Automated provision of information related to air evacuation from a chest cavity

• US 20030212337A1
• Filed: 09/26/2002
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Spiration, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Sirokman, William A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,207,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/529
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/61 Two- or three-bottle systems for underwater drainage, e.g. for chest cavity drainage
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/734 Visual indicating means for flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/782 using valves with freely moving parts, e.g. float valves

Abstract

A device according to an aspect of the invention includes an air escapement conduit having an inlet port providing air communication with a chest cavity and an outlet port providing air communication with a vacuum source, the conduit allowing an air flow from the inlet port to the outlet port in response to a pressure differential between the ports, and a detector responsive to the air flow that provides a signal related to the air flow. The device may include an indicator device operable to provide evacuation information in response to the signal. The air escapement conduit may include a bubble chamber or a valving mechanism. The detector may be a pressure differential sensor operable to detect a difference in air pressure between the inlet port and the outlet port, and generate a signal related to the difference.

Claims

1. A device providing a signal for indicating information related to air evacuation from a chest cavity, the device comprising:

an air escapement conduit having an inlet port providing air communication with the chest cavity and an outlet port providing air communication with a vacuum source, the conduit allowing an air flow from the inlet port to the outlet port in response to a pressure differential between the ports; and

a detector responsive to the air flow that provides a signal related to the air flow.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the air escapement conduit includes a bubble chamber having a fluid disposed between the inlet port and the outlet port, the bubble chamber arranged so that air flowing between the inlet port and the outlet port flows through the fluid and forms bubbles.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the air escapement conduit includes a valving mechanism.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the detector is a pressure differential sensor operable to detect a difference in air pressure between the inlet port and the outlet port, and to generate a signal related to the difference.

5. A device providing a signal for indicating information related to air evacuation from a chest cavity, the device comprising:

an air escapement conduit having an inlet port providing air communication with the chest cavity and an outlet port providing air communication with a vacuum source, the conduit allowing an air flow from the inlet port to the outlet port in response to a pressure differential between the ports; and

an air pressure detector responsive to air pressures at the inlet and outlet ports, and that provides a signal having features related to the air pressures.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the air pressure detector is further responsive to ambient air pressure and that provides a signal having features related to the ambient air pressure.

7. A device providing a signal for indicating information related to air evacuation from a chest cavity, the device comprising:

a bubble chamber having an inlet port providing air communication with the chest cavity, an outlet port providing air communication with a vacuum source, and a fluid, the bubble chamber arranged so that an air flow between the inlet port and the outlet port flows through the fluid and forms bubbles; and

a detector responsive to the air flow that provides a signal related to the air flow.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the detector is a pressure differential sensor operable to detect a difference in air pressure between the inlet port and the outlet port, and to generate a signal related to the difference.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the signal includes information related to air volume evacuated from the chest cavity.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the signal includes information related to negative air evacuation pressure applied to the chest cavity.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein the signal includes information related to respiration rate of the chest cavity.

12. A device providing a signal for indicating information related to air evacuation from a chest cavity, the device comprising:

a valving mechanism having an inlet port providing air communication with the chest cavity and an outlet port providing air communication with a vacuum source, the valving mechanism allowing an air flow from the inlet port to the outlet port in response to a pressure differential between the ports; and

a detector responsive to the air flow that provides a signal related to the air flow.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the detector is further operable to detect an allowance of the air flow by the valving mechanism, and the signal generated is related to the allowance.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the detector further includes a pressure differential sensor operable to detect a difference in air pressure between the inlet port and the outlet port, and the signal generated is related to the pressure differential.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the signal includes evacuation information related to air volume evacuated from the chest cavity.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the signal includes evacuation information related to negative air evacuation pressure applied to the chest cavity.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein the signal includes evacuation information related to respiration rate of the chest cavity.

18. An air evacuation indicator for providing information about air evacuation from a chest cavity, the device comprising:

an air escapement conduit having an inlet port providing air communication with the chest cavity and an outlet port providing air communication with a vacuum source, the conduit allowing an air flow from the inlet port to the outlet port in response to a pressure differential between the ports;

a detector responsive to the air flow that provides a signal related to the air flow; and

an indicator device operable to provide evacuation information in response to the signal.

19. The air evacuation indicator of claim 18, wherein the air escapement conduit includes a bubble chamber having a fluid disposed between the inlet port and the outlet port, the bubble chamber arranged so that air flowing between the inlet port and the outlet port flows through the fluid and forms bubbles.

20. The air evacuation indicator of claim 18, wherein the air escapement conduit includes a mechanical valving mechanism.

21. The air evacuation indicator of claim 18, wherein the detector is a pressure differential sensor operable to detect a difference in air pressure between the inlet port and the outlet port, and to generate a signal related to the difference.

22. The air evacuation indicator of claim 18, wherein the detector is an air pressure detector responsive to air pressures at the inlet and outlet ports, and that provides a signal having features related to the air pressures.

23. The air evacuation indicator of claim 22, wherein the air pressure detector is further responsive to ambient air pressure and that provides a signal having features related to the ambient air pressure.

24. The air evacuation indicator of claim 18, wherein the indicator device is further operable to correlate time of occurrence with signal features.

25. The air evacuation indicator of claim 18, wherein the indicator device is further operable to discriminate features of the signal to produce separate corresponding indications.

26. The air evacuation indicator of claim 18, wherein the indicator device is further operable to provide an alarm when a volume of air evacuated in a selected unit of time exceeds a predetermined level.

27. The air evacuation indicator of claim 18, wherein the evacuation information includes air volume evacuated from the chest cavity.

28. The air evacuation indicator of claim 18, wherein the evacuation information includes rate of air volume evacuation from the chest cavity.

29. The air evacuation indicator of claim 18, wherein the evacuation information includes air volume evacuated per selected unit of time over time.

30. The air evacuation indicator of claim 18, wherein the evacuation information includes respiration rate of the chest cavity.

31. The air evacuation indicator of claim 18, wherein the evacuation information includes negative air evacuation pressure applied to the chest cavity.

32. The air evacuation indicator of claim 18, wherein the indicator device includes an optical indicator element.

33. The air evacuation indicator of claim 32, wherein the optical indicator element includes a light emitting diode.

34. The air evacuation indicator of claim 18, wherein the indicator device includes an audio element.

35. The air evacuation indicator of claim 18, wherein the indicator device includes a digital indicator device.

36. The air evacuation indicator of claim 18, further including a storage device arranged to store data representative of the signal.

37. A method of providing a signal indicating information related to air evacuation from a chest cavity, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting an air escapement conduit into an air evacuation pathway between the chest cavity and a vacuum source, the air escapement conduit allowing an air flow in response to a pressure differential between the ports; and

generating a signal related to the air flow.

38. A method of providing a signal indicating information related to air evacuation from a chest cavity, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting an air escapement conduit into an air evacuation pathway between the chest cavity and a vacuum source, the air escapement conduit allowing an air flow in response to a pressure differential between the ports;

generating a signal related to the air flow; and

indicating air evacuation information in response to the signal.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the air escapement conduit includes a bubble chamber having a fluid disposed between the inlet port and the outlet port, the bubble chamber arranged so that air flowing between the inlet port and the outlet port flows through the fluid and forms bubbles.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the air escapement conduit includes a mechanical valving mechanism.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of generating a signal includes the further step of detecting a difference in air pressure between the inlet port and the outlet port, and generating a signal related to the difference.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of indicating further includes a flash of light.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the flash of light is provided by a light emitting diode.

44. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of indicating includes a sound.

45. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of indicating includes a representation of air evacuated as volume per selected unit of time.

46. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of indicating further includes providing an alarm when the air evacuated per selected unit of time exceeds a predetermined level.

47. The method of claim 38, further including the additional step of storing data representative of the signal.

48. A device providing a signal for indicating information related to air evacuation from a chest cavity, the device comprising:

means for allowing an air flow in an air escapement pathway between the chest cavity and a vacuum source; and

means for generating a signal related to the air flow.

49. A device for indicating information related to air evacuation from a chest cavity, the device comprising:

means for allowing an air flow in an air escapement pathway between the chest cavity and a vacuum source in response to a pressure differential between the ports;

means for generating a signal related to the air flow; and

means for indicating air evacuation information in response to the signal.