Abstract: Disclosed is a chest drainage system which reduces or eliminates pooling of blood/liquid and/or clogging/clotting in the drainage tube. Generally, the chest drainage system continuously monitors chest tube status and clears pooled liquid when necessary to restore negative pressure to the chest. The system may include a valve device which is located between the patient's chest tube and drainage tube and may be used with any standard chest tube. The chest drainage system also includes a controller for monitoring the pressure at or near the valve device and/or at or near the suction device, and possibly a pump for assisting in clearance of pooled liquid and/or clots. The controller may also control the valve device and/or suction device in response to pressure signals.

Abstract: Devices and methods for managing chest or wound drainage are disclosed where in one embodiment, the system generally comprises a chest tube configured for insertion at least partially within a body of a subject, a drainage tube fluidly coupled with the chest tube, a reservoir fluidly coupled with the drainage tube, a pump in communication with the reservoir, and a controller in fluid communication with the drainage tube. The controller may be configured to determine a readiness for removal of the chest tube from the body based upon one or more removal parameters which are obtained over a period of time via the controller.

Abstract: Disclosed is a chest drainage system which reduces or eliminates pooling of blood/liquid and/or clogging/clotting in the drainage tube. Generally, the chest drainage system continuously monitors chest tube status and clears pooled liquid when necessary to restore negative pressure to the chest. The system may include a valve device which is located between the patient's chest tube and drainage tube and may be used with any standard chest tube. The chest drainage system also includes a controller for monitoring the pressure at or near the valve device and/or at or near the suction device, and possibly a pump for assisting in clearance of pooled liquid and/or clots. The controller may also control the valve device and/or suction device in response to pressure signals.

Abstract: Devices and methods for managing chest drainage include a drainage system with a chest tube having a chest tube drainage lumen and a drainage reservoir in fluid communication with the chest tube drainage lumen. A pump may be in fluid communication with the chest tube drainage lumen and a pressure sensor may be positioned proximal to the chest tube and in communication with the chest tube drainage lumen. A controller may be in communication with the pressure sensor and the pump, wherein the controller is configured to actuate the pump at a first suction level sufficient to drain a fluid from the chest tube drainage lumen. The controller is further configured to actuate the pump at a second suction level which is different from the first suction level such that an absence of attenuation in the second suction level over time is indicative of an obstruction in the chest tube.

Abstract: Disclosed is a chest drainage system which reduces or eliminates pooling of blood/liquid and/or clogging/clotting in the drainage tube. Generally, the chest drainage system continuously monitors chest tube status and clears pooled liquid when necessary to restore negative pressure to the chest. The system may include a valve device which is located between the patient's chest tube and drainage tube and may be used with any standard chest tube. The chest drainage system also includes a controller for monitoring the pressure at or near the valve device and/or at or near the suction device, and possibly a pump for assisting in clearance of pooled liquid and/or clots. The controller may also control the valve device and/or suction device in response to pressure signals.

Abstract: Disclosed is a chest drainage system which reduces or eliminates pooling of blood/liquid and/or clogging/clotting in the drainage tube. Generally, the chest drainage system continuously monitors chest tube status and clears pooled liquid when necessary to restore negative pressure to the chest. The system may include a valve device which is located between the patient's chest tube and drainage tube and may be used with any standard chest tube. The chest drainage system also includes a controller for monitoring the pressure at or near the valve device and/or at or near the suction device, and possibly a pump for assisting in clearance of pooled liquid and/or clots. The controller may also control the valve device and/or suction device in response to pressure signals.