Patent US4822346A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4822346A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Chest drainage apparatus
Assignee: Technology Holding Co II
•
Filing: 1988-04-13
•
Granted: 1989-04-18
•
Expires: 2008-04-13
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
2026-10-23 18:35
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/60; A61M1/61; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2931; Y10T137/3109
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A non-waterseal 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 a chest cavity. one-way waterless valve means associated with the fluid collection chamber and being operative, unaided by underwater seals, 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; said air leak indicator means being constructed to provide a visual indication of air passing therethrough; and said one-way waterless valve means being openable in response to a low pressure differential.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
A non-waterseal 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 a chest cavity. one-way waterless valve means associated with the fluid collection chamber and being operative, unaided by underwater seals, 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; said air leak indicator means being constructed to provide a visual indication of air passing therethrough; and said one-way waterless valve means being openable in response to a low pressure differential.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said entrapping means comprises a portion of the flow path being U-shaped.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus as defined in claim 2 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 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus as defined in claim 3 further comprising: suction control means for controlling the level of suction applied to the air space.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus as defined in any of claims 1-4 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 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus as defined in any of claims 1-5 further comprising: positive pressure relief valve means in communication with the air space.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
147 words
A non-waterseal 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 a chest cavity; one-way waterless valve means associated with the fluid collection chamber and being operative, unaided by underwater seals, to permit air to flow out of the air space while preventing reverse flow back into the collection chamber, said one-way waterless valve means comprising the primary means for preventing said reverse flow; 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 9
Dependent Claim
147 words
A non-waterseal 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 a chest cavity; one-way waterless valve means associated with the fluid collection chamber and being operative, unaided by underwater seals, to permit air to flow out of the air space while preventing reverse flow back into the collection chamber, said one-way waterless valve means comprising the primary means for preventing said reverse flow; 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 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said entrapping means comprises a portion of the flow path being U-shaped.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus as defined in claim 8 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 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus as defined in claim 9 further comprising: suction control means for controlling the level of suction applied to the air space.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
78 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus as defined in any of claims 7-10 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 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus as defined in any of claims 7-11 further comprising: positive pressure relief valve means in communication with the air space.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus as defined in claim 12 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 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus as defined in any of claims 7-13 wherein the one-way waterless valve means is openable in response to a low pressure differential.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A thoracic drainage apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said low pressure differential is approximately 0.5 cm water.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3066530A
Cited
US3675481A
Cited
US3750692A
Cited
US3830238A
Cited
US4015603A
Cited
US4105031A
Cited
US4112948A
Cited
US4289158A
Cited
US4261362A
Cited
GB2082071A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-04-17 | 1992-10-17 | 1993-04-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-04-17 | 1996-10-17 | 1997-04-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-04-17 | 2000-10-17 | 2001-04-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |