Fluid Removal Device

Abstract

A fluid removal device is provided for removing fluid from pleural space that includes a flexible, open tube with a slight resting curve. A first channel along a greater curvature of the tube contains a plurality of cannulas that can be extended into the pleural space to infuse medications. A second channel along a lesser curvature of the tube contains a line attached to the outer portion of the tube and tension placed on the line will increase the curve of the tube to assist in the placement of the tip of the tube in a desired location in the pleural space. The tube may be connected to a portable suction/fusion device via a click connect device. The tube may also include an improved tip and a tab for extending the cannulas maintains the corridor of stability.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A fluid removal system comprising:
 a tube with a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the tube has a slight resting curve and is open on the proximal end and the distal end and includes a plurality of holes near the distal end;   a first channel along a greater curvature of the resting curve of the tube containing a plurality of cannulas with proximal ends and distal ends, wherein the distal ends of the plurality of cannulas can be extended beyond the first channel at the distal end of the tube;   a second channel along a lesser curvature of the resting curve of the tube containing a pull line with a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end of the line is attached to the tube near the distal end of the tube and wherein a force applied to the pull line in a proximal direction causes the curve of the tube to reversibly increase; and   a locking mechanism attached to the tube, the locking mechanism reversibly securing the pull line in place such that, when tension is placed on the pull line such that the curve of the tube is increased and the pull line is secured in the locking mechanism, the increased curve of the tube is maintained.   
     
     
         26 . The fluid removal system of  claim 25  further including a suction device connected to the tube, the suction device including:
 a suction source connected to the proximal end of the tube; 
 an infusion source connected to the proximal ends of the plurality of cannulas; 
 a reservoir for holding fluid drained from the tube; 
 a second reservoir for holding infusion fluid; and 
 a battery. 
 
     
     
         27 . The fluid removal system of  claim 25  further including an etched metal component near the distal end of the tube. 
     
     
         28 . The fluid removal system of  claim 25  further including a longitudinal radiopaque marking line on a portion of the tube. 
     
     
         29 . The fluid removal system of  claim 25  wherein the distal end of the tube includes a tip, the tip having a plurality of lobes extending distally from the tube and connected by a plurality of bridges at an approximate midpoint of the lobes, thereby forming holes between the lobes and a scalloped profile of a distal end of the tip. 
     
     
         30 . The fluid removal system of  claim 25  further including a plurality of makings on the tube to indicate distance from the distal end of the tube. 
     
     
         31 . The fluid removal system of  claim 25  wherein the tube includes a distal portion and a proximal portion, and wherein the proximal portion is less flexible than the distal portion such that the distal portion will tend to assume a greater curvature when force is applied to the pull line while the proximal portion retains a substantially similar configuration. 
     
     
         32 . The fluid removal system of  claim 31  wherein the distal portion of the tube has a length approximately a distance that the tube will be inserted into a patient's chest. 
     
     
         33 . The fluid removal system of  claim 25  further including a sewing collar around the tube. the sewing collar including a compression ring and a plurality of flanges, wherein each of the plurality of flanges includes a hole to hold sutures to secure a placement of the tube to skin of a chest wall of a patient. 
     
     
         34 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . The fluid removal device of  claim 25  wherein the locking mechanism includes a gripping device on the proximal end of the pull line, a plurality of evenly spaced beads attached to the pull line, and a V-lock attached to the tube, the V-lock designed and configured to prevent a selected one of the plurality of beads placed in the V-lock from moving distally when tension is on the pull line. 
     
     
         39 . The fluid removal device of  claim 25  wherein the locking mechanism includes a handle on the tube, a gripping device attached to the proximal end of the pull line, a plurality of evenly spaced beads attached to the pull line, and a groove in the handle, wherein the groove includes a plurality of evenly spaced divots, each divot designed and configured to accept a one of the plurality of beads, wherein placement of at least a portion of the plurality of beads in a respective ones of the plurality of divots prevents the portion of the plurality of divots from moving distally when tension is on the pull line. 
     
     
         40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . The fluid removal device of  claim 25  wherein the locking mechanism includes:
 a handle; 
 a retraction member attached to the proximal end of the pull line, the retraction member having a length approximately equal to a distance the pull line will be retracted to place the tube in a maximum curvature and including a plurality of grips to enable manipulation of the retraction member by a user's hand; and 
 a retraction member support attached to the handle, the support including an opening configured to receive the retraction member and having a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the support prevents the retraction member from moving in the proximal or the distal direction and wherein in the open position the support allows the retraction member to slide in both the proximal and the distal direction. 
 
     
     
         42 . The fluid removal device of  claim 41  wherein the retraction member includes a plurality of markings and the support includes an indicator that is aligned with a one of the plurality of markings, the one indicated marking being associated with an extent of retraction of the retraction member. 
     
     
         43 . The fluid removal device of  claim 42  wherein the plurality of markings include representations of the tube that represent approximate curvatures assumed by the tube based on the extent of retraction of the retraction member. 
     
     
         44 . The fluid removal device of  claim 25  wherein the locking mechanism includes:
 a handle; 
 a spool attached to the handle and including a plurality of teeth, wherein the distal end of the pull line is attached to the spool, wherein winding the spool in a first direction retracts the pull line in the proximal direction, and wherein winding the spool in a second direction allows any retracted pull line to return in the distal direction; and 
 a pawl configured to engage with the plurality of teeth of the spool, wherein when the pawl is engaged with a one of the plurality of teeth of the spool the spool is prevented from turning in the second direction while still being free to turn in the first direction. 
 
     
     
         45 . The fluid removal device of  claim 44  wherein the locking mechanism further includes a display on the handle that indicates a curvature status of the tube. the displayed curvature status being linked to a number of turns of the spool in the first direction from a default position. 
     
     
         46 . The fluid removal device of  claim 45  wherein the display includes representations of the tube in an approximate curvature the tube will assume given the number of turns of the spool in the first direction from the default position. 
     
     
         47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . The fluid removal device of  claim 25  wherein the chest tube has a sidewall with a ventral portion, a dorsal portion, a first lateral portion, and a second lateral portion opposite the first lateral portion, and wherein for at least a portion of the sidewall of the first lateral portion and the second lateral portion are thicker than the ventral portion and the dorsal portion. 
     
     
         49 . The fluid removal device of  claim 48  wherein the first lateral portion and the second lateral portion have similar thicknesses and the ventral portion and the lateral portion have similar thicknesses that are not as thick as the first lateral portion and the second lateral portion 
     
     
         50 . A chest tube assembly comprising:
 a tube with a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen running through from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the tube has a resting curve;   a pull line with a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end of the pull line is attached to the tube near the distal end of the chest tube such that when a force is applied to the pull line in a proximal direction the curve of the tube is increased;   a tension assembly for applying force in the proximal direction to the pull line and for holding the pull line in place;   a handle;   a retraction member attached to the proximal end of the pull line, the retraction member having a length approximately equal to a distance the pull line will be retracted to place the chest tube in a maximum curvature and including a grip to enable manipulation of the retraction member by a user's hand; and   a retraction member support attached to the handle, the support including an opening configured to receive the retraction member and having a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the support prevents the retraction member from moving in the proximal or the distal direction, wherein in the open position the support allows the retraction member to slide in both the proximal and the distal direction, and wherein in both the open position and the closed position. the grip is accessible to the user's hand.   
     
     
         51 - 66 . (canceled)