C. R. Bard, Inc.

Francis E Blinkhorn

Ronald D Russo

Len L Curado

A flexible body fluid drain tube has substantially flat cross section with a pair of parallel longitudinal internal ribs along one substantially flat wall which are spaced apart a distance greater than their respective distances from the adjacent edges of the flat wall, a central internal longitudinal rib along the opposite substantially flat wall, and a pattern of drain holes along both flat walls in line with the parallel ribs. The ribs prevent the tube from collapsing even when the tube is subject to a very high vacuum and/or strong lateral compression forces due to body movements of the patient and the healing process at the drainage site. The central rib can wipe back and forth across the opposite wall to keep the tube passageway and drain holes clear when the flat tube walls are moved laterally relative to one another by body movements of the patient and the healing process.

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North Kingstown, RI, United States of America

Francis E Blinkhorn