Chest Tube Drainage System with Analyzer

• US 20150174305A1
• Filed: 12/19/2014
• Published: 06/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northwestern University
• Original Assignee: Northwestern University
• Inventors: Bharat, Ankit
• Granted Patent: US 9,545,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/61 Two- or three-bottle systems for underwater drainage, e.g. for chest cavity drainage
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/73 comprising sensors or indicators for physical values
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/743 by changing the cross-section of the line, e.g. flow regulating valves A61M1/7413 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/86 Connectors between drainage tube and handpiece, e.g. drainage tubes detachable from handpiece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/10 Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1005 with O2 features or with parameter measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0225 Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 Lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/101 Pleural cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1025 Respiratory system A61M2210/0618 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1039 Lungs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/435 partial O2 pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/28 Clamping means for squeezing flexible tubes, e.g. roller clamps tube strippers A61M1/83

Abstract

A system includes a chest tube drainage system comprising a first chamber in fluid communication with a port connectable to a chest tube, a second chamber in fluid communication with a port connectable to a suction device, and a fluid seal connected to and disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber. The system also includes one or more gas sensors attached to the chest tube drainage system, the one or more gas sensors configured to detect at least one of gaseous carbon dioxide and gaseous oxygen, a controller connected to the one or more gas sensors, and at least one indicator coupled to the controller. The controller is configured to determine if a threshold level of carbon dioxide is exceeded, and to activate the at least one indicator if the threshold level of carbon dioxide is not exceeded.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a chest tube drainage system comprising a first chamber in fluid communication with a port connectable to a chest tube, a second chamber in fluid communication with a port connectable to a suction device, and a fluid seal connected to and disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber;

one or more gas sensors attached to the chest tube drainage system, the one or more gas sensors configured to detect at least one of gaseous carbon dioxide and gaseous oxygen;

a controller connected to the one or more gas sensors; and

at least one indicator coupled to the controller,

the controller configured to determine if a threshold level of carbon dioxide is exceeded, and to activate the at least one indicator if the threshold level of carbon dioxide is not exceeded.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the threshold level of carbon dioxide is 1%.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine if a threshold level of oxygen is exceeded if the threshold level of carbon dioxide is exceeded, and to activate the at least one indicator if the threshold level of oxygen is not exceeded.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the threshold level of oxygen is 1%.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the threshold level of oxygen is 2%.

6. The system according to claim 3, further comprising a clamp disposed between the port connectable to a chest tube and the chest tube, and a pressure sensor disposed between the clamp and the chest tube and connected to the controller,

wherein the controller configured to determine if a threshold pressure is exceeded at the pressure sensor if the threshold level of oxygen is exceeded, and to activate the at least one indicator if the threshold pressure is not exceeded.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the threshold level of oxygen is less than 5%.

8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an oxygen source coupled to the controller, the controller configured to activate the oxygen source if the threshold level of carbon dioxide is exceeded.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein controller is configured to determine if a threshold level of oxygen is exceeded after the oxygen source is activated, and to activate the at least one indicator if the threshold level of oxygen is not exceeded.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to activate the oxygen source if the threshold level of carbon dioxide is exceeded and a second threshold level of carbon dioxide is not exceeded, and to determine if a threshold level of oxygen is exceeded after the oxygen source is activated, and to activate the at least one indicator if the threshold level of oxygen is not exceeded.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the threshold level of oxygen is 1%.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the threshold level of oxygen is 2%.

13. The system according to claim 10, further comprising a clamp disposed between the port connectable to a chest tube and the chest tube, and a pressure sensor disposed between the clamp and the chest tube and connected to the controller, wherein the controller configured to determine if a threshold pressure is exceeded at the pressure sensor if the threshold level of oxygen is exceeded, and to activate the at least one indicator if the threshold pressure is not exceeded.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to activate the oxygen source if the threshold level of carbon dioxide is exceeded and the second threshold level of carbon dioxide is exceeded to increase the level of oxygen above an intervention level.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to modulate suction to the drainage system if the second threshold level of carbon dioxide is exceeded to decrease the level of carbon dioxide below an intervention level.

16. A method of determining if a chest tube is to be removed, the method comprising the steps of:

determining if a threshold level of carbon dioxide is exceeded in a chest tube drainage system connected to a chest tube downstream of a liquid seal; and

removing the chest tube if the threshold level of carbon dioxide is not exceeded.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

administering supplemental oxygen if the carbon dioxide level is exceeded.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

applying additional suction through the chest tube if the carbon dioxide level is exceeded.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

determining if a threshold level of oxygen is exceeded in the chest tube drainage system; and

removing the chest tube if the threshold level oxygen is not exceeded.

20. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

administering supplemental oxygen if the threshold level of carbon dioxide is not exceeded;

determining if a threshold level of oxygen is exceeded in the chest tube drainage system after administering supplemental oxygen; and

removing the chest tube if the threshold level oxygen is not exceeded.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising:

disposing a clamp between the chest tube and the chest tube drainage system;

determining if a threshold pressure is exceeded downstream of the clamp;

removing the chest tube if the threshold pressure is not exceeded.

22. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

administering additional supplemental oxygen if the oxygen level is exceeded.

23. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

applying additional suction through the chest tube if the oxygen level is exceeded.

24. A system comprising:

a chest tube drainage system comprising a first chamber in fluid communication with a port connectable to a chest tube, a second chamber in fluid communication with a port connectable to a suction device, and a fluid seal connected to and disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber; and

one or more gas sensors disposed at the port connectable to the suction device or between the port and the fluid seal, the one or more gas sensors configured to detect at least one of gaseous carbon dioxide and gaseous oxygen.