System for improving fluid drainage
AssigneeInnoVital, LLC
InventorsGregory John Hiemenz, James Philip Murphy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A low-cost and simple-to-use system and method to facilitate a prophylactic pleural lavage protocol at the time of thoracostomy tube placement for traumatic hemothorax in order to reduce the need for secondary intervention for the management of retained hemothorax. The invention may be used in conjunction with existing chest tubes and be administered at the time of initial chest tube placement, and continued at the bedside (by a bedside nurse) over the duration of chest drainage, as necessary. The system includes an operator device that semi-automatically administers a pleural lavage protocol consisting of saline instillation, and suction to slow the clotting process, prevent “gelling” of blood, and maintain drainability.
Claims24
A system for improving fluid drainage, comprising:
- a lavage controller comprised of a first lavage fluid channel and a second lavage fluid channel both in fluid communication with a nozzle, at least one valve for selectively admitting and preventing fluid flow to the nozzle from the first or second lavage fluid channels;
- and
- a y-port comprised of:
- a first fitting for connecting to an indwelling catheter;
- a first y-port fluid channel operatively connected to said first fitting to enable fluid flow between said first fitting and said first y-port fluid channel;
- and
- a second y-port fluid channel operatively connected to said first fitting to enable fluid flow between said first fitting and said second y-port fluid channel;
- wherein said second y-port fluid channel is configured for connection to a first suction source and said first y-port fluid channel is configured for releasable connection to said nozzle of said lavage controller and wherein such releasable connection between said first y-port fluid channel and said nozzle disables the operative connection between said first fitting and said second y-port fluid channel.
A system for improving fluid drainage, comprising:
- a lavage controller comprised of a nozzle that is operatively connected to a first lavage fluid channel;
- and
- a y-port comprised of:
- a first fitting for connecting to an indwelling catheter,
- a first y-port fluid channel operatively connected to said fitting to enable fluid flow between said fitting and said first y-port channel;
- a second y-port fluid channel operatively connected to said fitting to enable fluid flow between said fitting and said second y-port fluid channel;
- wherein said second y-port fluid channel is configured for connection to a first suction source and said first y-port fluid channel is configured for connection to said nozzle of said lavage controller and wherein said operative connection between said first y-port fluid channel and said nozzle disables the operative connection between said fitting and said second y-port fluid channel;
- and
- a removable cap to operatively close said first y-port fluid channel, wherein said removable cap is further comprised of a locking feature to prevent said removable cap from becoming disconnected from said first y-port fluid channel of said Y-port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.