U.S. patent number 3,674,033 [Application Number 05/063,399] was granted by the patent office on 1972-07-04 for drainage system for body cavities.
Invention is credited to John Powers.
United States Patent |
3,674,033 |
Powers |
July 4, 1972 |
DRAINAGE SYSTEM FOR BODY CAVITIES
Abstract
The invention comprises an inner and outer tube provided on
their facing surfaces with canted projections which, in
ratchet-like fashion, permit movement in one direction but not the
other. The outer tube may be sutured to the skin and, in the event
of distention of the abdomen due to gas, the outer tube will merely
slide over the inner tube; in the absence of the outer tube, such
distention would serve to pull the tube out of the organ to which
it extends.
Inventors: |
Powers; John (Belle Harbor,
NY) |
Family
ID: |
22048947 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/063,399 |
Filed: |
August 13, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/264; 138/114;
285/260 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
25/02 (20130101); A61M 2025/0286 (20130101); A61M
2025/024 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
25/02 (20060101); A61m 027/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/348,349R,35R,35V,351,343,239,240,241 ;27/24.1 ;138/114
;285/238,260,DIG.22 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
586,018 |
|
Dec 1924 |
|
FR |
|
666,090 |
|
Jul 1963 |
|
CA |
|
Primary Examiner: Truluck; Dalton L.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A surgical drainage device for permitting flow of fluid between
a living body cavity and a location outside the body, comprising an
outer tube having a drainage bore throughout the length thereof, an
inner tube removably disposed within said bore and in close fitting
relationship therewith and a plurality of projections, said
projections being located on one of said tubes and directed toward
the other of said tubes, said projections being further of such
radial extent as positively to engage means of said other of said
tubes to permit relative longitudinal movement between said tubes
in one direction and to resist movement in the opposition
direction, whereby when said device is operative with one of said
tubes extending into said body cavity said drainage from said body
cavity can be accomplished.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein both of said tubes are
provided with such projections, the projections of one tube
extending oppositely to those of the other tube and forming a
ratchet-action therewith.
3. A device according to claim 2, wherein each of said projections
is substantially triangular with an obtuse angle adjacent the
connection with its tube and with an acute angle at the forward end
of said projection.
4. A device according to claim 3, wherein each of said projections
is an annular ring.
Description
The present invention relates to a system for permitting flow of
fluid between a body cavity and a location outside the body.
As an adjunct to surgical procedures, tubes of different types may
be placed into various internal viscera and brought out to the
surface of the body. For example, one end of the so called "T" tube
may be placed in the common bile duct and the other end brought out
through the abdominal wall as a drainage duct for the bile, or as a
removable stent in repair of the duct. One of the dangers
associated with the use of these tubes is its inadvertent
dislodgement from the viscus with the consequent spilling of
visceral contents, e.g. bile, into the peritoneal cavity. This
dislodgement may occur in two ways:
1. By pulling on the external part of the tube; or
2. If there is distention of the bowels with gas or fluid or the
development of an intraperitoneal fluid collection, the abdominal
wall may be "ballooned" out, thereby increasing the distance
between the abdominal wall and a fixed viscus, e.g. the bile duct.
If there is a tube running between these two points which is fixed
to the abdominal wall, the distention may cause it to become
dislodged from the viscus.
Current methods of dealing with these tubes involves disregarding
one or the other of these dangers. In one case the tube is fixed
tightly at the skin level by either piercing a tab on the tube with
a suture which is tied to the skin, or by tying the suture around
the tube. However, this allows the tube to become dislodged by the
"distention mechanism." Another way to deal with the tube is not to
fix it at the skin level. This would allow the abdomen to distend
without dislodging the tube. There would, as a result, be a greater
length of tube intreabdominally. A tube handled in this way may
easily be pulled out accidentally.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a
system which will permit such fluid drainage without the problems
associated with prior devices, viz. accidental dislodgement.
This and other objects and advantages are realized in accordance
with the invention wherein there is provided a system comprising
closely fitting inner and outer tubes. At least one of the tubes on
its face directed toward the other tube is provided with a
plurality of projections extending in one direction so that by a
ratchet-type action they permit relative movement between said
tubes in one direction and resist relative movement in the opposite
direction.
The invention will now be described more fully with reference to
the accompanying drawing, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through a short length of the
outer tube;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a short length of the inner
tube;
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section showing the interaction between
the tubes of FIGS. 1 and 2 in operative relationship; and
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an alternate form of inner
tube.
Referring now more particularly to the drawing, in FIG. 1 there is
shown an outer tube 10 comprising a generally cylindrical wall 12
provided with a plurality of projections 14 each of which is an
annular ring integral with the wall. Each projection 14 in cross
section is essentially triangular with an obtuse angle adjacent its
joinder to the wall 12 which is responsible for the tapered forward
end being canted in the downwardly direction, which will be toward
the body.
In FIG. 2 there is shown an inner tube 16 comprising a generally
cylindrical wall 18 provided with a plurality of projections 20
which are generally similar in shape and size with projections 14
of outer tube 10.
As can be seen in FIG. 3, when the inner tube is positioned inside
the outer tube, it is possible to move the outer tube upwardly or
the inner tube downwardly but movements in the opposite directions
are resisted by the interengagement of the projections 14 and 20 in
ratchet fashion.
In operation, outer tube 10 may be inserted through the body
opening and held in fixed position as by a suture or tape. The
inner tube projects through the outer tube, extending to the organ
which is to be drained, for example; the forward ends of the tubes
may be coextensive or the forward end of the inner tube may project
beyond the forward end of the outer tube; there is little point in
having the forward end of the outer tube project beyond the inner
tube although this is permissible. In the event the abdominal wall
is distended, due to gas buildup or the like, this will of course
carry the outer tube therewith since it is connected as by a
suture. However, the viscera which holds the forward end of the
inner tube will mildly resist the inner tube moving, and the outer
tube will accordingly slip readily over the inner tube. In this
fashion there will still be a tubular connection between the
viscera and outside the body whereas, had there been no inner tube,
the tube would have been with-drawn from the viscera upon movement
of the abdominal wall. In generally similar fashion an external
pull on the outer tube 10 would merely cause it to slip over the
inner tube 16 but would not remove the inner tube from the viscera;
an external pull on the inner tube would not permit its removal
from the outer tube, such removal being opposed by the mating
projections 14 and 20.
In FIG. 4 there is shown an alternative embodiment wherein the
inner tube comprises a smooth walled tubular cylinder 22 and one or
more strips 24 concave on their insides and provided with
projections 26 similar in cross-section to projections 20. The
strips 24 may be secured to the outside of tube 22 as by an
adhesive backing, by an externally applied adhesive or solvent or
by thermal fusion.
In practice it is possible for only one of the inner and outer
tubes 10 and 16 to be provided with canted projections, the other
member being relatively smooth or provided with non-canted
projections such as sinusoidal ridges. The relative movement would
then be opposed merely by the one set of projections. It is also
possible that the projections, whether on one or both tubes, do not
fully surround the tube, i.e. they are not fully annular.
The tubes may be made by casting in a suitable mold. Alternatively
they may be continuously extruded through a die of appropriate
shape. The projections can be formed either after the tube is
fabricated as by insertion of a heated mandrel which is moved in
suitable fashion or they can be formed as the tube is extruded by
appropriate movement of a member at the outlet of the extrusion
die.
The projections need not be triangular in cross section but could
be trapezoidal, arcuate, or of other shape, provided they are
canted in one direction so as to permit only one-way movement. The
longitudinal spacing between projections may vary along each tube
and/or the longitudinal spacing between projections on the inner
tube may be different from that on the outer tube without untoward
effect.
The tubes should be composed of flexible material and they are
preferably transparent, although this is not essential. It is
obviously necessary that the material must be physiologically
compatible. This applies not only to the basic polymer but also to
any plasticizers, antioxidants, adjuvants, pigments, or the like. A
suitable material comprises silicone rubber, polyethylene, and the
like.
While the tubes are preferably used in conjunction, as noted either
tube may be used with a smooth wall mate or it is possible to use
inner tube 16 alone, replacing the outer tube by a loop or suture
of material fixed to the skin. In such fashion one of projections
20 will engage the suture loop to prevent relative movement in one
direction.
It will be appreciated that the instant specification and examples
are set forth by way of illustration and not limitation, and that
various modifications and changes may be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
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