PNEUMOCEPHALUS PREVENTION DEVICE

FIELD OF ART The invention refers to the technical field of human needs and more specifically to the field of medical and veterinary science and hygiene. In particular it refers to the field of diagnosis, surgical interventions and even more specifically to surgical tools, devices or methods. It specifically refers to a pneumocephalus prevention device.

BACKGROUNG OF THE INVENTION

The pneumocephalus prevention device disclosed in the present invention has not been disclosed in the prior art.

To date, in intracranial diseases such as hematomas, tumors and aneurysms, hydrocephalus, increased intracranial pressure, craniotomy or craniectomy/cranioplasty is performed, in order to allow the surgeon access to the affected area. During the operation, a saline solution of 0,9% w/v is instilled. At the end of the operation, the intracranial cavity is filled with the same solution. Despite all this, a quantity of air always remains enclosed at the end of the operation. This is the so-called pneumocephalus. The condition may be asymptomatic, but in cases where the pneumocephalus is under tension, headache may occur and lead to increased intracranial pressure. It is thus an object of the present invention to advantageously address the aforementioned disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art by proposing a pneumocephalus prevention device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pneumocephalus prevention device where a continuous layer of solution is created prior to craniotomy or craniectomy, but after the skin and underlying scalp or fronto-occipital denervation has been incised so that the entire procedure is performed without contact of the brain with atmospheric air.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pneumocephalus prevention device having a base which is adapted to the patient's skull.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pneumocephalus prevention device, the renewal of the solution being done continuously by the use of a pump. During its renewal, the solution simultaneously removes by entrainment, pathological fluids, such as blood catabolism products, pathological organisms, as well as chemotactic factors that promote inflammation and vasoconstriction. Vasospasm is particularly observed in ruptured aneurysms, with devastating consequences for the patient.

A further advantage of the invention is the presentation of a pneumocephalus prevention device, which is fixed to the skull, allowing the surgeon to perform the operation seamlessly.

A further characteristic of the invention is that it has two shunt and drainage mouths, with a height difference between them, allowing the continuous and uninterrupted circulation of the solution, using the pump. An additional advantage of the invention is that the fluid can in a second time be replaced by an isotonic/hypertonic or hypotonic solution with or without drugs (antibiotics, anticancer drugs, etc.), as well as instead that, the cerebrospinal fluid itself can be filtered and re-administered autologously. Another advantage of the invention is that the device can have a filter, to retain particles, empyema or other pathological findings, during the recirculation of the solution. A further advantage of the invention is that desiccation of the cerebral cortex and cerebral conjugations (nerves) is avoided, such as e.g. postoperative paresis of the facial nerve due to use of intense lighting.

Another advantage is identified in maintaining an environment of constant temperature and pressure, in which the development of aerobic microbes is prevented from the outset. The device presented herein can be connected to another device that keeps the temperature of the solution constant.

Another advantage of using the pneumocephalus prevention device disclosed herein is that in the event of a vessel rupture, the place of the rupture is located on the spot.

A further characteristic of the device is that its hopper-like component can have inside and below the level of the shunt mouth spiral grooves, so that swirls are created during the circulation of the liquid, so that the stirring speed of it increases and it is achieved more effective drainage of the liquid with the other pathological elements.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings in which it is illustrated in an indicative, non-limiting manner. Figure 1 is an illustrative embodiment of the pneumocephalus prevention device, showing both the skull-mounted component and the fluid circulation pump.

Figure 2 shows the base placed on the skull.

Figures 3 (a) - (b) show in front and top view the intermediate base inserted between the base on the skull and the upper part of the device.

Figure 4 shows the upper part of the device with its mouths for shunting and drainage of the solution.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the accompanying drawings, we will describe illustrative embodiments of the pneumocephalus prevention device in order to demonstrate its mode of operation, as well as its innovative features.

The device consists of two main parts, the solution concentration part

(1), Fig. 1, of a hopper-like shape, which is placed on the patient's skull, and the fluid circulation pump (2). The solution concentration part consists of a base (3), Fig. 2, which is placed on the skull after the surgical field has been sterilized and after an incision has been made in the scalp, an incision of the superficial (or fronto-occipital) denervation. Then an intermediate base (4), Fig. 3 (a), is placed, which is fixed together with the base (3) using screws on the skull. To this end, the two bases have corresponding holes (5), Fig. 3 (b). The intermediate base (4) abuts on the first one and adheres to it spirally. The intermediate base (4) has also a thread (6) through which it is screwed to the upper part (7), Fig. 4, to form the hopper-like solution concentration part (1). A gasket is placed between the intermediate base (4) and the upper part (7), for additional sealing. The upper part (7) has two openings, a shunt opening (8) and a drainage opening (9). The shunt opening (8) is located at a higher point than the drain opening (9) in order to facilitate the flow of the liquid solution and its renewal. Tubes (10) are connected to the two openings, which lead to the fluid circulation pump (2). In this way, a closed circuit is created, through which the solution circulates, which is concentrated in the upper part (7). After filling the device with the solution, craniotomy is performed. After the end of the operation and the watertight convergence of the meninges and the skull, the device is removed. Alternatively, the base (3) can be hollow-shaped, at the side that conies into contact with the skull, so that it fits better with the convexity of the skull and better contact is achieved with it. Thus bases (3) with different curvatures may be, so that the doctor chooses the appropriate one, depending on the occasion.

In a further variant of the invention, a filter (11) can be placed at the outlet of the drainage opening (9), or anywhere else deemed appropriate, in order to retain pathological findings during the circulation of the liquid.

In yet another alternative embodiment of the invention, the inside of the upper part (7) from the level of the shunt opening (8) downwards may have spiral grooves, which follow the inner wall of the upper part (7) and which contribute to the rotation and increase of the velocity of the liquid. In this way, the drainage of fluid and pathological findings from the skull can be facilitated. In an additional variant of the invention, the upper part of the hopperlike upper part (7) may be provided with a lid, preferably watertight, which creates a fully controlled closed environment. The lid can further have holes through which tools may be passed, allowing the doctor to perform operations under controlled conditions. At this point it is noted that the description of the invention was made with reference to illustrative application examples, to which it is not limited. Consequently, any change or modification in terms of shape, dimensions, morphology, materials used and construction and assembly components, as long as they do not constitute a new inventive step and do not contribute to the technical development of what is already known, are considered included in the aims and objectives of the present invention such as are summarized in the following claims.