Gravity drainage cord

Abstract: A gravity drainage cord (1) formed by braiding a plurality of strands (2) of silk of the type used for surgical sutures, and fitted loosely, in the median region, in a tubular sheath (3) made of a material such as silicone which is adapted to facilitate sliding with respect to tissue, increases biocompatibility and allows optional coupling to mechanical aspiration units.

Description: The present invention relates to a gravity drainage cord. When draining wounds, the most recent drainage tubes, which entail the presence of low- or high-vacuum mechanical aspiration units, tend to clog due to the presence of clots of blood or other organic substances: accordingly, it is necessary to periodically use devices known as tube squeezers, which cause discomfort and suffering to patients. It is also known to drain wounds by using a simple cotton gauze which protrudes slightly from the wound and conveys outside the liquid components, allowing faster cicatrization: this system derives from a method used since the days of the ancient Egyptians. However, the use of cords of rolled-up gauze causes severe pain to the patient during extraction from the wound, since the gauze tends to bond with the walls of the wound. Additionally, since the material that constitutes the gauze is not very strong, fragments of particles often break off and contaminate the wound, especially during the extraction of the drainage. US-A-505302 discloses a gravity drainage cord according to the preamble of present claim 1. The aim of the present invention is to obviate the cited drawbacks of conventional devices, i.e., to devise a gravity drainage cord which does not leave residues in the wound even during extraction, does not clog up in the presence of organic residues or clots and does not cause pain to the patient during extraction, since it is completely free and does not bond to the walls of the wound. Within the scope of this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a structure which is simple, relatively easy to provide in practice, safe in use, effective in operation and relatively low in cost. These and other objects are achieved by the gravity drainage cord as specified in present claim 1. The cord is formed by braiding a plurality of strands of silk of the type used for surgical sutures. The median region it is fitted loosely in a tubular sheath made of a material such as silicone which is adapted to facilitate sliding with respect to tissues, increases biocompatibility and allows optional coupling to mechanical aspiration units. Further characteristics and advantages will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a gravity drainage cord according to the invention, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a gravity drainage cord according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view of a segment of cord. With reference to the above figures, 1 generally designates the gravity drainage cord according to the invention. The cord 1 is formed by braiding (of the kind used to form shoelaces) a plurality of strands 2 of silk of the type used for surgical sutures: advantageously, the strands 2 of the cord are eight, twelve, sixteen in number, are twisted and wound around a central core 2a, which is in turn constituted by twisted filaments. It is noted that the silk strands used for sutures are treated with waxy substances to prevent their impregnation with organic liquids, whereas in the invention the silk is instead not treated, so as to increase the effect of drainage and removal of organic liquids by capillary action. In the middle region, the cord 1 is inserted loosely in a tubular sheath 3 made of a material such as plastics, particularly silicone for medical uses, which has been extensively tested in the medical field. The sheath 3 facilitates sliding with respect to tissues during removal of the cord, increases biocompatibility and allows optional coupling to mechanical aspiration units. The end portions 4 and 5 of the cord that protrude from the sheath 3 facilitate the removal of liquids from the wound and also allow small movements of the silk with respect to the sheath in order to remove any clots or obstacles preventing the correct flow of the liquids without causing pain to the patient. According to requirements, the sheath can have a radioopaque band for identification. It is noted that it is possible to insert a plurality of cords (two, three or more) in a single sheath 3; in this case it is possible to open out the cords and distribute them, spread out, within the wound in order to increase the drainage effect. The portion of tubular sheath 3 designed to be inserted in the cavity to be drained can be affected by a plurality of radial holes which facilitate drainage. After a first period lasting a few days, the silk cord is removed by sliding it out: in this case, the opening of the tubular sheath can be closed by a removable cap. It has thus been shown that the invention achieves the intended aim and object and in particular that it leaves no residues in the wound even during extraction, does not clog up in the presence of organic residues or clots, and does not cause pain to the patient during extraction, being completely free and not tending to bond to the walls of the wound. The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, as far as they are within the scope of the appended claims. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims: A gravity drainage cord, comprising plurality of strands (2) and being in the median region fitted loosely in a tubular sheath (3) made of a material, such as silicone, which is adapted to facilitate sliding with respect to tissue, increases biocompatibility and allows optional coupling to mechanical aspiration units characterized in that the strands (2) are braided and made of silk of the type used for surgical sutures. The cord according to claim 1, characterized in that said braiding is of the type adopted to produce shoelaces. The cord according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said silk strands (2) are free from waxy treatment substances. The cord according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of cords (1) are inserted in said tubular sheath (3) and are adapted to be opened out inside the wound in order to increase the drainage effect. The cord according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said strands (2) of the cord are eight, twelve, or sixteen in number, are twisted and wound around a central core (2a) which is in turn constituted by twisted filaments. The cord according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the portion of the tubular sheath (3) designed to be inserted in the cavity to be drained has a plurality of radial holes suitable to facilitate drainage. The cord according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is extractable from the tubular sh (3)a few days after surgery and in that the opening of the tubular sheath (3) is closeable by a removable cap.

Inventors: RIGHETTI ROBERTO, RIGHETTI, ROBERTO
Applicants: MED EUROP S R L, RIGHETTI ROBERTO, MED-EUROPE EUROPEAN MEDICAL SUPPLIES S.R.L., RIGHETTI, ROBERTO
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A61M27
IPC codes: A61M27