Surgical gravity drain having aligned longitudinally extending capillary drainage channels

Claim 1

A surgical gravity drain, comprising: an elongated tubular member of a compliant, flexible, and biologically inert material having first and second generally parallel and longitudinally extending external planar surfaces and at least one generally parallel and longitudinally extending third interior surface adjacent one of said first and said second external surfaces; a plurality of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced first ribs integrally formed on said first planar surface of said elongated member defining a plurality of longitudinally extending exudate receiving channels between adjacent first ribs and corresponding included portions of said first external surface; a plurality of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced second ribs integrally formed on said second planar surface of said elongated member defining a plurality of longitudinally extending exudate receiving channels between adjacent second ribs and corresponding included portions of said second external surface; a plurality of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced third ribs integrally formed on said third planar surface of said elongated member defining a plurality of longitudinally extending exudate receiving channels between adjacent third ribs and corresponding included portions of said third internal surface; individual ones of said third ribs on said third internal surface being integrally formed with said member such that they are transversely aligned with corresponding ones of said ribs integrally formed on said at least one of said first and said second external surfaces and cooperative therewith to act as support columns that provide structural strength to said drain.