Patent ID: 8128648

Claim:
An apparatus for the introduction of a drainage tube into a patient's chest cavity, the apparatus comprising: a housing having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis; a scalpel mechanism comprising two cutting portions at a distal end thereof and being mounted inside the housing, said scalpel mechanism being adapted to penetrate said distal end of the housing toward a protruding position therefrom, and being operable in said protruding position between a closed position in which the cutting portions are adjacent one another and adapted to make an incision in the dermis of the patient, and an open position in which the cutting portions are spaced from one another forming a scalpel passage along said longitudinal axis between the cutting portions; and a trocar with a proximal end and a distal end and comprising first and second trocar portions being mounted inside the housing, each extending along the length of the trocar and being separable from one another; said trocar being operable between an closed position wherein said first and second trocar portions are substantially adjacent one another, and an open position in which said first and second trocar portions are spaced from one another and adapted for the introduction of the drainage tube therethrough.