Self-cleaning apparatus for material transfer, collection and disposal
First Claim
1. A self-cleaning apparatus for transferring, collecting, and disposing of waste material from a patient, comprising:
- a waste material transfer hose having an inlet and an outlet for transferring waste material from the patient to the apparatus;
a waste material collection chamber having a collection chamber inlet in communication with said outlet of said waste material transfer hose and a collection chamber outlet;
a vacuum source connected to said waste material collection chamber by a vacuum line; and
a cleaning fluid chamber for receiving a cleaning fluid, said cleaning fluid chamber being arranged to communicate with and receive said inlet of said waste material transfer hose.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a self-cleaning apparatus for transferring, collecting and disposing of a material. While the apparatus has specific utility in the medical and surgical environment for disposing of bodily wastes such as blood, mucous, wax, cauterized tissue and the like, the apparatus can also be employed to collect and transfer or dispose of any material, constituent or product. The apparatus includes a material transfer hose, a material collection chamber, a vacuum source for drawing material into the material collection chamber through the material transfer hose, an optional pump for emptying the material collection chamber, and a cleaning fluid chamber which receives the material transfer hose to permit a cleaning fluid to be drawn into the material transfer hose to clean the hose, as well as the remaining components of the apparatus. The optional disposal pump can be activated automatically to permit non-interrupted transfer, collection and disposal of a material to a drain.
65 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A self-cleaning apparatus for transferring, collecting, and disposing of waste material from a patient, comprising:
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a waste material transfer hose having an inlet and an outlet for transferring waste material from the patient to the apparatus;
a waste material collection chamber having a collection chamber inlet in communication with said outlet of said waste material transfer hose and a collection chamber outlet;
a vacuum source connected to said waste material collection chamber by a vacuum line; and
a cleaning fluid chamber for receiving a cleaning fluid, said cleaning fluid chamber being arranged to communicate with and receive said inlet of said waste material transfer hose. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for transferring, collecting and disposing of a material, comprising:
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a material transfer hose having an inlet and an outlet for transferring material to the apparatus;
a material collection chamber having a collection chamber inlet in communication with said outlet of said material transfer hose and a collection chamber outlet;
a vacuum source connected to said material collection chamber by a vacuum line to draw material into said material collection chamber through said material transfer hose;
a disposal pump in communication with said collection chamber outlet to pump material out of said material collection chamber to dispose of material; and
a cleaning fluid chamber for receiving a cleaning fluid, said cleaning fluid chamber being arranged to communicate with said inlet of said material transfer hose to permit cleaning fluid to be drawn into said inlet of said material transfer hose to clean said material transfer hose, said material collection chamber and said disposal pump. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of cleaning a material transfer, collecting and disposal apparatus having at least a cleaning fluid chamber, a material transfer hose, a material collection chamber having an inlet in fluid communication with said material transfer hose and an outlet, and a vacuum source connected to said material collection chamber, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing said cleaning fluid chamber with a cleaning fluid;
(b) inserting said material transfer hose into said cleaning fluid chamber; and
(c) activating said vacuum source such that said cleaning fluid is drawn into said material transfer hose and said material collection chamber through said inlet of said material transfer hose to clean said material transfer hose and said material collection chamber. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification