DRAINAGE TUBE FOR INSERTING IN WOUNDS AND WOUND CAVITIES

Abstract: Drainage tube (1) for draining wound secretions from wounds and wound cavities. The end (2) located in the body is split into several filaments.

Description: Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a drainage tube. In known improved embodiments of drainage tubes, such as a Redon tube, the end portion, i.e. the part of the tube adjacent to the wound, is provided with perforations which become larger and larger towards the end of the tube in order to improve the discharge of secretions; in another embodiment the drainage tube is provided with a spirally progressing groove. However, these drainage tubes have the disadvantage that they can only be pulled out of the wound by overcoming some resistance, particularly if suction is used, which will be painful for the patient. Moreover, the sharp edged perforations or grooves may cause some tearing of tissue or coagulated blood when pulled out, thus causing fresh bleeding. Such a drainage device is known from FR-A-358 933. These disadvantages can be avoided with the embodiment of the drainage tube according to the invention in which the section of tube located in the body ends in a plurality of filaments. These drainage tubes can be removed from the wound without any difficulty, with no pain, and no fresh bleeding. The term "wound" for the purpose of this invention relates to wounds produced by trauma and/or surgical intervention. The term "wound cavities" for the purposes of this invention relates not only to artificially produced body cavities i.e. those produced by trauma or operation, but also to natural body cavities or hollow organs, e.g. the thoracic cavity, abdominal cavity or the bladder, which may become wound cavities as the result of being opened up in an operation. The drainage tube according to the invention is characterized in that its end located in the body, i.e. at the wound, is split into several filaments, i.e. terminates in a plurality of filaments (cauda drainage). The tubular drainage device according to the invention is constructed so that the end of the tube located in the body, i.e. against the wound, is split into several filaments ("frayed" rather like a horses tail or cauda drainage device) between which the liquid to be discharged can trickle in. The filaments may be formed as strips (e.g. by cutting into the end of the tube) or as fibres and be arranged side by side in a flat arrangement or in a bundle. The number of filaments is not critical; it is generally from 4 to 20, particularly from 8 to 12. The length of the filaments depends particularly on the envisaged use (e.g. the size of the wound cavity); it is generally between 5 and 20 cm. The drainage tubes may consist of a physiologically compatible material conventionally used for such purposes, e.g. made of rubber or more preferably, plastics. The plastic material may be any physiologically acceptable plastics material conventionally used for these purposes (cf. Angewandte Chemie 82 , (1970) 367-379; 861 (1974) 145-150). The diameter and length of the drainage tubes depend on the intended purpose; the diameter is generally of the order of 0.5 cm. Preferably, the so-called Redon drainage tube is used as the drainage tube, whilst a vacuum suction drainage tube is preferably used for festering wounds. The drainage tube consists of a fairly rigid PVC tube about 0.5 cm in diameter and up to 1 m long, to which reduced pressure is applied. Fig. 1 shows, by way of example, a drainage tube according to the invention without restricting the invention thereto. A drainage tube (1) has filaments (2) at its end which is inserted into the wound.

Claims: Drainage tube for draining wound secretions from wounds and wound cavities, characterized in that the end located in the body is split into several filaments (2). Drainage tube according to claim 1, characterized in that the tube is a Redon drainage tube. Drainage tube according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it consists of a tube about 0.5 cm in diameter and up to 1 m long. Drainage tube according to one of claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that the number of filaments (2) is from 4 to 20. Drainage tube according to one of claims 1, 2, 3 and 4, characterized in that the length of the filaments (2) is between 5 and 20 cm.

Inventors: REINMUELLER, JOHANNES, Reinmüller, Johannes
Applicants: STERIMED GESELLSCHAFT FUER MEDIZINISCHEN BEDARF MBH
Application year: 1985
Main classification: A61M27
IPC codes: A61M27, A61L31, A61L15, A61M37