The human chest cavity is lined with membranes referred to as the parietal pleura and the visceral pleura. The parietal pleura lines the chest cavity itself, while the viscera pleura is the membrane that lines the lungs. The space between the two membranes is called the intrapleural space or the pleural space. It normally has a small amount of fluid within it in a healthy individual. This fluid is drained and regulated by the lymphatic system and provides lubrication and cohesion between the pleura for normal lung function. Embodiments described herein are directed to a positioning device that can be inserted into a chest tube to facilitate positioning of the chest tube in a desired location for improve drainage of fluid from the chest space.