A modular tunneled catheter is provided that allows lumen length and cuff positioning to be adjusted based on the size of a patient. This catheter should be useful for any patient who would benefit from customized fitting of a catheter to their measurements. Methods of using the modular catheter for hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and fluid drainage, including drainage of plural effusions from the lungs or malignant ascites from the abdomen are also described.

To reduce the suffering of the patient and enable easier removal of excess fluid such as pleural effusion fluid from the chest space, the disclosure provides a catheter for chest drainage intended for removal of excess fluid from a chest space of a living body and to be placed in the living body in such a manner as to extend from an inside of the chest space to an outside of the living body. The catheter includes a passage member formed of a flexible sheet and having a passage through which the excess fluid is to be drained, and an indwelling member formed of an elastic body and provided at a proximal end of the passage member. The indwelling member has an inlet that allows the excess fluid to flow through. The indwelling member includes a retaining portion spreading in a flange shape and being retainable at a chest wall.

A needle assembly for pleural space insufflation is disclosed. The needle assembly has an outer shaft defining one or more pliable tissue receivers. The needle assembly also has a needle moveable within the outer shaft from a retracted position to an engaged position that does not extend past a distal end of the outer shaft. A method of pleural space insufflation is also disclosed. A parietal pleura is contacted with a distal end of an outer shaft that defines one or more pliable tissue receivers. The distal end of the outer shaft is pushed against the parietal pleura so that a portion of the parietal pleura enters the one or more pliable tissue receivers. A needle is advanced within the outer shaft so that the needle pierces the parietal pleura.

This document provides systems and methods that can improve the efficacy of tube and needle thoracostomy. For example, this document provides devices and methods for confirming the proper placement of a chest tube or needle within the pleural space to relieve a pneumothorax or tension pneumothoax.

A device for thoracic drainage comprises a container connector for a secretion collection container (3), which can be connected to the pleural cavity of a patient, and a venting device (10) for releasing air from the secretion collection container in passive operation. In order to keep the counterpressure as low as possible during the air release and thus make it easier to force air out of the pleural cavity (1) of a patient, the venting device has a controllable vent valve (12). For this purpose, a control device (7) determines the pressure in the secretion collection container by reading out a pressure sensor (11) and controls the valve to release air from the secretion collection container when the determined pressure exceeds a threshold value. The device can optionally also be operated actively by way of a vacuum connector (25). An ancillary line (2′) permits monitoring of the drainage line (2).

Disclosed is a chest drainage system which reduces or eliminates pooling of blood/liquid and/or clogging/clotting in the drainage tube. Generally, the chest drainage system continuously monitors chest tube status and clears pooled liquid when necessary to restore negative pressure to the chest. The system may include a valve device which is located between the patient's chest tube and drainage tube and may be used with any standard chest tube. The chest drainage system also includes a controller for monitoring the pressure at or near the valve device and/or at or near the suction device, and possibly a pump for assisting in clearance of pooled liquid and/or clots. The controller may also control the valve device and/or suction device in response to pressure signals.

A low-cost and simple-to-use system and method to facilitate a prophylactic pleural lavage protocol at the time of thoracostomy tube placement for traumatic hemothorax in order to reduce the need for secondary intervention for the management of retained hemothorax. The invention may be used in conjunction with existing chest tubes and be administered at the time of initial chest tube placement, and continued at the bedside (by a bedside nurse) over the duration of chest drainage, as necessary. The system includes an operator device that semi-automatically administers a pleural lavage protocol consisting of saline instillation, and suction to slow the clotting process, prevent “gelling” of blood, and maintain drainability.

An improved method and device are provided for forming and/or maintaining a percutaneous access pathway. The device generally comprises an access pathway and attachment device. The provided assembly substantially reduces the possibility of iatrogenic infection while accessing and/or re-accessing a body space.

A catheter configured for partial implantation into a patient and drainage of a body cavity may be provided with microtextured surface on one or more inner diameter surfaces and/or outer diameter surfaces of the tubular catheter body. The microtexturing may include surface features dimensioned to inhibit colonization and/or migration of microbes. The microtexturing may also include channels or other recesses containing an antimicrobial agent such as chlorhexidine gluconate or any other effective antimicrobial agent.

A device, method, and system are provided for treating pleural effusion by administration of a chemical agent through a pleural catheter to achieve pleurodesis. A first embodiment includes a dual barreled syringe to deliver the sclerosing agent; one barrel includes a sclerosing agent, and the other barrel includes a flushing fluid. A kit of the invention comprises a plurality of syringe devices each preloaded with a sclerosing agent matched with a presumptive diagnosis regarding the etiology of the pleural effusion to be treated. A device of the invention includes a handheld, disposable, electronic delivery device with preloaded chambers holding selected medicaments and flushing fluid. Automatic delivery of medicaments is achieved in which a microcontroller of the device controls evacuation of the selected chambers by one or more actuators that communicate with the chambers.