The device evacuador thoracic plate articulated and use of the device

摘要

A surgical fluid evacuator comprises a flexible, compressible reservoir which draws a substantially constant vacuum to permit uniform removal of fluid from a surgical incision through a wound drain catheter. The reservoir comprises a pair of congruent, articulated plates (10a, 10b) having the area between them sealed from the atmosphere by a flexible membrane 40. A spring (14) between the plates (10a, 10b) biases them apart to create a vacuum in the reservoir. As the reservoir, and spring, expands to draw fluid the articulated plates hinge to vary the shape of the reservoir to at least partially offset the decreasing force of the spring on the plates.