Surgical Drainage System With Pressure Measuring Device

Abstract

A surgical drainage system includes a container for the collection of fluids drained from a cavity such as a pleural cavity and a drainage tube for placing the collection chamber in fluid communication with the cavity to be drained. A check valve is provided on the drainage tube to permit the flow of fluids from the cavity to be drained into the collection chamber but prevents the passage of fluid from the container into the drainage tube. A pressure measuring device is provided in the drainage tube which provides means for determining the pressure conditions existing within the pleural cavity.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a drainage device and more particularly to a one bottle system provided with a check valve which permits the passage of fluids to pass from the cavity being drained into the collection chamber which prevents the flow of liquid from the collection chamber into the drainage tube during conditions of high negativity within the pleural cavity. The system is further provided with a pressure measuring device comprising a bellows or accordion like element which is connected to the drainage tube and which will expand to show reduced negativity within the pleural cavity and which contracts to indicate a condition of high negativity within the pleural cavity.

Surgical drainage devices to provide means for draining pleural cavities are presently in existence. Such devices are shown for examples in U.S. Pat. No. 3,363,626 issued Jan. 16, 1968 and such devices generally comprise three bottle systems including a collection chamber, an underwater seal chamber and a manometer chamber. Such underwater devices are generally used by connecting the device to a suction pump and providing an increased degree of negativity on the pleural cavity, such negativity being measured by the manometer chamber.

However, in many instances it is unnecessary to provide additional suction and in such cases the three bottle system such as disclosed in the prior patent hereinbefore referred to is used as a two bottle system comprising a collection chamber and an underwater seal chamber. An underwater seal is necessary in such an arrangement to prevent communication of the collection chamber with atmosphere. Furthermore, the underwater seal provides a means for determining the degree of negativity existing in the pleural cavity.

In prior application Ser. No. 256,158 filed May 24, 1972 for "Surgical Drainage System" there is disclosed a check valve which is adapted to be inserted in the thoracotomy tube interconnecting the body cavity to be drained with the collection chamber. Such a valve permits the flow of liquid from the body cavity into the collection chamber but prevents the backflow of liquids into the pleural cavity during conditions of high negativity within the pleural cavity. Such a valve closes off the drainage tube and permits the pleural cavity to develop whatever degree of high negativity is required for the particular circumstances.

According to the present invention a one bottle system is provided and a one way flap or check valve is connected to the end of the inlet tube into the collection chamber. The underwater seal is eliminated and the function of the underwater seal in providing means for measuring the pressure within the pleural cavity is replaced by means of a bellows or accordion like structure which is formed of a resilient material and is connected in the passageway between the one way valve and the pleural cavity. During exhalation when higher pressures are reached within the pleural cavity the accordion like structure will expand, giving an indication of a higher pressure within the pleural cavity. Upon inhalation when lower pressures are reached within the pleural cavity the accordion like structure will contract, thereby giving an indication of a higher degree of negativity within the pleural cavity. Thus, a clear indication of the pressure conditions existing within the pleural cavity are given without the need for an underwater seal.

An object of the present invention is to provide a surgical drainage device in a one bottle system which includes means for measuring the pressure conditions within the pleural cavity.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a one bottle drainage system including a check valve to prevent backflow of fluids from the collection chamber into the pleural cavity and including a pressure measuring device for indicating varying pressure conditions within the pleural cavity.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent upon consideration of the following detail specification in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the surgical drainage system according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 and

FIG. 3 is a partial elevational view showing a low pressure condition.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a collection chamber which is of polyethylene or polystyrene or may be made of any other suitable material. The collection chamber is formed with a bottom wall 2 and side walls 3. An air tight rubber gasket 4 encloses the top of the collection chamber so that the chamber is air tight.

An inlet tube 5 passes through an opening in the gasket 4 and extends downwardly into the interior of the collection chamber. Extending over an end of the inlet tube 5 is a valve member 6 formed of a resilient material such as latex rubber and this valve has a pair of lips 7 and 8 which cooperate to provide an elongated slit so as to provide a passageway from the inlet tube 5 into the interior of the collection chamber 1 when the lips are separated or open. During reduced pressure conditions within the inlet 5 the lips 7 and 8 close to close the passageway into the interior of the collection chamber 1. The construction of the valve member 6 may be as disclosed in prior application Ser. No. 256,158 filed May 23, 1972.

Secured to the inlet tube 5 adjacent the lower end portion thereof is a block 9 having a passageway 10 therein. At the lower end of the block 9 there is provided a boss 11 and disposed over this boss is the end portion of a bellows or accordion shaped sleeve member 12. Member 12 has a closed lower end and may be made of a resilient material such as latex rubber.

The passageway 10 in block 9 provides a passageway between the inlet 5 and the interior of the member 12. It can be seen that the passageway 10 has an inverted U-shaped configuration for purposes that will be more clear hereinafter.

The operation of the presently disclosed surgical drainage system is as follows. The end portion of tube 5 extending outwardly of the collection chamber 1 is connected with a thoracotomy tube. The other end of the thoracotomy tube extends into the patient's pleural cavity in the usual manner. Liquids and gasses pass through the thoracotomy tube and upon reaching the valve 6 the lips 7 and 8 open to permit the fluids to pass into the collection chamber 1. During exhalation, when a higher pressure exists within the pleural cavity, this higher pressure will cause the accordion or bellows shaped pressure measuring element 12 to expand. During inhalation, when the pressure within the pleural cavity is lowered, the pressure measuring element 12 will be constracted as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, the member 12, provides the pressure measuring means which serves as an indication of the pressure conditions existing within the pleural cavity. During inhalation when a lowered pressure condition exists in the pleural cavity the lips 7 and 8 of valve 6 will close, preventing the return of gasses and liquid through the valve 6 into the thoracotomy tube. Thus, the clock valve 6 permits the development of a high degree of negativity within the pleural cavity.

The present invention provides a simplified surgical drainage system including one bottle and requiring no underwater seal. It is not necessary in such a system to position the one way valve or the pressure measuring means in the precise location shown. For example, the one way valve could be located at any desired position in the tube connecting the pleural cavity and collection chamber with the pressure measuring means disposed adjacent thereto. The system permits the free passage of fluids from the pleural cavity into the collection chamber and yet prevents back-flow of the fluids into the thoracotomy tube from the collection chamber thereby maintaining the degree of negativity required in the pleural cavity for the patient to breathe. The Physician may readily determine the pressure conditions existing within the pleural cavity by observing the movement of the member 12. Conditions of high negativity which may indicate the necessity for further surgical procedures are indicated by extensive contraction of the element 12. A gauge or scale may be provided on the face of the collection chamber so that the extent of movement of member 12 may be more accurately determined.

The presently disclosed one way valve and pressure measuring means may also be used in combination with more conventional two and three bottle drainage systems. In such systems the one way valve may be located either in the tube connecting the plural cavity and collection chamber or adjacent the outlet of the collection chamber. The pressure measuring means may be located adjacent the one way valve to indicate the pressure fluctuations in the pleural cavity.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings.

Claims

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by letters Patent is:

1. In a device for collecting fluids drained from a body cavity comprising in combination, a collection chamber, a passageway into the collection chamber and adapted to be connected with the body cavity to be drained, valve means for permitting the flow of fluid from the body cavity into the collection chamber through the passageway, and pressure measuring means for measuring pressure variation in the body cavity, said pressure measuring means sensing the pressure variations at a location between said valve means and the body cavity.

2. In a device according to claim 1 wherein said pressure measuring means is disposed in the passageway between said valve means and the body cavity.

3. In a device according to claim 1 wherein said pressure measuring means includes an accordion shaped enclosed tube having the internal chamber therein in communication with said passageway.

4. In a device according to claim 3 wherein said accordion shaped enclosed tube is of a resilient material and elongates in response to increased pressure within said passageway and contracts in response to decreased pressure within said passageway.

5. In a device for collecting fluids drained from a body cavity comprising, in combination, a collection chamber, an inlet tube extending into said collection chamber, a resilient check valve means mounted on the inner end of said inlet tube whereby when said inlet tube is connected with a body cavity to be drained said check valve means permits the flow of fluid from the body cavity into the collection chamber and prevents reverse flow, and pressure measuring means in communication with said inlet tube between the check valve means and the body cavity for measuring the pressure variations in the body cavity.

6. In a device according to claim 5 wherein said pressure measuring means is disposed in said collection chamber.

7. In a device according to claim 5 wherein said pressure measuring means includes an accordion shaped enclosed tube having the internal chamber therein in communication with said inlet tube.

8. In a device according to claim 5 and further including a U-shaped passageway connecting said pressure measuring means with said inlet tube to prevent the passage of liquids into said pressure measuring means.