Patent ID: 7834231

Claim:
A chest seal comprising: a flexible flange body having a top side surface and a bottom side surface, said flange body having at least one opening defined therethrough in a central portion thereof; a biocompatible adhesive disposed on said bottom surface of said flexible flange body; and at least one one-way valve secured with respect to said upper surface of said flange body so as to overlie a respective at least one said central opening, said one-way valve comprising a valve body having a peripheral wall, a passage defined therethrough, a valve seat, and a sealing element disposed in said valve body so as to selectively seat on said valve seat to seal said passage to preclude air flow in one direction through said valve body toward the at least one opening in the flange body and so as to be selectively unseated from said valve seat to allow air flow through said valve body in a direction opposite the one direction, said sealing element comprising an elastomeric sealing element, said valve seat being defined on a transverse wall of said valve body that is disposed in a plane that is substantially parallel to a plane of said flange body, whereby when the flange body is adhered to the skin of a patient with said at least one central opening generally overlying a chest wound, air is allowed to escape from the chest wound through the one-way valve whereas air flow into the chest wound is precluded.