Surgical gravity drain having aligned longitudinally extending capillary drainage channels

• US 4,579,555 A
• Filed: 12/05/1983
• Issued: 04/01/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sil-Fab Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sil-Fab Corporation
• Inventors: Russo, Ronald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US06/557,864
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 609/93, 609/282, 609/280, 609/266
• US Class Current: 604/541
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0021 characterised by the form of the tubing A61M25/0054 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0023 by the form of the lumen, e.g. cross-section, variable diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/00 Drainage appliance for wounds or the like , i.e. wound drains, implanted drains negative pressure wound therapy devices A61M1/90; implements for holding wound open A61B17/02 ; middle ear drainage A61F11/202

Abstract

A surgical gravity drain includes biologically inert medical grade silicone rubber extruded to generally parallel longitudinally extending planar surfaces having transversely aligned and longitudinally extending capillary drainage channels. A ribbon of silicone rubber including integrally formed longitudinally extending and laterally spaced ribs defining transversely aligned capillary drainage channels on external ribbon surfaces is disclosed in one embodiment; and a flattened tube of silicone rubber including integrally formed longitudinally extending and laterally spaced ribs defining transversely aligned capillary drainage channels on internal and external tube surfaces is disclosed in a further embodiment. The novel drain of the present invention is substantially clogging-free, collapse-proof, and provides effective long term in situ drainage.

Claims

1. A surgical gravity drain, comprising:

an elongated tubular member of a compliant, flexible, and biologically inert material having first and second generally parallel and longitudinally extending external planar surfaces and at least one generally parallel and longitudinally extending third interior surface adjacent one of said first and said second external surfaces;

a plurality of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced first ribs integrally formed on said first planar surface of said elongated member defining a plurality of longitudinally extending exudate receiving channels between adjacent first ribs and corresponding included portions of said first external surface;

a plurality of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced second ribs integrally formed on said second planar surface of said elongated member defining a plurality of longitudinally extending exudate receiving channels between adjacent second ribs and corresponding included portions of said second external surface;

a plurality of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced third ribs integrally formed on said third planar surface of said elongated member defining a plurality of longitudinally extending exudate receiving channels between adjacent third ribs and corresponding included portions of said third internal surface;

individual ones of said third ribs on said third internal surface being integrally formed with said member such that they are transversely aligned with corresponding ones of said ribs integrally formed on said at least one of said first and said second external surfaces and cooperative therewith to act as support columns that provide structural strength to said drain.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said drain is an extruded length of medical-grade silicone rubber.