Chest drain connector

A chest drain kit, comprising:

• a fluid collection vessel;
• a chest drain tube having an upstream portion for securing to a patient and a downstream portion for securing to the fluid collection vessel;
• and
• a chest drain connector comprising:
• a first part having an inlet for connecting to an upstream portion of a chest drain tube, a one-way valve and a first flange surrounding the one-way valve;
• a second part having an outlet for connecting to a downstream portion of the chest tube, a second flange and a hollow protrusion, the second flange surrounding the hollow protrusion,
• wherein the second part is connectable to the first part by securing the first flange to the second flange such that the hollow protrusion passes through the one-way valve to form an uninterrupted fluid flow passage from the inlet through the hollow protrusion and the outlet along a longitudinal axis of the connector, the first and second flanges being separable by applying a longitudinal separation force above a defined threshold separation force,
• wherein the one-way valve is a cross-slit valve that allows fluid to flow through the first part in a downstream direction while preventing air from entering the first part when the first and second parts are separated and is inverted by the hollow protrusion when the first and second parts of the connector are connected together.

A method of assembling a chest drain kit, the method comprising:

• providing a chest drain kit comprising:
• a fluid collection vessel;
• a chest drain tube having an upstream portion for securing to a patient and a downstream portion for securing to the fluid collection vessel;
• and
• a chest drain connector comprising:
• a first part having an inlet for connecting to an upstream portion of a chest drain tube, a one-way valve and a first flange surrounding the one-way valve;
• a second part having an outlet for connecting to a downstream portion of the chest tube, a second flange and a hollow protrusion, the second flange surrounding the hollow protrusion,
• wherein the second part is connectable to the first part by securing the first flange to the second flange such that the hollow protrusion passes through the one-way valve to form an uninterrupted fluid flow passage from the inlet through the hollow protrusion and the outlet along a longitudinal axis of the connector, the first and second flanges being separable by applying a longitudinal separation force above a defined threshold separation force,
• wherein the one-way valve is a cross-slit valve that allows fluid to flow through the first part in a downstream direction while preventing air from entering the first part when the first and second parts are separated and is inverted by the hollow protrusion when the first and second parts of the connector are connected together;
• connecting the first part of the chest drain connector to the upstream portion of the chest drain tube;
• connecting the second part of the chest drain connector to the downstream portion of the chest drain tube;
• connecting the downstream portion of the chest drain tube to the fluid collection vessel;
• and
• connecting the first and second parts of the chest drain connector together.