stylet includes a length to traverse the entire longitudinal length of the suction tube and the stylet is a rescue-style stylet with a hoop on the distal end.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an O-ring coaxially disposed within the distal end of the second guide lumen as to prevent backward fluid flow when the stylet is longitudinally translated into the junction point. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the handle member includes a track element extending substantially parallel to the second longitudinal axis that is proximate to the distal attachment region, and a vent-access opening such that the vent and vent-surrounding member are accessible through the vent-access opening. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , further comprising a knob fixed at or about the proximal end of the stylet; wherein the suction tube is bent between the proximal end and distal end; and the guide structure is incorporated within the structure of the handle member. 
     
     
         5 . A suction device comprising:
 a suction tube having a first longitudinal axis, a proximal opening, a distal opening, and an entry port disposed proximate to the proximal opening;   a guide structure having a first guide lumen and a second guide lumen disposed within a thumb wheel structure, wherein the thumb wheel structure includes a gear and a rotatable knob;   a stylet having a proximal end and a distal end; wherein the stylet is coaxially disposed within the second guide lumen and is longitudinally translatable by operation of the thumb wheel structure when the thumb wheel structure is rotated about a common thumb wheel axis as to longitudinally extend the distal end of the stylet into a junction point including a curvature towards the entry port, and the second state of the stylet prevents backward fluid flow or suctioning from the suction tube; a handle member having a proximal vacuum connector, an intermediate region, a distal attachment region, and a vent disposed on the intermediate region in fluid communication with the vacuum connector that are each in fluid communication with one another, wherein the distal attachment region is in contact with the proximal opening of the suction tube such that the proximal vacuum connector is in fluid communication with the suction tube, and wherein the handle member further comprises a vent-surrounding member disposed on the intermediate region, the thumb wheel structure includes a length at least about ½ to about ¼ the length of the handle member, and the stylet includes a length to traverse the entire longitudinal length of the suction tube and the stylet is a rescue-style stylet with a hoop on the distal end.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , further comprising an O-ring coaxially disposed on the distal end of the second guide lumen to prevent backward fluid flow into the second guide lumen. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the handle member that is operably attached to and surrounds the intermediate region and distal attachment region which includes a track element extending substantially parallel to the second longitudinal axis that is proximate to the distal attachment region, and a vent-access opening such that the vent and vent-surrounding member are accessible through the vent-access opening. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising a knob fixed at or about the proximal end of the stylet; wherein the suction tube is bent between the proximal end and distal end; and the guide structure is incorporated within the structure of the handle member. 
     
     
         9 . A suction device comprising:
 a suction tube having a first longitudinal axis, a proximal opening, a distal opening, and a suction lumen disposed therebetween;   a guide structure having a first guide lumen and a second guide lumen, wherein the first guide lumen is coaxial with the suction lumen;   a stylet having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the stylet is coaxially disposed within the second guide lumen, wherein the second guide lumen includes a proximal end, a middle section, and a distal end, and the middle section includes a substantially U-shape portion and the stylet is longitudinally translatable through the middle section; and   a junction point intersecting the distal opening of the first guide lumen and the distal opening of the second guide lumen, and axial movement of the stylet through the second guide lumen along the second longitudinal axis through the junction point translates the distal end of the stylet into the suction lumen.