Medical suction control with isolation characteristics

• US 20080015504A1
• Filed: 07/12/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boehringer Laboratories, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Boehringer Laboratories, Inc.
• Inventors: Karpowicz, John, Boehringer, John R., Klocek, Kevin, Kauffmann, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,686,785 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/119
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• 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: Y10T 137/8326 Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm

Abstract

A suction regulator for controlling a level of negative pressure in a system in which compensatory clean airflow is used to isolate a control device for regulating suction delivered to a patient is disclosed. The regulator comprises an inlet; an outlet; a controller for controlling the suction delivered to the inlet; and a barrier for isolating the controller from the inlet.

Claims

1. A suction regulator comprising:

an outlet port coupled to a source of suction,

an inlet port in fluid communication with a patient,

a fluid passageway defined between the outlet port and the inlet port,

means for regulating suction within the fluid passageway, and

means for isolating the regulating means from fluid flow through the fluid passageway.

2. The suction regulator of claim 1, wherein the means for isolating comprises an airflow directed over a surface of the regulating means and through the fluid passageway.

3. The suction regulator of claim 2, wherein the airflow is introduced through an aperture provided in the suction regulator.

4. The suction regulator of claim 1, wherein the means for isolating comprises a diaphragm being positioned to isolate at least a portion of the regulating means from the fluid passageway.

5. A suction regulator for regulating suction withdrawal of body fluids from a patient, the suction regulator comprising:

a body;

an outlet port defined in said body that is configured to be coupled to a source of suction;

an inlet port defined in said body that is configured to be in fluid communication with the patient;

a fluid passageway defined between the outlet port and the inlet port; and

a means for regulating suction, said regulating means including a means for introducing atmospheric air into at least a portion of the fluid passageway and through the outlet port under the source of suction.

6. The suction regulator of claim 5, further comprising a regulating chamber separate from the fluid passageway, wherein the regulating means are at least partially positioned within the regulating chamber.

7. The suction regulator of claim 6, wherein means for introducing atmospheric air is positioned in fluid communication with the regulating chamber and the fluid passageway.

8. The suction regulator of claim 7, wherein means for introducing atmospheric air comprises an orifice defined in the regulator.

9. The suction regulator of claim 7, wherein the regulating means comprises a valve seat defined along the fluid passageway and a moveable valve for selectively mating with said valve seat.

10. The suction regulator of claim 9, wherein the regulating means further comprises a diaphragm for biasing the valve with respect to the valve seat.

11. The suction regulator of claim 10, wherein the regulating means further comprises a resilient element for counterbalancing the force exerted upon the valve by the diaphragm.

12. The suction regulator of claim 9, wherein the atmospheric air is delivered over a surface of the valve and into at least a portion of the fluid passageway.

13. The suction regulator of claim 9, further comprising a shroud positioned over at least a portion of the valve for limiting exposure of the valve to fluid delivered through the fluid passageway.

14. The suction regulator of claim 5, wherein the ratio of volume of atmospheric air delivered through the fluid passageway to the total volume of fluid delivered through the passageway is greater than or equal to 0.001:

1.0.

15. The suction regulator of claim 5, further comprising means for indicating a level of suction within said fluid passageway.

16. The suction regulator of claim 15, further comprising means for introducing atmospheric air into said indicating means.

17. The suction regulator of claim 16, wherein said introducing means is disposed within said body.

18. The suction regulator of claim 16, wherein said introducing means comprises an orifice that is positioned in fluid communication with atmospheric air and the fluid passageway.

19. In a suction regulator comprising an outlet port coupled to a source of suction, an inlet port in fluid communication with a patient, a fluid passageway defined between the outlet port and the inlet port, and means for regulating the level of suction within the fluid passageway, a method of operating the suction regulator comprising:

exposing the inlet port to the source of suction;

drawing fluid through the inlet port, into the fluid passageway and through the outlet port; and

isolating the regulating means from fluid flow through the fluid passageway.

20. The method of claim 19, said isolating further comprising directing atmospheric air over the regulating means and through at least a portion of the fluid passageway.

21. The method of claim 20, said isolating further comprising receiving the atmospheric air from an orifice defined along or within the regulator under the source of suction.

22. A suction regulator for regulating suction withdrawal of body fluids from a patient, the suction regulator comprising:

a body;

an outlet port defined in said body that is configured to be coupled to a source of suction;

an inlet port defined in said body that is configured to be in fluid communication with the patient;

a fluid passageway defined between the outlet port and the inlet port;

means for regulating suction within the fluid passageway;

a regulating chamber defined within said suction regulator containing at least a portion of the means for regulating suction; and

a diaphragm positioned to separate said regulating chamber from said fluid passageway to limit the passage of fluids into said regulating chamber.

23. The suction regulator of claim 22, wherein the regulating means comprises a valve seat defined along the fluid passageway, a moveable valve for selectively mating with said valve seat, and the diaphragm being positioned to bias the valve with respect to the valve seat.

24. The suction regulator of claim 23, wherein the regulating means further comprises a first resilient element for counterbalancing the force exerted upon the valve by the diaphragm.

25. The suction regulator of claim 24, wherein the regulating means further comprises a second resilient element for counterbalancing the force exerted upon the valve by the first resilient element.

26. The suction regulator of claim 22, further comprising an insert positioned within the fluid passageway to receive fluid from said inlet port, said insert defining a helical channel that is configured to promote spiral flow of the fluid flowing therethrough.

27. The suction regulator of claim 22, further comprising means for indicating a level of suction within said fluid passageway.

28. The suction regulator of claim 27, further comprising means for introducing atmospheric air into said indicating means.

29. The suction regulator of claim 28, wherein said introducing means comprises an orifice that is positioned in fluid communication with atmospheric air and the fluid passageway.

30. A suction regulator comprising:

an outlet port coupled to a source of suction,

an inlet port in fluid communication with a patient,

a fluid passageway defined between the outlet port and the inlet port,

means for indicating a level of suction within said fluid passageway, and

means for isolating said indicating means from the fluid passageway utilizing the introduction of atmospheric air into said indicating means.

31. The suction regulator of claim 30, wherein said introducing means comprises an orifice that is positioned in fluid communication with atmospheric air and is the fluid passageway.