The present invention relates to a system comprising a flexible bag (8) for storing the drained secretion with an anti-collapse device (9), being connected on one side to a “T” valve (10) which is provided with protective lid (21) and, on the other side, to the flow control backflow preventer valve (1) consisting of a one-piece circular core (2) of elastomeric material which is secured to the housing (3), said core (2) containing a central plug (4) connected by radial rods (5) to the borderline (6) of the circular body thereof, so that said core (2) is used in two-way housings, an inlet (7) and an outlet (7′), said valve (1) composed of a one-way valve. Said system further comprising within the housing (3) a clot fractioning device (25) at the inlet and an anti-clogging device (26) from the maximum opening point of the core (2).

A medical device includes a first valve and a second valve. The first valve includes a manifold having a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening, and an element movable within the manifold and spring-biased to close the first opening. When biased to close the first opening, air flows from the second opening to the third opening. The second valve is configured to provide a flow of pressurized gas to the first valve to move the element to close the third opening. The first valve and the second valve are configured, upon moving the element to close the third opening, to interrupt the flow of air from the second opening to the third opening and to allow the flow of the pressurized gas to exit the second opening.

Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for generating a variable liquid vacuum with an accompanying stable gas flow rate. In particular, when a suction device suctions a liquid and gas mixture it is advantageous to provide a variable vacuum or vacuum to apply to the liquid component while the flow rate of the gas stays constant or essentially constant.

A device for clearing obstructions from a medical tube includes a housing defining an interior, an exterior, and a port providing fluid communication therebetween. The device further includes an elongated guide wire residing at least partially within the housing, and first and second rollers defining a nip therebetween that are located within the housing. A guide wire extends through the nip and is drivable for advancement and retraction thereof through the port via rotation of the rollers.

A drainage device and method of draining a biological fluid from the body of a patient is disclosed. The drainage device includes a drainage tube, a pressure relief assembly, a cleaner assembly, and a housing. The drainage tube includes an array of apertures in it through which biological fluid from the patient can flow for collection by a collection canister. The cleaner assembly includes a squeegee unit configured to be pulled in a proximal direction from a distally located position in the drainage tube to scrape any biological material adhering on the inner surface of the drainage tube and carry it to the collection canister. The pressure relief assembly serves to equalize the pressure in the drainage tube as it is being cleaned. The squeegee unit also acts as a pressure relief valve to equalize the pressure within the drainage tube when the squeegee unit is retracted back to its distally located position.

A method and a kit for the prevention of venous stenosis associated with the use of hemodialysis AV shunts. The kit may use a bifurcated needle for providing access to the shunt or blood vessel. One of the arms is used for returning the blood to the subject after dialysis treatment, while the other arm is used for inserting a device for cleaning the vein, the device being either an autonomous crawling device, or a passive tethered device moved down the vein by the blood flow. The autonomous crawling device may be a series of sequentially inflatable chambers, the stenosis being cleared by pressure from the outer walls of the chambers when inflated and moved. The passive device may be an element having a flexible disc-like structure, whose flexible peripheral edge slides along the inner walls of the blood vessel, compressing or clearing the material attached thereto.

A device for clearing obstructions from a medical tube, such as a chest tube, is disclosed in various embodiments. The device features a clearance member in the form of a loop. The loop desirably has a diameter that substantially corresponds to the inner diameter of the medical tube. Also desirably, the loop presents a substantially unobstructed pathway therethrough for the flow of material from a location in the medical tube distal to the loop to a location in the medical tube proximal to the loop regardless whether the clearance member is being translated or is at rest in the medical tube. Methods of utilizing such a device are also disclosed.

A device for clearing obstructions from a medical tube includes a housing defining an interior, an exterior, and a port providing fluid communication therebetween. The device further includes an elongated guide wire residing at least partially within the housing, and first and second rollers defining a nip therebetween that are located within the housing. A guide wire extends through the nip and is drivable for advancement and retraction thereof through the port via rotation of the rollers.

Medical drain lines tend to become clogged with blood or pus and thereafter lose their efficacy. Devices can be used for stripping blockages from medical drainage lines. For example, this document describes various devices that can be manually operated to progressively compress (along the length of the drain line) a surgical drain line to forcibly strip out blockages from within the drain line.

Embodiments of the invention provide methods and devices for improved drainage systems and tubing. In one embodiment, a context-sensitive flow interrupter is provided that inhibits or facilitates flow of fluid when engaged with a mating holder. In another embodiment, outflow is optimized through control of the pressure in gas pockets in a tube, drainage tube or assembly. In one such embodiment, gas pockets are vented to inhibit excessive back-pressure or suction on an organ, vessel or cavity being drained. In another such embodiment, loops in the tubes are avoided by using a mechanical template in the form of a groove or peg assembly to thread the slack in the drainage tube to generate a monotonic gradient. In another embodiment, such as for active drainage systems, a bypass channel is provided that allows an applied vacuum to go around an obstruction created by the collection of fluid in an undrained dependent loop.