# US 5,141,503 A · Wound suction drainage system

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- Number: US 5,141,503 A
- Document ID: US5141503A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/647,548
- Filed: 1991-01-29
- Granted: 1992-08-25
- Earliest claimed: 1991-01-29
- Inventors: Frank K. Sewell, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5141503A

## CPC

- A61M 1/84: {Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips (for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32)}
- A61M 1/85: {with gas or fluid supply means, e.g. for supplying rinsing fluids or anticoagulants (for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92, A61M1/94; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463; dental instruments with combined rinsing and aspirating A61C17/0208)}
- 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})
- A61M 2025/0019: {Cleaning catheters or the like, e.g. for reuse of the device, for avoiding replacement}
- 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)}

## Abstract

Wound drainage system having a wound drainage catheter with an apertured distal end and a closed reservoir system. A plug in the lumen of the distal end substantially engages the lumen. A thread connects the plug to a pulling mechanism external the closed reservoir system for pulling the thread to move the plug toward the suction end of the catheter to sterilely clear the lumen. The plug may have an aperture so that multiple plugs may be positioned in the lumen, with each plug thread passing through the aperture of each upstream plug. Each plug may be separately pulled through the lumen to clear catheter of occluded material.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wound drainage system comprising:
a wound drainage catheter having a lumen, an apertured distal end such that material to be drained may enter the lumen therethrough and a suction end,
a closed reservoir system,
the suction end of the catheter being sealably connected to the closed reservoir system such that material may drain from the distal end of the catheter into the closed reservoir,
a plug in the lumen of the distal end of the catheter, the plug having a diameter to substantially engage the circumference of the lumen,
a thread having one end connected to the plug, and
pulling means external the closed reservoir system for pulling the thread to move the plug toward the suction end of the catheter to sterilely clear the lumen.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The wound drainage system of claim 1 wherein the plug has an aperture.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The wound drainage system of claim 2 further comprising
at least one additional plug in the lumen of the distal end of the catheter,
an additional thread for each additional plug, each additional thread having one end connected to its respective plug, each thread passing through an aperture of all plugs closer to the suction end that the respective plug.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The wound drainage system of claim 1 wherein the pulling means comprises a handle, a spool around which the thread is wrapped the spool having a shaft passing through the closed reservoir system such that the spool may be rotated by rotating the handle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The wound drainage system of claim 1 further comprising means for introducing a liquid into the distal end of the lumen.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The wound drainage system of claim 5 wherein the liquid introducing means comprises an aperture in the distal end of the lumen, and wherein the plug is positioned in the lumen to cover such lumen aperture.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The wound drainage system of claim 1 wherein the reservoir comprises a spring suction reservoir.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The wound drainage system of claim 1 wherein the reservoir is expandable.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The wound drainage system of claim 1 further comprising a vacuum source applied to the catheter.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The wound drainage system of claim 1 wherein the thread comprises a metal cable.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The wound drainage system of claim 1 wherein the suction end of the catheter is sealably connected to the closed reservoir system.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The wound drainage system of claim 1 wherein the threads comprise metal cables.

### Claim 13

A wound drainage system comprising:
a wound drainage catheter having a lumen, an apertured distal end such that material to be drained may enter the lumen therethrough and a second end,
first and second plugs in the lumen of the distal end of the catheter, the first plug having an aperture therethrough, each plug having a thread attached thereto,
the thread attached to the second plug passing through an aperture of the first plug,
such that the first plug may be pulled toward the suction end of the lumen to clear the lumen without causing the second plug to move, and such that the second plug may be later pulled toward the suction end of the lumen to clear the lumen.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The wound drainage system of claim 13 further comprising a closed reservoir system such that material may drain from the distal end of the catheter into the closed reservoir.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The wound drainage system of claim 13 further comprising means for applying a vacuum to the suction end of the catheter.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The wound drainage system of claim 13 wherein the first and second plugs have diameters that substantially engage the circumference of the lumen.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The wound drainage system of claim 13 further comprising
pulling means external the closed reservoir system for pulling the threads to move the plugs toward the suction end of the catheter to sterilely clear the lumen.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The wound drainage system of claim 17 further wherein the pulling means comprise first and second handles, each handle, having a spool around which the thread is wrapped, the spool having a shaft passing through the closed reservoir system such that the spool may be rotated by rotating the handle.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The wound drainage system of claim 13 further comprising means for introducing a liquid into the distal end of the lumen.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The wound drainage system of claim 19 wherein the liquid introducing means comprises an aperture in the distal end of the lumen, and wherein at least one of the plugs is positioned in the lumen to cover such lumen aperture.

### Claim 21

A method for sterilely clearing a wound drainage catheter, the catheter having an apertured distal end, a lumen and a vacuum end comprising:
providing a first plug in the lumen of the distal end of the catheter, the first plug having a diameter to substantially engage the circumference of the lumen, the first plug having a first thread attached thereto traveling through the lumen,
placing the vacuum end of the catheter in communication with a closed reservoir,
sterilely pulling the first thread to thereby move the first plug toward the suction end of the catheter without breaching the closed reservoir.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of sterilely applying a vacuum source to the vacuum end of the catheter.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21 wherein the providing step includes providing said plug with an aperture.

### Claim 24 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21 further comprising the steps of:
providing a second plug in the lumen of the distal end of the catheter, the second plug having a second thread attached thereto traveling through the lumen, the thread of the first plug passing through an aperture of the plug, and
sterilely pulling the second thread to thereby move the second plug toward the suction end of the catheter without breaching the closed reservoir.

### Claim 25 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of introducing a liquid into the distal end of the lumen.