Disclosed is a chest drainage system which reduces or eliminates pooling of blood/liquid and/or clogging/clotting in the drainage tube and/or chest tube, and provides objective and accurate measures of drained fluid volume and chest air leak. The chest drainage system continuously monitors chest tube and drainage tube status and clears pooled liquid in the drainage tube, and/or a clogged chest tube when necessary to restore negative pressure to the chest.

A device is provided for unclogging an enteral tube including a first length of tubing, the distal end of which is fitted with a connector for connecting to an enteral feeding tube and the proximal end of which is fitted with a connector that is not compatible with an enteral feeding tube. An anti-reflux valve is situated in the first length of tubing and allows fluid flow only towards the distal end thereof. A second length of tubing has a proximal end connected to the first length of tubing at a position between the proximal end of the first length of tubing and the directional valve. A pressure relief valve is situated in the second length of tubing. A method is provided for utilizing the device to clear a clogged enteral tube.

A fluid collection device includes a fluid collection container and an adapter. The fluid collection container includes a vent. The adapter is configured to removably couple with the fluid collection container over the vent. The adapter includes a connecting portion and a port attachable to the connecting portion. The port has a non-sealed position and a sealed position with respect to the vent when the connecting portion is coupled to the fluid connection container and positioned over the vent. In the non-sealed position the vent is in fluid communication with a surrounding environment.

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.

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.

Provided is a medical device for clearing an obstruction from a surgical instrument or surgical site, the device comprising: a first hollow member configured to allow air or inert gas passage; a second hollow member having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end configured to be connectable to a vacuum or suction source; a housing member configured to receive both the first hollow member and the second hollow member; and a push button operably connected to the housing member; and an inflation bulb configured to be attachable to the housing member, wherein the push button is configured to disengage the first hollow member and occlude the second hollow member when depressed by a force, and/or wherein the push button and the inflation bulb are configured to be operable by one hand of an operator.

Surgical tools are provided herein that are configured to apply suction and irrigation at a surgical site during the course of a surgical procedure. A surgical tool can include a handle that has a suction flow path configured to provide suction therethrough and an irrigation flow path configured to provide irrigation therethrough. The suction flow path and the irrigation flow path can share a common path along at least partial lengths thereof. An elongate shaft can extend distally from the handle and can have an inner lumen that is in communication with the suction flow path and the irrigation flow path. The inner lumen can thus be configured to provide suction from the suction flow path to a surgical site to remove matter therefrom and to provide irrigation from the irrigation flow path to the surgical site to provide fluid thereto.

A tube stripping device includes a main body and a pair of free rotating rollers. The main body has a first arm, a second arm, and a spring portion. The first arm and the second arm extend outwardly from the spring portion. The first arm and the second arm are manually movable relative to each other from a spaced apart default position to a stripping position. The spring portion normally biases the first arm and the second arm apart and to the default position. The first roller is rotatably disposed at a first free end of the first arm, and the second roller rotatably disposed on a second free end of the second arm. The first roller is oriented generally parallel with the second roller. The first roller has an uninterrupted outer circumferential surface, and the second roller has an outer circumferential surface with a groove formed therein.

Contemplated within the scope of the invention are Yankauer suction systems having clog removal functionality and related methods. Specifically, the system, for use with a Yankauer suction tip, includes a medial tube that is hollow and has a coupling end and a distal outlet. The coupling end is connectable to a Yankauer suction tip and the distal outlet is in fluid communication with each of a flow pump and a suction source. Also included are systems having a medial tube that is hollow and comprises a coupling end, wherein the coupling end is connectable to a Yankauer suction tip; a suction conduit that extends distally from the medial tube to a suction source, wherein the suction conduit is in fluid communication with the suction source and the coupling end; and a flow conduit that extends distally from the medial tube and is in fluid communication with a flow pump and the coupling end.

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.