Patent · US Expired

Body fluid drain

US4317452A · kind A · utility

45Cited by
14References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 4, 1980
Grant dateMar 2, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 4, 2000

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61M2025/0025
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A flexible body fluid drain tube has substantially flat cross section with a pair of parallel longitudinal internal ribs along one substantially flat wall which are spaced apart a distance greater than their respective distances from the adjacent edges of the flat wall, a central internal longitudinal rib along the opposite substantially flat wall, and a pattern of drain holes along both flat walls in line with the parallel ribs. The ribs prevent the tube from collapsing even when the tube is subject to a very high vacuum and/or strong lateral compression forces due to body movements of the patient and the healing process at the drainage site. The central rib can wipe back and forth across the opposite wall to keep the tube passageway and drain holes clear when the flat tube walls are moved laterally relative to one another by body movements of the patient and the healing process.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.