# US 12,005,165 B2 · Method and device for simultaneously documenting and treating tension pneumothorax and/or hemothorax > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,005,165 B2 - Document ID: US12005165B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/843,139 - Filed: 2022-06-17 - Published: 2022-10-13 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-07 - Assignees: Critical Innovations, LLC - Applicants: Critical Innovations, LLC - Inventors: Ross I. Donaldson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005165B2 ## CPC - A61M 1/00: Suction or pumping devices for medical purposes; Devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body-liquids; Drainage systems (catheters A61M25/00; tube connectors, tube couplings, valves or branch units specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; devices for taking samples of blood A61B5/15; filters implantable into blood vessels A61F2/01) - A61B 17/34: Trocars; Puncturing needles - A61B 17/3415: {for introducing tubes or catheters, e.g. gastrostomy tubes, drain catheters (A61B17/3417 takes precedence; body piercing catheter guide needles A61M25/06)} - A61B 17/3474: {Insufflating needles, e.g. Veress needles} - A61M 1/04: {Artificial} pneumothorax apparatus - A61M 25/0606: {"Over-the-needle" catheter assemblies, e.g. I.V. catheters} - 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}) - A61B 17/3496: {Protecting sleeves or inner probes; Retractable tips (for protecting body piercing guide needles A61M25/0612)} - A61B 2090/0807: {Indication means} - A61B 2090/0814: {Preventing re-use} - A61M 25/0643: {Devices having a blunt needle tip, e.g. due to an additional inner component} - A61M 2039/242: {designed to open when a predetermined pressure or flow rate has been reached, e.g. check valve actuated by fluid} - A61M 2205/3331: Pressure; Flow - A61M 2210/101: Pleural cavity - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A method and device are provided for simultaneously or near-simultaneously diagnosing and treating tension pneumothorax and/or hemothoraxA Veress-type needle portion includes a hollow needle for puncturing the chest wall over a blunt hollow probe biased by one or more springs to extend distally into the pleural cavity. Openings in the blunt hollow probe connect via a pathway to an automatic check valve, which permits the flow of air and/or fluid only in a proximal direction. Pressure from within the pleural cavity is transmitted to the interior surface of a pressure documenter. If pressure greater than atmospheric pressure is present in the pleural cavity, the pressure documenter will be automatically urged proximally to simultaneously allow air and/or fluid to escape from the pleural space through the device, thus treating the tension pneumothorax and/or hemothorax, as well as providing a stable indicator to positively document the diagnosis of increased pressure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An assembly for inserting a medical device into a patient, comprising: a housing defining an open interior and having a proximal end and a distal end, the housing including one or more openings; a generally hollow elongate tubular member extending distally from the distal end of the housing; a probe slidably disposed within the generally hollow tube; means for biasing a distal end of the probe into a position distal to a distal end of the hollow elongate tubular member such that a force on the distal end of the probe can overcome the bias to move the probe proximally relative to the hollow tube; and mechanical locking means for automatically halting distal movement of the hollow elongate tubular member in response to the distal end of the probe returning to the position distal to the distal end of the hollow elongate tubular member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the hollow elongate tubular member is sharp. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the probe is blunt. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the probe includes one or more openings adjacent the distal end. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the mechanical locking means interacts with stabilizing device extending from the distal end of the housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The assembly of claim 5, wherein the stabilizing device has a distal end adapted to attach the housing to the patient. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The assembly of claim 5, wherein the stabilizing device is movable at least one of distally and proximally relative to the housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The assembly of claim 7, wherein when the probe is in the distally biased position relative to the hollow tubular member the stabilizing device is non-mobile relative to the housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The assembly of claim 7, further comprising a second biasing member that biases the stabilizing device distally relative to the housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the mechanical locking means for automatically halting distal movement occurs in response to the hollow elongate tubular member entering a body cavity of a patient. ### Claim 11 An assembly for inserting a medical device into a patient, comprising: a housing defining an open interior and having a proximal end and a distal end, the housing including one or more openings; a generally hollow elongate tubular member extending distally from the housing; a probe slidably disposed within the hollow elongate tubular member; a biasing member operable to bias a distal end of the probe into a position distal of a distal end of the hollow elongate tubular member, the biasing member positioned such that a force on the distal end of the probe can overcome the bias of the biasing member to move the probe proximally relative to the hollow elongate tubular member; and a stabilizing device extending from the distal end of the housing, the stabilizing device including a locking mechanism adapted to automatically halt distal movement of the hollow elongate tubular member and the probe in response to the distal end of the probe returning to the position distal of the distal end of the hollow elongate tubular member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the distal end of the hollow elongate tubular member is sharp. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the distal end of the probe is blunt. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the probe includes one or more openings adjacent the distal end. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the stabilizing device has a distal end adapted to attach the housing to the patient. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the stabilizing device is movable at least one of distally and proximally relative to the housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The assembly of claim 16, wherein the probe, when in the distally biased position relative to the hollow elongate tubular member, causes the stabilizing device to be non-mobile relative to the housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The assembly of claim 16, further comprising a second biasing member that biases the stabilizing device distally relative to the housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the locking mechanism of the stabilizing device automatically halts distal movement in response to the hollow elongate tubular member entering a body cavity of a patient.