Patent US4747844A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4747844A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Chest drainage apparatus
Assignee: Technology Holding Co II
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Filing: 1986-09-19
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Granted: 1988-05-31
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Expires: 2006-09-19
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a novel and improved chest drainage apparatus characterized by a bottle housing a fluid collection chamber and a fluid inlet connectable to receive fluid and air from a chest cavity to be drained, air inlet and exhaust ports downstream of the fluid inlet open to the atmosphere within the air space above the fluid collected, and a U-tube between the fluid inlet and the air exhaust port capable of collecting and retaining an amount of fluid effective to provide a visual indication of any air flow into the system; a subassembly including an air chamber containing a check valve effective when connected to receive air from the exhaust port of the bottle to prevent the backflow thereof into the system; and a negative pressure relief valve connected to the air intake port automatically operative to limit the negative pressure, if any, in the air space above the fluid to a predetermined maximum. The invention also encompasses such an apparatus wherein the subassembly is detachable from the bottle and the latter is used by itself in inverted position as a reservoir of chest fluids that may be reintroduced back into the body. Also included in the apparatus in its preferred form are a positive pressure relief valve downstream of the check valve in the air chamber automatically operative to maintain the air pressure in the latter at or below a predetermined maximum. Additional novel features are those which permit removal of some of the collected fluid either for the purpose of analysis or to extend the capacity thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald P. Elliott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:25
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/60; A61M1/61; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2931; Y10T137/3109
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
A non-waterseal thoracic drainage apparatus comprising: means defining a fluid collection chamber with an air space thereabove; means defining an air chamber connected to receive air from the air space above the fluid collection chamber; means comprising a one-way waterless valve means interposed between said air space and air chamber, said waterless valve means being operative to admit air to said air chamber while preventing reverse flow back into the collection chamber; said one-way waterless valve means being operative to prevent said reverse flow unaided by underwater seals and comprising the sole means therefor; an inlet tube in communication with the fluid collection chamber and being connectable to receive fluids and air from a patient's chest cavity to be drained and to deliver same to the fluid collection chamber; means defining a flow path between the inlet tube and said one-way waterless valve, a portion of said fluid flow path defining a U-shaped path; said portion of the U-shaped fluid path being constructed and so as to be transparent, said U-shaped portion of flow path being adapted to retain a measure of fluid so as to cooperate to provide a visual indication of any air passing therethrough and of oscillations in the patient's breathing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
A non-waterseal thoracic drainage apparatus comprising: means defining a fluid collection chamber with an air space thereabove; means defining an air chamber connected to receive air from the air space above the fluid collection chamber; means comprising a one-way waterless valve means interposed between said air space and air chamber, said waterless valve means being operative to admit air to said air chamber while preventing reverse flow back into the collection chamber; said one-way waterless valve means being operative to prevent said reverse flow unaided by underwater seals and comprising the sole means therefor; an inlet tube in communication with the fluid collection chamber and being connectable to receive fluids and air from a patient's chest cavity to be drained and to deliver same to the fluid collection chamber; means defining a flow path between the inlet tube and said one-way waterless valve, a portion of said fluid flow path defining a U-shaped path; said portion of the U-shaped fluid path being constructed and so as to be transparent, said U-shaped portion of flow path being adapted to retain a measure of fluid so as to cooperate to provide a visual indication of any air passing therethrough and of oscillations in the patient's breathing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
A non-waterseal thoracic drainage apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising: said U-shaped portion of said fluid flow path being in direct communication with said inlet tube thereby to retain a portion of fluid drained from the patient's chest cavity and to retain said fluid therein to provide said visual indication of air passing therethrough and of oscillations in the patient's breathing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A non-waterseal thoracic drainage apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a one-way waterless positive pressure relief valve operatively associated with said apparatus so as to vent the air space to the atmosphere in response to development of a positive pressure within the air space.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
89 words
A chest drainage apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: a transparent, vertically-disposed, upwardly flared conical tube open to the atmosphere at the bottom and having an opening at the top communicating with the interior of the air chamber; a ball housed within said tube for a suspendable movement in response to an upward flow of air through the tube; and scale-forming indicia provided on said tube for cooperation with the ball suspended wherein to provide a visual indication of the negative pressure within said air chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A chest drainage apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: a vent communicating the air space above the fluid collection chamber and being open to the atmosphere and a negative pressure relief valve disposed in said vent, said negative pressure relief valve being operative to open and admit air to said air space whenever the negative pressure inside the air space exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
A chest drainage apparatus as set forth in claim 3 further comprising: a vent communicating the air space above the fluid collection chamber and being open to the atmosphere; a negative pressure relief valve disposed in said vent, said negative pressure relief valve being operative to open and admit air to said air space whenever the negative pressure inside the air space exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
209 words
A subassembly for use with a thoracic drainage bottle, said bottle containing a fluid collection chamber with an air space thereabove, the bottle having an inlet adapted to be connected to the chest cavity of a patient for receiving fluid and air therefrom and delivering same to said collection chamber, the bottle having an outlet communicating with the air space, said air space and outlet defining an air flow path, said subassembly comprising: means defining an air chamber having an inlet adapted to received air from the outlet of the bottle; one-way waterless valve means disposed upstream of the air chamber, said waterless valve means being automatically operative to admit air to said air chamber while preventing reverse flow back into the bottle, and relief valve means for enabling venting of the air space, said relief valve means being automatically operative to open and relieve the pressure in said air space when said pressure rises above a predetermined level, said one-way waterless valve being operative to prevent said reverse flow unaided by underwater seals, and comprising the sole means therefor, whereby said subassembly may control operation of the flow direction in said drainage systems and maintain a controlled pressure range therein without requiring the use of an underwater seal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
209 words
A subassembly for use with a thoracic drainage bottle, said bottle containing a fluid collection chamber with an air space thereabove, the bottle having an inlet adapted to be connected to the chest cavity of a patient for receiving fluid and air therefrom and delivering same to said collection chamber, the bottle having an outlet communicating with the air space, said air space and outlet defining an air flow path, said subassembly comprising: means defining an air chamber having an inlet adapted to received air from the outlet of the bottle; one-way waterless valve means disposed upstream of the air chamber, said waterless valve means being automatically operative to admit air to said air chamber while preventing reverse flow back into the bottle, and relief valve means for enabling venting of the air space, said relief valve means being automatically operative to open and relieve the pressure in said air space when said pressure rises above a predetermined level, said one-way waterless valve being operative to prevent said reverse flow unaided by underwater seals, and comprising the sole means therefor, whereby said subassembly may control operation of the flow direction in said drainage systems and maintain a controlled pressure range therein without requiring the use of an underwater seal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A subassembly as defined in claim 7 further comprising: said relief valve being located downstream of said one-way waterless valve means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A subassembly as set forth in claim 7 further comprising: a second outlet connectable to a source of negative pressure; and flow control means connected within said second outlet automatically operative to regulate the negative pressure within said air chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
148 words
A subassembly for use with a bottle containing a fluid collection chamber with an air space thereabove, an inlet connectable to receive fluid and air from the chest cavity of an patient, and an outlet communicating with the interior of the air space, which comprises: means defining an air chamber having an inlet connectable to receive air from the outlet of the bottle, one-way waterless valve means within the inlet automatically operative to admit air to said air chamber while preventing reverse flow back into the bottle, said one-way waterless valve means comprising the sole means for preventing reverse flow and being operative unaided by underwater seals, an outlet within said air chamber open to the atmosphere downstream of said inlet, and a relief vavle connected within said outlet automatically operative to open and relieve the pressure in said air chamber when it rises above a predetermined level.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
148 words
A subassembly for use with a bottle containing a fluid collection chamber with an air space thereabove, an inlet connectable to receive fluid and air from the chest cavity of an patient, and an outlet communicating with the interior of the air space, which comprises: means defining an air chamber having an inlet connectable to receive air from the outlet of the bottle, one-way waterless valve means within the inlet automatically operative to admit air to said air chamber while preventing reverse flow back into the bottle, said one-way waterless valve means comprising the sole means for preventing reverse flow and being operative unaided by underwater seals, an outlet within said air chamber open to the atmosphere downstream of said inlet, and a relief vavle connected within said outlet automatically operative to open and relieve the pressure in said air chamber when it rises above a predetermined level.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
130 words
In a chest drainage apparatus: fluid collection means including a fluid collection chamber having an air space thereabove, an inlet connectable to receive fluid and air from a chest cavity to be drained and deliver same to the air space above said fluid collection chamber, and an outlet connected into said air space; and, air-receiving means including an air chamber detachably connectable to the outlet of the fluid collection chamber for receiving air therefrom, said means having a one-way valve operative to pass air from said air space into said air chamber while preventing reverse flow therebetween, said fluid collection means upon inversion and detachment from said air-receiving means and with its inlet closed defining a chest fluid reservoir for returning the collected fluids to the patient through the outlet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
130 words
In a chest drainage apparatus: fluid collection means including a fluid collection chamber having an air space thereabove, an inlet connectable to receive fluid and air from a chest cavity to be drained and deliver same to the air space above said fluid collection chamber, and an outlet connected into said air space; and, air-receiving means including an air chamber detachably connectable to the outlet of the fluid collection chamber for receiving air therefrom, said means having a one-way valve operative to pass air from said air space into said air chamber while preventing reverse flow therebetween, said fluid collection means upon inversion and detachment from said air-receiving means and with its inlet closed defining a chest fluid reservoir for returning the collected fluids to the patient through the outlet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
163 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus comprising: means defining a fluid collection chamber with an air space thereabove; an inlet tube in communication with the fluid collection chamber, the inlet tube being connectable to receive fluids and air from a patient's chest cavity for delivery to the fluid collection chamber; an air outlet in communication with the air space; said inlet tube, air space and air outlet defining an air flow path; one-way waterless valve means disposed along said flow path and being operative to permit air flow in a direction toward the outlet while preventing reverse flow toward the inlet; waterless high negative pressure relief valve means in communications with the flow path, said relief valve means being operative to open whenever the negative pressure within the flow path exceeds a predetermined value, the high negative pressure relief valve means being connectable to a source of increased pressure to admit air to the air space when said high negative pressure relief valve means opens.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
163 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus comprising: means defining a fluid collection chamber with an air space thereabove; an inlet tube in communication with the fluid collection chamber, the inlet tube being connectable to receive fluids and air from a patient's chest cavity for delivery to the fluid collection chamber; an air outlet in communication with the air space; said inlet tube, air space and air outlet defining an air flow path; one-way waterless valve means disposed along said flow path and being operative to permit air flow in a direction toward the outlet while preventing reverse flow toward the inlet; waterless high negative pressure relief valve means in communications with the flow path, said relief valve means being operative to open whenever the negative pressure within the flow path exceeds a predetermined value, the high negative pressure relief valve means being connectable to a source of increased pressure to admit air to the air space when said high negative pressure relief valve means opens.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said source of higher pressure comprises the ambient atmosphere.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 12 further comprising filter means in series with the high negative pressure relief valve means to filter ambient air admitted into the flow path through said relief valve.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said predetermined value is of the order of -50 centimeters H 2 O.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 12 further comprising: one-way waterless positive pressure relief valve means operatively associated with said apparatus so as to vent the air space to the atmosphere in response to development of a positive pressure within the air space.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
127 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus comprising: means defining a fluid collection chamber having an air space at its upper end; an inlet tube in communication with the fluid collection chamber, the inlet tube being connectable to receive fluids and air from a patient's chest cavity; one-way waterless valve means associated with the fluid collection chamber and being operative to permit air to flow out of the air space while preventing reverse flow back into the collection chamber; means defining a flow path between the inlet tube and said one-way waterless valve means; air leak indicator means along said flow path for entrapping a volume of liquid through which air may bubble; and said air leak indicator means being constructed to provide a visual indication of air passing therethrough.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
127 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus comprising: means defining a fluid collection chamber having an air space at its upper end; an inlet tube in communication with the fluid collection chamber, the inlet tube being connectable to receive fluids and air from a patient's chest cavity; one-way waterless valve means associated with the fluid collection chamber and being operative to permit air to flow out of the air space while preventing reverse flow back into the collection chamber; means defining a flow path between the inlet tube and said one-way waterless valve means; air leak indicator means along said flow path for entrapping a volume of liquid through which air may bubble; and said air leak indicator means being constructed to provide a visual indication of air passing therethrough.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said entrapping means comprises a portion of the flow path being U-shaped.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus as defined in claim 18 further comprising: an outlet port in communication with the air space, the outlet port being adapted to be connected to a source of suction.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus as defined in claim 19 further comprising: suction control means for controlling the level of suction applied to the air space.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
78 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus as defined in any of claims 17-20 further comprising: means defining a high negative pressure relief valve in communication with the air space, said relief valve being operative to open whenever the negative pressure in the air space exceeds a predetermined value, the high negative pressure relief valve means being in communication with a source of increased pressure to admit air to the air space when said high negative pressure relief valve means opens.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus as defined in any of claims 17-21 further comprising: positive pressure relief valve means in communication with the air space.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
56 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus as defined in claim 22 further comprising: said one-way valve having an outlet side which communicates with the outlet port; the positive pressure relief valve having an outlet side which does not communicate with the outlet port thereby to define separate outlet paths for the one-way valve and positive pressure relief means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein the one-way waterless valve means is openable in response to a low pressure differential.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein said low pressure differential is approximately 0.5 cm water.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-05-31 | 1991-11-30 | 1992-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-05-31 | 1995-11-30 | 1996-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-05-31 | 1999-11-30 | 2000-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |