# US 2018/0021487 A1 · Suction head and aspirator apparatuses and combinations

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- Number: US 2018/0021487 A1
- Document ID: US20180021487A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/655,353
- Filed: 2017-07-20
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-20
- Assignees: SurgiMark, Inc.
- Applicants: SurgiMark, Inc.
- Inventors: David John Yarger
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180021487A1

## CPC

- A61M 1/84: {Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips (for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32)}
- A61M 1/86: {Connectors between drainage tube and handpiece, e.g. drainage tubes detachable from handpiece}
- A61M 1/76: {Handpieces (specially for suction-irrigation A61M1/774, aspiration tips A61M1/84)}
- A61M 2205/582: by tactile feedback
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

In part, the disclosure relates to an aspirator having a handle that includes a suction connector extending from a proximal end face, a substantially cylindrical sleeve mount having an outer surface and a shoulder. A tubular member defining a bore and having flared end disposed in a suction head having one or more cantilevered protuberances can extend from the sleeve mount. The substantially cylindrical sleeve mount is in relief with respect to the shoulder and extends distally therefrom. The substantially cylindrical sleeve mount defines an aperture. The suction connector bore, bore of tubular member, inner cavity of handle and suction head bore define a fluid flow path or cavity. The aspirator can include a sleeve that receives the suction head. The sleeve engages and interferes with the sleeve mount. The suction head and sleeve's inner wall have one or more engineered clearances between them to enhance assembly.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

-30. (canceled)

### Claim 31

A suction apparatus comprising:
a suction head comprising a body, a distal end face and a proximal end face;
the body defining a primary opening and a suction head bore, the distal end face surrounding the primary opening, the proximal end face defining an output aperture, the output aperture in fluid communication with the suction head bore and the primary opening; and
a plurality of protuberances disposed around the primary opening, each protuberance comprising a first region and a second region, the first region cantilevered relative to the distal end face and extending distally relative to the primary opening, the second region extending from body.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The suction apparatus of claim 31 wherein the plurality of protuberances is two protuberances, wherein the body comprises a lip that defines the primary opening, wherein the first region of each protuberance extends outward from the lip.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The suction apparatus of claim 32 wherein the plurality of protuberances is four protuberances, wherein the protuberances are sized and shaped to create a flow channel when in contact with surface of biological tissue.

### Claim 34 (depends on 31)

The suction apparatus of claim 31 wherein the suction head comprises four lobes, wherein the plurality of protuberances is two or more protuberances, at least one protuberance extends distally from one of the four lobes.

### Claim 35 (depends on 31)

The suction apparatus of claim 31 further comprising a tubular member, the tubular member comprising a flared distal tip, the flared distal tip disposed in the body in fluid communication with the primary opening and suction head bore, the tubular member extending from the output aperture.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The suction apparatus of claim 35 wherein the flared distal tip comprises a flaring angle, the flaring angle extending from longitudinal axis of tubular member to inner surface of flared distal tip, wherein the flaring angle is greater than about 2 degrees and less than about 40 degrees.

### Claim 37 (depends on 31)

The suction apparatus of claim 31 wherein one or more of the first regions extending distally relative to the primary opening define one or more flow paths in fluid communication with the output aperture.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The suction apparatus of claim 37 wherein the one or more flow paths are further defined relative to a tissue surface, the tissue surface tented, by one or more of the first regions, to form at least a portion of the one or more flow paths.

### Claim 39 (depends on 35)

The suction apparatus of claim 35 further comprising:
a handle comprising a sleeve mount, wherein the tubular member comprises a proximal tubular member end face, wherein the proximal tubular member end face is disposed with the handle, wherein the tubular member extends from a sleeve mount.

### Claim 40

A suction apparatus comprising:
a suction head comprising:
a body defining a bore, the bore defining a longitudinal axis, the body having a proximal end and a distal end, the bore in fluid communication with a central opening,
two or more protuberances arranged around the longitudinal axis, each of the one or more protuberances being an extension of a surface of the body in or more directions, wherein a distal end of each protuberance extends beyond the central opening a distance D; and
a plurality of trenches arranged around the longitudinal axis, each of the trenches being a deformation of the surface of the body, wherein the plurality of trenches define a plurality of vent holes.

### Claim 41 (depends on 40)

The suction apparatus of claim 40 wherein D ranges from about 0.002 inches to about 0.1 inches.

### Claim 42 (depends on 40)

The suction apparatus of claim 40 wherein the suction head has a cruciform cross-sectional shape defined by the central opening and four surface extensions of the housing, wherein the one or more protuberances is two protuberances or four protuberances.

### Claim 43 (depends on 40)

The suction apparatus of claim 40 wherein the body comprises a ring-shaped distal end face encircling the bore and the distal end of each protuberance cantilevered relative to the ring-shaped distal end face.

### Claim 44 (depends on 40)

The suction apparatus of claim 40 wherein the distal end of each protuberance is arranged relative to the central opening such that upon tissue contact the distal end protuberances define one or more fluid flow paths relative to the central opening.

### Claim 45 (depends on 44)

The suction apparatus of claim 44 wherein the one or more fluid flow paths are further defined by one or more tissue regions.

### Claim 46

A suction head of an aspirator comprising:
a housing comprising a distal end face and a proximal end face, the housing comprising a first shape,
a central bore defined by the housing and spanning the proximal end face and the distal end face, the central bore defining a longitudinal axis of the suction head,
N vent ports arranged in a first configuration relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein each of the N vent ports is defined by the housing, and
M protuberances arranged in a second configuration relative to the longitudinal axis wherein each of the protuberances is defined by the housing, wherein a first portion of one or more of the M protuberances is cantilevered relative to the proximal end face.

### Claim 47 (depends on 46)

The suction head of claim 46 wherein one or more of the M protuberances extend from the housing such that upon tissue contact the one or more of the M protuberances at least partially define one or more fluid flow paths.

### Claim 48 (depends on 46)

The suction head of claim 46 further comprising a handle member and a tubular member defining a tubular bore, the tubular member comprising a flared end and a proximal tubular end face, the flared end disposed in the suction head and in fluid communication with the central bore, the handle member attached to the proximal tubular end face.

### Claim 49 (depends on 48)

The suction head of claim 48 wherein a flaring angle of the flared end is less than about 40 degrees.

### Claim 50 (depends on 48)

The suction head of claim 48 wherein the housing, the tubular member, and the handle member are of a unitary construction.

### Claim 51 (depends on 46)

The suction head of claim 46 wherein one or more of the M protuberances comprise a second region cantilevered relative to and extending radially from a surface of the housing.

### Claim 52 (depends on 46)

The suction head of claim 46 wherein the housing comprises two or more lobes, wherein one of the M protuberances extend from at least one of the two or more lobes.

### Claim 53 (depends on 46)

The suction head of claim 46 wherein the second configuration of M protuberances comprises a symmetric arrangement of each of the protuberances relative to the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 54 (depends on 46)

The suction head of claim 46 wherein M is even, and wherein a channel is disposed between each pair of protuberances, the channel defined by the housing, wherein one or more of the N vent ports is disposed in each channel.

### Claim 55 (depends on 46)

The suction head of claim 46 wherein the housing comprises four lobes arranged around the central bore in a cruciform arrangement, wherein M is 2 and the second configuration comprises one of the protuberances extending distally from at least one of the lobes, wherein the protuberances are sized and shaped to create a flow channel when in contact with surface of biological tissue.

### Claim 56 (depends on 46)

The suction head of claim 46 wherein the M protuberances protrude from the proximal end face of the housing, and wherein the housing defines a plurality of recessed regions at the proximal end face.

### Claim 57 (depends on 46)

The suction head of claim 46 wherein N is a natural number and M is a natural number less than or equal to eight.

### Claim 58 (depends on 46)

The suction head of claim 46 wherein the first shape is selected from the group consisting of a bulb, a knob, ellipsoidal, a conic section, a frustum, a sphere, a truncated ellipsoid, a half sphere, and a shape defined by a surface of revolution.

### Claim 59 (depends on 46)

The suction head of claim 46 wherein the proximal end face of the housing tapers to a substantially elliptical opening, the substantially elliptical opening defined by the housing and in fluid communication with the central bore.

### Claim 60 (depends on 59)

The suction head of claim 59 further comprising a tubular member, the tubular member disposed in the housing and extending through the substantially elliptical opening, the tubular member in fluid communication with the central bore and the N vent ports.

### Claim 61 (depends on 46)

The suction head of claim 46 further comprising a handle comprising a cylindrical sleeve mount, a tubular member extending from the handle and having a flared proximal end face, wherein the housing is secured to the proximal end face.