REMOVABLE INLET MANIFOLD FOR A MEDICAL/SURGICAL WASTE COLLECTION SYSTEM, THE MANIFOLD INCLUDING A DRIVER FOR ACTUATING A VALVE INTEGRAL WITH THE WASTE COLLECTION SYSTEM

• US 20070135778A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Isham, Stephen, Reasoner, Stephen, Hershberger, David, Murray, Sean, Lalomia, Brent
• Granted Patent: US 7,615,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/317
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/185 Drawers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/10 Furniture specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/13 Trolleys, e.g. carts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 for collecting or disposing of used articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/362 for sharps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/60 Containers for suction drainage, adapted to be used with an external suction source containers not adapted for subjection to vacuum A61M1/69
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/63 with means for emptying the suction container, e.g. by interrupting suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/631 Emptying the suction container without interrupting suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/71 Suction drainage systems containers therefor A61M1/60, A61M1/64; negative pressure wound therapy systems A61M1/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/72 Cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/732 Visual indicating means for vacuum pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/742 by changing the size of a vent A61M1/7411 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/743 by changing the cross-section of the line, e.g. flow regulating valves A61M1/7413 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/76 Handpieces specially for suction-irrigation A61M1/774, aspiration tips A61M1/84
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/77 Suction-irrigation systems aspiration tips supplying fluids A61M1/85; specific for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/78 Means for preventing overflow or contamination of the pumping systems combined with drainage containers A61M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/782 using valves with freely moving parts, e.g. float valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/784 by filtering, sterilising or disinfecting the exhaust air, e.g. swellable filter valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/79 : Filters for solid matter specially adapted for dental use A61C17/065
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/84 : Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/92 : with liquid supply means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/125 : with incorporated filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 : Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7545 : for solid matter, e.g. microaggregates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7563 : with means preventing clogging of filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0201 : Cassettes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87571 : Multiple inlet with single outlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87676 : With flow control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87965 : Valve- or closure-operated by coupling motion

Abstract

A removable manifold for a medical/surgical waste collection system. The manifold is dimensioned to be mounted to a receiver integral with the system. The manifold includes a driver for engaging a complementary valve internal to the receiver. The valve regulates flow between the receiver and the down line components of the waste collection system. The valve is normally closed. When the manifold is fitted to the receiver the driver engages the valve so as move the valve to the open position. This allows fluid flow from the manifold and receiver to the downstream components of the system.

Claims

1. A manifold for connection to a medical/surgical waste collection unit, the waste collection unit having a receiver for receiving the manifold and a valve unit that regulates flow from said manifold, said manifold comprising:

a housing having opposed proximal and distal ends and defining a void space between the ends and opening in the proximal end;

at least one fitting attached to said housing that extends away from the distal end of said housing, said fitting dimensioned to receive a suction line and defining a fluid communications path into the void space;

an outlet opening that allows fluid from said void space towards the valve; and

a valve driver integral with said housing, positioned to engage said valve unit so that positioning of said housing in the receiver results in displacement of the valve unit by said valve driver.

2. The manifold of claim 1, wherein said housing has section formed to define a keyhole for receiving a complementary component of the valve unit, the keyhole being said valve driver.

3. The manifold of claim 1 wherein the distal end of said housing that defines the outlet opening is the valve driver.

4. The manifold of claim 1, wherein:

said housing has an axis around which said housing is rotated to seat said housing in the receiver; and

said valve driver is positioned on said housing so as to be off-center from the rotational axis of said housing so that, as the housing rotates, said valve driver rotates.

5. The manifold of claim 1, wherein:

said housing has an axis around which said housing is rotated to seat said housing in the receiver; and

the outlet opening is positioned in said housing to be off-center from the rotational axis of said housing so that, as the housing rotates, the outlet opening rotates and the outlet opening functions as said valve driver.

6. The manifold of claim 1, further including a filter disposed in said housing between said fitting and the outlet opening.

7. A manifold for connection to a medical/surgical waste collection unit, the waste collection unit having a receiver for receiving the manifold, said manifold comprising:

a housing defining a void space, said housing further including;

at least one fitting for receiving a suction line that defines a fluid communications path into the void space; and

an outlet opening that allows fluid flow from said void space, the outlet opening dimensioned to receive a fitting integral with the receiver; and

a drip stop coupled to the outlet opening, said drip stop having;

a valve that disposed over the outlet opening, said valve normally being closed and openable upon insertion of a receiver member through the outlet opening; and

a seal that extends from said housing so as to form a barrier between said housing and the receiver member disposed in the outlet opening.

8. The manifold of claim 7, wherein said drip stop includes a plurality of lips that are moveably mounted to said housing, said lips extending over the housing opening and having a first position in which said lips abut and a second position when the receiver member is inserted in the housing outlet opening wherein said lips are spaced apart from each other so that said lips function as said drip stop valve.

9. The manifold of claim 7, wherein said drip stop includes a plurality of lips that are moveably mounted to said housing, said lips extending over the housing opening and having a first position in which said lips abut and a second position when the receiver member is inserted in the housing outlet opening wherein said lips are spaced apart from each other and extend between said housing and said receiver member so that said lips function as said drip stop valve and said drip stop seal.

10. The manifold of claim 7, further including a filter disposed in the housing void space between said fitting and the outlet opening.

11. A manifold for connection to a medical/surgical waste collection unit, the waste collection unit having a receiver for receiving the manifold, the receiver having an inlet port for receiving waste, said manifold comprising:

a housing, said housing having a void space, at least one fitting that defines a fluid communications path into the void space; and

an outlet opening that allows fluid flow from said void space;

a filter disposed in the housing void space between said fitting and the outlet opening;

at least one alignment feature integral with said housing, said alignment feature positioned relative to the housing outlet opening so that, when said alignment feature is engaged with a complementary alignment feature on the receiver, the housing outlet opening is in registration with the receiver inlet port.

12. The manifold of claim 11, wherein said at least one alignment feature is a tab that extends outwardly from said housing.

13. The manifold of claim 11 wherein:

said housing has a base and an axis that extends through the base; and

the housing is formed so that the outlet opening is located in the base and positioned to be off axis from the base axis.

14. The manifold of claim 11, further including a plurality of said alignment features.

15. The manifold of claim 11, wherein a plurality of tabs project outwardly from said housing, said tabs being said alignment feature, wherein there is a first tab having a first shape and a second tab having a second shape that is different from the shape of said first tab.