Devices and methods are disclosed for achieving chest drainage in humans
or other animals. Chest drainage is often required following traumatic injury or
surgery. The devices and methods disclosed herein are especially useful in the
emergency, trauma surgery or military setting. The devices utilize a chest tube
with a cutting distal end and a central blunt trocar. The blunt trocar or obturator
shields the sharp cutting distal end of the chest tube until controllably retracted.
Once the blunt trocar or obturator is retracted, the chest tube is advanced out
through its sterile, protective package and into the patient. The blunt trocar
is advanced back into its position to shield the sharp tip of the chest tube during
patient insertion. The chest tube also includes a hold-down mechanism that is created
by an adhesive seal to the patient's chest and ribbons or straps that are wrapped
around the chest tube once it is correctly positioned. The straps include adhesive
ends to grip the chest tube once the straps are in place.
