Abstract: A liquid reinfusion bag system is provided for collecting blood from a surgical site and/or reinfusing the collected blood into the patient. The system includes a flexible bag having an external frame with locking elements to retain the bag in extended position during the time the bag is being filled, the locking elements being displaceable to permit the bag to collapse during the reinfusion process.

Abstract: A drainage device is provided with a disposable collection chamber which is attachable to a nondisposable section. The nondisposable section of the drainage device includes the suction control regulator and a valve to prevent admission of atmospheric air to the collection chamber. A receptacle is provided in the nondisposable section to indicate contamination of the nondisposable section in the event liquid from the collection chamber flows into the nondisposable section. A liquid biocidal chamber is provided in the collection chamber to prevent contaminates and infectious material from passing from the collection chamber into the nondisposable section.

Abstract: A surgical pleural drainage apparatus for draining fluids from the body of a patient is disclosed. The apparatus includes a container with a collection chamber. A suction outlet is provided on the container which is connected to a source of negative pressure and a fluid passageway connects the suction outlet to the collection chamber. A non-liquid one-way valve is provided in the fluid passageway for allowing fluid flow only from the collection chamber to the suction outlet. An air leak indicator is also provided in the passageway to indicate a flow of gases through the passageway and optionally the qualitative quantity of that flow. Preferably, the air leak indicator includes a visible liquid trap through which any gases flow and form bubbles which are visible. The liquid trap is prefilled with glycerine or a like liquid. The amount of negative pressure applied to the collection chamber is controlled by a suction control device.

Abstract: An air leak detection chamber is provided which is adapted to be attached to a conventional pleural drainage device. The air leak detection chamber has a pair of passageways which are connected in series in the passageway of the pleural drainage device leading from the underwater seal or from the oneway valves disposed in the passageway leading from the collection chamber to the suction source of the pleural drainage device. The detection chamber has a water filled tube therein and any air passing from the pleural drainage device will displace the water within the tube. Thus, a physician may readily observe the volume of air passing from the pleural cavity of a patient and determine the extent of any air leak in the pleural cavity.

Abstract: A surgical pleural drainage apparatus for draining fluids from the body of a patient is disclosed. The apparatus includes a container with a collection chamber. A suction outlet is provided on the container which is connected to a source of negative pressure and a fluid passageway connects the suction outlet to the collection chamber. A non-liquid one-way valve is provided in the fluid passageway for allowing fluid flow only from the collection chamber to the suction outlet. An air leak indicator is also provided in the passageway to indicate a flow of gases through the passageway and optionally the qualitative quantity of that flow. Preferably, the air leak indicator includes a visible liquid trap through which any gases flow and form bubbles which are visible. The liquid trap is prefilled with glycerine or a like liquid. The amount of negative pressure applied to the collection chamber is controlled by a suction control device.

Abstract: A surgical pleural drainage apparatus for draining fluids from the body of a patient is disclosed. The apparatus includes a container with a collection chamber. A suction outlet is provided on the container which is connected to a source of negative pressure and a fluid passageway connects the suction outlet to the collection chamber. A non-liquid one-way valve is provided in the fluid passageway for allowing fluid flow only from the collection chamber to the suction outlet. An air leak indicator is also provided in the passageway to indicate a flow of gases through the passageway and optionally the qualitative quantity of that flow. Preferably, the air leak indicator includes a visible liquid trap through which any gases flow and form bubbles which are visible. The liquid trap is prefilled with glycerine or a like liquid. The amount of negative pressure applied to the collection chamber is controlled by a suction control device.

Abstract: A clamp for controlling the flow through a hose or flexible tubing such as is used in intravenous systems comprises a pair of parallel leg members joined by a curved end portion, each leg containing elements capable of clamping down on the tubing when the clamp is brought into closed position. The clamp contains a catch arm which sits on a flexible arm member at the free end portion of the clamp, and retains the upper leg member when the clamp is closed. Optionally, this catch arm can be multi-tiered, allowing the clamp to be closed at a variety of positions, each restricting a different amount of flow. When clamped, the clamping elements from each leg are alongside each other, crimping the tubing at two slightly separated points, and maximizing the clamping effect on the tubing. There are openings through the curved end portion and through the flexible arm member to receive the tube, and to retain it in position to maximize the effect of the clamp.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing elastomer surgical gloves or the like is disclosed. Ordinarily, a glove mold having a handshaped mold member with spaced fingers is dipped into a tank containing a liquid polymer. As the glove mold is slowly withdrawn, polymer latex webs tend to form between the fingers of the mold. In order to prevent the formation of these webs, small objects such as polyethylene balls are moved fairly rapidly along the surface of the polymer. These small objects pass through the spaces between the fingers to prevent the webs from forming.

Abstract: A method for the autotransfusion of blood comprising, collecting the blood from a pool in a patient and subsequently returning the collected blood to the circulatory system of the patient. The method includes applying suction to a collection chamber to remove air from the chamber and aspirate blood into the chamber. After the collection chamber is filled to the desired capacity, pressure is applied to a movable wall of the collection chamber to force the collected blood out of the chamber and back into the circulatory system of the patient.

Abstract: An autotransfusion device having a rigid cylindrical housing with an end wall, a movable piston located in the housing, and a deformable collection bag attached between the end wall and the piston is disclosed. When the piston is moved towards the end wall, collapsing the collection bag, the piston is rotated to twist the collection bag and prevent the collection bag from being seized between the housing wall and the piston. The autotransfusion device also includes an automatic air purge unit and an auxiliary air purge unit which is used when the automatic air purge unit malfunctions. In order to facilitate the filling of the collection bag to capacity, a length to diameter ratio of 1.1 is preferred.

Abstract: A method is provided for relieving excess negativity in a surgical underwater drainage device. The method comprises the steps of delivering a premeasured or metered amount of air directly to the thoractomy tube which is connected to the inlet of the drainage device. The metered amount of air is provided by an air chamber connected to the thoracotomy tube, the air chamber having a depressable plunger mounted therein. When the plunger is depressed the air within the chamber is delivered directly to the thoracotomy tube and when the plunger is released the air chamber is refilled with a metered amount of air. At no time is the thoracotomy tube open directly to the outside atmosphere.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for relieving high or excess negativity in an underwater drainage device is disclosed. The apparatus includes a syringe needle with a valve operatively connected to the syringe needle. The valve provides a sealed passageway from the atmosphere through the syringe needle and a spring urges the valve to a closed position except when high or excess negativity occurs in the underwater drainage device. In the method, the syringe needle pierces a resealable portion of the drainage device and a valve is provided in fluid communication with the syringe needle. After excess negativity is relieved, the syringe is removed from the resealable portion of the drainage device.

Abstract: Composite sutures of dissimilar synthetic polymer materials are prepared by forming a thread comprised of a plurality of fibers of a first synthetic polymer, said thread further comprising a second synthetic polymer in intimate association with and present uniformily along the length of said first synthetic polymer, softening the second synthetic polymer to cause it to flow, applying pressure to the softened polymer to redistribute it throughout the plurality of fibers, and into the interstices thereof and sterilizing the thread to form a suture thereof.

Abstract: A surgical drainage unit is provided for draining fluids from the body of a patient wherein the suction pressure, applied through a suction inlet of the unit to draw fluids into the unit, is incrementally controlled and a direct indication of the applied suction pressure is afforded. A device which contracts responsive to an increase in suction in a collection chamber of the unit is equipped with an indicator vane that cooperates with a fixed scale to indicate the amount of movement of the bellows and hence indicate the suction within the collection chamber. A manually adjustable control valve incrementally controls the amount of air admitted to a suction line within the unit to thereby control the applied suction. A negative pressure relief valve is also provided so that excess negativity within the inlet tube can be manually relieved.

Abstract: A drainage device is provided with a collection chamber, an underwater seal chamber, and a separate flow chamber. The underwater seal chamber which prevents the flow of atmospheric air from the device into the pleural cavity of the patient is formed by a recessed portion in a partition separating the underwater seal chamber from the collection chamber. A passageway from the underwater seal chamber into the collection chamber is located in the partition separating the chambers and a baffle is formed around the opening to prevent excessive loss of fluid from the underwater seal chamber into the collection chamber when the device is inadvertently tilted. The flow chamber is closed off from the collection chamber and is connected with the underwater seal chamber by means of a tubular passageway adjacent the upper wall of the drainage apparatus so as to prevent fluid from passing from the underwater seal chamber into the outlet passageway.

Abstract: An air purge unit for an auto transfusion device is provided wherein a housing having a passageway therein is mounted on the top wall of a blood collection chamber. A filter having pore sizes smaller than the size of red blood cells is disposed within said passgeway together with an umbrella valve and a oneway flap valve which will permit the passage of air from within the collection chamber through the valves to a source of suction or to atmosphere. When the air is purged from the interior of the collection chamber, the red blood cells will block the filter and prevent the further passage of fluid therethrough.

Abstract: A two-part connector assembly for connecting two tubes which prevents the entry of contaminates in the tubes during use and subsequent reuse of one part is disclosed. The connector assembly includes a reusable first connector member having an elongate housing and a sterile inner tubing located inside the housing. A reusable second connector member is also provided and includes an elongate housing, a sterile inner tubing located inside of the housing, and a sterile cover tubing located around the sterile inner tubing and also located inside of the housing. A connecting means is provided for holding the first connector member and the second connector member together such that no contaminates reach the inner tubing of either housing during use. The connector members can be reused as no contaminates reach the inner tubing of the reused connector member as well.

Abstract: A two-chambered underwater drainage apparatus is provided which is adapted to be connected with the pleural cavity of a patient by means of a thorocotomy tube. The underwater seal which prevents the flow of atmospheric air from the device to the pleural cavity of the patient is formed at the lower end of the thorocotomy tube and the secretions from the body cavity form the liquid in the seal. A oneway valve is provided at the outlet from the device to prevent backflow of air from the atmosphere into the device, but, permits outflow of air from within the device when the air pressure within the device is higher than atmospheric pressure or when the device is used with a suction pump. A hanger attachment is provided which permits the device to stand on the floor or be hooked onto the bedside.

Abstract: An autotransfusion device for collecting blood from a pool in a patient and for subsequently returning the collected blood to the circulatory system of the patient is disclosed. The device includes a liquid collection chamber having a movable wall and a stationary wall. The liquid collection chamber is connected to the pool of blood by an aspirator and to a suction source to draw the blood into the collection chamber. After the collection chamber is filled to the capacity desired, a compressed spring is released to urge the movable wall toward the stationary wall. The blood is forced out of the collection chamber by the compressed spring and back to the circulatory system of the patient.

Abstract: A surgical underwater drainage device is provided for draining fluids from the body of a patient through an inlet tube. A metered air pump is fluidly connected to the inlet tube so as to deliver a metered amount of air to the inlet tube when excess negativity occurs there. A spring biased closed one-way valve in the metered air pump prevents atmospheric air from entering the inlet tube except during actuation of the metered air pump.