Suction Tip
The present invention relates to a suction tip, and more specifically to a suction tip comprising a stem and a ring-shaped section. The suction tip may be used during surgery, for example, for removal of blood when repairing a wound. The suction tip may also be used for investigative procedures as well as for non-surgical procedures where suction is required. The present invention also relates to a method of fluid removal using the suction tip.
Suction tips of various forms are known and are typically used when extracting fluid, such as blood, from an area where a surgeon is working. Blood (and/or other fluid) removal from a site of surgery is imperative as it provides the surgeon with a better view to identify the source of bleeding and then to perform a repair.
For example, the surgeon may need to repair a wound which is actively bleeding. If the bleeding is rapid, the blood may obscure the site and the surgeon may need to operate blindly (e.g., working from memory of where the damage may be, working by feel, or predicting where the damage may be located). The quicker blood can be drawn away from the site of injury/damage, the faster and easier the surgery can be performed.
Basic suction tips, as presently used in surgery, comprise a long, thin tube with an opening at one end and a source of suction applied to the other end. These suction tips can be held and manoeuvred easily by a user in order to direct suction towards the fluid and thereby draw the fluid up from the area to reveal the underlying tissue.
Such basic suction tips may have only one suction opening, which makes them inexpensive and simple to manufacture. They are also slender and do not present much of an obstacle to a surgeon working on an area. However, they can be prone to blocking, either by debris, or by suctioning to the tissue. When this happens, the surgeon may need to remove the suction tip temporarily from the underlying tissue, flush out the debris or possibly even replace the suction tip in the case of a blockage that cannot be cleared. This can lead to loss of time when performing the surgery and unsatisfactory removal of fluid from the area.
More advanced suction tips are now available which have several or even many suction openings around the circumferential surface of the tube. In one example, a distal end of the suction tip is closed and the circumferential surface of the suction tip near the distal end is provided with an array of openings for fluid removal. Such suction tips may still be effective at drawing up fluid even where one or more of the suction openings becomes blocked by debris, because the remaining suction openings remain open and capable of drawing fluid.
However, by providing suction openings on the circumferential surface in positions spaced from the distal end, some of the suction openings may be above the surface of the fluid and exposed to air. When air is being drawn in through such openings, this reduces the effective suction available to the remaining suction openings for drawing up the fluid, and so efficiency of fluid removal can be compromised.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide an improved suction tip that can overcome some of the above problems of currently available suction tips. Access to a working area while suction is being provided is also important for suction tips.
In the context of other surgical procedures, suction devices (not suction tips) having an annular form are known. For example, US 2018/0353664 A1 discloses an accessory suction collar for use with surgical devices where the suction collar is configured to fit around and mount onto a surgical device. The suction collar comprises one or more sets of perforations which surround the surgical device to provide suction to a working area. In use, the surgical device and collar occlude the working area. The surgical device part of the assembly in US 2018/0353664 produces smoke and fluids from ablation of tissue, which is removed by the suction collar located above the tissue that is being operated on.
According to a first aspect of the invention, a suction tip is provided. The suction tip comprises a stem provided with a port for connection to a source of suction, and a ring-shaped section mounted to the stem and in fluid communication with the port. The ring-shaped section comprises a suction manifold and a plurality of fluid inlets arranged in an inwardly facing portion of the ring-shaped section. The plurality of fluid inlets are in fluid communication with the port via the suction manifold.
This arrangement of fluid inlets is able to provide a working area with suction at a ‘mouth’ of the suction tip, that is encircled by the ring-shaped section of the suction tip. The stem may still be hand-held in a conventional way for a suction tip, e.g., like a wand, with the stem providing an elongate handle to manoeuvre the ringshaped section of the suction tip (the ring-shaped section may typically have a maximum dimension of less than a third of a length of the stem, thus retaining the elongate form of conventional suction tips). The novel ring-shape of the mouth of the suction tip and the arrangement of fluid inlets on an inwardly facing portion of the ring, is able to draw up fluid within the confined working area of the suction tip quickly, to allow a user (e.g., a surgeon or other user) to assess underlying tissue (or other material) and work on it more easily by approaching that tissue (or other material) through the ring of the suction tip.
The ring-shape of the suction tip allows free access to a region of tissue or other material in the working area whilst suction is supplied by the plurality of fluid inlets to the working area. Thus, the user is able to perform work on the material within the working area within the ring-shaped section whilst simultaneously supplying suction to draw away fluid using the suction tip of the present invention.
The suction manifold may comprise a ring-shaped gallery extending within the ring-shaped section (internally around the ring-shaped section) and passageways (for example, two or three passageways) branching from the gallery to fluidly communicate the gallery to the stem. The gallery may be able to distribute negative pressure from the suction source (via the port) around the suction manifold of the ring-shaped section evenly. The passageways may be sized to balance flows through the suction tip, for example, by being of matching cross-sectional area. The passageways may comprise only a single passageway (i.e. one) leading from the gallery to fluidly communicate the gallery to the stem. Providing a plurality of passageways may beneficially provide redundancy in the suction tip, while providing only a single passageway may beneficially provide a simpler design of the suction tip.
A lower region or base of the ring-shaped gallery may be open when the suction tip is not in use. This may be in the sense of no material being present or through a grille or mesh being present with perforations to draw fluid through. The gallery may be configured to be closed off in use through contact with tissue (or other material) that it is pressed against.
The ring-shaped section may comprise an inner wall and an outer wall. The inner wall and the outer wall may (in part or whole) define inner and outer portions of the suction manifold. Through the ring-shape, the inner wall I inner portion of the suction manifold is positioned radially inward of the outer wall I outer portion of the suction manifold. The plurality of fluid inlets are provided in the inner wall so that they face inwardly on to the working area.
The outer wall may have a lower edge configured to contact, in use, an outer line of tissue when suction is applied. The lower edge of the outer wall may seal against the outer line of tissue through such contact. The inner wall may have a lower edge configured to contact, in use, portions of an inner line of tissue spaced inwardly from the outer line of tissue. The lower edge of the inner wall may seal against the inner line of tissue where it makes contact. The inner wall comprises the plurality of fluid inlets, and where these are positioned there may be no contact with the tissue. Providing the fluid inlets in the inner wall means that they are arranged around a periphery of the working area. They provide, in effect, a mouth of the suction tip.
The inner wall may be linked to the outer wall to form an upper region of the suction manifold. The upper region of the suction manifold may be configured to divide flow from the plurality of fluid inlets to the port. For example, the upper region of the suction manifold may be configured to bifurcate the flow such that suction (from the source of suction) is supplied to opposed regions of the ring-shaped section. In this way, fluid can be removed where the surface being worked on is uneven or where part of the suction manifold has become blocked.
The suction tip can be seen as distinct from conventional suction tips through the way a distal portion of the suction tip extends around the working area, encircling it, and providing suction from different (inwardly directed) directions to the working area (the opening in the ring or ‘mouth’ of the suction tip). The suction tip can provide a working area which is free of obstacles, allowing a surgeon or other user to access and work on underlying tissue I other material unobstructed within the working area of the suction tip.
The stem can be made as slender as possible to avoid obstructing the surgeon. The stem may extend with an incline away from the ring-shaped section and its working area. The stem can be held in a hand, in the usual way, so as to manoeuvre the suction tip during an operation. The stem may extend from a region of the ring-shaped section which is to one side of a central region of the ring-shaped section. In this way, the stem can support the ring-shaped section, to allow it to be manoeuvred easily, without obscuring a more central path to the working area.
The plurality of fluid inlets should be configured to supply a level of suction to the working area which is suitable for fluid removal when the ring-shaped section is in contact with underlying tissue or other material. For example, the combined area of the fluid inlets should be set having in mind a level of suction required to draw up the expected fluid and the source of suction available. For example, the fluid inlets may be provided in the form of arcuate recesses so as to reduce the effect of loss of suction as the fluid level drops in the working area, while also providing a smooth surface for contact with a patient. The number and distribution of fluid inlets may be chosen accordingly. By way of example, the arcuate recesses may have a radius of 0.5 to 4 mm, more preferably 1-2 mm, and there may be a series of six or more such recesses arranged around the working area.
The ring-shaped section may be configured to create a barrier to fluid located externally of the suction tip. The ring-shaped section, in particular the lower edge of the outer wall, may generally make sealing contact with the underlying tissue or other material, creating a barrier between the fluid that is encircled by the ring-shaped section and the fluid that is outside the ring-shaped section. The outer wall may be free of inlets and have a lower edge that is continuous and planar to form a seal with the underlying tissue. The suction in the suction manifold can also help to pull the ring-shaped section onto the underlying tissue to improve the sealing and the barrier effect.
Through creating a barrier, most (or all) of the suction provided to the suction tip is used to remove fluid from the working area, whereas in a conventional suction tip, where such a barrier is not created, suction is applied to the whole volume of the fluid that the conventional suction tip has access to, resulting in a slower rate of fluid removal from the vicinity of the working area. That is, with the suction tip of the first aspect a faster reduction of fluid level within the working area is possible as the suction is focused on the working area within the ring-shaped section and not used where it is not required.
The shape of the ring-shaped section provides an opening for a surgeon to gain access to the underlying tissue, in particular to provide surgical access to the underlying tissue.
A surgeon, or other user of the suction tip, is provided with a working area with full access and good suction. The working area is unobscured by parts of the device and by fluid. By placing the ring-shaped section of the suction tip on the underlying tissue (or other material) such that the ring-shaped section surrounds a site of interest, e.g., a site where damaged tissue or a damaged vessel is evident, the working area within the ring-shaped section containing the site of interest can be cleared of fluid faster through the concentration of the suction, and is kept free from fluid flooding into the working area through the outer wall providing a barrier to its ingress. The surgeon (or other user) is then provided with an unobstructed view of the working area to identify and assess the site of interest, and where appropriate, then perform an operation on the tissue in the working area to reduce loss of fluid from the site of interest. Furthermore, the ring-shaped section may provide a visual indicator to a surgeon (or other user) as to where the site of interest is. For example, the surgeon, by moving the ring-shaped section of the suction tip over the tissue will be able to notice visually when the working area is positioned over a source of bleeding. The smaller volume of fluid and confined nature of the working area encircled by the ringshaped section will provide a visual cue due to the way the fluid is drawn up by the suction tip; the surgeon then knows that the site of interest is within the working area, which might be, say, a diameter of 20-30mm. This may allow the surgeon to identify and work on the site of interest faster than with a conventional suction tip. The technique of locating the site of interest might be seen as similar to the way a person identifies buried metal with a metal detector, sweeping over the area and responding to a change in signal, in this case a visual signal.
Another advantage of providing a suction tip with a ring-shaped body is that the surgeon or other user may use the suction tip to manipulate tissue (or other material) without losing suction or view of the area of interest. Traditional tube-like suction tips may be used to manipulate tissue, but this may also result in the suction tip being attached to the tissue by suction and a consequential reduction in a rate of fluid removal. The suction tip of the first aspect may be used to displace and manipulate tissue using the outer wall, while still maintaining suction from within the working area, offering improved operation.
The plurality of fluid inlets and the ring-shaped suction manifold have the effect of focussing the suction of the suction tip on to the working area. The plurality of fluid inlets may be formed in part by recesses provided in the lower edge of the inner wall. The plurality of fluid inlets are configured such that when the suction tip is in use, when the lower edge of the inner wall is in contact with an inner line of tissue, the plurality of fluid inlets are then defined by the recesses in the inner wall in combination with the tissue or other material closing one side of each recess. In that way, the recesses can provide a way for fluid inside the working area to be drawn up into the suction manifold.
The choice of recesses is advantageous for several reasons. It can make manufacture of the suction tip simpler through allowing straight forward moulding techniques to be used, such as injection moulding. When lifted from the underlying tissue, the recesses can clear easily of any debris blocking the inlet, as the debris can fall away once the lower edge of the inner wall of the suction tip is separated from the tissue. Moreover, hand pressure applied by the user can control the size of the inlets in use, and to an extent regulate the suction, since the inlets are defined in part by the underlying tissue that the suction tip is pressed into. A user can exert more or less hand pressure on the stem of the suction tip as desired to control the suction acting across the working area, for example, in a similar way to how a person may control a spray of water from an end of a hose pipe with their finger.
Pressure may be applied by the user to press the suction tip into the tissue, and in that way keep the plurality of inlets positioned below the level of the fluid. This can help to keep the fluid inlets from being exposed to air while fluid is still present in the working area, avoiding loss of suction due to air. As soon as fresh fluid is introduced into the working area (e.g. by bleeding), fluid can be removed by the suction through the plurality of fluid inlets once more. This may result in an almost instant and/or real time fluid removal from the working area which can be maintained whilst a repair is made.
The inner wall may be linked to the outer wall, e.g., by material of the ringshaped section, to form an upper region of the suction manifold. The upper region may have a curved profile when viewed in cross-section, the curved profile linking an upper region of the inner wall to an upper region of the outer wall, for example, in a smooth arch or transition from one to the other.
The suction manifold may be open at a lower region thereof, for example, in the sense of there being no material of the ring-shaped section linking the lower edge of the inner wall to the lower edge of the outer wall. The two walls may follow parallel paths around the working area with an annular gap between.
The ring-shaped section may have a footprint which is circular, oval, stadiumshaped or a similar encircling shape, possibly with one end larger than the other, extending around the working area. The lower edges of the inner and outer walls may define a matching outline shape, the lower edge of the outer wall being spaced radially further out than the lower edge of the inner wall to provide a generally annular, open space between that is closed off by tissue when the suction tip is in use.
Advantageously, providing a suction manifold that is open at a lower region and otherwise enclosed by the inner wall and the outer wall may provide a better sealing between the lower edge of the outer wall and the tissue it is in contact with. When suction is applied to the suction tip, negative pressure is created within the suction manifold. When the suction tip is placed at least partially on tissue, the negative pressure will draw the suction tip towards the tissue and seal the lower edge of the outer wall against the tissue, creating a barrier between the suction manifold and the area outside of the ring-shaped section. Negative pressure around the portions of the lower edge of the inner wall will also assist to draw the suction manifold onto the tissue.
Moreover, more suction can usually be provided to the suction tip without harmful effects to the tissue. Because the plurality of fluid inlets are spaced around the working area and the suction manifold as a whole provides a relatively large area of tissue that is suctioned, there is effectively less suction per area of tissue (i.e. the force is spread across a larger area). In traditional suction tips, larger suction forces may be present locally, resulting in tissue becoming damaged by the suction orifice. This is especially the case if metal suction tips with relatively sharp edges are used. With the present arrangement, better fluid removal is achieved also by the possibility of larger suction forces being used without tissue damage.
In other embodiments, the lower edge of the outer wall may be joined to the lower edge of the inner wall by material of the ring-shaped section, for example, which may be in the form of a perforated structure, such as a mesh or grille, spanning between the inner and outer walls. The perforated structure may help to distribute contact forces. The perforated structure may extend completely around the ringshaped section or only a part of the way. The perforated structure may be recessed above a level of the lower edge of at least the outer wall in order to enhance the barrier effect of the ring-shaped section through the lower edge being pressed into the underlying tissue.
Another potential advantage of providing an outer wall is that the lower edge of the outer wall may be pressed against a blood vessel. This pressure applied on a vessel by the lower edge of the outer wall may provide a tourniquet effect, slowing blood flow through the vessel. This may result in less blood being ejected from a damaged vessel into the working area, thus further improving visibility in the working area (e.g., through there being less fluid needing to be suctioned by the suction tip).
The fluid inlets lead from the working area into the suction manifold to enable fluid to be drawn up into the suction manifold and out through the port of the suction tip when suction is applied to the port and the lower edges of the inner and outer walls are in contact with underlying tissue. The plurality of fluid inlets may comprise fluid inlets arranged on opposite sides of the working area, so that in a usual situation where the underlying tissue is not presented as a level surface, fluid inlets on one side can be used to draw up the fluid from the working area in preference to the others. The plurality of fluid inlets may be more than five fluid inlets arranged around the inner wall of the ring-shaped section. There may be more than seven or nine fluid inlets.
The plurality of fluid inlets may all be the same shape. The plurality of fluid inlets may be in the form of recesses or cut outs along the lower edge of the inner wall, particularly where a lower region of the suction manifold is open. The recesses may be formed by moulding or printing. The recesses or cut outs may be elongate in a direction of the lower edge of the inner wall. The recesses or cut outs may have an arcuate or a generally rectangular form with rounded corners. The recesses or cut outs may be open at a level of the lower edge.
Alternatively, the fluid inlets may be apertures within the inner wall, e.g., wholly defined by the inner wall. If a mesh or grille is provided in an under-surface of the ring-shaped section, the fluid inlets may be connected with that structure.
More generally, the fluid inlets of either configuration may be circular, semicircular, oval, stadium-shaped, tear-shaped or they may be of other shapes, such as a triangular, rectangular, polygonal, etc., preferably with rounded edges. The fluid inlets are preferably in the form of recesses formed in the inwardly facing portion of the ring-shaped section.
The plurality of fluid inlets on the inner wall may be uniformly arranged around the working area, which may help to draw fluid more evenly from around the working area.
There may be occasions where the fluid inlets are more concentrated or are larger in one region. For some procedures, a suction tip providing a higher level of suction in one region may be preferred, for example, allowing a surgeon to work around an area of tissue adjusting the suction by manoeuvring and/or turning the suction tip as desired.
The lower edge of the outer wall and a portion of the lower edge of the inner wall may be coplanar and flat. That is, the whole lower edge of the outer wall may be substantially in a single flat plane. Alternatively, the lower edge of the outer wall and/or the lower edge of the inner wall may have a non-planar configuration, which may advantageously provide suction to non-flexible, non-planar tissue or organs. For example, a suction tip may be configured to provide a lower edge to conform to a bone or skull or other non-flat body parts.
The stem may be a single continuous stem. The stem may be between 5 to 20 mm across (e.g., in diameter, where circular), more preferably less than 15 mm across, for example around 10 mm ± 2 mm. The stem may be more than 80 mm long, for example around 100 mm long. The stem may comprise a single inner channel fluidly connecting the port and the suction manifold. Providing a single stem can lead to a more slender design which allows a greater field of view for the surgeon and easier handling.
The stem may also bifurcate into a first stem section and a second stem section, where the first stem section and the second stem section connect to and merge with the suction manifold of the ring-shaped section at different locations on the ring. The different locations may be on opposite sides of the ring-shaped section. Providing a bifurcated stem may distribute suction around the suction manifold more uniformly and may help to provide more uniform suction to the working area. The first and second stem sections may also improve the rigidity of the suction tip in the area between the stem and the ring-shaped section. Furthermore, the provision of two stem sections may offer redundancy, so that where one of the stem sections becomes blocked by debris, the other stem section may continue to provide suction to the suction manifold.
The suction manifold may comprise an internal structure. The internal structure may be in the form of baffles, a mesh, a diffuser mesh, a net, a porous foam structure or the like. The internal structure, in addition to adjusting the suction characteristics, may provide additional rigidity. The internal structure may provide increased suction locally while spreading contact loads more widely to the underlying tissue, which may reduce or mitigate damage to the tissue.
The stem may comprise one or more surface features, for example, to assist grip and/or control. The surface feature may be a protrusion, such as a wing or a step and may improve the user’s control on the suction tip when the stem is grasped with fingers of the user’s hand. Surface features may be arranged on opposite sides of the stem. The surface features may comprise any one of ridges, bumps, indentations and different materials. Additional control may be especially favourable in situations where gloves, such as latex gloves, are being used and/or in situations where fluids such as blood may find its way on to the surface of the stem.
The stem may comprise a circumferential protrusion, for example, in the form of a ring, and/or a circumferential recess. The circumferential protrusion I recess may extend partially around the stem or fully around the stem. The circumferential protrusion I recess may be provided near the port end of the stem. The circumferential protrusion may be configured to stop an attachment device, such as a hose or sleeve, from being attached to the stem beyond the circumferential protrusion, and the circumferential recess may provide a feature for a suction tube to latch onto. Such features may help the user to confirm that the suction tip has been connected to a source of suction correctly, e.g., through haptic or visual feedback, which may reduce the chance of the suction tip becoming detached during use.
The stem may extend from the ring-shaped section at an angle. The angle may be between 70° and 20°, and inclined away from the working area (e.g., the angle that the axis of the stem makes with the plane of the ring-shaped section, where the plane is the plane formed by the lower edge of the outer wall). The angle may be between 60° and 30°, or between 55° and 40°. Advantageously, providing the stem at an angle to the ring-shaped section may result in a more convenient handling of the suction tip, allowing the user to hold the suction tip in a more ergonomic position, with the user’s fingers out of the way of the working area. The inclined arrangement of the stem may also allow the user to see the working area more easily without being obstructed by the stem and/or the hand holding the stem.
The stem may comprise a reinforcement, such as a web, rib, flange, thickened region, etc., and the reinforcement may extend from the stem to the ring-shaped section, to support the region where the stem blends into the ring-shaped section. The reinforcement may comprise two features on opposite sides of the stem. Advantageously, the reinforcement may allow the suction tip to be manufactured in reduced dimensions (i.e. a more slender stem and/or ring-shaped section).
The suction tip may be manufactured by additive manufacturing such as three-dimensional printing, e.g., using a laser bed. An advantage of manufacturing the suction tip by additive manufacturing is that complex shapes of the suction tip may be realized. Alternative methods of manufacturing may also be used, such as injection moulding, which may be more cost effective on production runs of larger numbers. Where the suction tip is being injection moulded it may be preferable to mould the suction tip in at least two parts and then subsequently join them together, for example, through adhesive or welding the parts together to provide air-tight joints. The suction tip is preferably made of a polymer material, allowing it to be made cheaply, e.g., as a disposable or single use suction tip, but the suction tip could also be made of other materials, such as a metallic material, e.g., through 3D printing.
Viewed from another aspect the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a suction tip, wherein the method comprises forming a stem with a port for connection to a source of suction, and forming a ring-shaped section mounted to the stem in fluid communication with the port, the ring-shaped section comprising a suction manifold and a plurality of fluid inlets arranged in an inwardly facing portion of the ring-shaped section, the plurality of fluid inlets being in fluid communication with the port via the suction manifold to provide suction to a working area that is encircled by the ring-shaped section. The forming of the stem and/or the ring-shaped section may be through an additive manufacturing technique such as three- dimensional printing. Alternatively, the stem and/or ring-shaped section may be formed using an injection moulding process and optionally an assembly process where the stem is fused or otherwise joined to the ring-shaped section.
Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing a suction tip, wherein the method comprises forming, using an additive manufacturing process: a stem with a port for connection to a source of suction; and a ring-shaped section mounted to the stem in fluid communication with the port, the ring-shaped section comprising a suction manifold and a plurality of fluid inlets arranged in an inwardly facing portion of the ring-shaped section, the plurality of fluid inlets being in fluid communication with the port via the suction manifold to provide suction to a working area of suction that is encircled by the ring-shaped section.
Viewed from yet a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of applying suction to an area of material. The method comprises connecting a source of suction to the port of the suction tip according to the first aspect described above, placing the ring-shaped section of the suction tip on the material to supply suction via the suction manifold to the plurality of fluid inlets arranged in the inwardly-facing portion of the ring-shaped section, to generate suction in a working area that is encircled by the ring-shaped section of the suction tip and create a barrier to fluid located externally of the suction tip.
The method of applying suction may include bifurcating the suction to opposed regions of the ring-shaped section. The ring-shaped section may include a ring-shaped gallery to provide a ring of suction to the plurality of fluid inlets. The plurality of fluid inlets may be arranged to draw in fluid laterally across the working area.
The method may apply to non-surgical uses. The method may be used for investigative procedures. More preferably the method may comprise removing blood from tissue of a patient and performing actions on the tissue with a separate instrument in the working area. According to another aspect of the invention, a suction tip is provided, the suction tip comprising: a stem provided with a port for connection to a source of suction, the stem being configured to be hand-held in use; and a ring-shaped section mounted to the stem and in fluid communication with the port, the ring-shaped section comprising a suction manifold and a plurality of fluid inlets arranged in an inwardly facing portion of the ring-shaped section, the plurality of fluid inlets being in fluid communication with the port via the suction manifold, to provide suction to a working area that is encircled by the ring-shaped section, wherein the stem provides an elongate handle to manoeuvre the ring-shaped section of the suction tip, wherein the ring-shaped section is configured to create a barrier to fluid located externally of the suction tip, and wherein the suction manifold comprises a ring-shaped gallery extending within the ring-shaped section, a lower region of the ring-shaped gallery is open and configured to be closed off through contact with tissue or other material in use with the fluid inlets directing suction to the working area.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a method of manufacturing a suction tip is provided, wherein the method comprises: forming a stem with a port for connection to a source of suction, the stem being configured to be hand-held in use; and forming a ring-shaped section mounted to the stem in fluid communication with the port, the ring-shaped section comprising a suction manifold and a plurality of fluid inlets arranged in an inwardly facing portion of the ring-shaped section, the plurality of fluid inlets being in fluid communication with the port via the suction manifold to provide suction to a working area that is encircled by the ring-shaped section, wherein the stem has been formed to provide an elongate handle to manoeuvre the ringshaped section of the suction tip, wherein the ring-shaped section has been configured to create a barrier to fluid located externally of the suction tip, and wherein the suction manifold has been formed to comprise a ring-shaped gallery extending within the ring-shaped section, a lower region of the ring-shaped gallery being open and configured to be closed off through contact with tissue or other material in use with the fluid inlets directing suction to the working area.
Optional features described with refence to one of the aspects apply equally to other aspects described herein.
Certain embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a top view of a suction tip;
Figure 2 shows a bottom view of a suction tip; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of another suction tip;
Figure 4 shows a close up of a lower portion of the suction tip of figure 3;
Figures 5A-5C show exemplary top views of a suction tip in use;
Figure 6 shows another example of a suction tip; and
Figures 7A-7C show further exemplary variations of a suction tip.
Figure 1 shows a top view of a suction tip 1 comprising a stem 2 and a ringshaped section 4. The stem 2 comprises a port 3 at the proximal end of the stem and includes a channel (e.g., a passage) within the stem 2. The stem 2 is rigidly connected to the ring-shaped section 4 at its distal end. The stem 2 and the ringshaped section 4 may have been formed as two parts and been bonded or otherwise fused together to form a suction tip 1 , or the suction tip 1 may have been formed as a one-piece item using additive manufacturing.
As seen in Figure 2, which shows an underside view of a suction tip 1 , the ring-shaped section 4 in this embodiment comprises an outer wall 6 and an inner wall 5 providing outwardly facing and inwardly facing portions of the ring-shaped section 4 respectively. The outer wall 6 and the inner wall 5 are connected by an upper region, the internal form of which defines a suction manifold 9 that is in fluid communication with the port 3 via the stem 2. The ring-shaped section 4 (the ‘ring’ of the suction tip) encircles a working area 8 where suction is supplied.
In the exemplary suction tip 1 of Figure 1 , the ring-shaped body 4 is elongated in a first length dimension compared to its second width dimension in order to define an ellipsoidal or stadium shape, providing ends to the ring-shaped section. The stem 2 extends from one of the ends. The inner wall 5 and the outer wall 6 are of a similar shape (i.e. the inner wall and the outer wall are defined by a similar, or identical, ellipse or stadium shape). The suction tip is not limited by this particular shape of ring-shaped section 4 and a circular ring-shaped section 4 or other shape (e.g. rounded triangular, square, rectangular shapes, tear-drop, etc.) are also considered useful. The wall thicknesses may be between 0.5 to 2 mm thick, as desired, and the walls be spaced between 1 to 9 mm apart, more preferably 2 to 5 mm apart, in the ring-shaped section. The working area 8 may be greater than around 30 mm2 in area, and typically less than 80 mm2, though other dimensions may be desirable. The total area of the ring-shaped section 4 may be less than 150 mm2, more usually less than 120 mm2, and more preferably less than 100 mm2.
The suction tip 1 of Figure 2 comprises a suction manifold 9 defined between the outer wall 6 and the inner wall 5 that is open at the base of the ring-shaped section 4. The outer wall 6 comprises a lower edge 6a and the inner wall comprises a lower edge 5a (as shown in Figure 3). The inner wall 5 comprises a plurality of fluid inlets 7, such that the suction manifold 9 and the working area 8 are in direct fluid communication when the suction tip 1 is placed against a surface, such as tissue, and the base of the ring-shaped section 4 is closed off. The plurality of fluid inlets 7 are spaced around the lower edge 5a of the inner wall 5. The stem 2 and the ringshaped section 4 are connected defining an opening 21 between them, such that fluid communication between the suction manifold 9 and the channel of the stem 2 is provided. In the embodiment of Figure 2 only a single internal opening 21 is provided. In other embodiments, the suction manifold 9 may have a more complicated structure defining two or more passageways providing fluid communication between a ringshaped gallery of the suction manifold and the channel (or channels) of the stem 2, and in such embodiments there may be two or more such internal openings 21 leading to the passageways that branch off from the gallery of the suction manifold 9.
In use, the suction tip 1 is placed against a surface, such as tissue, so that the lower edge 6a of the outer wall 6 and the lower edge 5a of the inner wall 5 are at least partially in contact with the surface, while suction is applied to the port 3 of the stem 2. The suction creates a negative pressure within the suction manifold 9 and results in fluid being drawn up to the port 3 through the suction manifold 9 and the stem 2. When the lower edge 6a of the outer wall 6 is in contact with the tissue, fluid located outside of the ring-shaped section 4 is separated I isolated from the fluid located inside the ring-shaped section 4. In this way, the outer wall 6 provides a barrier between fluids located in the two regions (i.e. inside I outside of the ringshaped section).
The fluid inlets 7 provide fluid communication between the working area 8 and the suction manifold 9, so that suction applied to the port 3 draws fluid from the working area 8, though the fluid inlets 7, into the suction manifold 9 and subsequently to the port 3. The fluid inlets 7 provide a mouth of the suction tip 1 , which because of their inwardly-facing arrangement, draws fluid laterally from the working area 8. In this way, the suction provided to the suction tip is concentrated to the fluid enclosed by the ring-shaped section 4, which results in an increased rate of fluid removal. This improved fluid removal from the working area 8 allows for inspection and remedial work to be performed on the tissue in the working area 8 sooner and more easily than with a conventional suction tip. Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an exemplary suction tip 1 comprising a stem 2 extending from the ring-shaped section 4 and inclined at an angle away from the working area 8.
The stem 2 of the suction tip 1 may comprise a plurality of surface features 10, such as longitudinally extending protrusions 10 provided partially along the length of the stem 2. There are two surface features 10 on opposite sides of the stem 2 in Figure 3, allowing the user to manipulate the suction tip 1 using their finger tips. The stem 2 also comprises a circumferential protrusion 11 near the port 3 end of the stem 2.
The fluid inlets 7 are located in the lower edge 5a of the inner wall 5 on the inwardly facing portion of the ring-shaped section 4. The fluid inlets 7 are arranged around a periphery of the working area 8 and provide fluid communication between the working area 8 and the suction manifold 9 defined in part by the inner wall 5 and the outer wall 6.
The angle of joining of the stem 2 and the ring-shaped section 4, (i.e. the angle between the axis of the stem 2 and the plane of the ring-shaped section 4), provides a convenient positioning of the ring-shaped section 4 in relation to a user’s hand. The user holding the suction tip 1 of Figure 3, is able to place the lower edge 6a of the outer wall 6 flat on a surface while maintaining a convenient and/or comfortable hand orientation. The surface features 10 provide a convenient place for the user to grasp the suction tip 1 and maintain a hold of the suction tip 1. The surface features 10 allow the user to twist and control the movement of the suction tip 1 over the surface. The circumferential protrusion 11 can be used to confirm that a secure attachment between a vacuum source and the suction tip 1 is provided, e.g., through haptic or visual feedback.
Figure 4 shows a close-up side view of the suction tip 1 of Figure 3 near the ring-shaped section 4. Internal features of the suction tip 1 are shown in dashed lines. For example, the plurality of fluid inlets 7 can be seen leading to a ring-shaped gallery 9a of the suction manifold 9 which encircles the working area 8, and a passageway 9b branching off from the gallery to connect with a channel in the stem 2 connecting the suction manifold 9 with the port 3 of the stem 2. The gallery 9a provides a ring of negative pressure, in use, which generates suction at the fluid inlets 7 to draw fluid laterally across the working area 8. The fluid inlets 7 are provided as arcuate recesses in the lower edge 5a of the inner wall 5, i.e., on a portion of the inner wall 5 of the ring-shaped section 4 facing into the working area 8. As shown, the suction manifold 9 is a hollow region of the ring-shaped section 4 formed as a II- shaped body, defined by the inner wall 5, the outer wall 6 and an upper region of the ring-shaped section 4 that connects the inner wall 5 and the outer wall 6.
The suction manifold 9 in this embodiment is open at the base of the ringshaped section 4, such that there is no barrier between the suction manifold 9 and any tissue that the suction tip is placed upon.
Figures 5A-C show a possible use of the suction tip 1 described above. Figure 5A shows a top-down view of an area of tissue containing a vessel 14 which is submerged and covered by blood 12. Because the blood 12 obscures the vessel 14, it is difficult for a surgeon to perform an operation on the vessel or the area around the vessel 14. As shown in Figure 5B, the suction tip 1 can be plunged into the blood 12 and pressed against the underlying tissue such that the lower edge 6a of the outer wall 6 creates a barrier between the exterior of the ring-shaped section 4 and the interior of the ring-shaped section 4. This barrier separates the blood 12 located on the outside of the ring-shaped section 4 from the blood 13 segregated within the ringshaped section 4. Applying suction to the port 3 of the suction tip 1 supplies suction to the working area 8, and so segregated blood 13 located within the working area 8 of the suction tip 1 will be drawn through the fluid inlets 7 and up through the suction manifold 9 to the port 3, to reveal the underlying tissue in the working area 8. As the segregated blood 13 is only a fraction of the total blood 12 present, it can be suctioned effectively in a short time, and as shown in Figure 5C, the underlying tissue and the vessel of interest 15 can be revealed in the working area 8. Figure 5C shows that the vessel of interest 15 contains an injury 16 which may result in more blood being released from the vessel. Because the suction tip 1 creates an effective barrier to fluid outside of the ring-shaped section 4, the suction tip 1 needs only to suction the blood that is being produced by the vessel of interest 15 through the injury 16, thus resulting in a very fast removal of any blood that could obscure the vessel of interest. Thus, an improved area of operation is achieved.
Furthermore, because the suction tip 1 is operated by pressing the lower edge 6a of the outer wall 6 against the tissue, it may provide an additional benefit of providing pressure against any damaged and bleeding vessels 14, 15. As shown in Figure 6, the vessel 14 is being pressed down by the suction tip 1 at two places by the outer wall 6 (i.e. the right portion of the outer wall and the left portion of the outer wall as seen in the figure) as well as being possibly pressed by the lower edge of the inner wall at two places. This may provide a tourniquet type effect, where bleeding of the vessel is reduced by physical interaction with the vessel. This may reduce the amount of blood being introduced into the working area 8 by the injury 16 of the vessel of interest 15.
Figure 6 shows another example of a suction tip 1 , which is similar to that described above, except that it comprises a ring-shaped section 4 which is smaller in size. The decreased size of the ring-shaped section 4 may provide an advantage of being able to operate and provide visibility in confined areas during an operation. The use a smaller ring-shaped section 4 may result in a smaller contact area between the ring-shaped section 4 and the stem 2 of the suction tip 1 , which may result in a weaker joint between the two sections. Thus, the suction tip 1 may be provided with reinforcement 17 in this area between the stem 2 and the ring-shaped section 4. The reinforcement may stretch along the stem 2 (or at least a portion of it, e.g., a majority of the stem 2) and/or the ring-shaped body 4 to provide additional support to the connection between them. This reinforcement 17 is not limited to small suction tips and can also be provided to larger suction tips such as the one in Figure 4.
Figures 7A to 7C show a few exemplary variations. For example, Figure 7A shows a perspective view of a suction tip 1 with a smaller ring-shaped section 4, which is circular and provides a circular working area 8. In other respects, the suction tip 1 is similar to the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4. Figure 7B is a perspective view from below showing a suction manifold 9 of another suction tip 1 that includes an internal structure in the form of a three-dimensional mesh. This arrangement may be useful where reduced contact pressures are desirable. Figure 7C shows a perspective view of another suction tip 1 comprising a stem 1 which bifurcates in a lower region, such that two passageways branching off from a gallery of the suction manifold merge into and provide two stem sections which then join in a mid or upper region of the stem 1 to fluidically communicate the suction manifold 9 with the port 3. The suction tip 1 of Figure 7C therefore comprises a first stem section 2a defining a channel therein and a second stem section 2b defining a channel therein, and the two stem sections 2a, 2b join to form the remaining portion of the stem 2.
The suction tip 1 may be made in different ways, for example, through additive manufacturing or moulding techniques. The choice may be dependent on the complexity of the suction tip 1 , the choice of material and the numbers being produced. In this specification, references to a surgeon are to be understood as references to any person using the suction tip 1 . The suction tip 1 may be operated by a nurse, or indeed any other person, for example, working in a non-surgical environment, and the use of specific descriptors of the user are for ease of understanding and should not be understood as limiting.
As can be seen from the present disclosure, at least in the preferred embodiments a suction tip is provided that allows direct visual control of bleeding vessels and tissues. It removes blood and fluids during surgery without covering the bleeding point or points. This allows controlled and undisturbed treatment of the bleeding point. The ring-shaped design creates a barrier that also allows fast removal of blood and surgery access inside the ring. This allows both improved localization of the bleeding vessel and allows treatment procedures like diathermy or ligation, while the suction is actively ongoing. The many openings in the suction tip provide evenly distributed suction spread over a much larger area than conventional suction tips. The suction ring can have several fine adjustments, as size, angle, fine structure of the ring edges and possible mesh inside the ring. Thus, at least in the illustrated examples, the suction tip can provide: faster suction rates compared to conventional suction tips faster localization of bleeding point the ring-shaped structure creates barrier the ring-shaped structure facilitates treatment while suction is active the tip design allows compression of tissue/vessel
The following clauses recite features of the invention which may or may not presently be claimed, but which may serve as basis for amendments and/or one or more divisional applications:
1 . A suction tip comprising: a stem provided with a port for connection to a source of suction; and a ring-shaped section mounted to the stem and in fluid communication with the port, the ring-shaped section comprising a suction manifold and a plurality of fluid inlets arranged in an inwardly facing portion of the ring-shaped section, the plurality of fluid inlets being in fluid communication with the port via the suction manifold, to provide suction to a working area that is encircled by the ring-shaped section. 2. The suction tip according to clause 1 , wherein the ring-shaped section is configured to allow free access to tissue or other material positioned within the working area whilst suction is supplied to the working area.
3. The suction tip according to clause 1 or 2, wherein the suction manifold comprises a ring-shaped gallery extending within the ring-shaped section and passageways branching from the gallery to fluidly communicate the gallery to the stem.
4. The suction tip according to clause 3, wherein a lower region of the ringshaped gallery is open and configured to be closed off through contact with tissue or other material in use with the fluid inlets directing suction to the working area.
5. The suction tip according to any preceding clause, wherein the ring-shaped section is provided with an inner wall and an outer wall to define inner and outer portions of the suction manifold, and wherein the plurality of fluid inlets are provided in the inner wall.
6. The suction tip according to clause 5, wherein the outer wall has a lower edge configured to contact an outer line of tissue, in use, and the inner wall has a lower edge configured to contact at least portions of an inner line of tissue, in use, spaced inwardly from the outer line of tissue.
7. The suction tip according to clause 5 or 6, wherein the inner wall is linked to the outer wall to form an upper region of the suction manifold, the upper region of the suction manifold being configured to divide flow from the plurality of fluid inlets to the port.
8. The suction tip according to clause 7, wherein the upper region of the suction manifold is configured to bifurcate the flow such that suction is supplied to opposed regions of the ring-shaped section.
9. The suction tip according to any preceding clause, wherein the plurality of fluid inlets are configured to supply a level of suction to the working area for fluid removal when the ring-shaped section is in contact with underlying tissue or other material.
10. The suction tip according to any preceding clause, wherein the ring-shaped section is configured to create a barrier to fluid located externally of the suction tip.
11. The suction tip according to any preceding clause, wherein the ring-shaped section is ovalized, or at least longer in a first length dimension compared to a second width dimension, so as to provide ends of the ring-shaped section, and wherein the stem is mounted to one end of the ring-shaped section.
12. The suction tip according to any preceding clause, wherein the stem extends with an incline away from the ring-shaped section and its working area.
13. The suction tip according to any preceding clause, wherein the plurality of fluid inlets are uniformly arranged in the inwardly-facing portion of the ring-shaped section.
14. The suction tip according to any preceding clause, wherein the plurality of fluid inlets are provided as a series of rounded recesses in the inwardly-facing portion of the ring-shaped section.
15. The suction tip according to any preceding clause, wherein the stem comprises grip features to assist a user in manipulating the suction tip.
16. The suction tip according to any preceding clause wherein the suction tip has been moulded by an injection moulding process or has been built using an additive manufacturing process.
17. A method of manufacturing a suction tip, wherein the method comprises: forming a stem with a port for connection to a source of suction; and forming a ring-shaped section mounted to the stem in fluid communication with the port, the ring-shaped section comprising a suction manifold and a plurality of fluid inlets arranged in an inwardly facing portion of the ring-shaped section, the plurality of fluid inlets being in fluid communication with the port via the suction manifold to provide suction to a working area that is encircled by the ring-shaped section.
18. A method of applying suction to an area of material, the method comprising: connecting a source of suction to the port of the suction tip according to clause
1 , placing the ring-shaped section of the suction tip on the material to supply suction via the suction manifold to the plurality of fluid inlets arranged in the inwardly-facing portion of the ring-shaped section, to generate suction in a working area that is encircled by the ring-shaped section of the suction tip and create a barrier to fluid located externally of the suction tip.
19. The method of clause 18, wherein the suction is bifurcated to opposed regions of the ring-shaped section. 20. The method according to clause 18 or 19, wherein the method comprises removing blood from tissue and performing actions on the tissue with a separate instrument in the working area.