US RE35,225 EGranted

Fluid recovery system

AssigneeAtrium Medical Corporation

InventorsSteve A. Herweck, Theodore Karwoski

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A thoracic cavity drainage device includes a first vessel having a plurality of chambers one of which is a regulated drainage chamber, and a separate transfer vessel which receives fluid collected in the drainage chamber of the first vessel. The chambers of both vessels are interconnected in a series by fluid passageways which cooperate to maintain a uniform range of suction in the drainage chamber while preventing passage of water into the drainage chamber and permitting a different level of suction in the transfer vessel. This operation is effective despite relatively large pressure and vacuum impulses caused by stripping of drainage lines, patient coughing, and the like, and despite discrete changes in the physical configuration of the system caused by disconnection of the transfer vessel, connection of the transfer vessel to an infusion line or the opening or closing of fluid lines and ports. A novel transfer vessel empties the drainage device and provides gravity reinfusion of the collected fluids. A mechanism within the transfer vessel provides an effective suction without vacuum connections or pressure regulating adjustments.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A vessel for aspirating and collecting vital fluid, such vessel comprising

i) a plurality of walls formed of polymeric material and defining an interior chamber having at least first, second and third openings therein adapted for communication with the atmosphere, with a suction source, and with a vital fluid collection tube, respectively, said interior chamber being subdivided to provide a buffered volume of at least first, second and third successive intercommunicating sub-chambers having said respective first, second and third openings . .herein.!. therein ,
ii) first and second water columns included in said first and second sub-chambers for providing during normal operation first and second pressure differentials in said interior chamber effective to establish a unidirectional draw at each said first and third opening toward said second opening while correcting changes in pressure to maintain a desired subatmospheric pressure range in said third sub-chamber,
iii) said vessel having a volume and interior shape of intercommunicating passages between sub-chambers including . .a self-bailing structure above said second water column comprising means for intercepting and returning to said second water column water rising and water entrained in air bubbles, while bidirectionally allowing free passage of air past said self bailing structure, and a port above said self-bailing structure between said second and third sub-chambers, for absorbing energy of abrupt pressure variations of said third sub-chamber, and being operative with said water columns to effectively maintain uniform said desired subatmospheric pressure range.!. means in upper portion of said vessel extending from said second to said third sub-chamber and configured to allow passage of air back and forth through said upper portion while protecting integrity of the water seal during patient breathing cycles and during application of suction due to outflow of collected fluids from said collection chamber , said third sub-chamber also having a fourth opening at a lower portion thereof and a filter disposed in a flow path between said third and fourth openings, wherein said fourth opening is a closable . .outlfow.!. outflow opening having a sterile connection for coupling to flow means, and
flow means for fluid interconnection with said fourth opening to deliver collected vital fluid therefrom, whereby fluids collected in said third sub-chamber effectively define a further fluid seal and vital fluid collected in said third sub-chamber may be continuously drawn from below the surface at said fourth opening for reinfusion without introducing pressure irregularity in said third sub-chamber or interruption of said aspirating and collecting.

1 more element

An improved system for drainage of fluids from the thoracic cavity of a patient, of the type wherein the system includes a closed vessel having, in sequence, a manometer chamber for setting a desired vacuum underpressure, a water seal chamber, and a collection chamber, said collection chamber having an inlet port at an upper region thereof and a pooling sump at a lower region thereof, wherein the improvement comprises

a filter in a fluid path between said upper and lower regions for removing gross structures from thoracic cavity fluid aspirated through said inlet as it travels to said pooling sump without obstructing flow from said inlet port,
a closable transfer port defining an outflow path through an outer wall of said collection chamber at a lower region of said sump below the surface of fluid collected therein, and
means for sterile interconnection of a reinfusion device to said closable transfer port so that collected blood may be quickly withdrawn from below the surface of the collected fluid along said outflow path, wherein the water seal chamber and the collection chamber communicate with each other along a direct path through an open port interconnecting these two chambers to continuously equalized subatmospheric pressure therein, whereby collected fluids in said collection chamber are available for direct reinfusion by directly withdrawing fluid from said transfer port without interrupting the aspiration of thoracic fluid through said inlet.

A disposable autoinfusion apparatus for the collection of fluids from the thoracic cavity of a patient and reinfusion thereof, said apparatus comprising

a continuously aspirating collection unit comprising first, second and third serially-connected chambers, wherein said first chamber includes vacuum setting means for connection to a vacuum source and setting of a desired underpressure, said second chamber includes a water seal interposed between said first and third chamber, and wherein said third chamber includes an inlet for fluid flow connection to the thoracic cavity, an outlet in fluid flow communication with said second chamber, a lower pooling region for the pooling of fluid aspirated through said inlet, and also includes first and second access ports at said pooling region, said first access port being adapted for aseptically withdrawing a fluid sample from said pooling region and said second access port defining a conduit opening at a subsurface level of said pooling region, said third chamber further including a gross filter located below said inlet above said pooling region in an open flow path having an overflow path such that blood entering the inlet is filtered as it passes to the pooling region while blockage does not occur at said inlet and
means for selectively drawing fluid from said second access port and reinfusing said fluid while maintaining said desired underpressure in said collection chamber, whereby said pooled fluid from said collection unit is withdrawn from below the surface of fluid collected in said third chamber and is reinfused without interrupting collection from the thoracic cavity.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.