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US 12,697,426 B2Granted
Vacuum system to clear standing column of fluid
AssigneeC. R. Bard, Inc.
InventorsVarad Chavan, Rohit Sinha
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vacuum system can include a vacuum chamber in fluid communication with each of a catheter, a suction tube, and a fluid collecting bag. The vacuum chamber can include a proximal opening covered by a lid, a lateral opening coupled to a first drainage tube configured to receive a volume of fluid, and a distal opening coupled to a proximal opening of a valve.
Claims28
A vacuum system, comprising:
- a vacuum chamber in fluid communication with each of:
- a catheter coupled with the vacuum chamber at a lateral opening disposed on a lateral side of the vacuum chamber,
- a suction tube coupled with the vacuum chamber at a proximal opening disposed on a top side of the vacuum chamber, and
- a fluid collecting bag coupled with the vacuum chamber at a distal opening disposed on a bottom side of the vacuum chamber,
- wherein:
- the lateral opening is disposed between the proximal opening and the distal opening,
- the vacuum chamber remains in continuous fluid communication with the catheter and the suction tube, and
- the suction tube is coupled to a motor configured to provide a change in air pressure within the vacuum chamber;
- and
- a valve configured to control a fluid flow between the vacuum chamber and the fluid collecting bag;
- wherein:
- whenever an atmospheric pressure is present in the vacuum chamber, the valve is disposed in an open configuration such that fluid is allowed to continuously flow from the vacuum chamber into the fluid collecting bag, and
- a negative air pressure applied to the vacuum chamber through the suction tube transitions the valve to a closed configuration to prevent the fluid flow from the fluid collecting bag into the vacuum chamber and draws a fluid flow from the catheter into the vacuum chamber.
10 more elements
A method for clearing a standing column of fluid from a drainage tube, comprising:
- providing a vacuum chamber in fluid communication with the drainage tube coupled with the vacuum chamber at a lateral opening disposed on a lateral side of the vacuum chamber, a suction tube coupled with the vacuum chamber at a proximal opening disposed on a top side of the vacuum chamber, and a fluid collecting bag coupled with the vacuum chamber at a distal opening disposed on a bottom side of the vacuum chamber,
- wherein:
- the lateral opening is disposed between the proximal opening and the distal opening, and
- the vacuum chamber remains in continuous fluid communication with the drainage tube and the suction tube;
- passing a first volume of fluid from the drainage tube into the vacuum chamber;
- generating a negative pressure within the vacuum chamber by activating a motor coupled with the suction tube, the motor configured to draw air out of the vacuum chamber through the suction tube to define the negative pressure within the vacuum chamber;
- transitioning a valve to a closed position, the valve controlling fluid communication between the vacuum chamber and the fluid collecting bag;
- drawing a second volume of fluid from the drainage tube into the vacuum chamber;
- and
- transitioning the valve to an open position to empty at least the second volume of fluid from the vacuum chamber into the fluid collecting bag by generating an atmospheric pressure within the vacuum chamber, wherein whenever the atmospheric pressure is present in the vacuum chamber, the valve is disposed in the open position such that fluid is allowed to continuously flow from the vacuum chamber into the fluid collecting bag.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.