Wound suction tube and retrograde flushing

Claim 1

In a drainage device for wounds and the like, said device comprising an elongated tubular drainage member having a central lumen, and a plurality of drainage ports defined along a first portion of the length of said tubular member and through said tubular member for fluid communication between said lumen and the exterior of said tubular member, the improvement comprising, in combination, an elastomeric retention balloon carried by a second portion of said tubular member located on one side of one end of the first portion, and adapted to be inflatable under the skin of a patient when said first portion is properly positioned in a wound, said tubular member also carrying means for inflating and deflating said retention balloon, a length of severable, imperforate tubing extending from the end of said first portion and having a terminus adapted for screw connection to an awl, said imperforate length of tubing permitting selective connection to an awl without contamination of the drainage ports in said first portion, an enlarged-lumen portion in communication through the central lumen with the drainage ports and for use as a combination squeeze pump and storage portion for retention of a flushing solution therein, and means for selectively sealing said enlarged-lumen portion so that squeezing said squeeze pump operates to back flush solution through the drainage ports.

Claim 11

The method of providing drainage from a wound site or the like in a patient which comprises: inserting a tubular drainage member, having a plurality of lateral drainage ports defined along a first portion of said tubular drainage member, into the wound site in a position such that said drainage ports are in flow communication with said wound site, while also passing a second portion of said tubular member through intact, healthy tissue so that one end of said tubular member communicates with the exterior, positioning a balloon retention member carried by said second portion of the tubular member within the intact, healthy tissue adjacent the patient''s skin at the same time that the tubular drainage member is being positioned in the wound site; and inflating the balloon member, to firmly retain the tubular member in the wound site, and to seal the area between said tubular member and said intact, healthy tissue.

Claim 12

The method of providing drainage from a wound site or the like in a patient which comprises: inserting a tubular drainage member, having a plurality of lateral drainage ports defined along a first portion of said tubular drainage member, into the wound site in a position such that said drainage ports are in flow communication with said wound site, while also passing a second portion of said tubular member through intact, healthy tissue so that one end of said tubular member communicates with the exterior, positioning a balloon retention member carried by said second portion of the tubular member within the intact, healthy tissue adjacent the patient''s skin at the same time that the tubular drainage member is being positioned in the wound site; and inflating the balloon member, to firmly retain the tubular member in the wound site, and to seal the area between said tubular member and said intact, healthy tissue.