US 10,328,186 B2 · Method and apparatus for treatment of pleural effusion

Abstract

A device for the drainage of a pleural effusion through an operatively engaged chest tube in the chest wall. The device employs a check valve situated between a vacuum source communicating with the chest tube to prevent reversal of the fluid flow out of the patient's body and possible contamination. A valve mounted on a vacuum bottle provides user control of communication of negative pressure from the vacuum bottle to the chest tube. Opening the valve on the bottle communicates negative pressure to the chest tube relative to the pressure in the tube thereby initiating a fluid flow out of the tube and the patient. Once the valve on the bottle is closed, fluid flow ceases and the check valve prevents reversal of the flow.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims7

Dependent claims

An apparatus for treatment of a pleural effusion comprising:

a tube, said tube having a distal end adapted to communicate with fluid within a patient's body when placed in communication therewith in a mounted position;
said tube having a first end opposite said distal end;
an axial cavity communicating between said first end and said distal end of said tube;
a valve, said valve having a valve conduit running from a first end at said first end of said valve, to a second end of said valve conduit at said second end of said valve;
said first end of said valve conduit in a sealed engagement with said axial cavity at said first end of said tube;
said second end of said valve configured for a removable engagement with a connector on one end of a second tube, said removable engagement forming a sealed connection with an axial passage of said second tube;
said valve is configured to default to a closed position, thereby preventing communication through said valve conduit from said second end thereof to said axial cavity;
said valve is configured to be actuatable from said closed position to an open position by attaching said connector to said removable engagement of said second end of said valve, wherein communication of negative pressure in said axial passage of said second tube for a duration of said attachment of said connector to said removable engagement actuates said valve from said closed position to said open position;
said communication of negative pressure to said second end of said valve conduit is adapted to induce a flow of said fluid though said axial cavity of said tube in a first direction running only toward said first end of said tube;
said valve is configured to return to said closed position, thereby preventing said flow of said fluid from reversing from said first direction, upon disconnection of said removable engagement;
and
said connector has an axial passage running substantially longitudinally through said connector and when viewed along said axial passage a guide member forms a U-shaped projection extending along said axial passage, said U-shaped projection terminating in a U-shaped distal surface substantially within a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the axial passage, said U-shaped projection and U-shaped distal surface of said guide member defining an elongated opening which provides for cleaning access to the inside surface of said guide member.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description4,166 words

Summary1,906 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The invention herein disclosed relates to medical devices for drainage of fluids from a patient during treatment. More particularly it relates to a system for drainage of fluid which unnaturally collects in the pleural space adjacent to the lung of a patient.

#2. Prior Art

Brief description of the drawings5 figures

#FIG. 1 is a graphic depiction of the device being employed through the chest wall to drain fluid from the chest cavity of a patient.

#FIG. 1a is an enlargement of a preferred mode of components providing the sealed communication of negative pressure to the chest cavity through the chest tube.

#FIG. 2 depicts a cut away view through a connector adapted for sealed engagement with the docking component.

Detailed description2,115 words

#Referring now to the FIGS. 1-4, the device 10 and method herein drains fluid from pleural effusions 12 and other points of ongoing fluid accumulation in the body of a patient.

#In use, the device 10 is engaged with an operatively placed chest tube 14 having a first end configured for sealed communication with a catheter 28 having a communicated negative pressure therein, and thereby cause a draining of fluid from the pleural effusion 12. The chest tube 14 is configured to communicate operatively through the patient's chest wall 13. Fluid entering the distal end of the chest tube 14 is communicated into an axial cavity 16 in a sealed communication at the proximal end of the chest tube 14 with negative pressure emanating from a catheter 28 also in sealed communication with the axial cavity 16 by way of the check valve 18.

#The pressure activated check valve 18 is in a sealed engagement in the pathway formed by the sealed communication between the axial conduit 30 of the catheter 28 and the axial cavity 16. The check valve 18 is so situated to selectively interrupt the communication between the axial cavity 16 of the chest tube 14 and the axial conduit 30 of the catheter 28 such as at a position on or adjacent to or upon the proximal end of the chest tube 14 which is positioned outside the body of the patient at the opposite end from the distal end which is the implanted portion of the chest tube 14. The check valve 18 which defaults to a closed position when not subjected to negative pressure communicated from the axial conduit 30, provides a seal for the axial cavity 16 and more importantly, a means to prevent reverse flow of fluid or contaminants from the proximal end of the chest tube 14 toward the distal end within the chest cavity thereby preventing contaminants from outside the body from gaining access thereto.

Facts

Application

14/336,968Filed 21 Jul 2014 · continuation

Priority

22 Jul 2009

Published

US 2014/0330228 A16 Nov 2014

Granted

25 Jun 2019

Term ends

6 Nov 2032

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 838 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification10 codes

A61M 39/24
Valves or arrangement of valves: check- or non-return valves
A61M 1/78
Suction drainage systems: means for preventing overflow or contamination of the pumping systems
A61M 1/782
Means for preventing overflow or contamination of the pumping systems: using valves with freely moving parts, e.g. float valves
A61M 1/80
Suction or pumping devices for medical purposes; Devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body-liquids; Drainage systems:…

Family

Application61/227,559Us provisional application · filed 22 Jul 2009

Application12/842,010Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Jul 2010

US 2014/0330228 A1Pre-grant publication · published 6 Nov 2014

US 8,784,394 B2Parent of this continuation

US 2011/0022012 A1Published application

US 10,328,186 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Timeline

22 Jul 2009Priority claimedParent application 61/227,559
21 Jul 2014Application filedUS 14/336,968
6 Nov 2014PublishedUS 2014/0330228 A1
23 Sep 2015Assigned to Pfm Medical, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
25 Jun 2019GrantedUS 10,328,186 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
6 Nov 2032Term endsEstimated, includes 838 days of adjustment

Method and apparatus for treatment of pleural effusion

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for treatment of pleural effusion

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims7

Description4,166 words

Drawings

Classification10 codes

Life of this patent

Description4,166 words