Thoracic drainage device having reduced counter-pressure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9839726-B2
Application number	US-201214128041-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 5, 2012
Priority date	Jul 7, 2011
Publication date	Dec 12, 2017
Grant date	Dec 12, 2017

Abstract

A device for thoracic drainage comprises a container connector for a secretion collection container ( 3 ), which can be connected to the pleural cavity of a patient, and a venting device ( 10 ) for releasing air from the secretion collection container in passive operation. In order to keep the counterpressure as low as possible during the air release and thus make it easier to force air out of the pleural cavity ( 1 ) of a patient, the venting device has a controllable vent valve ( 12 ). For this purpose, a control device ( 7 ) determines the pressure in the secretion collection container by reading out a pressure sensor ( 11 ) and controls the valve to release air from the secretion collection container when the determined pressure exceeds a threshold value. The device can optionally also be operated actively by way of a vacuum connector ( 25 ). An ancillary line ( 2 ′) permits monitoring of the drainage line ( 2 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for thoracic drainage, comprising:
a container connector for a secretion collection container that is adapted to be connected to the pleural cavity of a patient;
a vent line leading from the container connector to the atmosphere;
a venting device with a controllable first valve being arranged in the vent line for releasing air from the secretion collection container and with a first pressure sensor for measuring a pressure in the secretion collection container; and
a control device, which cooperates with the first pressure sensor and which is configured to open the first valve when a difference between a pressure in the secretion collection container and atmospheric pressure exceeds a positive first threshold value,
wherein the first pressure sensor measures the pressure in the vent line between the container connector and the first valve.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first threshold value is between 0.001 and 0.05 kPa.

3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the control device comprises a memory and is configured to store predetermined operating data in the memory.

4. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a flow configured to measure a volumetric flow of gas entering through the container connector.

5. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum connector for connection to a vacuum source.

6. The device according to claim 5 , comprising a controllable second valve between the container connector and the vacuum connector in order to selectively apply a vacuum to the secretion collection container.

7. The device according to claim 5 , further comprising a second pressure sensor, which is configured to measure a pressure at the vacuum connector.

8. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the control device is configured to automatically open the second valve when a difference between a pressure at the vacuum connector and atmospheric pressure falls below a predetermined limit value.

9. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a connector for an ancillary line and, connected to the connector for the ancillary line, a third pressure sensor.

10. The device according to claim 9 , further comprising a controllable third valve, which is connected to the connector for the ancillary line and by means of which, in the closed state, the connector for the ancillary line is closed off with respect to the atmosphere.

11. The device according to claim 1 , comprising a housing in which the venting device is accommodated and which is configured to releasably connect to a secretion collection container.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium having a set of computer executable instructions stored thereon for controlling a thoracic drainage device, the thoracic drainage device comprising a secretion collection container having a container connector that is adapted to be connected to the pleural cavity of a patient, a vent line leading from the container connector to the atmosphere, at least one controllable first valve being arranged in the vent line, at least one first pressure sensor, and a control device, the computer executable instructions comprising instructions for causing the control device to carry out the following steps:
reading out the first pressure sensor in order to determine a pressure in the secretion collection container; and
controlling the first valve in order to release air from the secretion collection container when a difference between the determined pressure in the secretion collection container and atmospheric pressure exceeds a positive first threshold value;
wherein the first pressure sensor measures the pressure in the vent line between the container connector and the first valve.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 12 , wherein the set of computer executable instructions further include instructions for causing the control device to additionally carry out the following steps:
determining the difference between a pressure at a vacuum connector of the thoracic drainage device and atmospheric pressure;
automatically opening a controllable second valve, arranged between the secretion container and the vacuum connector, when said difference falls below a predetermined limit value.

14. A method for operating a thoracic drainage device with a secretion collection container having a container connector that is adapted to be connected to the pleural cavity of a patient and with a vent line leading from the container connector to the atmosphere, said method comprising the following steps:
determining a pressure in the secretion collection container;
selectively releasing air from the secretion collection container by means of a controllable first valve being arranged in the vent line when a difference between the pressure in the secretion collection container and atmospheric pressure exceeds a positive first threshold value;
wherein the pressure is measured in the vent line between the container connector and the first valve.

15. The method according to claim 14 , which method further comprises:
determining the difference between the pressure at a vacuum connector of the thoracic drainage device and the atmospheric pressure;
automatically opening a controllable second valve, arranged between the secretion container and the vacuum connector, when said difference falls below a predetermined limit value.

16. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the operating data include at least one of a pressure measured in the secretion collection container and an operating state of the first valve.

17. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the control device is configured to open the second valve only if further criteria are met.

18. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a flow sensor, which is arranged in the vent line between the container connector and the first valve.

19. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum line, which leads to a vacuum connector and branches off from the vent line between the container connector and the first valve.

20. The device according to claim 19 , wherein at least one of a controllable second valve and a second sensor are arranged in the vacuum line.

21. The device according to claim 19 , wherein the vacuum line has a smaller cross section than the vent line.

22. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the housing is releasably connected to the secretion collection container of a capacity of one of 0.3 liters or larger than 0.3 liters.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 13 , wherein the set of computer executable instructions further include instructions for causing the step of automatically opening the controllable second valve to occur when further criteria are met.

24. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the step of automatically opening the controllable second valve occurs when further criteria are met.

Assignees

• Ehlert Hilmar
• Medela Holding Ag

Inventors

• Ehlert Hilmar

Classifications

• A61M2205/50

  with microprocessors or computers · CPC title

• A61M2205/3331

  Pressure; Flow · CPC title

• A61M2210/101

  Pleural cavity · CPC title

• A61B1/015

  Control of fluid supply or evacuation · CPC title

• A61M1/743 Primary

  by changing the cross-section of the line, e.g. flow regulating valves (A61M1/7413 takes precedence) · CPC title