US2286462A - Surgical suction drainage and irrigation tube - Google Patents

Description

R. C. CHAFFlN SURGICAL SUCTION DRAINAGE AND IRRIGATION TUBE June 16, 1942.

Filed May 6, 1940 v 7!!!! l Fill/I11 lll'i Patented June 16, 1942 PAT OFFICE SURGICAL SUCTION DRAINAGE AND IRRIGATION TUBE Rafe 0. Chafiin, Los Angeles, Calif Application May 6, 1940, Serial No. 333,449

4 Claims.

This invention relates to means for draining and irrigating surgical cavities, etc. and relates more particularly to an improved surgical drainage and irrigation tube. A general object of this invention is to provide a safe and particularly effective suction drainage tube and irrigation tube.

Another object of this invention is to provide a surgical drainage tube that operates to effectively remove blood, pus, mucous, and other liquid secretions from surgical cavities and operation wounds, without creating a negative pressure in the cavity or wound and therefore without drawing tissue into the tube. The device of the invention may be termed a suction drainage tu-be when designed or used for drainage purposes but does not in any case create an undesirable negative pressure in the body cavity or wound.

Another object of this invention is to provide a surgical drainage tube in which the air or other fluid supplied from an external source is directed through the tube in such a manner that it operates by a mild or permissive induction action to carry away the blood, pus, or secretions and cannot create an undesirable or harmful negative pressure in the wound or cavity,

Another object of this invention is to provide a surgical tube of the character referred to that is equally successful and operative as a drainage tube and an irrigation tube operating in both cases in a mild, yet efiective, manner without drawing on the tissues or washing against the tissues with any appreciable force.

Another object of this invention is to provide a surgical tube of the character referred to that will not clog or close against the flow of the drainage or irrigation fluid and that is fully operative in very confined places.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of the invention. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the inner or active portion of the device appearing in longitudinal cross section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse taken as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig 1, illustrating an alternative form of the invention. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the tube illustrated in Fig. 4 with the outer or active portion of the tube in longitudinal cross section, and Fig. 6 is an detailed sectional view enlarged transverse detailed sectional view take as indicated by line 6-6 on Fig. 5.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the invention may be said to comprise, generally, a tube'body It] shaped to have two fluid conducting arms A in side by side relation, fluid inlet and discharge means II at the juncture ofthe arms A, and by pass means l2 connecting the arms.

The instrument or device of the present invention may be formed from a length of flexible resilient tubing such as rubber tubing, or if desired, may be molded or otherwise formed of flexible resilient material. When the body ill of the device is formed of a length of rubber tubing the tubingis folded or bent back upon itself at a point between its ends to have the two tube arms A. The shaping or bending of the tube in this manner provides the device with an end l3 that is rounded or convex and that has somewhat flattened sides. The two tube arms A extend in side by side relation for a substantial distance and may have free or convergent outer portions l4 adapted for convenient connection with the fluid supply means and fluid discharge means. The tube arms A may be cemented, vulcanized or otherwise secured together where they are in parallel relation. For example, the grooves l5 occurring where the arms A are parallel may be occupied by cement or vulcanized rubber l6 as best illustrated in Fig. 3. The cement or rubber It connects the arms A and serves to maintain the arms in side by side relation to constitute a single elongate tube structure. The arms A are continuously tubular, having central longitudinal passages I! which may be round or cylindrical and uniform in diameter. The passages H are of the same diameter in the construction illustrated, it being apparent that they may be unequal in size if desired. It will be observed that the passages ll of the arms A are separated by the joined together walls of the tubes A that form a central partition it. It will be seen that the body In of the surgical tube may be inexpensively made from a single length of suitable rubber tubing.

The fluid inlet and discharge means is provided at the active end of the body It, that is, at the part l3. The means I l includes two laterally facing openings IS in the opposite sides of the end part E3. The openings I9 are diametrically opposite and of like size and configuration. While the openings l9 may be formed in any selected manner I have found it desirable to provide a transverse opening or notch in the wall of the tube at the point where the tube is to be that extends across the end part I 3 and continues a for some distance along the outer sides of the arms A. The number, spacing and size of theopenings 20 may be varied as conditions may require. Theendmost openings 20 of the series or row may be in planes below or rearward of the openings l9 and the end of the partition I8.

The by-pass means I2 is a feature of the invention operating to assure the efiective operation of the tube and yet prevent the development of excessive negative pressures at the end of the tube when it is used as a drainage tube and to prevent a harsh positive flow and excessive pressure when the device is used as an irrigation tube. The by-pass means l2 serves to connect the passages I! of the tube arms A so that the fluid may flow or by-pass from one passage I! to the other, lessening the inductive action and the resultant negative pressure when the device is used as a drainage tube and preventing the development of excessive pressures at the exterior of the device when the device is used as an irrigation tube.

The by-pass means |2 comprises the space or chamber 2| that occurs in the end part l3 at the juncture of the passages 11. The chamber 2| forms an unbroken and unrestricted space or fluid duct connecting the two passages H. The fluid handled, whether used for drainage or irrigation purposes, is free to flow through the chamber 2| from one passage IT to the other, within the confines of the device, so that unwanted negative pressures and superatmospheric pres sures cannot be developed in the surgical cavity. The fluid when utilized for drainage purposes passes through the chamber 2| from one arm A to the other to flow past the openings I9 and 20 and to flow through the openings. The drainage fluid passing through the chamber 2| draws or induces the blood, secretions, etc. from the surgical cavity by a mild inductive action and in some cases may pass through the openings l9 and 20 into the surgical cavity to return through the openings to the chamber 2!. the continuous, unrestricted chamber 2| connecting the passages prevents a development of excessive negative pressure in the operation wound or surgical cavity and yet provides an eflicient drainage action. Where water or other fluid is passed through the tube for irrigation purposes it is free to continue through the chamber 2| to pass from one arm passage ii to the other and, of course, is free to dis-charge through the openings l9 and 20 and to re-enter the openings. The irrigation fluid cannot build up an excessive pressure in the surgical cavity as the chamber 2| remains open at all times to allow a continuous free discharge.

The by-pass means I2 may further include one or morelateral openings 22 in the partition 58. In the particular case illustrated there is asingle opening 22 spaced from the inner extremity of the partition IS. The opening 22 serves todirectly connect the passages I1 permitting a flow In any case bent and by bending the tube to bring the arms of fluid from one passage to the other and assisting the chamber 2| in the by-passing of the fluid. If for any reason the flow through the chamber 2| becomes lessened or restricted the fluid, whether irrigation fluid or drainage fluid, is free to pass through theopening 22 so that an undesirable pressure condition cannot build up at the end of the device. It is important to locate theopening 22 so that it cannot become closed under any condition of use.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawing illustrate an alternative or modified form of the invention comprising a tube body l0 having arms A in side by side relation, a fluid discharge and inlet means N and a connecting means or by-pass means |2 joining the tube arms A.

The body I0 and its arms A may be the same as in the other form of the invention. The fluid discharge and inlet means comprises openings l9 at the opposite sides of the end part I3. The openings w may be identical with the openings |9 above described. In this construction the ports oropenings 20 in the part |3 may be eliminated.

The means l2 for connecting the passages I! for the free flow of the drainage or irrigation fluid comprises the chamber 2| in the part I3 as in the previously described form of the invention. In the construction illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the means |2 further includes a notch orslot 30 in the partition It! for by-pa-ssing orconducting the fluid from one passage ll to the other. Theslot 30 extends longitudinally from the extremity of the partition i3 and is of selected width and length. It will be seen that theslot 30 assists the chamber 2| in by-passing or conducting the irrigation fluid or drainage fluid from one passage I! to the other.

The structure illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 cperates in the same manner as the previously described form of the invention. When the device is used as a drainage tube, air or other fluid is passed through one tube arm A to discharge through the other arm. The fluid is delivered to the chamber 2| and passes through the chamber to discharge from the discharge arm A. The

fluid flowing through the chamber 2| past the openings Ii! induces the fluids from the surgical cavity or operation wound into the tube and carries the fluids away through the discharge arm A. In this connection it is to be observed that the drainage fluid draws the blood, secretions, etc. into the tube'by a very mildinduction action and does not create a negative pressure in the surgical cavity. There is always a free passage through the chamber 2| and the slot 33 and a negative pressure cannot build up in the surgical cavity. 'Where water or other fluid is passed through the tube for irrigation purposes it is free to flow through the chamber 2| from one passage H to the other and, of course, may discharge through the openings EQ The irrigation fluid cannot create or build up excessive pressure and cannot have a harsh washing action because it has a free unrestricted flow through the chamber 2| and slot 30 which are confined within the tube structure. The surgical tube of the invention constructed as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, or as in Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, is inexpensive and durable and is efficient in operation.

Having described onlytypical preferred forms and applications of my invention; I do not wish to'be limited or restrictedtc the specific details herein set forth, but Wish to reserve to myself "any variations or modifications that-mayappear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A surgical suction drainage tube comprising an elongate flexible body divided into two longitudinal passages one for connection with a source of negative pressure, the other for admission of fluid, the tube having an outer end portion continuing from the body forming a chamber which joins the passages of the body for flow of fluid therebetween, and a partition in said chamber directing the flow between the passages to the forward end of the chamber, there being a plurality of openings in said outer end portion to admit matter into the chamber to be carried by the flow of fluid therethrough, there being a bypass opening in the partition for bypassing fluid from one passage to the other in the event the end portion becomes distorted or material in the chambers tends to stop flow between the passages.

2. A surgical suction drainage tube comprising an elongate flexible body divided into two longitudinal passages one for connection with a source of negative pressure, the other for admission of fluid, the tube having an outer end portion continuing from the body forming a chamber which joins the passages of the body for flow of fluid therebetween, and a partition in said chamber directing the flow between the passages to the forward end of the chamber, thereibeing a bypass opening in the partition for bypassing fluid from one passage to the other, and a plurality of inlet openings in the outer end portion located outwardly beyond the said bypass.

3. A surgical tube comprising an elongate flexible tubular body having its wall cut away at one side at a point intermediate its ends forming a notch in the body communicating with the interior of the body, the body being bent at said notch so the portions of the body adjacent the notch are in side by side relation and so the said notch is in the crotch of the bend forming an open passage between the joined ends of said portions of the body and also forming spaced inlet openings into said passage, the said portions of the body being joined in said side by side relation.

4. A surgical tube comprising an elongate flexible tubular body having its wall cut away at one side at a point intermediate its ends forming a notch in the body communicating with the interior of the body, the body being bent at said notch so the portions of the body adjacent the notch are in side by side relation and so the said notch is in the crotch of the bend forming an open passage between the joined ends of said portions of the body and also forming spaced inlet openings into said passage laterally of the body, the said portions of the body being joined in said side by side relation, there being a bypass opening through the adjoining walls of said body portions joining the said portions of the body to bypass fluid from one of said portions to the other before it reaches the passage formed by the notch.

RAFE C. CHAFFIN.

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