System and method for efficient drainage of body cavity

• US 8,439,893 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2003
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medela Holding AG (Olle Larsson Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Medela Holding AG (Olle Larsson Holding AG)
• Inventors: Wakabayashi, Akio
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US10/517,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20060122575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,625 Days
• Field of Search: 604/19, 604/48, 604/93.01, 604/164.04, 604/264, 604/268, 604/314, 604/322, 604/540, 604/541, 604/35, 604/542, 600/571
• US Class Current: 604/541
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/742 by changing the size of a vent A61M1/7411 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/78 Means for preventing overflow or contamination of the pumping systems combined with drainage containers A61M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/84 Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/101 Pleural cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• 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 system for efficient drainage of a body cavity includes application of vacuum at very high pressure, preferably in the range of approximately 50-500 torr or higher. The system includes the use of a drainage tube having a plurality of holes formed into the wall of a portion of the tube to be inserted in the body cavity. The area of each of the holes is preferably selected to ensure that the suction force communicated by each of the holes to areas within the body cavity is insufficient to injure the tissues exposed in the body cavity. A one-way valve maintains unidirectional flow of drained fluids and gases away from the body cavity. A vacuum relief valve prevents application of dangerous levels of vacuum pressure by opening to admit atmospheric air when vacuum pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold. A vacuum chamber separates drained fluids from drained gases.

Claims

1. A drainage system for draining a body cavity, comprising:

a source of vacuum being at a level of at least 300 mm Hg; and

a tube having a first and a second end, said first end adapted to be inserted into the body cavity and being effectively closed, and a tube wall,

a plurality of holes formed into said tube wall in an area of said tube that is intended to be inserted into the body cavity,

a second end of said tube being adapted for connecting to said source of vacuum,

said holes being of a size and quantity such that a suction force from any of said holes is insufficient to cause any significant injury to body tissue proximate a hole, while efficiently draining fluid from body cavity,

wherein said tube is of a small caliber, and wherein a largest hole is approximately circular in diameter with an effective diameter no greater than about one half of an internal diameter of said tube in the region of said holes, and wherein said effective diameter is between about 0.5 mm and about 1 mm.

2. The drainage system of claim 1 wherein said hole size and vacuum level yield a force of about 0.4N at a hole.

3. The drainage system of claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the tube is in the range of 4 F to 15 F.

4. The drainage system of claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the tube is about 13 F.

5. The drainage system of claim 1 wherein said hole size and vacuum level yield a force in the range of about 0.2N to 0.8N at a hole.