Drains for Use in Medical Applications and Methods of Using the Same

Abstract

A drain for use in medical applications may include an elongated conduit configured to be implanted in a body cavity, wherein the conduit has a proximal end and a distal end. The conduit may include at least one channel configured to drain fluid from the body cavity and at least one lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the conduit. The lumen may be at least partially surrounded by the at least one channel and may be separated from the at least one channel by a wall. At least one hole in the wall may be configured to provide fluid communication between the lumen and the at least one channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drain for use in medical applications, comprising:
 an elongated conduit configured to be implanted in a body cavity, the conduit comprising:
 at least one channel configured to drain fluid from the body cavity; 
 at least one lumen extending from a proximal end of the conduit to a distal end of the conduit, the lumen at least partially surrounded by the at least one channel and separated from the at least one channel by a wall; and 
 at least one opening in the wall establishing fluid communication between the lumen and the at least one channel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The drain according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first channel wall, a second channel wall, and a third channel wall together defining three channels having substantially the same cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         3 . The drain according to  claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises at least one slot providing fluid communication between the at least one channel and an exterior of the conduit. 
     
     
         4 . The drain according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall at the distal end of the conduit comprises a material that permits diffusion of at least one fluid from the lumen to the at least one channel. 
     
     
         5 . The drain according to  claim 1 , further comprising a light source in the lumen at a location proximal the distal end of the conduit, the light source being configured to illuminate a desired location in the body cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The drain according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an elongated member slidably disposed in the at least one channel extending from the proximal end of the conduit to the distal end of the conduit; and   an inflatable member associated with the elongated member at the distal end of the conduit, the inflatable member being inflatable to a size and configuration substantially complementary to a size and configuration of the at least one channel.   
     
     
         7 . The drain according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an elongated member associated with and extending substantially the entire length of the conduit, the elongated member being configured to impart motion to the conduit; and   a control device configured to operate the elongated member so as to impart motion to the conduit.   
     
     
         8 . The drain according to  claim 7 , wherein the control device comprises at least one dial for operating the elongated member. 
     
     
         9 . The drain according to  claim 7 , wherein the control device comprises a joystick for operating the elongated member. 
     
     
         10 . The drain according to  claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises at least one of an anti-inflammatory, anti-infective, lubticious, mucolytic, and anti-inflammatory coating. 
     
     
         11 . The drain according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensing member in the lumen at a location proximal the distal end of the conduit, the sensing member being configured to sense at least one physiological property of tissue at a desired location in the body cavity. 
     
     
         12 . The drain according to  claim 1 , further comprising a port associated with the distal end of the conduit, the port being configured to receive a trocar. 
     
     
         13 . The drain according to  claim 12 , further comprising a trocar removably received by the port, the trocar having a distal end extending from the distal end of the conduit. 
     
     
         14 . A drain for use in medical applications, comprising:
 an elongated conduit configured to be implanted in a body cavity, the conduit comprising:
 at least one channel configured to drain fluid from the body cavity; 
 at least one lumen extending from a proximal end of the conduit to a distal end of the conduit, the lumen being at least partially surrounded by the at least one channel; and 
 at least one sensing member in the lumen at a location proximal the distal end of the conduit, the sensing member being configured to sense at least one of a morphological and a physiological property of tissue at a desired location in the body cavity. 
   
     
     
         15 . The drain according to  claim 14 , wherein the sensing member is configured to sense at least one of temperature, pressure, and pH. 
     
     
         16 . The drain according to  claim 14 , wherein the sensing member comprises a transducer. 
     
     
         17 . The drain according to  claim 14 , wherein the sensing member comprises a camera. 
     
     
         18 . The drain according to  claim 14 , further comprising a light source in the lumen at a location proximal the distal end of the conduit, the light source being configured to illuminate a desired location in the body cavity. 
     
     
         19 . The drain according to  claim 18 , wherein the light source comprises a fiber optic light source. 
     
     
         20 . A method of draining a region of a body cavity, comprising:
 implanting an elongated conduit in the body cavity, the conduit comprising a channel configured to drain fluid from the body cavity;   slidably inserting an elongated member in the channel and extending the elongated member from a proximal end of the conduit to a distal end of the conduit;   inflating an inflatable member associated with the elongated member at the distal end of the conduit to a size and configuration substantially complementary to a size and configuration of the channel; and   urging the elongated member and inflatable member in a direction toward the proximal end of the conduit so as to remove debris from the channel.