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.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS [0001] This application is a continuation of: [0002] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 896,515, filed Jul. 22, 2004, which carries Applicants' Docket No. 13447.26.1 and is entitled INTEGRATED INFUSION AND ASPIRATION SYSTEM AND METHOD, which is a divisional of: [0003] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 218,106, filed Aug. 12, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,893,414, which carries Applicants' Docket No. 13447.26 and is entitled INTEGRATED INFUSION AND ASPIRATION SYSTEM AND METHOD. [0004] All of the above are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0005] The present invention relates generally to the post-surgical treatment of closed wounds and specifically to methods and systems for concurrent aspiration and infusion of a wound site to manage pain, swelling, bleeding and infection. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0006] One of the most difficult aspects of enduring a major surgical procedure is coping with the post-operative pain and swel...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

One of the most difficult aspects of enduring a major surgical procedure is coping with the post-operative pain and swelling.

However, the use of systemic opioid analgesics, whether administered by oral, intramuscular, or intravenous methods, includes a host of possible undesirable side effects, including: respiratory depression, renal function depression, nausea, constipation, ataxia, confusion, sweating, and itching.

However, contemporary percutaneous pain medication infusion pumps do not provide consistent relief of pain.

Another challenge associated with percutaneous pain medication infusion pumps is the need to concurrently address edema, or fluid build-up and swelling, at the wound site.

However, concurrent use of a pain medication infusion pump and an aspiration catheter creates two significant compromises to the patient.

First, two percutaneous catheters, one for the aspiration catheter and one for the infusion pump, potentially doubles the risk of infection since two percutaneous tracts are maintained.

Second, an aspiration catheter coupled with an active vacuum source that is designed for the removal of fluid build-up tends to remove the infused pain medication before it has effectively produced the desired local anesthetic effect.

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