Thorax drainage apparatus

Claim 1

A thorax drainage apparatus comprising, a collection chamber having upper and lower ends, opposite ends, and opposite sides, a chest catheter tube, said collection chamber having a first port means formed therein adjacent its upper end adjacent one end thereof which is fluidly connected to a vacuum pump for creating a negative pressure within said chamber, said collection chamber having a second port means formed therein adjacent its upper end adjacent its other end which is connected to said chest catheter tube, a first valve means in said collection chamber connected to said first port means which is movable between open and closed positions, said first valve means being of such a construction such that it is normally open during the respiratory exhalation mode and in its closed position during the respiratory inspiration mode, said first valve means being positioned so as to discharge the contents of said chest catheter tube into said chamber adjacent the upper end of said chamber, a vertically disposed hollow vent tube extending downwardly into said chamber from the upper end thereof and having upper and lower ends, said upper end being in communication with the atmosphere, said lower end positioned above the lower end of said chamber, a vertically disposed column in said chamber having said vent tube positioned therein, said column having a greater inside diameter than the outside diameter of said vent tube along the length thereof to enable a water column of predetermined height to be created therebetween, the lower end of said column being positioned on the lower end of said chamber in a sealed relationship with respect thereto, said column being in communication, adjacent its upper end, with the upper interior of said chamber, said chamber having an exhaust port formed therein at its upper end, and a second valve means normally closing said exhaust port but which permits atmospheric communication of the upper interior of said chamber when a predetermined positive pressure is reached within said chamber, the interior of said chamber being substantially unobstructed thereby providing direct flow between said first valve means and said first port means, whereby a substantially unobstructed air flow is permitted between said first valve means and said second port means, the interior of said chamber being unobstructed around said vent tube and said column so that ambient air entering said chamber, through said vent tube and said column, will be unrestricted except for the resistance offered by the water column between said vent tube and said column.