Multi-position modular carbon dioxide detector and indicator and methods of use

1 . A method comprising:

providing a leak detector having a body defining a viewing port, a sensor disposed within the viewing port, an inflow connection disposed on one side of the viewing port, and a vent disposed on an opposing side of the viewing port, wherein the inflow connection, the body and the vent define a lumen extending from the inflow connection through the viewing port and the vent;

providing a symmetric double taper connector;

choosing a position for the leak detector, the position being selected from a first position on a chest tube and a second position on a chest tube drainage unit having a suction port;

coupling the inflow connection of the leak detector via the double taper connector to a first one of the first position on the chest tube and the second position on the suction port of the chest tube drainage unit;

decoupling the inflow connection of the leak detector from the first one of the first position on the chest tube and the second position on the suction port of the chest tube drainage unit; and

coupling the inflow connection of the leak detector via the double taper connector to a second one of the first position on the chest tube and the second position on the suction port of the chest tube drainage unit.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein coupling the leak detector to a first one comprises first coupling the leak detector to the chest tube.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein coupling the leak detector to the chest tube comprises mating the leak detector to a double taper PP connector.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of checking for carbon dioxide leakage as the leak detector is coupled to the chest tube.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein checking for carbon dioxide leakage comprises visually identifying a color of the sensor.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein coupling the leak detector to a first one comprises coupling the leak detector to the suction port of the chest tube drainage unit.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of checking for carbon dioxide leakage as the leak detector is coupled to the chest tube drainage unit.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein checking for carbon dioxide leakage comprises visually identifying a color of the sensor.

9 . A leak detector comprising:

a body defining a viewing port;

a sensor disposed within the viewing port;

an inflow connection disposed on one side of the viewing port, the inflow connection being configured to mate with a symmetric double taper connector; and

a vent disposed on an opposing side of the viewing port;

wherein the inflow connection, the body and the vent define a lumen extending from the inflow connection through the viewing port and the vent.

10 . A leak detector comprising:

a body defining a viewing port;

a sensor disposed within the viewing port;

an inflow connection disposed on one side of the viewing port; and

a vent disposed on an opposing side of the viewing port;

wherein the inflow connection, the body and the vent define a lumen extending from the inflow connection through the viewing port and the vent, and wherein the sensor comprises a filter paper treated with a solution of distilled water and 0.0065 M sodium carbonate with an additional equal volume of glycerol added; and m-cresol purple added at 0.005% weight per volume of the final solution.

11 . The leak detector of claim 9 , wherein the body is octagonal.

12 . The leak detector of claim 11 , wherein the viewing port is circular.

13 . The leak detector of claim 9 , wherein the sensor is configured to transition from a first color to a second color when exposed to carbon dioxide.

14 . The leak detector of claim 13 , wherein the first color is green and the second color is orange.

15 . The leak detector of claim 9 , wherein the inflow connection and the vent are aligned with one another.

16 . The leak detector of claim 9 , further comprising a plastic casing disposed over the viewing port.

17 . A kit comprising:

a chest tube drainage unit having a suction port;

a chest tube; and

the leak detector of claim 1 , the leak detector being selectively coupleable to at least one of the suction port and the chest tube.

18 . The kit of claim 17 , further comprising a connector for coupling the chest tube to the leak detector.

19 . The kit of claim 18 , wherein the connector is a double taper PP connector.