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US 12,745,935 B2Granted
Surgical suction device that uses positive pressure gas
AssigneeConmed Corporation
InventorsNoah Mark Minskoff, James Jackson, Elisabeth Jacques Leeflang, Aaron Olafur Laurence Philippsen
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Abstract
Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for generating a variable liquid vacuum with an accompanying stable gas flow rate. In particular, when a suction device suctions a liquid and gas mixture it is advantageous to provide a variable vacuum or vacuum to apply to the liquid component while the flow rate of the gas stays constant or essentially constant.
Claims15
A suction device, comprising:
- a housing having an intake port and an output port with a chamber extending therebetween;
- a pressurized gas port extending from the housing between the intake port and the output port;
- wherein the intake port is configured to receive a suction flow and the pressurized gas port is configured to receive a pressurized gas flow;
- a flow controller coupled to the housing and movable between a first position and a second position;
- a conduit formed within the housing between the intake port and the output port, the conduit having a first hollow segment with a central axis and a first opening having a first diameter, and a second hollow segment with the central axis and a second opening having a second diameter, wherein the second opening is closer than the first opening to the output port and the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter;
- and
- a jet opening extending from the pressurized gas port and between the first and second hollow segments when the flow controller is in the first position, wherein the jet opening extends between the first and second hollow segments at an angle relative to the central axis, wherein the angle is greater than or equal to 35 degrees and less than or equal to 55 degrees;
- and
- wherein, when the flow controller is in the first position, a pressure gap extends a first distance between the first and second hollow segments and the chamber has a pressure less than ambient air pressure.
6 more elements
A method for providing suction during a surgical procedure, comprising the steps of:
- providing a suction device comprising a housing with an intake port and an output port with a chamber extending therebetween having a central axis extending therethrough, a pressurized gas port extending from the housing between the intake port and the output port, a flow controller coupled to the housing and in a first position, and a conduit formed within the housing between the intake port and the output port, the conduit having a jet opening extending from the pressurized port and into the chamber at an angle relative to the central axis, wherein the jet opening extends between a first hollow segment and a second hollow segment at an angle relative to the central axis when the flow controller is in the first position, wherein the angle is greater than or equal to 35 degrees and less than or equal to 55 degrees, and wherein the first hollow segment includes a first opening having a first diameter and the second hollow segment includes a second opening having a second diameter, the second opening being closer than the first opening to the output port and the second diameter being smaller than the first diameter;
- delivering a pressurized gas to the pressurized gas port and thus directing a pressurized gas flow through the conduit and generating suction;
- connecting a surgical suction instrument to the intake port;
- and
- suctioning, with the surgical suction instrument, a gas, a liquid, a solid, or any combination thereof, creating a suction flow through the chamber toward the output port.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.