| abstract |
The present invention pertains to a device and a method for use with medical and surgical tubing and is designed to effectively reduce the discomfort associated with the use or removal of a tube from a patient's body. The device is designed to fit around a chest tube or other medical tube so that a medication, such as ah anesthetic, can be instilled at the site the tube enters the patient's body. In one embodiment, the tube collar is cylindrical in shape having a cylinder wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface, such that the outer surface contacts the body tissue when the tube and collar are in place. The medication can be delivered to the tissue in contact with the collar through channels imbedded within the cylinder wall that have openings to the outer surface or via channels that are present on the outer surface of the cylinder wall. |