Suction control apparatus and methods for maintaining fluid flow without compromising sterile lines
First Claim
1. A device for providing vacuum to a patient circuit, the device comprising:
- a body portion having an interior chamber and adapted for coupling to a source of the vacuum;
a valve comprising a shaft moveably coupled to said body portion; and
an actuator coupled to said shaft of said valve, wherein said valve is selectable between i) a first position in which the vacuum is provided to said interior chamber via said valve at a first predetermined level and ii) a second position in which the vacuum is interrupted to said interior chamber, and said actuator is adapted to move between a first position and a second position to increase the vacuum in said interior chamber to a second predetermined level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a device and method to control suction in a patient environment. The device comprises a body portion having an interior chamber adapted for coupling to a source of the vacuum; a valve comprising a shaft rotatably coupled to the body portion; and an actuator coupled to the shaft of the valve. In operation the valve is rotatable between i) a first position in which the vacuum is provided to the interior chamber via the valve at a first predetermined level and ii) a second position in which the vacuum is interrupted to the interior chamber. The actuator is adapted to move between a first position and a second position which increases the vacuum in the interior chamber to a second predetermined level for clearing occluded suction lines in the patient circuit.
89 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A device for providing vacuum to a patient circuit, the device comprising:
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a body portion having an interior chamber and adapted for coupling to a source of the vacuum;
a valve comprising a shaft moveably coupled to said body portion; and
an actuator coupled to said shaft of said valve, wherein said valve is selectable between i) a first position in which the vacuum is provided to said interior chamber via said valve at a first predetermined level and ii) a second position in which the vacuum is interrupted to said interior chamber, and said actuator is adapted to move between a first position and a second position to increase the vacuum in said interior chamber to a second predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of providing vacuum from a vacuum source to a patient circuit comprising the steps of:
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applying a first level of vacuum to the patient circuit via a first vacuum circuit coupled to the vacuum source;
determining an occluded condition of the patient circuit; and
applying a second level of vacuum greater than said first level of vacuum to the patient circuit via a second vacuum circuit coupled to the vacuum source based whether said patient circuit is occluded. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A device for providing vacuum from a vacuum source to a patient circuit comprising:
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means for applying a first controlled level of vacuum to the patient circuit via a first vacuum control coupled to the vacuum source; and
means for applying a second controlled level of vacuum greater than said first controlled level of vacuum to the patient circuit based whether said patient circuit is occluded. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification