Atraumatic fluid handling method and apparatus
AssigneeBentley Laboratories, Inc.
InventorDonald J. Bentley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An atraumatic method and apparatus for the removal of fluid from a surgical field having a fluid valve which is opened and closed responsive to the pressure about the fluid valve and a vacuum valve which is also opened and closed in response to the pressure about the fluid valve, and when opened, causes fluid to be passed through the fluid valve. In one embodiment, the fluid valve is made of collapsible tubing, flattened at its midsection so as to be normally closed, and connecting a fluid inlet and fluid outlet of a fluid removal housing. The fluid removal housing is further provided with a control port which may be opened or closed manually, and a connection to a vacuum source through the vacuum valve.
Claims22
An atraumatic method of fluid handling comprising:
- opening a fluid valve responsive to the pressure decrease about said fluid valve;
- opening a vacuum valve responsive to the pressure decrease about said fluid valve;
- and
- conveying fluid through said fluid valve response to said opening of said vacuum valve.
An atraumatic method of fluid handling comprising:
- biasing a fluid valve and a vacuum valve to a normally closed position;
- opening said vacuum valve responsive to a pressure decrease about said fluid valve;
- opening said fluid valve responsive to the pressure decrease about said fluid valve;
- and
- conveying fluid through said fluid valve responsive to said opening of said vacuum valve.
A fluid removal means comprising:
- a fluid removal housing defining a cavity, said cavity being in communication with a vacuum inlet and a control port, and said fluid removal housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
- connective means adapted to join a vacuum source and said fluid removal housing vacuum inlet and said fluid outlet;
- and
- fluid valving means located within said fluid removal housing cavity, said valving means including a first collapsible tube joining said fluid inlet and outlet and a second collapsible tube surrounding said first tube;
- said second collapsible tube being connected to said first collapsible tube and said second collapsible tube having a larger surface area than said first collapsible tube.
A fluid removal system comprising:
- a vacuum source;
- a fluid removal housing defining a cavity, said cavity being in communication with a vacuum inlet and a control port, and said fluid removal housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
- conductive means joining said vacuum source and said fluid removal housing vacuum inlet and said fluid outlet;
- and
- fluid valving means located within said fluid removal housing, said valving means including a first collapsible tube joining said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet, a second collapsible tube having a diameter and surface area substantially larger than said first tube said second tube surrounding said first tube and being attached to said first tube at at least one point;
- and
- a check valve positioned within said first collapsible tube adapted to prevent fluid flow from said fluid outlet to said fluid inlet.
A fluid removal system comprising:
- a vacuum source;
- a fluid removal housing defining a cavity said cavity being in communication with a vacuum inlet and a control port and said fluid removal housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
- fluid valving means located within said fluid removal housing cavity, said valving means including a first collapsible tube joining said fluid inlet and outlet and a second collapsible tube surrounding said first tube;
- vacuum valving means;
- connective means joining a vacuum source to said vacuum valving means;
- and
- connective means joining said vacuum valving means to said fluid removal housing inlet and said fluid outlet,
- said vacuum valving means being connected to said vacuum source and to said fluid removal housing inlet and said fluid outlet being responsive to the pressure about said fluid valving means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.