Patent ID: 8062315

Claim:
A pleural cavity coupling comprising: a first section that defines a first lumen having a first longitudinal axis, said first section adapted to be sealed to a parietal pleura; a second section that defines a second lumen having a second longitudinal axis, said second section adapted to be sealed to the visceral pleura; at least one of an adhesive and a suture adapted to secure the second section to the visceral pleura; said first lumen of the first section in air-tight communication with the second lumen of the second section; wherein the first section and the second section are moveable relative to each other and wherein the first lumen is sealed to the second lumen such that the communication between the first lumen and the second lumen remains sealed and air-tight as the first section moves relative to the second section; and whereby the pleural cavity coupling is adapted to allow gasses to flow from a lung of a patient across the pleural cavity without causing a pneumothorax.