# US 4,400,168 A · Adjustable surgical suction apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,400,168 A - Document ID: US4400168A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/308,773 - Filed: 1981-09-08 - Granted: 1983-08-23 - Earliest claimed: 1980-05-08 - Assignees: Biomedical Engineering Corp. - Inventors: Frederick F. Buechel; Michael J. Pappas; Paul A. Witte - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4400168A ## CPC - A61M 1/76: {Handpieces (specially for suction-irrigation A61M1/774, aspiration tips A61M1/84)} - 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 Surgical suction apparatus for applying suction to surgical debris to clear a surgical wound and including structure for clearing any surgical debris lodged in the entrance aperture of the apparatus and which structure may also be used to vary the effective size of the entrance aperture to vary the suction applied to the surgical debris. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Surgical suction apparatus for applying suction to surgical debris to clear a surgical wound, said apparatus for being connected to a suction source, comprising: suction means including a first tube terminating at its forward and in a generally cylindrical filter provided with a plurality of radially disposed suction holes providing an entrance aperture through which said suction is applied to said surgical debris and terminating at its rearward end in an exit aperture through which surgical debris sucked through said entrance aperture exits said apparatus, and control means including a second tube coaxially surrounding said first tube and mounted for sliding, reciprocating, translating movement relative to said first tube to permit portions of said second tube to engage any surgical debris lodged in said entrance aperture to clear said entrance aperture and to permit portions of said second tube to alternately cover and uncover said suction holes to vary the effective size of said entrance aperture. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Surgical apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of radially disposed suction holes are of different sizes and are axially disposed such that the smaller sized suction holes are forwardly of said generally cylindrical filter and said larger suction holes are rearwardly of said generally cylindrical filter whereby, upon said second tube being slid forwardly of said first tube, the number and size of said radially disposed suction holes exposed are decreased thereby reducing the suction applied and focusing the suction at the forward end of said first tube and, upon said second tube being slid rearwardly of said first tube, the size and number of said radially disposed suction holes exposed are increased thereby increasing the suction applied. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Surgical apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second tube is terminated in a generally annular cutting blade for cutting any surgical debris lodged in said suction hole to enhance the clearing of said entrance aperture. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Surgical suction apparatus according to claim 1 including closure means for urging said second tube into position to cover said suction holes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) Surgical suction apparatus according to claim 4 including means for retaining said second tube in position wherein said suction holes are uncovered notwithstanding the urging of said closure means. ### Claim 6 Surgical suction apparatus for applying suction to surgical debris to clear a surgical wound, said apparatus for being connected to a suction source, comprising: suction means including a first tube terminating at its forward end in a generally cylindrical filter provided with a plurality of radially disposed suction holes providing an entrance aperture through which said suction is applied to said surgical debris and terminating at its rearward end in an exit aperture through which said surgical debris sucked through said entrance aperture exits said apparatus, and control means including a second tube coaxially surrounding said first tube and mounted for sliding, reciprocating, translating movement relative to said first tube to permit portions of said second tube to engage and clear any surgical debris lodged in said entrance aperture. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) Surgical apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said second tube is terminated in a generally annular cutting blade for cutting any surgical debris lodged in said entrance aperture to enhance the clearing of said entrance aperture. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) Surgical suction apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said second tube is displaceable in a first direction and in a second opposed direction during said sliding, reciprocating, translating movement, and including means for exerting a force to urge said second tube in said first direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) Surgical suction apparatus according to claim 8 including means for maintaining said second tube displaced in said second opposed direction against the force of said means for exerting a force. ### Claim 10 Surgical suction apparatus for applying suction to surgical debris to clear a surgical wound, said apparatus for being connected to a suction source, comprising: suction means including a first tube terminating at its forward end in a generally cylindrical filter provided with a plurality of radially disposed suction holes providing an entrance aperture through which said suction is applied to said surgical debris and terminating at its rearward end in an exit aperture through which said surgical debris sucked through said entrance aperture exits said apparatus, and control means including a second tube coaxially surrounding said first tube and mounted for sliding, reciprocating translating movement relative to said first tube to permit portions of said second tube to cover and uncover said suction holes to vary the suction applied to said surgical debris. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) Surgical apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said plurality of radially disposed suction holes are of different sizes and are axially disposed such that the smaller sized suction holes are forwardly of said generally cylindrical filter and said larger suction holes are rearwardly of said generally cylindrical filter whereby, upon said second tube being slid forwardly of said first tube, the number and size of said radially disposed suction holes exposed are decreased thereby reducing the suction applied and focusing the suction at the forward end of said first tube and, upon said second tube being slid rearwardly of said first tube, the size and number of said radially disposed suction holes exposed are increased thereby increasing the suction applied. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) Surgical suction apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said second tube is displaceable in a first direction and in a second opposed direction during said sliding, reciprocating, translating movement, and including means for exerting a force to urge said second tube in said first direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) Surgical suction apparatus according to claim 12 including means for maintaining said second tube displaced in said second opposed direction against the force of said means for exerting a force.