Gravity independent medical drainage systems
OwnerMaurice Marcel Garciainventor
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Abstract
Provided herein are medical drainage systems comprising structures to prevent blockages within drainage tubing, especially medical drainage tubing, for example caused by debris or airlocks. The novel systems of the invention employ, in some embodiments, elements of the Archimedian screw. The Archimedian screw elements comprise a rotating conveyer present in the tubing which promotes continuous flow of material through the tubing and prevents the formation of dependent loops and other blockages. The systems of the invention may be employed in diverse contexts, including urinary catheter drainage systems and thoracostamy systems. The systems of the invention, being gravity independent, may also be employed for the drainage or a movement of materials in space and other low gravity environments.
Claims16
A medical drainage device, comprising
- a section of flexible tubing, having a proximal end configured to be disposed towards a patient and a distal end disposed towards a collection vessel, wherein the tubing is configured to allow air and fluid to flow through the tubing and wherein the tubing is subject to formation of air-locks from bends or loops in the tubing;
- a source of material, which said material enters the proximal end of the tubing;
- a flexible screw conveyer disposed within the lumen of the tubing and configured to
- promote unobstructed flow of material through the tubing for drainage of the material from the proximal end of the tubing to the distal end of the tubing by mechanically preventing obstructions and airlocks in the tubing;
- and
- a motor which rotates the screw conveyer;
- wherein
- the flexible screw conveyer comprises a planar screw surface and wherein the planar screw surface comprises slits or holes in the planar screw surface, wherein such slits or holes are configured to allow air ingress in order to maintain the tubing at ambient air pressure.
A method of
- moving material through a medical drainage system
- wherein the medical drainage system comprises flexible tubing;
- wherein the tubing is configured to allow air and fluid to flow through the tubing and wherein the tubing is subject to formation of air-locks from bends or loops in the tubing;
- the method comprising the actions of
- connecting the proximal end of the tubing to a source of material and the distal end of the tubing to a collection vessel, wherein the material enters into the tubing;
- wherein an Archimedean screw element comprising a flexible screw conveyer is disposed within the tubing;
- wherein the flexible screw conveyer comprises a planar screw surface and wherein the planar screw surface comprises openings in the planar screw surface comprising slits or holes, wherein such slits or holes are configured to allow air ingress in order to maintain the tubing at ambient air pressure:
- and
- rotating the flexible screw conveyer such that the screw conveyer mechanically prevents obstructions and airlocks in the tubing,
- wherein the Archimedean screw is rotated by the use of a motor in connection with the flexible screw conveyer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.