# US RE45,535 E1 · Device for removing a lodged mass > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US RE45,535 E1 - Document ID: USRE45535E1 - Status: Granted - Kind: E1 - Application number: 12/590,928 - Filed: 2009-11-16 - Granted: 2015-06-02 - Earliest claimed: 2005-01-19 - Applicants: James T. DeLuca; Paul V. DeLuca - Inventors: James T. DeLuca; Paul V. DeLuca - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/USRE45535E1 ## CPC - A61M 1/00: Suction or pumping devices for medical purposes; Devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body-liquids; Drainage systems (catheters A61M25/00; tube connectors, tube couplings, valves or branch units specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; devices for taking samples of blood A61B5/15; filters implantable into blood vessels A61F2/01) - A61D 1/06: Castrating appliances - 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)} - A61D: VETERINARY INSTRUMENTS, IMPLEMENTS, TOOLS, OR METHODS ## Abstract A vacuum device for removing a lodged mass or bolus from the throat of a choking victim. The device includes a pump for creating a vacuum chamber communicating with a mouthpiece having a frangible membrane. A resilient striker fractures the membrane to generate a substantially instantaneous vacuum to the mouthpiece to dislodge the mass. In one embodiment, the membrane is substituted by a manually displaceable sealing member, which is resealed after use of the device by movement of a vacuum-generating plunger. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for vacuum removal of a lodged mass from the throat of a victim, comprising: a first generally cylindrical tube having first and second ends defining a continuous bore, said first end having means for selectively engaging a mouthpiece element in substantially leak-proof relation; a resilient striker element positioned within said second end of said first tube selectively maintained in relatively cocked position by a manually operable means; a laterally-extending vacuum pump element including a second tubular member having a first end communicating with said first cylindrical tube and a second open end defining a bore, including a recess at a second end of said bore; a plunger slidably positioned in said bore having a manually-engageable handle and latching means at an outer end thereof, a sealing member, and a mouthpiece element selectively engageable in sealed relation with said first end of said first tube, said element including a frangible sealing means selectively penetrated by said striker element upon activation of said manually-operable means. ### Claim 2 A device for the removal of a lodged mass from the throat of a victim, comprising: a housing having a principal axis, said housing having a laterally-extending member having means for selectively engaging a free end of a mouthpiece element; said laterally-extending member including a laterally-extending channel; said housing having an axially-extending bore communicating with said laterally-extending channel, and manually operable valving means disposed within said bore; an axially-extending barrel, an elongated vacuum plunger slidably positioned within said barrel, and having locking means thereon, said barrel having corresponding locking means thereon for selectively maintaining said plunger in outward, vacuum-generating position; movement of said plunger to an inward position serving to contact said valving means and return it to closed condition. ### Claim 3 In a device for removing a lodged mass from the throat of a victim, the improvement comprising: a replaceable mouthpiece element, including a tube having a free end closed by a frangible membrane, and a vacuum-generating source having means for engaging said free end in sealed relation, said source including a resilient striker element for penetrating said membrane following positioning of said mouthpiece element; said vacuum source including a manually-operated single stroke vacuum pump plunger, said vacuum pump including latch means for maintaining said plunger in vacuum-creating position. ### Claim 4 An antichoking device for removing an object in the throat of a victim, comprising a tube said tube having a length and a first end and a second end, one end of said tube having a mouth piece removably secured thereto, the second end of said tube having a striker, said striker having a cocked and uncocked position and having a trigger for moving said striker from a cocked to an uncocked position, said tube having a pump in communication with said tube, said pump having a first end communicating with said tube and having a plunger slidably movable in said pump from a first position to a second position, said plunger creating a vacuum in said pump when said plunger is moved to said second position said plunger being releasably retained in said second position, said tube having a frangible seal selectively penetrated by said striker upon activation of said striker. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The antichoking device according to claim 4 wherein said tube is cylindrical. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The antichoking device according to claim 4 wherein said second position of said plunger is further away from said tube than said first position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The antichoking device according to claim 4 wherein said plunger is retained in said second position by a latch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The antichoking device according to claim 4 wherein said striker has a nose for puncturing said frangible member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The antichoking device according to claim 8 wherein said nose of said striker comprises axial grooves, said axial grooves permitting said vacuum to be communicated to said mouthpiece element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The antichoking device according to claim 8 wherein said nose of said striker is generally conical. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The antichoking device according to claim 10 wherein said conical nose of said striker has a sharp point. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The antichoking device according to claim 4 wherein said striker is restrained by a release member when said striker is in said cocked position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The antichoking device according to claim 12 wherein said release member is toggled to permit unrestrained movement of said striker element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) The antichoking device according to claim 4 wherein said vacuum causes said striker to puncture said frangible membrane. ### Claim 15 (depends on 4) The antichoking device according to claim 4 wherein puncturing of said membrane permits said vacuum to be communicated to said mouthpiece element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 4) The antichoking device according to claim 4 wherein said striker is biased by a helical spring. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The antichoking device according to claim 16 wherein said helical spring is retained within a recess of said striker, and thereby biases said striker relative to said housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 4) The antichoking device according to claim 4 wherein said trigger is capable of being toggled from an unengaged position to an engaged position whereby said movement of said striker element is restrained. ### Claim 19 (depends on 4) The antichoking device according to claim 4 wherein said trigger is pivotally mounted to said housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 4) The antichoking device according to claim 4 wherein said trigger is slidably mounted to said housing. ### Claim 21 (depends on 4) The antichoking device according to claim 4 wherein said housing further comprises a portion that forms a handle grip. ### Claim 22 (depends on 4) The antichoking device according to claim 4 wherein said plunger has an engeagable handle connected by a shaft, said shaft extending laterally from said plunger and protruding from an opening in said housing. ### Claim 23 (depends on 4) The antichoking device according to claim 4 wherein said frangible membrane comprises a foil membrane. ### Claim 24 A device for vacuum removal of a lodged mass from the throat of a victim comprising a first tube having first and second ends, said first end having a mouth piece removably secured thereto in a substantially leak proof relation, a striker having a cocked and uncocked position and a trigger for moving said striker from said cocked to said uncocked position, a vacuum pump communicating with said tube, said pump including a plunger slidably positioned in said pump said plunger being manually movable from a first position to a second position in said pump and being releasably retained in said second position until said striker penetrates a frangible seal. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The device according to claim 24 wherein said device further comprises a biasing means, and wherein said biasing means normally biases said striker from said cocked position toward said uncocked position. ### Claim 26 In a device for removing a lodged mass from the throat of a victim, the improvement comprising a replaceable mouthpiece, including a tube having a free end closed by a frangible membrane and a vacuum generating source, said vacuum generating source including a striker for penetrating said membrane following positioning of said mouthpiece, said vacuum generating source including a plunger said plunger manually movable from a first position to a second position to generate a vacuum, said plunger being retained in said second position until said frangible membrane is pierced by said striker. ### Claim 27 A device for use in removing a lodged mass from the throat of a victim, said device comprising: (a) a mouthpiece, said mouthpiece having a generally tubular sleeve having a first end and a second end, said first end being open and said second end being sealed by a frangible membrane; (b) a striker, said striker having a first and a second end, said striker further comprising a sealing means and a cocking member; (c) a housing, said housing comprising a first bore creating a first end opening and a second end opening, said first end opening having a means for receiving said second end of said mouthpiece; said striker being slidably received within said bore; (d) a release member, said release member adapted to releasably restrain movement of said striker when said striker is moved into a cocked position; (e) a plunger, said plunger further comprising an engageable handle, and a sealing means; and (f) a second bore within said housing; said second bore extending transverse from said first bore to create a third end opening in said housing; said second bore being interconnected to said first bore between said first and second end openings; said plunger being slidably disposed within said second cylindrical bore. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The device according to claim 27 wherein said mouthpiece forms a leak proof connection with said housing. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The device according to claim 27 wherein said bores are generally cylindrical. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The device according to claim 27 wherein said cocking member is located at said second end. ### Claim 31 (depends on 27) The device according to claim 27 wherein when said striker is restrained by said release member in said cocked position. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The device according to claim 31 wherein when said release member is toggled to permit unrestrained movement of said striker; said vacuum thereby causing said striker to puncture said frangible membrane. ### Claim 33 (depends on 27) The device according to claim 27 wherein said mouthpiece is affixed to said first end opening of said housing. ### Claim 34 (depends on 27) The device according to claim 27 wherein said engageable handle is actuated by moving said plunger from a position proximate to said first bore to a position proximate to said third end opening, so as to create vacuum pressure within said first and second bores. ### Claim 35 (depends on 27) The device according to claim 27 wherein cocking member is positioned on said housing so as to limit travel of said striker. ### Claim 36 (depends on 27) The device according to claim 27 wherein puncturing of said membrane by said striker permits said vacuum pressure to be communicated through said first bore to said first end of said mouthpiece element. ### Claim 37 (depends on 27) The device according to claim 27 wherein said striker has a nose. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The device according to claim 37 wherein said nose of said striker comprises axial grooves, said axial grooves permitting said vacuum pressure to be communicated through said first bore to said first end of said mouthpiece element. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) The device according to claim 37 wherein said cocking member of said striker is used to move said striker into said cocked position, and thereby be retained by said release means. ### Claim 40 (depends on 37) The device according to claim 37 wherein said nose of said striker is generally conical. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The device according to claim 40 wherein said conical nose of said striker has a sharp point. ### Claim 42 (depends on 27) The device according to claim 27 wherein said sealing means of said striker element is disposed between said striker and said first bore to seal off said second end. ### Claim 43 (depends on 27) The device according to claim 27 wherein said sealing means of said plunger is disposed between said cylindrical striker and said second bore to seal off said third end. ### Claim 44 (depends on 27) The device according to claim 27 wherein at least one of said sealing means of said striker and said sealing means of said plunger are an o-ring seal. ### Claim 45 (depends on 37) The device according to claim 37 wherein said sealing means of said striker is located proximate to said nose. ### Claim 46 (depends on 27) The device according to claim 27 wherein said plunger further comprises a latch, said latch being engageable with said housing so as to oppose said vacuum pressure and maintain said plunger in said position proximate to said third end in said housing. ### Claim 47 (depends on 27) The device according to claim 27 wherein said striker is biased by a helical spring. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The device according to claim 47 wherein said helical spring is retained within a recess in said striker, and biases said striker member relative to said housing. ### Claim 49 (depends on 27) The device according to claim 27 wherein said release member comprises a trigger, said trigger capable of being toggled from an unengaged position to an engaged position whereby said movement of said striker is restrained. ### Claim 50 (depends on 49) The device according to claim 49 wherein said trigger is pivotally mounted to said housing. ### Claim 51 (depends on 49) The device according to claim 49 wherein said trigger is slidably mounted to said housing. ### Claim 52 (depends on 27) The device according to claim 27 wherein said release member comprises a threadable connection between said striker element and said housing. ### Claim 53 (depends on 52) The device according to claim 52 wherein said housing includes internal threading proximate to said second end opening, and said striker includes external threading on at least a portion thereof. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) The device according to claim 53 wherein said cocking member has a knob to rotate said striker element and cause engagement and disengagement. ### Claim 55 (depends on 27) The device according to claim 27 wherein said housing further comprises a portion that forms a handle grip, said handle grip being located in proximity to said second bore. ### Claim 56 (depends on 27) The device according to claim 27 wherein said-plunger has an engeagable handle. ### Claim 57 (depends on 56) The device according to claim 56 wherein said handle and said plunger are connected by a shaft, said shaft being disposed within said second bore, said shaft being of sufficient length to permit said handle to protrude out from said third end when said plunger is located proximate to said first bore. ### Claim 58 (depends on 57) The device according to claim 57 wherein said shaft extends laterally from said plunger and protrudes from a slotted opening in said housing. ### Claim 59 (depends on 27) The device according to claim 27 wherein said plunger is maintained in a position proximate to said first cylindrical bore to prevent inadvertent actuation of said release means and accidental breaking of said frangible membrane of said mouthpiece. ### Claim 60 (depends on 27) The device according to claim 27 wherein said plunger is biased to be normally maintained in a position proximate to said first bore. ### Claim 61 (depends on 27) The device according to claim 27 wherein said frangible membrane is sealed over said second end of said mouthpiece using a collar. ### Claim 62 (depends on 61) The device according to claim 61 wherein said mouthpiece comprises a sealing liner, and a laterally extending protrusion. ### Claim 63 (depends on 62) The device according to claim 62 wherein a portion of said housing receiving said second end of said mouthpiece comprises a socket, said socket having a slot, said slot of said socket being capable of releasably engaging said laterally extending protrusion of said mouthpiece. ### Claim 64 (depends on 63) The device according to claim 63 wherein said frangible membrane comprise a foil membrane. ### Claim 65 A mouthpiece element for use in a device for removing lodged particles from the throat of a victim, said mouthpiece comprising a first end and a second end with an air passageway from said first end to said second end, said first end being adapted to inserted into the mouth of the victim, said second end of said mouthpiece comprised of engagement sleeve with an open end, said open end being covered by a piercable membrane, said membrane being replacably secured to said engagement sleeve, said membrane being held in place on said sleeve by a collar. ### Claim 66 (depends on 65) The mouthpiece according to claim 65 wherein a laterally extending projection extends from said mouthpiece and engages a corresponding slot in same device for removing a lodged particle. ### Claim 67 A device, for use in removing a lodged mass from the throat of a victim, said device comprising: a housing, said housing comprising: a first bore creating a first end opening and a second end opening, and a second bore being interconnected to said first bore between said first and second end openings and creating a third end opening in said housing; a striker, said striker having a first end and a second end, said striker being slidably received within said first housing bore in sealed relation; a trigger, said trigger being adapted for releasably restraining movement of said striker when said striker is moved into a cocked position being distal from said first end opening; a mouthpiece, said mouthpiece having a first end and a second end, said first end being open and said second end being sealed by a frangible membrane; said second end of said mouthpiece being received at said first end opening of said housing with said frangible membrane sealing said second end opening and being selectively penetrated by said striker; and a plunger, said plunger being slidably within said second bore in sealed relation. ### Claim 68 (depends on 67) A device according to claim 67 further comprising a latching means for securing said plunger in a vacuum-pressure producing position. ### Claim 69 (depends on 68) A device according to claim 68 wherein said mouthpiece is replaceable by being releasably received by said housing. ### Claim 70 (depends on 69) A device according to claim 69 wherein said plunger comprises a graspable handle. ### Claim 71 (depends on 70) A device according to claim 70 wherein said striker comprises a sealing means and a cocking member. ### Claim 72 (depends on 71) A device according to claim 71 wherein said first and second bore in said housing are cylindrical, said plunger is generally cylindrical, and said striker comprises a generally cylindrical member transitioning into a nose for penetrating said frangible membrane. ### Claim 73 (depends on 72) A device according to claim 72 wherein said penetrating nose of said striker comprises two or more axial grooves for communicating said vacuum pressure through said mouthpiece. ### Claim 74 (depends on 73) A device according to claim 73 wherein said striker comprises a cocking member. ### Claim 75 (depends on 74) A device according to claim 74 wherein said striker is spring biased toward said first end opening of said housing. ### Claim 76 (depends on 75) A device according to claim 75 wherein said frangible membrane comprises a foil membrane.