Collapsible canister liner for medical fluid collection
AssigneeAllegiance Corporation
InventorThomas L. Michaels
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A collapsible liner for use in a canister of a medical fluid collection system is disclosed. The liner includes a flexible bag extending longitudinally between a top portion opposite a closed bottom portion, and at least one support element connected to the bag and disposed generally laterally relative to a length of the bag. When an interior of the bag is subjected to a vacuum, the at least one support element limits an extent of lateral collapse while permitting longitudinal collapse.
Claims20
A medical fluid waste collection liner assembly for use with a medical fluid collection canister comprising:
- a lid configured to be removably attached to the canister, the lid including a vacuum port and a collection port;
- and
- a liner coupled to the lid, the liner including:
- a flexible film bag extending longitudinally between a top portion and a closed bottom portion and defining an interior, and
- at least one support element apart from the lid and connected to a segment of the bag;
- wherein the vacuum port and the collection port are in direct fluid communication with the interior of the bag,
- wherein when the interior of the bag is subjected to a vacuum during evacuation of fluid waste, the bag, except for the segment of the bag coupled to the at least one support element, laterally collapses so that the closed bottom portion and the at least one support element are displaced longitudinally toward the lid, and
- wherein the closed bottom portion is flexibly configured to longitudinally displace further into the interior when the at least one support element reaches a limit of longitudinal displacement toward the lid for removing substantially all of the fluid waste from the bag.
A medical fluid collection system comprising:
- a canister defining an open end;
- and
- a liner assembly including:
- a lid removably attachable to the open end of the canister, the lid including a vacuum port and a collection port;
- and
- a collapsible liner dimensioned for placement within the canister, the liner including:
- a flexible film bag extending longitudinally between a top portion coupled to the lid and a closed bottom portion and defining an interior, and
- at least one support element apart from the lid and disposed generally laterally relative to the flexible bag;
- wherein the vacuum port and the collection port are in direct fluid communication with the interior of the bag,
- wherein when the interior of the bag is subjected to a vacuum during evacuation of fluid waste, except where constrained by the at least one support element, of the bag laterally collapses as the at least one support element and the closed bottom portion are displaced longitudinally toward the lid, and
- wherein the closed bottom portion is flexibly configured to longitudinally displace further into the interior when the at least one support element reaches a limit of longitudinal displacement toward the lid for removing substantially all of the fluid waste from the bag.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.