# US 8,784,394 B2 · Method and apparatus for treatment of pleural effusion > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,394 B2 - Document ID: US8784394B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/842,010 - Filed: 2010-07-22 - Published: 2011-01-27 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-07-22 - Applicants: Marshall Kerr; Michael Vaillancourt - Inventors: Marshall Kerr; Michael Vaillancourt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784394B2 ## CPC - A61M 39/24: Check- or non-return valves - A61M 1/78: {Means for preventing overflow or contamination of the pumping systems (combined with drainage containers A61M1/60)} - A61M 1/782: {using valves with freely moving parts, e.g. float valves} - A61M 1/80: {Suction pumps (A61M1/64, A61M1/71, A61M60/00 take precedence)} - A61M 2039/1094: {at least partly incompatible with standard connectors, e.g. to prevent fatal mistakes in connection} - A61M 2039/2406: {designed to quickly shut upon the presence of back-pressure} - A61M 2039/242: {designed to open when a predetermined pressure or flow rate has been reached, e.g. check valve actuated by fluid} - A61M 2202/0492: Pleural - 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)} ## Abstract A device for the drainage of a pleural effusion through an operatively engaged chest tube in the chest wall. The device employs a check valve situated between a vacuum source communicating with the chest tube to prevent reversal of the fluid flow out of the patient's body and possible contamination. A valve mounted on a vacuum bottle provides user control of communication of negative pressure from the vacuum bottle to the chest tube. Opening the valve on the bottle communicates negative pressure to the chest tube relative to the pressure in the tube thereby initiating a fluid flow out of the tube and the patient. Once the valve on the bottle is closed, fluid flow ceases and the check valve prevents reversal of the flow. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for treatment of a pleural effusion comprising: a tube, said tube having a distal end adapted to communicate with fluids within a patient's body when placed in communication therewith in a mounted position, and having a first end opposite said distal end; an axial cavity communicating between said first end and said distal end; a valve, said valve having a valve conduit communicating between a first end and a second end; said first end of said valve conduit in a sealed engagement with said axial cavity at said first end of said tube; said valve defaulting to a closed position preventing communication through said valve conduit to said axial cavity; said valve having an open position wherein said axial cavity communicates with said second end of said valve conduit; said valve activated from said closed position to said open position by a communication of negative pressure to said second end of said valve conduit; said negative pressure communicated to said second end of said valve conduit initiating a fluid flow in said axial cavity in a direction only toward said first end of said axial cavity, when said valve is in said open position; and said valve in said closed position, providing a means to prevent said fluid flow from reversing said direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus for treatment of a pleural effusion of claim 1, additionally comprising: a second tube for communicating said negative pressure to said second end of said valve conduit; said second tube having an axial passage running therethrough from a first end to a second end; means for sealed engagement of said first end of said axial passage to a source of said negative pressure; and means for sealed engagement of said second end of said axial passage with said second end of said valve conduit, whereby a connection of said first end of said axial passage to said source of said negative pressure communicates said negative pressure to said valve through said axial passage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus for treatment of a pleural effusion of claim 2, additionally comprising: a second valve, said second valve having a passage therethrough communicating from a first end to a second end in communication with said source of said negative pressure; said means for sealed engagement of said first end of said axial passage in a sealed engagement to said first end of said passage of said second valve; said second valve having a closed position preventing communication of said negative pressure to said axial passage; said valve having an open position allowing communication of said negative pressure to said axial passage whereby said negative pressure is communicated to said second end of said valve conduit; and said second valve having an actuator, said actuator adapted for providing a user with means to actuate said second valve between said closed position and said open position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus for treatment of a pleural effusion of claim 3, wherein said means for sealed engagement of said second end of said axial passage with said second end of said valve conduit is a luer connector; and said luer connecter is configured to cooperatively engage with a mating luer connector upon said valve adjacent to said second end of said valve conduit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus for treatment of a pleural effusion of claim 4, additionally comprising: said luer connector having an axially elongated guide member, said axially elongated guide member configured for an engagement within said second end of said valve conduit; said engagement within said second end of said valve conduit providing a means to align said luer connector with said mating luer connector; said axially elongated guide member being U-shaped and having an open end; said open end of said axially elongated guide member defining an access to an interior surface of said axially elongated guide member; and said access proving a passage for a cleaning of said interior surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus for treatment of a pleural effusion of claim 1, wherein said source of said negative pressure being a vacuum bottle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The apparatus for treatment of a pleural effusion of claim 2, additionally comprising: said source of said negative pressure being a vacuum bottle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The apparatus for treatment of a pleural effusion of claim 3, wherein said source of said negative pressure being a vacuum bottle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The apparatus for treatment of a pleural effusion of claim 4, wherein said source of said negative pressure being a vacuum bottle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The apparatus for treatment of a pleural effusion of claim 5, wherein said source of said negative pressure being a vacuum bottle. ### Claim 11 A method adapted for employment of the apparatus an apparatus for treatment of a pleural effusion comprising: a tube, said tube having a distal end adapted to communicate with fluids within a patient's body when placed in communication therewith in a mounted position, and having a first end opposite said distal end; an axial cavity communicating between said first end and said distal end; a valve, said valve having a valve conduit communicating between a first end and a second end; said first end of said valve conduit in a sealed engagement with said axial cavity at said first end of said tube; said valve defaulting to a closed position preventing communication through said valve conduit to said axial cavity; said valve having an open position wherein said axial cavity communicates with said second end of said valve conduit; said valve activated from said closed position to said open position by a communication of negative pressure to said second end of said valve conduit; said negative pressure communicated to said second end of said valve conduit initiating a fluid flow in said axial cavity in a direction only toward said first end of said axial cavity, when said valve is in said open position; and said valve in said closed position, providing a means to prevent said fluid flow from reversing said direction, comprising the steps of: placing said tube through a chest wall of a patient and positioning said distal end in a position to communicate with said fluids within said patient's body; positioning said first end with said valve operatively engaged with said axial cavity, outside said chest wall; engaging said second end of said second tube to said second end of said valve conduit; engaging said first end of said second tube to said second valve; employing said actuator to actuate said second valve from said closed position to said open position to thereby cause negative pressure to be communicated to said second end of said valve conduit and thereby initiate said fluid flow; allowing said fluid flow to continue for a desired duration; and employing said actuator to actuate said second valve to said closed position to cause said second valve engaged to said second tube to move to the closed position and thereby cease said fluid flow and prevent a reversal of said fluid flow. ### Claim 12 An apparatus for treatment of a pleural effusion comprising: a first tube, said first tube having a distal end adapted to communicate with fluids within a patient's body when placed in communication therewith in a mounted position, and having a first end opposite said distal end; a first tube axial cavity communicating between said first end and said distal end; a first valve, said first valve having a first valve conduit communicating between a first end and a second end; said first end of said first valve conduit in a sealed engagement with said first valve axial cavity at said first end of said first tube; said first valve defaulting to a closed position preventing communication through said first valve conduit to said second axial cavity; said first end of said first valve conduit remaining in said sealed engagement with said first valve axial cavity at said first end of said first tube with said first valve in said closed position; said first valve having an open position wherein said first valve axial cavity communicates with said second end of said first valve conduit; said first valve activated from said closed position to said open position by a communication of negative pressure to said second end of said first valve conduit; said negative pressure communicated to said second end of said first valve conduit initiating a fluid flow in said first tube axial cavity in a direction only toward said first end of said first tube axial cavity, when said first valve is in said open position; said first valve in said closed position, providing a means to prevent said fluid flow from reversing said direction; a second tube for communicating said negative pressure to said second end of said valve conduit; said second tube having a second tube axial passage running therethrough from a first end to a second end; means for sealed engagement of said first end of said second tube axial passage to a source of said negative pressure; means for sealed engagement of said second end of said second tube axial passage with said second end of said first valve conduit, whereby a connection of said first end of said second tube axial passage to said source of said negative pressure communicates said negative pressure to said first valve through said second tube axial passage; a second valve, said second valve having a passage therethrough communicating from a first end to a second end in communication with said source of said negative pressure; said means for sealed engagement of said first end of said second tube axial passage in a sealed engagement to said first end of said passage of said second valve; said second valve having a closed position preventing communication of said negative pressure to said axial passage; said second valve having an open position allowing communication of said negative pressure to said second tube axial passage whereby said negative pressure is communicated to said second end of said first valve conduit; said second valve having an actuator, said actuator configured for providing a user with means to actuate said second valve between said closed position and said open position; said means for engagement of said second end of said axial passage with said second end of said first valve conduit includes a luer connector; said luer connecter configured to cooperatively engage with a mating luer connector upon said first valve adjacent to said second end of said first valve conduit; said luer connector having an axially disposed guide member, said axially disposed guide member configured for an engagement within said second end of said first valve conduit; said engagement within said second end of said first valve conduit providing a means to align said luer connector with said mating luer connector; said axially disposed guide member being U-shaped and having an open end; said open end of said axially disposed guide member defining an access to an interior surface of said axially disposed guide member; said access proving a passage for cleaning of said interior surface; a mating connector directly attached to said first valve; and a threaded docking component disposed between said mating connector and said luer connector. ### Claim 13 An apparatus for treatment of a pleural effusion comprising: a first tube, said first tube having a distal end adapted to communicate with fluids within a patient's body when placed in communication therewith in a mounted position, and having a first end opposite said distal end; a first tube axial cavity communicating between said first tube end and said first tube distal end; a first valve, said first valve having a first valve conduit communicating between a first end and a second end; said first end of said first valve conduit in a sealed engagement with said first tube axial cavity at said first end of said first tube; said first valve defaulting to a closed position preventing communication through said first valve conduit to said axial cavity; said first end of said first valve conduit remaining in said sealed engagement with said axial cavity at said first end of said tube with said first valve in said closed position; said first valve having an open position wherein said first tube axial cavity communicates with said second end of said first valve conduit; said first valve activated from said closed position to said open position by a communication of negative pressure to said second end of said first valve conduit; said negative pressure communicated to said second end of said first valve conduit initiating a fluid flow in said axial cavity in a direction only toward said first end of said axial cavity, when said first valve is in said open position; and said first valve in said closed position, providing a means to prevent said fluid flow from reversing said direction; a second tube for communicating said negative pressure to said second end of said first valve conduit; said second tube having a second axial passage running therethrough from a first end to a second end; means for sealed engagement of said first end of said second axial passage to a source of said negative pressure; and means for sealed engagement of said second end of said axial passage with said second end of said first valve conduit, whereby a connection of said first end of said axial passage to said source of said negative pressure communicates said negative pressure to said first valve through said axial passage; a second valve, said second valve having a second valve passage therethrough communicating from a first end to a second end in communication with said source of said negative pressure; said means for sealed engagement of said first end of said second tube axial passage in a sealed engagement to said first end of said passage of said second valve; said second valve having a closed position preventing communication of said negative pressure to said second tube axial passage; said second valve having an open position allowing communication of said negative pressure to said axial passage whereby said negative pressure is communicated to said second end of said valve conduit; and said second valve having an actuator, said actuator adapted for providing a user with means to actuate said second valve between said closed position and said open position.