APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTINUOUS ASPIRATION AND REINFUSION OF BLOOD DURING OR AFTER SURGERY

摘要

A system for continuous withdrawal of blood and other fluids from a chest cavity and continuous reinfusion of such blood and other fluids into the patient, includes a withdrawal member for insertion into the chest or other wound cavity, the withdrawal member including a blood removal chamber which extends into the chest cavity of the patient. Flow of blood and other fluids from the chest cavity into the withdrawal member is controlled by a one-way valve, such as a Heimlich valve. The withdrawal or pump-tube member includes a central tubular member which extends outwardly of the pump-tube member with an annular chamber being formed between the central withdrawal tubular member and the outer wall of the pump-tube apparatus. A supply of ambient air and one or more maintenance fluids are delivered into the annular area of the pump-tube apparatus for convergence in a blood removal chamber portion such that blood which has passed through the Heimlich valve is aspirated and flowed into the withdrawal tube. The withdrawal tube is connected to a collection chamber which itself is under vacuum to cooperate in the removal of the blood and any maintenance fluids from the pump-tube apparatus for collection in the collection chamber. A reinfusion line is connected to the collection chamber for attachment to the patient such that blood is continually withdrawn from the patient's chest area during and after surgery and continuously re-infused into the patient with a minimum amount of exposure to foreign substances.