Chest tube drainage system

• US 20060036221A1
• Filed: 08/10/2005
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company (Solventum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Inventors: Watson, Richard L. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,824,384 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/319
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/882 Draining devices provided with means for releasing antimicrobial or gelation agents in the drained fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/101 Pleural cavity

Abstract

A system for draining the chest cavity of a patient subjected to a traumatic chest injury and/or to surgery within the chest. The system includes a small, portable suction device and a chest tube with an improved terminal structure. A number of embodiments of the suction device are disclosed; the first (with two variations) a small, completely disposable, bottle-shaped assembly comprising a motor/pump section, a power section, and a desiccant filled chamber, the second (also with two variations) a small box shaped assembly with a disposable desiccant pouch and a power supply that mounts to a battery charger positioned on an IV pole. A number of chest tube terminus structures are disclosed, including multi-lumen structures having high-airflow and low-airflow lumens as well as “dead” and “live” lumens. Fenestrations are variously positioned between and through the lumens in order to collect coagulated components of the extracted fluids and prevent them from clogging the primary flow tube and restricting or preventing continuous airflow.

Claims

1. A suction device for suctioning air and liquids from a patient comprising:

a motor/pump section;

a power section;

a desiccant chamber;

wherein said motor/pump section, power section, and desiccant chamber are in operative communication with each other;

further wherein said desiccant chamber is further comprising a chest tube connection connecting said desiccant chamber to the first end of a chest tube.

2. The suction device of claim 1, wherein said desiccant chamber contains in its interior a desiccant for absorbing liquids.

3. The suction device of claim 1, wherein said desiccant chamber contains anti-microbial and/or anti-bacterial chemicals able to render said suctioned air and liquids non-bio-hazardous

4. The suction device of claim 1, wherein said desiccant chamber is constructed of clear, high impact plastic.

5. The suction device of claim 1, wherein said desiccant chamber is removably attachable to said power section and said motor/pump section.

6. The suction device of claim 1, wherein said chest tube connection allows said chest tube to be removably connectable to said desiccant chamber.

7. The suction device of claim 6, wherein said chest tube connection is a screw-on or quick connect fitting.

8. The suction device of claim 1, wherein a second end of said chest tube is adaptable for placement with said patient'"'"'s chest cavity.

9. The suction device of claim 1, wherein said second end of said chest tube is attachable to a trocar for placement with said patient'"'"'s chest cavity.

10. The suction device of claim 1, wherein said chest tube further comprises:

a relatively large, high-flow lumen;

a relatively smaller, low-flow lumen; and

a plurality of fenestrations positioned through said high-flow lumen and said low-flow lumen walls wherein said fenestrations allow said air and liquid to flow between said high-flow lumen and said low-flow lumen.

11. The suction device of claim 10, wherein said motor/pump section creates suction through said chest tube.

12. The suction device of claim 11, wherein all of said lumens are in direct communication with said motor/pump section.

13. The suction device of claim 11, wherein said high-flow lumen is in direct communication with said motor/pump section, and said low-flow lumen is in indirect communication with said motor/pump section.

14. The suction device of claim 11, wherein said high-flow lumen further comprises relatively inflexible walls, and said low-flow lumen further comprises relatively flexible walls.

15. The suction device of claim 11, wherein said suction in said high-flow lumen is greater than said suction in said low-flow lumen.

16. The suction device of claim 15, wherein said chest tube further comprises a plurality of said low-flow lumens, each connected to said motor/pump section and each of said low-flow lumens capable of having an individual suction level through it.

17. The suction device of claim 1, wherein said chest tube further comprises a central suction tube and a dead space in an interior of said chest tube, wherein said central suction tube has fenestrations between it and said dead space that allow communication between said central suction tube and said dead space.

18. The suction device of claim 1, wherein said chest tube further comprises one or more sensors.

19. The suction device of claim 18, wherein said sensors are chosen from flow rate, pressure, SAO₂, ECG, and respiratory rate sensors.

20. The suction device of claim 18, wherein said sensors are remotely monitorable.