Patent Publication Number: US-2010130947-A1

Title: Mobile chest drainage unit, thoracic catheter, system comprising a mobile chest drainage unit and a thoracic catheter, and manufacturing method thereof

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a mobile chest drainage unit to a thoracic catheter and to a system comprising a mobile chest drainage unit and a thoracic catheter. The present disclosure further relates to a method of manufacturing a mobile chest drainage unit and to a method of manufacturing a thoracic catheter. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The clinical need for chest drainage arises anytime the negative pressure in the pleural cavity is disrupted by the presence of air and/or fluid resulting in pulmonary compromise. The purpose of a chest drainage unit is to evacuate the air and/or fluid from the chest cavity to help re-establish normal intrathoracic pressure. This facilitates the re-expansion of the lungs to restore normal briefing dynamics. The need also arises following heart surgery to prevent the accumulation of fluid around the heart. 
     Patients with continual air or fluid leaks have a chest tube, also called a thoracic catheter, inserted. The distal end, which will be inside the patient&#39;s chest, has a number of drainage holes. A radiopaque line is provided at the distal end of the thoracic catheter, so that the last eyelet can be detected on a chest X-ray as intermittent breaks in the radiopaque line. Once the chest tube has been properly positioned and secured, the X-ray should be checked to ensure that all drainage holes are inside the chest wall. 
     The location of the chest tube depends on what is being drained. Free air in the pleural space rises, so the tube is placed above the second intercostal space at the mid-clavicular line. Pleural fluid gravitates to the most dependent point, so the tube is placed at the fourth to fifth intercostal space along the mid-axillary line. Mediastinal tubes placed to drain the pericardium after open-heart surgery are positioned directly under the sternum. Once the chest tube is in place, it is connected to a chest drainage unit. 
     A chest drainage unit (CDU) typically includes a collection chamber for collecting drainage from the chest. The collection chamber is graduated and has a write-on surface to allow for easy measurement and recording of the time, date and amount of drainage. 
     Portable electronic chest drainage systems allow patients to ambulate in a hospital or to be discharged to their homes with active suction draining fluids and gases from bodily areas, including sites proximate to surgical procedures. The portable chest tube drainage system includes a vacuum chamber, a vacuum pump housing and a fluid reservoir. These components can be removable connected to the portable drainage system and are disposable. The vacuum pump housing includes a vacuum source which may comprise a small vacuum pump and one or more removable, replaceable and/or rechargeable batteries. 
     One example of a chest tube drainage system is shown in WO 2007/024230 A1, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference, and discloses that a variety of sensors can be provided within the chest tube drainage system for monitoring a variety of parameters. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an improvement of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY 
     A mobile chest drainage unit is provided which includes a vacuum chamber; a collection chamber operatively associated with the vacuum chamber and adapted for connection to a thoracic catheter including at least one sensor for acquiring information; and a receiver for receiving the acquired information from the at least one sensor. 
     A mobile chest drainage unit is provided including a drain tube connectable to a thoracic catheter; and an electronic connection for electronically connecting the mobile chest drainage unit to a thoracic catheter. 
     A thoracic catheter connectable to a mobile chest drainage unit in accordance with the present disclosure is provided which includes at least one sensor for acquiring information; and a transmitter for transmitting the acquired information to the mobile chest drainage unit. 
     In another aspect, a mobile chest drainage unit is provided including a thoracic catheter having at least one sensor for acquiring information; a drain tube connecting the thoracic catheter with the mobile drainage unit; and a conductor along the drain tube for electronically connecting the at least one sensor with the mobile chest drainage unit. 
     A system including a mobile chest drainage unit and a thoracic catheter in accordance with the present disclosure is provided. 
     A method of manufacturing the mobile chest drainage unit and the thoracic catheter of the present disclosure is also provided. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described herein below with reference to the figures wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows an example of a mobile chest drainage unit connected to a patient&#39;s body; 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic drawing of the distal end of a thoracic catheter according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  shows a schematic drawing of a mobile chest drainage unit and a thoracic catheter connectable to each other according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  shows an embodiment of a mobile chest drainage unit and of a thoracic catheter according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of a mobile chest drainage unit and another embodiment of a thoracic catheter according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  shows another embodiment of a mobile chest drainage unit and a thoracic catheter according to the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 7  shows a further embodiment of a mobile chest drainage unit with a thoracic catheter according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure relates to a mobile chest drainage unit connectable to a thoracic catheter for suctioning air and/or fluid from a patient&#39;s body, the thoracic catheter having at least one sensor for acquiring information regarding physiological parameters, and the mobile chest drainage unit having a receiving means for receiving the acquired information from the at least one sensor. 
     In embodiments, the mobile chest drainage unit further may include a drain tube, wherein the drain tube includes a CDU tube connector for connecting the drain tube to a corresponding catheter tube connector of the thoracic catheter. 
     In embodiments, the receiving means may be adapted to wirelessly receive the acquired information via radiofrequency RF, Bluetooth or infrared IR. 
     In embodiments, the receiving means may be electronically connectable to the at least one sensor by electronic connection means. The electronic connection means may include an electric CDU connector electronically connectable to an electric catheter connector, which is electronically connected to the at least one sensor. 
     The present disclosure further relates to a mobile chest drainage unit having a drain tube connectable to a thoracic catheter for suctioning air and/or fluid from a patients body, and electronic connection means for electronically connecting the mobile chest drainage unit to the thoracic catheter. 
     In embodiments, the drain tube may include a drain tube connector for connecting the drain tube to a corresponding catheter tube connector of the thoracic catheter. 
     In embodiments, the electronic connection means may include an electric CDU connector attached to the drain tube and electronically connectable to a corresponding electric catheter connector of the thoracic catheter. 
     The present disclosure further relates to a mobile chest drainage unit electronically connectable to a thoracic catheter. 
     In a further aspect the present disclosure relates to a thoracic catheter connectable to a mobile chest drainage unit, including at least one sensor for acquiring information regarding physiological parameters, and a transmitting means for transmitting the acquired information to the mobile chest drainage unit. 
     In embodiments, the at least one sensor may be provided at the distal end of the thoracic catheter, which is adapted to be inserted into a patient&#39;s body. 
     Further, the at least one sensor may be adapted to acquire information regarding blood pressure, respiration rate, heart beat rate, temperature and/or pressure within the pleural cavity. 
     In embodiments, the transmitting means via a catheter conductor may be electronically connected to the at least one sensor. In embodiments, the catheter conductor may be a radiopaque line. 
     In one embodiment, the transmitting means may be a fixed transmitter adapted to wirelessly transmit the acquired information via radiofrequency RF, Bluetooth or infrared IR. 
     In a further embodiment, the transmitting means includes an electric catheter connector electronically connectable to a connectable transmitter adapted to wirelessly transmit the acquired information via radiofrequency RF, Bluetooth or infrared IR. 
     In still a further embodiment, the transmitting means may include an electric catheter connector electronically connectable to a corresponding electric CDU connector, which is electronically connected to the mobile chest drainage unit. 
     The present disclosure further relates to a thoracic catheter connectable to a mobile chest drainage unit via a drain tube attached to the mobile chest drainage unit and via electronic connection means attached to the drain tube and electronically connected to the mobile chest drainage unit. 
     In embodiments, the thoracic catheter may include a catheter tube connector for connecting the thoracic catheter to a corresponding drain tube connector of the drain tube. 
     Further, the thoracic catheter may include an electronic catheter connector electronically connectable to a corresponding electric CDU connector being electronically connected to the mobile chest drainage unit. 
     The present disclosure further relates to a thoracic catheter electronically connectable to a mobile chest drainage unit. 
     According to a further aspect, the present disclosure relates to a system which includes a mobile chest drainage unit connected to a thoracic catheter. 
     According to still a further aspect, the present disclosure relates to a mobile chest drainage unit including a thoracic catheter, the thoracic catheter having at least one sensor for acquiring information regarding physiological parameters, a drain tube connecting the thoracic catheter with the mobile drainage unit, and a conductor along the drain tube for electronically connecting the at least one sensor with the mobile chest drainage unit. 
     According to a further aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a mobile chest drainage unit. 
     According to a further aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a thoracic catheter. 
     The present disclosure will now be explained in more detail in the following description of embodiments in relation to the figures. 
     The present disclosure refers to a mobile chest drainage unit  1  used for draining air and/or fluid from a patient&#39;s body. An example of such a mobile chest drainage unit  1  is shown in  FIG. 1 . The mobile chest drainage unit  1  includes a collection chamber or fluid reservoir  5  and a vacuum chamber  8 . A display  6  is provided, where actual parameters, e.g. actual negative pressure applied to the patient&#39;s body, or other parameters or settings can be shown. Buttons  7  are further provided for enabling the physician and/or the nurse to regulate the mobile chest drainage unit  1  and to input information. 
     Attached to the mobile chest drainage unit  1  is a drain tube  2  which connects to the thoracic catheter  3 . The thoracic catheter  3  includes holes  4  enabling to suction air and/or fluid from the patient&#39;s body. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the thoracic catheter  3  is inserted into the chest  100  of a patient. In  FIG. 1 , the trachea  101 , the bronchus  102 ,  103 , the left lung  104  and the right lung  106  are shown. The lungs are provided within the pleural section or the pleural space  105 . As shown in the present embodiment, the right lung  106  cannot re-expand due to air or fluid  107  within the pleural space  105 . The air and/or fluid is suctioned through the holes  4  in the thoracic catheter  3 , further through the drain tube  2  and collected by the mobile chest drainage unit  1  in the collection chamber  5 . 
       FIG. 1  only shows one example of a mobile chest drainage unit, however the present disclosure is not limited to the mobile chest drainage unit shown but includes any other type of mobile, or portable, chest drainage unit and which allows to suction air and/or fluid from any cavity or space within the chest. 
       FIG. 2  shows the distal end  3   a  of a thoracic catheter  3  according to the present disclosure. The distal end  3   a  hereby refers to the part of the thoracic catheter  3 , which is inserted into the patient&#39;s body. According to the present disclosure, apart from the drainage holes  4  at least one sensor  5  is provided at the distal end  3   a  of the thoracic catheter  3  for measuring or acquiring information regarding physiological parameters of the patient, such as for example blood pressure, respiration rate, hear beat rate, temperature, pressure within the pleural space and/or other physiological parameters. 
       FIG. 3  shows a mobile chest drainage unit  1  which can be connected to a thoracic catheter  3  having sensors  5  according to the present disclosure.  FIG. 3  shows schematically that the mobile chest drainage unit  1  and the thoracic catheter  3  can be manufactured and provided as separate components connectable to each other. 
     Connection tube connection means  9 ,  10  are provided for connecting the thoracic catheter  3  to the drain tube  2  of the mobile chest drainage unit  1 . Therefore, at the thoracic catheter  3 , a catheter tube connector  10  is provided and at the drain tube a drain tube connector  9  is provided. In the present example, these tube connection means  9 ,  10  are screw threads engaging with each other, but any other connection may be encompassed by the present disclosure, i.e. any connection which allows to connect the thoracic catheter  3  to the drain tube  2  of the mobile chest drainage unit  1  enabling air and/or fluid to pass through the drain tube  2 . 
     In the following, different embodiments of a mobile chest drainage unit  1  and a thoracic catheter  3  will be explained. 
       FIG. 4 to 6  illustrates the mobile chest drainage unit  1  and the thoracic catheter  3  as separate components which are attachable or connectable to each other.  FIG. 7  illustrates a mobile chest drainage unit  1  and a thoracic catheter  3  as one single unit. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  show an embodiment of a mobile chest drainage unit  1 . The mobile chest drainage unit  1  includes a drain tube  2  which has a drain tube connector  9  for connecting the drain tube  2  to the corresponding catheter tube connector  10  of the thoracic catheter  3 . A fluid connection to the thoracic catheter  3  is shown, that is a connection which allows air and/or fluid to pass through the drain tube and which prevents the drained air and/or fluid from the drain tube  2 . 
     The mobile chest drainage unit  1  further includes a receiving means  14  for receiving the information acquired by the at least one sensor  5 . In an embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the receiving means  14  is adapted to wirelessly receive the acquired information, i.e. the receiving means  14  includes an antenna or any other means enabling the wireless reception of data. The communication from the sensors  5  to the receiving means  14  can be accomplished via radio frequency (RF), bluetooth, infrared (IR) or any other present or future wireless communication technique. 
       FIG. 6  shows another embodiment of a mobile chest drainage unit  1  according to the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the mobile chest drainage unit  1  is electronically connectable to the thoracic catheter  3 . 
     In this embodiment, the drain tube  2  via the drain tube connector  9  is also connectable to the corresponding catheter tube connector  10  of the thoracic catheter  3 . Additionally, in this embodiment, the mobile chest drainage unit  1  includes electronic connection means for electronically connecting the mobile chest drainage unit  1  to the thoracic catheter  3 . 
     The electronic connection means includes an electric CDU connector  17  which can be electronically connected to an electric catheter connector  15 . Since the electric catheter connector  15  is further electronically connected to the at least one sensor  5  of the thoracic catheter  3 , it is possible to deliver the acquired information from the sensors  5  to the mobile chest drainage unit  1  via the electronic connection means. 
     The electric CDU connector  17  and/or the electric catheter connector  15  can be any type of connection adapted to electronically connect the thoracic catheter  3  and the mobile chest drainage unit  1 . Specifically, an USB port or any similar electric connection can be provided. 
     The electronic connection means of the mobile chest drainage unit  1  further includes a CDU conductor  18 , which connects the electric CDU connector  17  with a plug  19 , which can be inserted into the receiving means  14  in the mobile chest drainage unit  1 . The CDU conductor  18  can at least partly be attached to or embedded into the drain tube  2 , so that only the end parts of the CDU conductor are protruding from the drain tube  2 . 
     Thereby an electronic connection between the thoracic catheter  3  and the mobile chest drainage unit  1 , specifically between the sensors  5  and the receiving means  14  of the mobile chest drainage unit  1  is provided. The receiving means  14  includes an interface which is adapted to receive the plug  19  and to receive via the electronic connection any information or data submitted from the sensors  5 . 
     Alternative embodiments of a thoracic catheter  3  according to the present disclosure will be explained.  FIGS. 4 to 6  show a thoracic catheter  3  which can be inserted into a patient&#39;s body. Specifically, the distal end  3   a  of the thoracic catheter  3  is inserted into the chest of a patient. In the figures, the border  11  of the body of a patient is schematically indicated by a dashed line. The holes  4  and the at least one sensor  5  are provided on the distal end  3   a , which during use is inside the body. The thoracic catheter  3  as already described above includes a catheter tube connector  10  allowing to connect the thoracic catheter  3  to the drain tube of the mobile chest drainage unit  1  by means of a corresponding drain tube connector  10  of the drain tube  2 . 
     A catheter conductor  12  is connected to each sensor  5  for receiving the information acquired by the sensors  5 . The catheter conductor  12  connects the sensors to a transmitting means for transmitting the information acquired by the sensors  5  to the mobile chest drainage unit  1 . In an embodiment, the catheter conductor  12  is a radiopaque line. Such radiopaque line in any type of thoracic catheter  3  is provided in order to enable to control the position of the thoracic catheter  3  within the patient&#39;s body on an X-ray image. The present disclosure proposes to use the already existing radiopaque line for a connection between the sensors  5  and the transmitting means. Thereby, with one single component, two different functions can be provided. With the radiopaque catheter conductor  12  on one hand a radiopaque line necessary for correctly positioning the thoracic catheter  3  is provided and on the other hand an electronic connection between the sensors  5  and the transmitting means can be established. 
     The catheter conductor  12  can be at least partly attached to or provided within the thoracic catheter  3 . At least at the distal end  3   a  the catheter conductor  12  is fixedly attached to the thoracic catheter  3 . At the part, where the thoracic catheter  3  is not inside the body of the patient, the catheter conductor  12  can be protruding from the thoracic catheter  3 . 
     In the embodiment shown in FIG.  4 ., the catheter conductor  12  leads to a transmitting means, which is a fixed transmitter  14  and adapted to wirelessly transmit the acquired information to the receiving means  14  of the mobile chest drainage unit  1 . The wireless transmission can be accomplished according to radiofrequency (RF), Bluetooth, infrared (IR) or any other present or future wireless transmission technique. 
     In  FIG. 4 , the catheter conductor  12  is embedded into the distal end  3   a  of the thoracic catheter  3 , where the thoracic catheter  3  is inserted into the patient&#39;s body. The other end of the catheter conductor  12  which includes the fixed transmitter  13  is protruding from the thoracic catheter  3 . In an alternative embodiment, the complete catheter conductor  12  and the fixed transmitter  13  can also be embedded into the tube of the thoracic catheter  3 . 
     Another embodiment of a thoracic catheter  3  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In this case, instead of a fixed transmitter  13  connected to the catheter conductor  12 , an electric catheter connector  15  can be provided, which can, for example, be a USB connector adapted to be plugged into USB ports or the like. 
     To the electric catheter connector  15  different types of plugs or ports can be connected depending on the actual need. As shown in  FIG. 5 , a connectable transmitter  16  is connected to the catheter connector  15 . The connectable transmitter  16  enables to wirelessly transmit the information acquired by the sensors  5  to the receiving means  14  of the mobile chest drainage unit  1 . The wireless transmission can be accomplished according to radiofrequency (RF), Bluetooth, infrared (IR) or any other present or future wireless transmission technique. 
       FIG. 6  shows an alternative use of the thoracic catheter  3  in accordance with the embodiments of the present disclosure. In this case, instead of a connectable transmitter  16  the electric CDU connector  17  described above is attached to the electric sensor connector  15 . Thereby, an electronic connection is established between the sensors  5  and the receiving means  14 , more generally an electronic connection is provided between the thoracic catheter  3  and the mobile chest drainage unit  1 . 
     Now a further embodiment of a mobile chest drainage unit  1  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 7 . This embodiment shows a thoracic catheter  3  fixedly attached to the mobile chest drainage unit  1  and the mobile chest drainage unit I therefore includes the thoracic catheter  3 . A conductor  20  leading from the sensors to the receiving means  14  can be fixedly provided. The conductor can be attached to the drain tube  2  or integrally formed within the drain tube  2 . In this embodiment, no connection means have to be provided, neither for the drain tube nor for the electric connection. 
     It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims. Unless specifically recited in a claim, steps or components of claims should not be implied or imported from the specification or any other claims as to any particular order, number, position, size, shape, angle, color, or material.