Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
268 words
An apparatus for the collection of blood directly from a chest drainage unit which is attached to a patient, said apparatus permitting subsequent reinfusion of the collected blood directly into a patient, comprising a self-contained unit having a non-separable unitary outer rigid container enclosing an inner flexible container; said unit having at least two portals as an indivisible part of said outer rigid container each having first and second ends, at least one of said portals extending through a wall of said outer rigid container and through a wall of said inner flexible container so that said first end of said at least one portal extends into the interior of said inner flexible container; said inner flexible container being sealingly attached to said first end of said at least one portal and thereby being fixedly connected to said outer rigid container, and said second end of said at least one portal extends externally of said outer rigid container; said second end being constructed and arranged for attachment to a tubular member, said tubular member being the means by which said blood is transferred to or from said apparatus from said chest drainage unit or patient; a second of said at least two portals extending through a wall of said outer rigid container so that said first end of said second portal extends into a space between the inner wall of said outer rigid container and the outer wall of said inner flexible container, and the second end of said second portal extends external of said rigid container and being constructed and arranged for attachment to a vacuum source.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
268 words
An apparatus for the collection of blood directly from a chest drainage unit which is attached to a patient, said apparatus permitting subsequent reinfusion of the collected blood directly into a patient, comprising a self-contained unit having a non-separable unitary outer rigid container enclosing an inner flexible container; said unit having at least two portals as an indivisible part of said outer rigid container each having first and second ends, at least one of said portals extending through a wall of said outer rigid container and through a wall of said inner flexible container so that said first end of said at least one portal extends into the interior of said inner flexible container; said inner flexible container being sealingly attached to said first end of said at least one portal and thereby being fixedly connected to said outer rigid container, and said second end of said at least one portal extends externally of said outer rigid container; said second end being constructed and arranged for attachment to a tubular member, said tubular member being the means by which said blood is transferred to or from said apparatus from said chest drainage unit or patient; a second of said at least two portals extending through a wall of said outer rigid container so that said first end of said second portal extends into a space between the inner wall of said outer rigid container and the outer wall of said inner flexible container, and the second end of said second portal extends external of said rigid container and being constructed and arranged for attachment to a vacuum source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 further including a blood collection tube attached to the second end of at least one of said portals which extends through said wall of said outer rigid container and through said wall of said inner flexible container, said tube having a needle fixed to its free end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said blood collection tube has an inline blood filtering means positioned therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 in combination with a chest drainage unit wherein said chest drainage unit has a self-sealing diaphragm located in a wall of said chest drainage unit structured to receive a needle, and said needle of the free end of said blood collection tube is inserted into said diaphragm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein said apparatus is attached to said chest drainage unit through attachment means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination of claim 5 wherein said attachment means comprises a semi-rigid plastic tab extending from the top surface of said outer rigid container of said apparatus having an opening which is attached to said drainage unit.