Multiple lumen wound drain with bypass openings

• US 5,116,310 A
• Filed: 07/30/1990
• Issued: 05/26/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Helix Medical Incorporated (Helix Medical)
• Original Assignee: Helix Medical Incorporated (Helix Medical)
• Inventors: Mitchell, Martin, Coe, Frederick L., Seder, Edmund V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gutowski, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US07/559,670
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 604/27, 604/35, 604/43, 604/45, 604/49, 604/129, 604/264, 604/266, 604/268, 604/280, 604/282
• US Class Current: 604/43
• 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 silicone catheter wound drain with parallel lumens or passageways formed inside to convey fluid from a wound. The drain has both holes and slots on the outside surface to admit fluid to the lumens and internal openings between the lumens to divert fluid from a blocked lumen to an adjacent lumen and back again after the blockage. The silicon wound drain may contain an embedded, elongated reinforcing fiber to strengthen the wound drain and prevent necking down during removal.

Claims

1. A wound drain comprising an elongate structure formed from a pliable and soft material with multiple parallel lumens in said structure, with external openings to the outside of the structure from said lumens and with bypass interconnecting openings between said luments, fluid flow from said wound being channeled through said external openings to said lumens so as to exit the wound and also channeled through said bypass openings to adjacent lumens when one or more of the lumens is obstructed, and in which said lumens are generally triangular in shape so that said drain has a truss shaped cross section to maximize resistance to mechanical compression.

2. A wound drain comprising an elongate structure formed from a pliable and soft silicone material with multiple parallel drain lumens in said structure, said drain lumens having approximately equal cross-sectional drain area, with external openings to the outside of the structure from said lumens and with bypass interconnecting openings between said lumens, fluid flow from said wound being channeled through said external openings to said lumens so as to exit the wound and also channeled through said bypass openings to adjacent lumens when one or more of the lumens is obstructed, in which one of said external openings comprises a slot formed continuously along the elongate structure in communication with one of said drain lumens while the remaining external openings are relatively small holes so that the other lumens comprise substantially tubular drain channels.

3. A wound drain comprising an elongate structure formed from a pliable and soft silicone material with multiple parallel lumens in said structure, with external openings to the outside of the structure from said lumens wand with bypass interconnecting openings between said lumens, fluid flow from said wound being channeled through said external openings to said lumens so as to exit the wound and also channeled through said bypass openings to adjacent lumens when one or more of the lumens is obstructed, in which at least one of said external openings comprises a slot formed continuously along the elongate structure in communication with a lumen, and including reinforcing means in said drain positioned parallel to the lumens so as to resist elongation of the drain and strengthen the drain, said reinforcing means comprising a plurality of cooperating fibers, and in which said lumens are approximately triangular so as to make the drain have a truss shaped cross section to resist collapse.