Manifold and filter assembly with filter basket

• US 20050189288A1
• Filed: 02/18/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Noonan, Michael, MacDonald, Bruce, Huyser, Richard F., Isham, Stephen P., Hershberger, David, Staley, Karen
• Granted Patent: US 7,497,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/448
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/79 Filters for solid matter specially adapted for dental use A61C17/065
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/88 Draining devices having means for processing the drained fluid, e.g. an absorber for liposuction A61M1/892
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/084 Supporting bases, stands for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/204 Systems for applying vacuum to filters
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/48 Overflow systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/03 self-supporting
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/50 with multiple filtering elements, characterised by their mutual disposition B01D29/39 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B09B 3/0075 Disposal of medical waste casings for used articles, e.g. sharps A61B50/362; sterilisation of refuse A61L11/00; disposal of used needles or syringes A61M5/3205; disintegrating medical waste B02C19/0075

Abstract

A manifold and filter assembly for use with a waste collection unit is provided. The manifold and filter assembly directs and filters medical waste flowing into the waste collection unit. The manifold and filter assembly comprises a manifold body defining a chamber and an outlet for directing the medical waste into the waste collection unit. A manifold cap is fitted to the manifold body to close the chamber. The manifold cap defines a plurality of inlets for receiving the medical waste. A filter basket having a bottom and a peripheral wall defining a plurality of openings is snap-locked to the manifold body. The filter basket is positioned such that a fluid bypass is formed between the filter basket and the manifold body and between the filter basket and the manifold cap. The fluid bypass is in fluid communication with the outlet whereby the medical waste can flow over the peripheral wall to the outlet through the fluid bypass.

Claims

1. A manifold and filter assembly for directing and filtering medical waste flowing into a waste collection unit, said assembly comprising:

a manifold housing defining a chamber and having at least one inlet to draw the medical waste into said chamber and at least one outlet to direct the medical waste from said chamber into the waste collection unit; and

a filter basket having a bottom and a peripheral wall mounted in said chamber between said at least one inlet and said at least one outlet, said filter basket having a semi-rigid configuration for providing support to said filter basket in said chamber and a plurality of openings for filtering the medical waste between said at least one inlet and said at least one outlet.

2. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of openings include a plurality of perforations defined in said bottom of said filter basket

3. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said bottom of said filter basket includes a plurality of interior walls defining a plurality of compartments wherein each of said compartments includes a portion of said plurality of perforations such that each of said compartments can filter the medical waste.

4. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of openings include a plurality of perforations defined in said peripheral wall of said filter basket.

5. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said plurality of perforations defined in said peripheral wall of said filter basket are further defined as vertical slots defined in said peripheral wall of said filter basket.

6. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 4 including a filter element disposed in said filter basket.

7. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said filter element is supported about and extends upwardly along said peripheral wall of said filter basket thereby requiring the medical waste to pass through said filter element to reach said plurality of perforations.

8. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said filter element has a predetermined height to retain debris in said filter basket such that the debris builds upwardly along said height of said filter element to maximize a filtering capacity of said filter element and said filter basket.

9. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of openings include a first plurality of perforations defined in said bottom of said filter basket and a second plurality of perforations defined in said peripheral wall of said filter basket.

10. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said bottom of said filter basket includes a plurality of interior walls defining a plurality of compartments wherein each of said compartments includes a portion of said first plurality of perforations such that each of said compartments can filter the medical waste.

11. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 9 including a filter element disposed in said filter basket.

12. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said filter element is supported about and extends upwardly along said peripheral wall of said filter basket thereby requiring the medical waste to pass through said filter element to reach said second plurality of perforations.

13. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said filter element has a predetermined height to retain debris in said filter basket such that the debris builds upwardly along said height of said filter element to maximize a filtering capacity of said filter element and said filter basket.

14. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said manifold housing includes a manifold body defining said at least one outlet and a manifold cap defining said at least one inlet wherein said manifold cap closes said manifold body to define said chamber.

15. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said manifold body includes a bottom and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from said bottom.

16. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 15 including a plurality of risers integrally formed on said bottom of said manifold body to support said filter basket and space said bottom of said filter basket from said bottom of said manifold body.

17. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 15 including at least one locking member formed on said bottom of said filter basket and at least one locking tab formed on said bottom of said manifold body wherein said locking tab snap-locks to said locking member to fix said filter basket in position in said chamber.

18. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said manifold cap defines a plurality of inlets and each of said plurality of inlets includes an entrance tube disposed about an entry axis and said at least one outlet includes an outlet tube disposed about an outlet axis.

19. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said outlet axis is approximately normal to each of said entry axes.

20. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein all of said entry axes are parallel.

21. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 18 including a plurality of port caps for covering said plurality of inlets and a plurality of connection straps integrally formed on said manifold cap and connecting each of said port caps to said manifold cap.

22. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth claim 14 including an outlet port cap for covering said at least one outlet and a connection strap integrally formed on said manifold cap and connecting said outlet port cap to said manifold cap.

23. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said manifold body includes an outer rim disposed on said peripheral wall of said manifold body and said manifold cap includes an inner rim for snap-fit engagement about said outer rim.

24. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a waste retention valve disposed in said at least one outlet for retaining the medical waste in said at least one outlet.

25. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 24 wherein said waste retention valve moves between open and closed positions.

26. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 25 wherein said waste retention valve moves to said open position under a predetermined pressure thereby allowing the medical waste to exit said outlet.

27. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 25 wherein said waste retention valve is normally in said closed position.

28. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said manifold housing is semi-transparent for viewing the medical waste in said chamber.

29. A manifold and filter assembly for directing and filtering medical waste flowing into a waste collection unit, said assembly comprising:

a manifold housing defining a chamber and having at least one inlet to draw the medical waste into said chamber and at least one outlet to direct the medical waste from said chamber into the waste collection unit; and

a filter basket having a bottom and a peripheral wall mounted in said chamber between said at least one inlet and said at least one outlet and having a plurality of openings to filter the medical waste between said at least one inlet and said at least one outlet,

said filter basket being spaced from said manifold housing to define a fluid bypass between said filter basket and said manifold housing with said fluid bypass being in fluid communication with said at least one outlet whereby the medical waste can flow over said peripheral wall to said at least one outlet through said fluid bypass.

30. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 29 wherein each of said plurality of openings is in fluid communication with said fluid bypass.

31. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 29 wherein said manifold housing includes a manifold body defining said at least one outlet and a manifold cap defining said at least one inlet wherein said manifold cap closes said manifold body to define said chamber.

32. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 31 wherein said fluid bypass is further defined between said manifold cap and said filter basket and between said manifold body and said filter basket.

33. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 31 wherein said manifold body includes a bottom and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from said bottom.

34. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 33 including a plurality of spacers integrally formed on said peripheral wall of said filter basket to provide said fluid bypass between said filter basket and said peripheral wall of said manifold body.

35. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 33 including a plurality of risers integrally formed on said bottom of said manifold body to support said filter basket and space said bottom of said filter basket from said bottom of said manifold body.

36. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 33 including at least one locking member formed on said bottom of said filter basket and at least one locking tab formed on said bottom of said manifold body wherein said locking tab snap-locks to said locking member to fix said filter basket in position in said chamber.

37. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 31 wherein said manifold cap defines a plurality of inlets and each of said plurality of inlets includes an entrance tube disposed about an entry axis and said at least one outlet includes an outlet tube disposed about an outlet axis.

38. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 37 wherein said outlet axis is approximately normal to each of said entry axes.

39. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 37 wherein all of said entry axes are parallel.

40. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 37 including a plurality of port caps for covering said plurality of inlets and a plurality of connection straps integrally formed on said manifold cap and connecting each of said port caps to said manifold cap.

41. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth claim 31 including an outlet port cap for covering said at least one outlet and a connection strap integrally formed on said manifold cap and connecting said outlet port cap to said manifold cap.

42. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 33 wherein said manifold body includes an outer rim disposed on said peripheral wall of said manifold body and said manifold cap includes an inner rim for snap-fit engagement about said outer rim.

43. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 29 including a waste retention valve disposed in said at least one outlet for retaining the medical waste in said at least one outlet.

44. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 43 wherein said waste retention valve moves between open and closed positions.

45. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 44 wherein said waste retention valve moves to said open position under a predetermined pressure thereby allowing the medical waste to exit said outlet.

46. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 44 wherein said waste retention valve is normally in said closed position.

47. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 29 wherein at least a portion of said manifold housing is semi-transparent for viewing the medical waste in said chamber.

48. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 29 including at least one resilient member supporting said filter basket in said chamber.

49. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 48 wherein said at least one resilient member is configured to open said filter bypass in response to a predetermined load acting on said filter basket thereby allowing the medical waste to flow over said peripheral wall of said filter basket and through said fluid bypass to said outlet.

50. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 49 wherein said at least one resilient member is configured to keep said filter bypass normally closed when said predetermined load is not present.

51. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 50 wherein said at least one resilient member is disposed on said peripheral wall of said filter basket and extends outwardly from said peripheral wall of said filter basket.

52. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 51 wherein said at least one resilient member is in the form of at least one resilient tab.

53. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 51 wherein said at least one resilient member is in the form of at least one spring.

54. A manifold assembly for directing medical waste flowing into a waste collection unit, said assembly comprising:

a manifold housing defining a chamber and having at least one inlet to draw the medical waste into said chamber and at least one outlet to direct the medical waste from said chamber into the waste collection unit; and

a splash wall positioned in said chamber between said at least one inlet and said at least one outlet to absorb fluid energy from the medical waste entering into said chamber through said at least one inlet.

55. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 54 including at least one filtering member disposed in said chamber between said at least one inlet and said at least one outlet wherein said splash wall is configured to absorb the fluid energy from the medical waste entering into said chamber through said at least one inlet and redirect the medical waste from said at least one inlet toward said at least one filtering member to guide the accumulation of debris on said at least one filtering member.

56. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 54 wherein said manifold housing includes a manifold body defining said at least one outlet and a manifold cap defining said at least one inlet wherein said manifold cap closes said manifold body to define said chamber.

57. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 56 wherein said splash wall is disposed on said cap and extends downwardly from said cap into said chamber.

58. A manifold assembly as set forth in claim 54 including at least one surface member disposed in said chamber between said at least one inlet and said at least one outlet wherein said splash wall is configured to absorb the fluid energy from the medical waste entering into said chamber through said at least one inlet and redirect the medical waste from said at least one inlet toward said at least one surface member to guide the accumulation of debris on said at least one surface member.

59. A manifold and filter assembly for directing and filtering medical waste flowing into a waste collection unit, said assembly comprising:

a manifold housing defining a chamber and having at least one inlet to draw the medical waste into said chamber and at least one outlet to direct the medical waste from said chamber into the waste collection unit; and

a filter element mounted in said chamber between said at least one inlet and said at least one outlet and having a plurality of openings to filter the medical waste between said at least one inlet and said at least one outlet, a medical waste bypass being in fluid communication with said at least one outlet whereby the medical waste can flow through said medical waste bypass to prevent backup of said medical waste to said at least one inlet.

60. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 59 wherein said medical waste bypass has at least one entrance and said at least one entrance is located between said inlet and said filter element.

61. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 60 wherein said filter element is further defined as a filter basket having a bottom and a peripheral wall mounted in said chamber.

66. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 61 wherein said fluid bypass is further defined between said manifold cap and said filter basket and between said manifold body and said filter basket.

67. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 61 wherein said manifold body includes a bottom and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from said bottom.

71. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 61 wherein said manifold cap defines a plurality of inlets and each of said plurality of inlets includes an entrance tube disposed about an entry axis and said at least one outlet includes an outlet tube disposed about an outlet axis.

72. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 67 wherein said outlet axis is approximately normal to each of said entry axes.

73. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 67 wherein all of said entry axes are parallel.

74. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 67 including a plurality of port caps for covering said plurality of inlets and a plurality of connection straps integrally formed on said manifold cap and connecting each of said port caps to said manifold cap.

75. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth claim 61 including an outlet port cap for covering said at least one outlet and a connection strap integrally formed on said manifold cap and connecting said outlet port cap to said manifold cap.

77. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 59 including a waste retention valve disposed in said at least one outlet for retaining the medical waste in said at least one outlet.

78. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 73 wherein said waste retention valve moves between open and closed positions.

79. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 74 wherein said waste retention valve moves to said open position under a predetermined pressure thereby allowing the medical waste to exit said outlet.

80. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 74 wherein said waste retention valve is normally in said closed position.

81. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 59 wherein at least a portion of said manifold housing is semi-transparent for viewing the medical waste in said chamber.

82. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 59 including at least one resilient member supporting said filter basket in said chamber.

83. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 78 wherein said at least one resilient member is configured to open said filter bypass in response to a predetermined load acting on said filter basket thereby allowing the medical waste to flow over said peripheral wall of said filter basket and through said fluid bypass to said outlet.

84. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 79 wherein said at least one resilient member is configured to keep said filter bypass normally closed when said predetermined load is not present.

85. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 80 wherein said at least one resilient member is disposed on said peripheral wall of said filter basket and extends outwardly from said peripheral wall of said filter basket.

86. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 81 wherein said at least one resilient member is in the form of at least one resilient tab.

87. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 81 wherein said at least one resilient member is in the form of at least one spring.

62. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 62 wherein said filter basket is spaced from said manifold housing to further define said medical waste bypass between said filter basket and said manifold housing.

63. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 62 wherein said at least one entrance is further defined as a space between top of said peripheral wall and said chamber.

64. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 63 wherein said each of said plurality of openings is in fluid communication with said fluid bypass.

65. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 62 wherein said manifold housing includes a manifold body defining said at least one outlet and a manifold cap defining said at least one inlet wherein said manifold cap closes said manifold body to define said chamber.

68. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 63 including a plurality of spacers integrally formed on said peripheral wall of said filter basket to provide said fluid bypass between said filter basket and said peripheral wall of said manifold body.

69. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 63 including a plurality of risers integrally formed on said bottom of said manifold body to support said filter basket and space said bottom of said filter basket from said bottom of said manifold body.

70. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 63 including at least one locking member formed on said bottom of said filter basket and at least one locking tab formed on said bottom of said manifold body wherein said locking tab snap-locks to said locking member to fix said filter basket in position in said chamber.

76. A manifold and filter assembly as set forth in claim 63 wherein said manifold body includes an outer rim disposed on said peripheral wall of said manifold body and said manifold cap includes an inner rim for snap-fit engagement about said outer rim.