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
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A medical/surgical waste collection assembly, said assembly including:
- a waste collection unit including;
a container for holding medical/surgical waste;
a vacuum regulator connected between a suction source and said container, said vacuum regulator configured to selectively apply suction from the suction source to said container to regulate the level of suction the suction source draws on said container;
a manifold receiver, said manifold receiver having;
a bore with an open distal end;
a base that forms an at least partially closed proximal end of the bore;
a longitudinal axis that extends between the distal and proximal ends of the bore; and
a conduit that extends from an opening in said base into said container so that suction drawn on said container is drawn on the conduit; and
a valve plate disposed in said manifold receiver bore adjacent the manifold receiver base so as to extend over the conduit opening, said valve plate movably mounted to said manifold receiver so as to move in a plane parallel to the base opening, said valve plate having a closed position in which said valve plate covers the base opening and an open position in which said valve plate allows fluid communication between the manifold receiver bore and the base opening into the conduit; and
a valve driver disposed in the manifold receiver bore and shaped to be engaged by a manifold disposed in the manifold receiver bore, said valve drive movably mounted to said manifold so as to be displaced upon rotation of a manifold in the manifold receiver bore and being connected to said valve plate so that the displacement of said valve driver moves said valve plate between the closed and open positions; and
a manifold, said manifold, having;
a housing, said housing having opposed proximal and distal ends, a void space between the ends and shaped to be seated in and rotate in the manifold receiver bore;
at least one fitting connected to said housing adjacent the distal end, said fitting dimensioned to receive a suction line and that defines a fluid communications path into the housing void space;
a base plate that extends over the proximal end of said housing, said base plate having a discharge opening; and
a drive feature shaped to releasably engage said valve disk drive member so that the rotation of said manifold results in the displacement of said valve driver.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A medical/surgical waste collection assembly, said assembly including:
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a waste collection unit including; a container for holding medical/surgical waste; a vacuum regulator connected between a suction source and said container, said vacuum regulator configured to selectively apply suction from the suction source to said container to regulate the level of suction the suction source draws on said container; a manifold receiver, said manifold receiver having;
a bore with an open distal end;
a base that forms an at least partially closed proximal end of the bore;
a longitudinal axis that extends between the distal and proximal ends of the bore; and
a conduit that extends from an opening in said base into said container so that suction drawn on said container is drawn on the conduit; anda valve plate disposed in said manifold receiver bore adjacent the manifold receiver base so as to extend over the conduit opening, said valve plate movably mounted to said manifold receiver so as to move in a plane parallel to the base opening, said valve plate having a closed position in which said valve plate covers the base opening and an open position in which said valve plate allows fluid communication between the manifold receiver bore and the base opening into the conduit; and a valve driver disposed in the manifold receiver bore and shaped to be engaged by a manifold disposed in the manifold receiver bore, said valve drive movably mounted to said manifold so as to be displaced upon rotation of a manifold in the manifold receiver bore and being connected to said valve plate so that the displacement of said valve driver moves said valve plate between the closed and open positions; and a manifold, said manifold, having; a housing, said housing having opposed proximal and distal ends, a void space between the ends and shaped to be seated in and rotate in the manifold receiver bore; at least one fitting connected to said housing adjacent the distal end, said fitting dimensioned to receive a suction line and that defines a fluid communications path into the housing void space; a base plate that extends over the proximal end of said housing, said base plate having a discharge opening; and a drive feature shaped to releasably engage said valve disk drive member so that the rotation of said manifold results in the displacement of said valve driver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A medical/surgical waste collection assembly, said assembly including:
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a container for holding medical/surgical waste; a manifold receiver connected to said container, said manifold receiver shaped to have;
a bore that has an open distal end; and
a base that at least partially defines the proximal end of the bore; and
a conduit the extends from said base into the container, the conduit having an opening into the manifold bore wherein, the bore has a longitudinal axis that extends from the proximal end to the distal end, and the conduit opening into the bore is spaced from the longitudinal axis of the bore and the bore is dimensioned to receive a manifold and further shaped so that the manifold can rotate in said bore;a valve plate disposed in said manifold receiver bore adjacent the manifold receiver base so as to extend over the conduit opening, said valve plate movably mounted to said manifold receiver so as to rotate in a plane parallel to the conduit opening, said valve plate having a closed position in which said valve plate covers the conduit opening and an open position in which said valve plate allows fluid communication between the manifold receiver bore and the conduit opening; a valve driver disposed in the manifold receiver bore and shaped to be engaged by a manifold disposed in the manifold receiver bore, said valve drive movable mounted to said manifold so as to be displaced upon rotation of said manifold in the manifold receiver bore and being connected to said valve plate so that the displacement of said valve drive moves said valve plate between the closed and open positions; and a vacuum regulator connected between a suction source and said container, said vacuum regulator configured to selectively apply suction from the suction source to said container to regulate the level of suction the suction source draws on said container and the manifold receiver conduit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A medical/surgical waste collection assembly, said assembly including:
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a container for holding medical/surgical waste; a vacuum regulator connected between a suction source and said container, said vacuum regulator configured to selectively apply suction from the suction source to said container to regulate the level of suction the suction source draws on said container; a manifold receiver connected to said container;
said manifold receiver including;a housing, said housing shaped to have;
a bore with opposed distal and proximal ends, the distal end of the bore being open, the bore shaped to receive a manifold so that the manifold can rotate around an axis that extends longitudinally through the bore;
a base section that defines the proximal end of the bore;
an opening in the base section; and
a first conduit that extends from the base section opening into the container so that suction drawn on the container is drawn on the conduit; anda valve plate disposed in said housing adjacent the base section, said valve plate disposed over the base section opening;
said valve plate including a boss that extends into the manifold receiver housing bore, said boss shaped to be received in a discharge opening in the manifold and having a bore that extends therethrough, wherein said valve plate is movably mounted in said housing so as to move between closed and open positions wherein, when said valve plate is in the closed position, said valve plate covers the housing base section opening and when said valve plate is in the open position, the boss bore is in registration with the base section opening. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification