Sheath device with dressing for prevention of pneumothorax.

1. A dressing device comprising:

a substantially rigid, elongated body adapted to receive a chest tube, the body having a first end and a second end;

a seal positionable between the body and the chest tube;

an air-impermeable flexible joint at the second end of the body, the joint having a first portion, a second portion and an internal airspace therethrough; and

a base having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the base is connected with the first portion of the flexible joint, and wherein the second side of the base includes an adhesive for securing the base to a patient's chest, the base providing an air-impermeable connection between the flexible joint and the patient's chest cavity;

wherein the joint is sealable between the first portion and the second portion to close the airspace therethough.

2. The dressing device of claim 1 wherein the flexible joint may be bent.

3. The dressing device of claim 1 wherein the seal is an o-ring.

4. The dressing device of claim 1 wherein the flexible joint and base are together removable from the body.

5. The dressing device of claim 4 wherein at least a portion of the flexible joint and base are together removable from the body when a chest tube has traveled a predetermined distance through the dressing device.

6. The dressing device of claim 4 wherein the flexible joint and base are together manually removable from the body.

7. The dressing device of claim 1 wherein the flexible joint is automatically sealable, between the first portion and the second portion of the flexible joint, when a chest tube has been withdrawn from a patient's chest and the chest tube travels a certain distance into the body of the dressing device.

8. The dressing device of claim 1 wherein the flexible joint is manually sealable, between the first portion and the second portion of the flexible joint, when a chest tube has been withdrawn from a patient's chest and the chest tube travels a certain distance into the body of the dressing device.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the seal is at the first end of the body.

10. A method of preventing pneumothorax in a patient having a chest tube inserted in the patient's chest, the method comprising:

attaching to the patient's chest an air-impermeable sheath device having a body adapted to receive said chest tube, a flexible joint having a first portion and a second portion, and a base such that the flexible joint and base are removable from the body, said base, joint and body defining a sealed airspace, wherein said chest tube is positioned at least partially within said airspace;

removing the chest tube from the patient's chest and receiving the tube into the body of the sheath device;

sealing the sheath device after the chest tube is removed from the patient's chest and before the chest tube is entirely removed from the sheath device; and

removing the chest tube from the sheath device, leaving an air-impermeable dressing over the patient's chest.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the joint and the body are together removable from the base of the sheath.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the sheath device is sealed automatically.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the sheath device is sealed manually.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the joint is sealable by adhesive pre-applied to the interior of the joint when a chest tube travels a certain distance into the body of the sheath.

15. A sheath device for use on a patient having a chest tube inserted into the patient's chest cavity, the sheath device comprising:

a substantially rigid, hollow, air impermeable body configured to fit snugly around a chest tube, the body having a first end and a second end;

an air-impermeable flexible expandable seal at the first end of the body;

an air-impermeable flexible sealable joint, the joint having a first portion and a second portion, at the second end of the body; and

a base having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the base is connected with the first portion of the flexible joint and wherein the second side of the base includes an adhesive for securing the base to the patient's chest; the base providing an air-impermeable connection between the flexible joint and the patient's chest;

wherein the first portion of the flexible joint and the base are removable from the body and the second portion of the flexible joint such that when the first portion of the flexible joint and the base are together removed from the body and the second portion of the flexible joint, the first portion of the flexible joint and the base together form an air-impermeable dressing on the patient's chest.

16. The sheath device of claim 15 wherein the flexible joint is automatically sealable, between the first portion of the flexible joint and the second portion of the flexible joint, when the chest tube has been withdrawn from the patient's chest and the chest tube travels a certain distance into the body of the sheath.

17. The sheath device of claim 15 wherein the flexible joint is manually sealable between the first portion of the flexible joint and the second portion of the flexible joint.

18. The sheath device of claim 15 wherein the first portion of the flexible joint and the base are automatically removable from the body and the second portion of the flexible joint when a chest tube has been withdrawn from a patient's chest and the chest tube travels a certain distance into the body of the sheath.

19. A method of preventing pneumothorax in a patient having a chest tube inserted in the patient's chest, the method comprising:

attaching to the patient's chest an air-impermeable sheath device having a body adapted to receive said chest tube, a flexible joint having a first portion and a second portion, and a base such that the flexible joint and base are removable from the body, said base, joint and body defining a sealed airspace, wherein said chest tube is positioned at least partially within said airspace;

removing the chest tube from the patient's chest and receiving the tube into the body of the sheath device; and

automatically sealing the sheath device leaving an air-impermeable dressing over the patient's chest after the chest tube is removed from the patient's chest and before the chest tube is entirely removed from the sheath device; and

removing the second portion of the joint and the body from the first portion of the joint and the base, leaving the first portion of the joint and the base on the patient's chest as an air-impermeable dressing.

20. A method of preventing pneumothorax in a patient having a chest tube inserted in the patient's chest, the method comprising:

attaching to the patient's chest an air-impermeable sheath device having a body adapted to receive said chest tube, a flexible joint having a first portion and a second portion, and a base such that the flexible joint and base are removable from the body, said base, joint and body defining a sealed airspace, wherein said chest tube is positioned at least partially within said airspace;

removing the chest tube from the patient's chest and receiving the tube into the body of the sheath device; and

manually sealing the sheath device leaving an air-impermeable dressing over the patient's chest after the chest tube is removed from the patient's chest and before the chest tube is entirely removed from the sheath device; and

removing the second portion of the joint and the body from the first portion of the joint and the base, leaving the first portion of the joint and the base on the patient's chest as an air-impermeable dressing.