Patent ID: 7766886
Filing Date: 2010-08-03
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A drainage device for draining a wound fluid from a patient, the device comprising: an input passage for receiving the wound fluid from a site on or within the patient's body; a container for holding the fluid; and a reversible valve disposed between and coupled with the input passage and the container, wherein the reversible valve in an original configuration provides unidirectional fluid flow from the input passage toward the container when coupled with the input passage and the container, and in a reversed configuration provides fluid flow from the container toward the input passage when coupled with the input passage and the container, wherein the reversible valve comprises a one-way Heimlich valve in cooperative association with a stent such that when the reversible valve is in the original configuration, fluid flow from the input passage toward the container forces a seal of the Heimlich valve to an open position and fluid flow from the container toward the input passage forces the seal of the Heimlich valve to a closed position, and when the reversible valve is in the reversed configuration, the stent is disposed through the seal to maintain the seal in the open position.