A gas collection unit for use in monitoring and tracking a discharge of air from a patient includes a housing, a set of valves, and a plurality of tubes. The housing contains a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber wherein the chambers are in fluid communication with one another. The housing includes a fluid in the first chamber and the second chamber. The first valve regulates the passage of air flow from the patient into the first chamber and is located within a first tube coupled to the housing. The second valve is in communication with the second chamber. The second valve being configured to regulate the passage of air exiting the first chamber. The second chamber is subjected to a suction. The gas collection unit is operable with an air collection device as a retrofitted item.

A gas collection unit for use in monitoring and tracking a discharge of air from a patient includes a housing, a set of valves, and a plurality of tubes. The housing contains a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber wherein the chambers are in fluid communication with one another. The housing includes a fluid in the first chamber and the second chamber. The first valve regulates the passage of air flow from the patient into the first chamber and is located within a first tube coupled to the housing. The second valve is in communication with the second chamber. The second valve being configured to regulate the passage of air exiting the first chamber. The second chamber is subjected to a suction. The gas collection unit is operable with an air collection device as a retrofitted item.

The present invention relates to surgical or laparoscopic method of creating and maintaining an opening in the thoracic diaphragm of a patient. In said method, an incision in the thoracic diaphragm is created, thereby creating an opening in the thoracic diaphragm. Further a diaphragm passing part is placed in said opening created in the thoracic diaphragm, passing from the abdomen, through the thoracic diaphragm at the pericardial contacting section, into the pericardium; When placing the diaphragm passing part a force transferring part of the diaphragm passing part is placed in contact with the thoracic diaphragm, the force transferring part being adapted to, by motion of the force transferring part, transfer force between the abdominal side of the thoracic diaphragm and the thoracic side of the thoracic diaphragm or the pericardium while sliding against the thoracic diaphragm.

A method and device are provided for simultaneously or near-simultaneously diagnosing and treating tension pneumothorax and/or hemothoraxA Veress-type needle portion includes a hollow needle for puncturing the chest wall over a blunt hollow probe biased by one or more springs to extend distally into the pleural cavity. Openings in the blunt hollow probe connect via a pathway to an automatic check valve, which permits the flow of air and/or fluid only in a proximal direction. Pressure from within the pleural cavity is transmitted to the interior surface of a pressure documenter. If pressure greater than atmospheric pressure is present in the pleural cavity, the pressure documenter will be automatically urged proximally to simultaneously allow air and/or fluid to escape from the pleural space through the device, thus treating the tension pneumothorax and/or hemothorax, as well as providing a stable indicator to positively document the diagnosis of increased pressure.

A method and device are provided for simultaneously or near-simultaneously diagnosing and treating tension pneumothorax and/or hemothoraxA Veress-type needle portion includes a hollow needle for puncturing the chest wall over a blunt hollow probe biased by one or more springs to extend distally into the pleural cavity. Openings in the blunt hollow probe connect via a pathway to an automatic check valve, which permits the flow of air and/or fluid only in a proximal direction. Pressure from within the pleural cavity is transmitted to the interior surface of a pressure documenter. If pressure greater than atmospheric pressure is present in the pleural cavity, the pressure documenter will be automatically urged proximally to simultaneously allow air and/or fluid to escape from the pleural space through the device, thus treating the tension pneumothorax and/or hemothorax, as well as providing a stable indicator to positively document the diagnosis of increased pressure.

A chest valve including: a housing including an inlet configured to connect to a chest tube, an outlet and a fluid passage from the inlet to the outlet; and a one-way valve within the housing and included in the flow passage, wherein the one-way valve includes: (i) a first tubular strip wherein having an internal air passage and a first layer defining the air passage, wherein the first layer has a first thickness and the internal air passage of the first tubular strip is included in fluid passage of the housing; and (ii) a second tubular strip wherein having a second layer with a second thickness with a second thickness greater than the first thickness, wherein an outer surface of the second tubular strip is adjacent and overlaps an outer surface of the first tubular strip.

A chest valve including: a housing including an inlet configured to connect to a chest tube, an outlet and a fluid passage from the inlet to the outlet; and a one-way valve within the housing and included in the flow passage, wherein the one-way valve includes: (i) a first tubular strip wherein having an internal air passage and a first layer defining the air passage, wherein the first layer has a first thickness and the internal air passage of the first tubular strip is included in fluid passage of the housing; and (ii) a second tubular strip wherein having a second layer with a second thickness with a second thickness greater than the first thickness, wherein an outer surface of the second tubular strip is adjacent and overlaps an outer surface of the first tubular strip.

Methods of chest tube insertion include using an insertion device including a semi-rigid curvilinear sheath body having a distal end and a proximal end, a lumen defined axially through the sheath body from the distal end to the proximal end, the lumen including a distal end opening at the distal end and a proximal end opening at the proximal end, and a tapered tube clamp at the distal end of the sheath body, the tube clamp including one or more clamp tabs angled radially inward toward the distal end opening. The chest tube insertion device is supported during insertion into the chest cavity by a stylet. The chest tube insertion device is also removable from a chest tube when a free end of the chest tube is positioned in the chest cavity of a patient while suction is maintained.

Methods of chest tube insertion include using an insertion device including a semi-rigid curvilinear sheath body having a distal end and a proximal end, a lumen defined axially through the sheath body from the distal end to the proximal end, the lumen including a distal end opening at the distal end and a proximal end opening at the proximal end, and a tapered tube clamp at the distal end of the sheath body, the tube clamp including one or more clamp tabs angled radially inward toward the distal end opening. The chest tube insertion device is supported during insertion into the chest cavity by a stylet. The chest tube insertion device is also removable from a chest tube when a free end of the chest tube is positioned in the chest cavity of a patient while suction is maintained.

The present invention relates to an implantable device for improving the pump function of the heart of a human patient by applying an external force on the heart muscle, said device comprising at least one pump device comprising: a first part having a first surface, and a second part having a second surface. The first part is displaceable in relation to the second part and said first and second surfaces abut each other, at least partially. The second part exerts, directly or indirectly, force on an external part of said heart muscle.