METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ELIMINATING SURGICAL SUCTION NOISE IN AN OPERATING ROOM

Abstract

A method and system of and for aspirators and/or medical suction methods and systems. Surgical suction methods and systems including a clamp for restricting or occluding any flexible medical suction tubing being used.

Claims

1. A method of and for eliminating noise inherently produced by a vacuum source during a surgical procedure, the method comprising the steps of: providing a clamp; connecting the clamp to sterile surgical tubing; and applying force to the clamp, such that the application of force causes the clamp to transition from an open position to a first closed position, thereby eliminating noise caused by the vacuum created through the sterile surgical tubing during the medical procedure.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sterilizing the clamp prior to the initiation of the surgical procedure.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining the clamp in a sterile field through the entire surgical procedure.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first closed position of the clamp causes the diameter of the sterile surgical tubing to be reduced, but not entirely closed.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising repositioning the clamp along the length of the sterile surgical tubing.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein repositioning the clamp along the length of the sterile surgical tubing involves sliding the surgical clamp along the length of the sterile surgical tubing.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the clamp is configured to close, and wherein upon closing of the clamp, the sterile surgical tubing maintains a vacuum within the tubing while reducing or eliminating any noise caused by the vacuum.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the clamp eliminates suction noise from the surgical procedure.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the clamp is configured to be opened and closed via a thumb of an operator.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the surgical clamp comprises: a distal end, a hollow body, a proximal end, a bottom surface between the distal and the proximal end, a vertical arm extending from the distal end, the vertical arm having an inner face with a plurality of teeth, a horizontal arm extending from the proximal end toward the distal end, the horizontal arm having a beveled edge proximal to the inner face, a first protrusion on the bottom surface extending within the hollow body, and a second protrusion on the horizontal arm extending within the hollow body; whereby providing a first force applied to the hollow body such that the horizontal arm and the vertical arm converge to engage the beveled edge with a backside of one of the plurality of teeth, to transition the clamp from an open position to a first closed position of a plurality of plurality positions for restricting or occluding a portion of a medical suction tubing.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the clamp is serializable.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the clamp is disposable.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the clamp is made of materials selected from a group consisting of a polymer or plastic, a metal or metal alloy or a combination thereof.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the clamp is configured to be captive to the surgical suction tubing.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the clamp is operable using one hand.

16. A system of and for reducing or eliminating noise inherently produced by a vacuum source during a medical procedure, the system comprising; a clamp, wherein the clamp includes; a distal end, a hollow body, a proximal end, a bottom surface between the distal and the proximal end, a vertical arm extending from the distal end, the vertical arm having an inner face with a plurality of teeth, a horizontal arm extending from the proximal end toward the distal end, the horizontal arm having a beveled edge proximal to the inner face, a first protrusion on the bottom surface extending within the hollow body, and a second protrusion on the horizontal arm extending within the hollow body; whereby a first force applied to the hollow body such that the horizontal arm and the vertical arm converge to engage the beveled edge with a backside of one of the plurality of teeth, to transition the clamp from an open position to a first closed position of a plurality of closed positions for restricting or occluding a portion of a medical suction tubing, wherein in the closed position, the system reduces or eliminates noise caused by the vacuum source created through the sterile surgical tubing during the medical procedure.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the clamp is serializable.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the system eliminates noise from a surgical procedure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] PRIOR ART FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of typically know medical suction systems.

[0056] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an embodiment of the inventive system and method comprising a flexible medical tubing and clamp.

[0057] FIG. 3A is a diagram of an embodiment of the inventive system and method comprising a flexible medical tubing and clamp.

[0058] FIG. 3B is a diagram of an embodiment of the inventive system and method comprising a flexible medical tubing and clamp.

[0059] FIG. 3C is a diagram of an embodiment of the inventive system and method comprising a flexible medical tubing and clamp.

[0060] FIGS. 4A-4B are photographs of an embodiment of the inventive system and method comprising a flexible medical tubing and clamp.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0061] This application incorporates by reference U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/941,039, filed Jul. 7, 2013, entitled SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPRARTUS FOR SILENT SUCTION TUBING, published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0018783 A1. The contents of this application are herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0062] This application incorporates the contents of the Appendix to the Specification into this application.

[0063] In the following description, numerous details are set forth for the purpose of explanation. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the invention may be practiced without the use of these specific details.

[0064] As depicted in FIG. 2, one embodiment of the inventive method and system 100 includes a clamp 102 and flexible surgical tubing 104. The surgical tubing 104 may comprise medical grade plastic or similar material as is widely understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. The surgical tubing 104 may be coupled to a vacuum source (not shown) at a proximal end and at a distal end to a suction attachment 26, and operable to draw fluid through the suction attachment 26 and away from an operative field 22 during an operation.

[0065] As depicted in FIG. 2, the clamp 102 may have a distal end 106, a hollow portion 107 and a proximal end 108. The surgical tubing 104 may be received through distal end 106, hollow portion 107, and proximal end 108 such that distal end 106 is upstream from a suction direction of proximal end 108.

[0066] In one exemplary embodiment, distal end 106 and proximal end 108 may have complimentary apertures to allow surgical tubing to be received through the clamp 102. The apertures may be square, rectangular, circular, or any shape allows passage of the surgical tubing 104 as would be easily understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art.

[0067] As depicted in FIG. 3A, in some exemplary embodiments, the clamp 102 may be operable to slide along a length of the surgical tubing 104.

[0068] In other exemplary embodiments, connecting end pieces may be added to the surgical tubing 104 on either side of clamp 102, to prevent the clamp 102 detachment from the surgical tubing 104 and possibly misplaced in the operative field 22 or wound. The clamp 102 may have a bottom surface 110 between respective bottom portions of the distal end 106 and the proximal end 108.

[0069] In some exemplary embodiments, the distal end 106 and proximal end 108 may have substantially rounded edges, and the bottom surface 110 may be substantially elongated and flat such that the clamp 102 may have a generally oval or oblong shape between distal end 106 and proximal end 108. A horizontal arm 112 may extend from a top portion of the proximal end 108 toward distal end 106. In some exemplary embodiments the horizontal arm 112 may be flexible but resilient with respect to proximal end 108. The horizontal arm 112 may have a distal end with beveled edge 114. A vertical arm 116 may extend from a top portion of the distal end 106. The vertical arm 116 may be substantially perpendicular to the horizontal arm 112. The vertical arm 116 may have a plurality of teeth 118. The plurality of teeth 118 may be, for example, triangular teeth which slope in a downward direction. In alternative embodiments, the plurality of teeth 118 may be any contemplated shape or size without deviating from the scope of the present invention. The plurality of teeth 118 may be on the distal end 106 and on an inner face of the vertical arm 116. The plurality of teeth 118 may be proximal to the beveled edge 114 of the horizontal arm 112. The bottom surface 110 may have a first protrusion 120 between the distal end 106 and the proximal end 108 that may extend substantially toward and within a hollow portion 107. The horizontal arm 112 may have a second protrusion 122 between the beveled edge 114 and proximal end 108 that may extend substantially toward and within the hollow portion 107.

[0070] In one exemplary embodiment, a first protrusion 120 and a second protrusion 122 may be substantially rounded. In alternative embodiments, the first protrusion 120 and the second protrusion 122 may be of any configuration, size, or shape without deviating from the scope of the present invention. The first protrusion 120 may be substantially opposite the second protrusion 122. For example, the first protrusion 120 and the second protrusion 122 may be situated on opposite sides of the surgical tubing 104. In one exemplary embodiment, the first protrusion 120 and the second protrusion 122 may be in contact with the surgical tubing 104. As explained in more detail below, the horizontal arm 112 and the vertical arm 116 may be manipulated such that a distance between the first protrusion 120 and the second protrusion 122 is modified. For example, the distance between the first protrusion 120 and the second protrusion 122 may be modified to increase or decrease a force, for example, a pinching or compressing force, exerted on the surgical tubing 104.

[0071] Referring now to FIGS. 3A-C, an inventive clamp 102 is depicted in a variety of exemplary positions. For example, FIG. 3A depicts the clamp 100 in an open position, that is the beveled edge 114 of the horizontal arm 112 is not in contact with any of the plurality of the teeth 118 of the vertical arm 116. In this exemplary embodiment, the first protrusion 120 and the second protrusion 122 may be a maximum distance apart, and may exert a minimal, if any, force on the surgical tubing 104. Thus, in the open position of FIG. 3A, suction through the surgical tubing 104 may be substantially unimpeded. Further, the clamp 102 may be free to slide along a length of the surgical tubing 104.

[0072] FIG. 3B depicts the clamp 102 in a first closed position. For example, in the first closed position, the beveled edge 114 of the horizontal arm 112 may engage a first tooth 124 of said the plurality of teeth 118 of the vertical arm 116. In this exemplary embodiment, the beveled edge 114 may act, for example as a pawl, and the plurality of teeth 118 may act, for example, as a rack, as would be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. As such, the interaction of the beveled edge 114 and the plurality of teeth 118 may be comparable to an open cable tie, zip tie, or similar ratcheting type fastener.

[0073] For example, to transition from an open position as depicted in FIG. 3A to the first closed position depicted in FIG. 3B, the beveled edge 114 may contact the first tooth 124. A downward force may be exerted on the horizontal arm 112, such that the beveled edge 114 may slide down the downward slope of the first tooth 124 and engage a backside of the first tooth 124. For example, a surgeon or other medical professional may exert a downward force by pressing the horizontal arm down with their finger or thumb. In this position, the backside of the first tooth 124 may act against a resilient force, for example a torque or lever force, exerted on the horizontal arm 112 proximate second end 108, which may stop the clamp 102 from returning to the open position. Further, during the transition from the open position to the first closed position, the first protrusion 120 and the second protrusion 122 may converge, which may increase a compressing force, exerted on either side of the surgical tubing 104, which may at least partially restrict a flow of fluid through the surgical tubing 104.

[0074] FIG. 3C may show the clamp 102 in a second closed position. For example, in the second closed position, the beveled edge 114 of the horizontal arm 112 may engage a last tooth 126 of the plurality of teeth 118 of the vertical arm 116. As noted above, the beveled edge 114 may act, for example as a pawl, and plurality of the teeth 118 may act, for example, as a rack, as would be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art.

[0075] Thus, in one exemplary embodiment, the clamp 102 may transition from the first closed position as depicted in FIG. 3B to the second closed position as depicted in FIG. 3C by exerting an additional downward force on the horizontal arm 112. For example, an additional downward force may be applied on horizontal arm such that beveled edge 114 may disengage the backside of first tooth 124. Beveled edge 114 may slide down the downward slope of the second tooth to engage the backside of the second tooth. Additional downward pressure may be applied to slide or ratchet beveled edge 114 down each successive tooth of the plurality of teeth 118 until engaging backside of last tooth 126 as would be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. In this position, the backside of the last tooth 126 may act against a resilient force, for example a torque or lever force, exerted on horizontal arm 112 proximate second end 108, which may stop clamp 102 from returning to the open position or any other closed position. Further, during the transition from the open position to the first closed position and subsequently to the second closed position, first protrusion 120 and second protrusion 122 may converge with each successive step. Accordingly, an increased compressing force may be exerted on either side of surgical tubing 104, which may at least partially restrict a flow through surgical tubing 104.

[0076] Referring generally to FIGS. 3A-C, to transition clamp 102 from a closed position to the open position, a user may exert a force on vertical arm 116 in the direction of first end 106. Beveled edge 114 may disengage from the backside of one of the plurality of teeth 118. A resilient force, for example a torque or lever force, may act on horizontal arm 112 proximate second end 108, to return clamp 102 to the open position.

[0077] The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. It should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

[0078] Having thus described several embodiments for practicing the inventive method, its advantages and objectives can be easily understood. Variations from the description above may and can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, this invention is not to be limited by the embodiments as described, which are given by way of example only and not by way of limitation.