Apparatus for collecting blood from a chest drainage unit and reinfusion of the blood

An apparatus for the collection of blood directly from a chest drainage unit which is attached to a patient, said apparatus permitting subsequent reinfusion of the collected blood directly into a patient, comprising a self-contained unit having an outer rigid container enclosing an inner flexible container;

• said unit having at least two portals each having first and second ends, at least one of said portals extending through a wall of said outer rigid container and through a wall of said inner flexible container so that said first end of said portal extends into the interior of said inner flexible container;
• said inner flexible container being sealingly attached to said first end of said portal, and said second end of said portal extends externally of said outer rigid container;
• said second end being constructed and arranged for attachment to a tubular member;
• a second of said at least two portals extending through a wall of said outer rigid container so that said first end of said second portal extends into a space between the inner wall of said outer rigid container and the outer wall of said inner flexible container, the second end of said second portal extends external of said rigid container and being constructed and arranged for attachment to a vacuum source;
• and a blood collection tube having a needle fixed to its free end attached to the second end of said first portal;
• wherein said apparatus is used in combination with a chest drainage unit which has a self-sealing diaphragm located in a wall of said chest drainage unit structured to receive a needle and said needle of the free end of said blood collection tube being inserted into said diaphragm, and said apparatus being attached to said chest drainage unit through an attachment means which comprises a semi-rigid plastic tab extending from the top surface of said outer rigid container of said apparatus having an opening which is attached to said drainage unit which has a manually operable negative relief valve protruding from an upper surface of said chest drainage unit from which said tab is hung so that said negative relief valve is opened.