Visual and tactile verification and securing system for needle thoracostomy (nt)

A NT device, comprising:

• an indicator section,
• the indicator section comprising a variable-volume chamber having (i) a moveable boundary and (ii) a resilient member configured to encourage movement of the moveable boundary when the indicator section is in fluid communication with a pleural space of a subject such that pleural air is communicated to and visible in a fluid disposed within the chamber;
• and
• a catheter section separably associated with the indicator section,
• the catheter section comprising a manually-secured anchor configured to maintain the catheter section in fluid communication with the pleural space of the subject following separation of the catheter section from the indicator section.

A method, comprising:

• placing a lumen into fluid communication with a pleural space of a subject;
• effecting, with a resilient member, expansion of an enclosed volume in fluid communication with the lumen so as to encourage pleural air through the lumen into a fluid within the enclosed volume and effect formation of visible bubbles in the fluid;
• anchoring a catheter separably associated with the lumen so as to maintain the catheter in fluid communication with the pleural space of the subject;
• and
• separating the catheter from the lumen.

A needle thoracostomy (NT) device, comprising:

• a body having a compartment, the compartment having a fluid disposed therein;
• a plunger;
• a catheter having a balloon associated therewith;
• a valve;
• and
• a needle,
• the device being configured such that when the needle is introduced into a pleural space of a subject and the plunger is operated to effect a negative pressure within the body, pleural air is transported to and visualized in the fluid disposed within the compartment of the body,
• the device being further configured such that when the plunger is operated to effect a positive pressure within the body, fluid is transported from the compartment of the body to the balloon through the valve, the valve operating to place the fluid into fluid communication with the balloon and to interrupt fluid communication between the fluid and pleural space, thereby securing the balloon within the pleural space.