Analytical method for controlled and measured collected internal fluid after surgery

Abstract

A method of analyzing fluid collected from a wound site, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a pump unit comprising: one or more pumps, one or more fluid collectors, and one or more drainage structures each in communication with an exit site of the wound site to draw the fluid through the one or more drainage structures into the pump unit and create a negative pressure at the exit site to remove and transport the fluid from the exit site and into the one or more fluid collectors, wherein the pump unit is configured to create a negative pressure, wherein the fluid removal from the exit site is provided at a controlled and measured rate; b) collecting the fluid within the one or more fluid collectors; c) removing the one or more fluid collectors; e) capping the one or more fluid collectors with a cap; and d) analyzing the collected fluid of step “b” once the fluid connectors are removed in step “c”.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of analyzing fluid collected from a wound site, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a pump unit comprising:
 one or more pumps, 
 one or more fluid collectors, and 
 one or more drainage structures each in communication with an exit site of the wound site to draw the fluid through the one or more drainage structures into the pump unit and create a negative pressure at the exit site to remove and transport the fluid from the exit site and into the one or more fluid collectors, 
 wherein the pump unit is configured to create a negative pressure, 
 wherein the fluid removal from the exit site is provided at a controlled and measured rate; 
   b) collecting the fluid within the one or more fluid collectors;   c) removing the one or more fluid collectors;   e) capping the one or more fluid collectors with a cap; and   d) analyzing the collected fluid of step “b” once the fluid connectors are removed in step “c”.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluid collectors include a conical or tapered section that facilitates centrifugation of the sample within the fluid collector. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising cutting or tearing the one or more fluid collectors to create an opening by a tear or a cut and removing the fluid through the tear or the cut and placing the fluid into a vessel or a machine. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluid collectors include a one-way valve that is configured to allow passage of a syringe needle through the one-way valve into the fluid so that a sample of the fluid is taken for further processing. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 removing the cap from the one or more fluid collectors.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a container to receive the one or more fluid collectors so that the one or more fluid collectors are shipped while in the container.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the container is a single-bagged container or a double-bagged container. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sensors located within the one or more fluid collectors, wherein parameters detected by the sensors are configured to detect or indicate infection, proteins, or cell surface receptors.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising determining, via the sensors, when the one or more fluid collectors have reached capacity. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising measuring an output of the fluid and automatically relaying the output of the fluid measured to a caregiver, a doctor, or a nurse. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a shipping container and shipping information so that the one or more fluid collectors when placed in the shipping container are shipped to a location on the shipping information.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluid collectors include membranes that are air-permeable and liquid-impermeable so that air escapes the one or more fluid collectors. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising filters that prevent fluid from backing up against the membranes. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a chemical or substance that indicates: infection, presence of a medical condition that naturally arises in response to a surgical procedure, initial pathology, or additional complications in the fluid collected from the wound site.   
     
     
         15 . A device comprising:
 a pump unit including one or more pumps configured to move fluid at a pre-set measured rate;   one or more fluid collectors connected to receive and collect the fluid from the pump unit, wherein the one or more fluid collectors comprise:
 one or more sensors located within each of the one or more fluid collectors, and 
 a cap configured to cover each of the one or more collectors; 
   one or more drainage structures connected to the pump unit and extending to a location proximate to a wound site to draw fluid through the one or more drainage structures from the location proximate to the wound site to remove and transport the fluid from the wound site and into the one or more fluid collectors; and   wherein the pump unit is configured to create a negative pressure between the one or more pumps and the one or more drainage structures to draw the fluid through the one or more drainage structures and create a positive pressure between the pump unit and one or more fluid collectors to transport the fluid from the wound site into the one or more fluid collectors; and   wherein the fluid collected in the one or more fluid collectors is stored in the one or more fluid collectors and capped with the cap so that the fluid in the fluid collectors is shippable to be analyzed at a different location than the sample was collected.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing a container to receive the one or more fluid collectors so that the one or more fluid collectors are shipped while in the container .   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the container is a single-bagged container or a double-bagged container. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more sensors located within the one or more fluid collectors are configured detect or indicate infection, proteins, or cell receptors. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more fluid collectors include membranes that are air-permeable and liquid-impermeable so that air escapes from the one or more fluid collectors through the one or more fluid collectors. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more fluid collectors include a fluorescent-based assay.