Medical tube clearance

Abstract

A device for clearing obstructions from a medical tube, such as a chest tube, is disclosed in various embodiments. In embodiments, the device features a clearance member that is formed to match a cross-section of a medical tube. Still further, the clearance member can have a plurality of branches, each branch configured to clear a respective lumen in a partitioned region of a medical tube. In this manner, the clearance member may clear obstructions from individual lumens of the partitioned region of the medical tube. Device for actuating a clearance member to clear obstructions within a medical tube are also disclosed. Methods of clearing a medical tube of obstructions are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for clearing obstructions from a medical tube, the device comprising:
 (i) an adjustable-length tube connected in fluid communication with a medical tube, the adjustable-length tube being elastically stretchable from a relaxed, unstretched state to a fully elongated, stretched state;   (ii) an elongate guide member extending through the adjustable-length tube and the medical tube, the guide member being attached at or adjacent to a proximal end thereof to the adjustable-length tube; and   (iii) a clearance member attached to or formed integrally with the guide member, wherein extension of the adjustable-length tube results in withdrawal of the guide member relative to the medical tube, and shrinkage of the adjustable-length tube back to the relaxed state results in advancement of the guide member to a resting position within and adjacent to a distal end of the medical tube.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , the elongate guide member being attached to the adjustable-length tube via a handle assembly attached thereto. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , the clearance member having a clearance element disposed or formed at or adjacent its distal end, the clearance element being configured to match a cross-sectional perimeter shape of a lumen in the medical tube. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , the medical tube having an aperture through a wall of the medical tube adjacent to a distal end thereof, the clearance member being dimensioned and oriented so that it cannot pass through the aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , the distal end of the medical tube having a partitioned region. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising a thumb grip disposed on the medical tube at a location distally remote from the handle assembly, wherein the adjustable-length tube is stretched between the handle assembly and the thumb grip by separating them longitudinally relative to the adjustable-length tube. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a length and elasticity of the adjustable-length tube are selected so that a difference in its length between said relaxed state and said fully elongated state corresponds to a desired maximum degree of withdrawal of the guide member relative to the distal end of the medical tube. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , the medical tube at least partially defining a sterile pathway through which obstructions can be evacuated. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , the adjustable-length tube and the medical tube together at least partially defining a pathway through which obstructions can be evacuated. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , the pathway constituting a sterile field. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , the clearance member being a wire-form clearance member. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , the adjustable-length tube comprising coil reinforcement. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising an intermediate tube between the handle and the medical tube, the intermediate tube comprising coil reinforcement. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring-loaded drainage canister. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a fitting on a distal end of the adjustable-length tube. 
     
     
         16 . A medical tube having a proximal region and a distal region, a primary lumen extending through both the proximal and distal regions, and at least one secondary lumen extending in the distal region and separated from the primary lumen by an interior wall of the medical tube, the secondary lumen being configured as a channel substantially open to a space outside the medical tube, the primary and secondary lumens being in fluid communication via at least one opening in the interior wall. 
     
     
         17 . The medical tube of  claim 16 , comprising a plurality of secondary lumens extending in the distal region and separated from the primary lumen by at least one interior wall of the medical tube, each of the secondary lumens being configured as a channel substantially open to a space outside the medical tube, each of the secondary lumens being in fluid communication with the primary lumen via at least one respective opening in the at least one interior wall. 
     
     
         18 . The medical tube of  claim 17 , each of the secondary lumens being in fluid communication with the primary lumen via a plurality of openings spaced longitudinally along a length of the at least one interior wall. 
     
     
         19 . The medical tube of  claim 16 , the primary lumen having a smaller cross-section in the distal region than in the proximal region. 
     
     
         20 . An assembly comprising the medical tube of  claim 16  and a clearance member received within the primary lumen to clear debris therein. 
     
     
         21 . The assembly of  claim 20 , the clearance member being a wire-form clearance member. 
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 20 , the clearance member being made of an elastic material such that it can adjust to an available cross-sectional area within the primary lumen at a given location. 
     
     
         23 . The medical tube of  claim 16 , the primary lumen having a generally round cross-section. 
     
     
         24 . The medical tube of  claim 23 , wherein the secondary lumen are arranged circumferentially and forming arcuate channels spaced apart adjacent an outer circumference of the primary lumen, each of the secondary lumens being in fluid communication with the primary lumen via a plurality of openings spaced longitudinally along a length of the at least one interior wall.