US20070129679A1 — Pneumatic drive unit

Claim 1

Independent Claim 178 words

1 . A pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment system comprising: a. a prepackaged, preconnected and disposable low cost self-contained device for use in thrombectomy or other related procedures which is pneumatically-operated by a compressed air tank which makes portable operation feasible and is regulated to eliminate hospital-to-hospital variation in supply gas pressure; b. a drive unit central to operation including major components comprising a double-acting air cylinder, a reciprocating assembly which affects the operation of a four-way valve, a four-way valve which affects the directional operation of the double-acting air cylinder; c. a high pressure pump which is operated by the double-acting air cylinder; and, d. an effluent pump opposing the high pressure pump both of which are operated by the double-acting air cylinder, whereby the use of the effluent pump allows isovolumetric flow where waste outflow equals saline inflow into a patient and saline is made available to the drive unit from a spiked saline supply bag, wherein one end of a saline supply tube is connected between the spiked saline supply bag and the high pressure pump.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 178 words

1 . A pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment system comprising: a. a prepackaged, preconnected and disposable low cost self-contained device for use in thrombectomy or other related procedures which is pneumatically-operated by a compressed air tank which makes portable operation feasible and is regulated to eliminate hospital-to-hospital variation in supply gas pressure; b. a drive unit central to operation including major components comprising a double-acting air cylinder, a reciprocating assembly which affects the operation of a four-way valve, a four-way valve which affects the directional operation of the double-acting air cylinder; c. a high pressure pump which is operated by the double-acting air cylinder; and, d. an effluent pump opposing the high pressure pump both of which are operated by the double-acting air cylinder, whereby the use of the effluent pump allows isovolumetric flow where waste outflow equals saline inflow into a patient and saline is made available to the drive unit from a spiked saline supply bag, wherein one end of a saline supply tube is connected between the spiked saline supply bag and the high pressure pump.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 99 words

2 . A pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment system comprising: a. a compressed gas source; and, b. a thrombectomy catheter drive unit connectable to the compressed gas source, the drive unit including: (1) a double-acting air cylinder; (2) a reciprocating assembly connected to and moved by the double-acting air cylinder; (3) a four-way valve interacting with the reciprocating assembly and directing compressed gas to influence directional operation of the double-acting air cylinder; c. a high pressure pump operated by the double-acting air cylinder; and, d. an effluent pump opposing the high pressure pump and operated by the double-acting air cylinder.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 99 words

2 . A pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment system comprising: a. a compressed gas source; and, b. a thrombectomy catheter drive unit connectable to the compressed gas source, the drive unit including: (1) a double-acting air cylinder; (2) a reciprocating assembly connected to and moved by the double-acting air cylinder; (3) a four-way valve interacting with the reciprocating assembly and directing compressed gas to influence directional operation of the double-acting air cylinder; c. a high pressure pump operated by the double-acting air cylinder; and, d. an effluent pump opposing the high pressure pump and operated by the double-acting air cylinder.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

3 . The pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment system of claim 2 , wherein the compressed gas source is selected from the group consisting of compressed air and compressed nitrogen.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 37 words

4 . The pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment system of claim 3 , wherein the compressed gas source is selected from the group of sources consisting of a portable compressed gas tank and a stationary compressed gas supply.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 29 words

5 . The pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment system of claim 2 , further comprising: e. a pressure regulator between the compressed gas source and the thrombectomy catheter drive unit.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 29 words

6 . The pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment system of claim 2 , wherein the high pressure pump and the effluent pump operate in an isovolumetric relationship with each other.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 98 words

7 . The pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment system of claim 2 , wherein the high pressure pump has a cycle with an intake stroke and a compression stroke and the effluent pump has a cycle with an intake stroke and a compression stroke and wherein the cycles of the high pressure pump and the effluent pump are diametrically opposed, such that the compression stroke of the high pressure pump and the intake stroke of the effluent pump occur simultaneously and the intake stroke of the high pressure pump and the compression stroke of the effluent pump occur simultaneously.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

8 . The pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment system of claim 2 , wherein the high pressure pump produces pressures of from 200 psi to 20,000 psi.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 65 words

9 . The pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment system of claim 2 , wherein the high pressure pump has a pump base with an inlet and an outlet and the effluent pump has an effluent pump manifold with an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the pump base and the inlet and outlet of the effluent pump manifold each having a check valve associated therewith.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 59 words

10 . The pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment system of claim 2 , further comprising: e. a thrombectomy catheter, the thrombectomy catheter having a thrombectomy catheter manifold with a high pressure saline delivery tube connected between the thrombectomy catheter manifold and the high pressure pump and with an effluent tube connected between the thrombectomy catheter manifold and the effluent pump.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

11 . The pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment system of claim 10 , further comprising: f. a saline supply connected to the high pressure pump.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 21 words

12 . The pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment system of claim 11 , wherein the saline supply is a saline supply bag.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 24 words

13 . The pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment system of claim 2 , further comprising: e. an effluent collection device connected to the effluent pump.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 22 words

14 . The pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment system of claim 13 , wherein the effluent collection device is an effluent collection bag.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 33 words

15 . The pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment system of claim 2 , wherein the thrombectomy catheter drive unit is sterile and further comprising: e. a sterile package enclosing the thrombectomy catheter drive unit.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 50 words

16 . The pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment system of claim 15 , wherein the compressed gas source is a sterilized compressed air tank and the sterile thrombectomy catheter drive unit is preconnected to the sterilized compressed air tank and the sterilized compressed air tank is enclosed in the sterile package.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 43 words

17 . The pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment system of claim 16 , further comprising: f. a sterile regulator/connector and a sterile pressure gauge connected between the sterile compressed air tank and the sterile thrombectomy catheter drive unit and enclosed in the sterile package.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 71 words

18 . The pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment system of claim 15 , further comprising: f. a sterile thrombectomy catheter, the sterile thrombectomy catheter having a thrombectomy catheter manifold with a high pressure saline delivery tube connected between the thrombectomy catheter manifold and the high pressure pump and with an effluent tube connected between the thrombectomy catheter manifold and the effluent pump, the sterile thrombectomy catheter being enclosed in the sterile package.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 37 words

19 . The pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment system of claim 18 , further comprising: g. a sterile effluent collection bag, the sterile effluent collection bag being connected to the effluent pump and enclosed within the sterile package.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 73 words

20 . A pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment kit comprising: a. a sterile package; b. a sterile compressed air tank within the sterile package; c. a sterile thrombectomy catheter drive unit within the sterile package, the sterile thrombectomy catheter drive unit being connected to the sterile compressed air tank; and, d. a sterile thrombectomy catheter within the sterile package, the sterile thrombectomy catheter having a manifold connected to the sterile thrombectomy catheter drive unit.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 73 words

20 . A pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment kit comprising: a. a sterile package; b. a sterile compressed air tank within the sterile package; c. a sterile thrombectomy catheter drive unit within the sterile package, the sterile thrombectomy catheter drive unit being connected to the sterile compressed air tank; and, d. a sterile thrombectomy catheter within the sterile package, the sterile thrombectomy catheter having a manifold connected to the sterile thrombectomy catheter drive unit.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 38 words

21 . The pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment kit of claim 20 , further comprising: e. a sterile effluent collection bag within the sterile package, the sterile effluent collection bag being connected to the sterile thrombectomy catheter drive unit.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 40 words

22 . The pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment kit of claim 21 , further comprising: f. a sterile saline supply bag within the sterile package, the sterile saline supply bag being available for connection to the sterile thrombectomy catheter drive unit.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 93 words

23 . A method of deploying a pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter comprising the steps of: a. providing a pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment kit including: (1) a sterile package; (2) a sterile compressed air tank within the sterile package; (3) a sterile thrombectomy catheter drive unit within the sterile package, the sterile thrombectomy catheter drive unit being connected to the sterile compressed air tank; and, (4) a sterile thrombectomy catheter within the sterile package, the sterile thrombectomy catheter having a manifold connected to the sterile thrombectomy catheter drive unit; and, b. opening the sterile package.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 93 words

23 . A method of deploying a pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter comprising the steps of: a. providing a pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment kit including: (1) a sterile package; (2) a sterile compressed air tank within the sterile package; (3) a sterile thrombectomy catheter drive unit within the sterile package, the sterile thrombectomy catheter drive unit being connected to the sterile compressed air tank; and, (4) a sterile thrombectomy catheter within the sterile package, the sterile thrombectomy catheter having a manifold connected to the sterile thrombectomy catheter drive unit; and, b. opening the sterile package.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 42 words

24 . The method of claim 23 , further comprising the steps of: c. providing a sterile saline supply bag; and, d. spiking the sterile saline supply bag to connect the sterile saline supply bag to the sterile thrombectomy catheter drive unit.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 31 words

25 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising the step of: e. priming the sterile thrombectomy catheter drive unit to provide bubble-free sterile saline to the sterile thrombectomy catheter.

Pneumatic drive unit

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