Suction Device

• US 20130324954A1
• Filed: 12/15/2011
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen Stiftung Öffentlichen Rechts Universitätsmedizin (Georg-August-Universität Göttingen)
• Original Assignee: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen Stiftung Öffentlichen Rechts Universitätsmedizin (Georg-August-Universität Göttingen)
• Inventors: Friedrich, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 9,402,937 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/319
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/73 comprising sensors or indicators for physical values
• 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 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2205/12 Pressure pulsations before the pump

Abstract

The invention relates to a suction device for suctioning liquids, comprising a suction element, which is provided with at least one suction opening for receiving the liquid, and a pump which is connected to the suction element and which is equipped to generate a suction vacuum in the suction element, wherein a control device and at least one sensor which is connected to the control device are provided, wherein the control device is equipped to influence the suction power acting at the suction opening dependent on the signals received from the sensor.

The object of the invention is to provide a suction device for suctioning liquids, said device working with greater efficiency than known suction devices. Additionally, there is a requirement in the medical field to provide a medical suction device which to the greatest possible extent prevents the damage that occurs to blood components during automatic operation.

This object is achieved by the fact that the sensor is designed as an acoustic wave sensor. The acoustic wave sensor is equipped to detect acoustic waves which are generated by the suction element during the operation thereof.

Claims

1. A suction device for suctioning liquids, comprising a suction element, which is provided with at least one suction opening for receiving the liquid, and a pump which is connected to the suction element and which is equipped to generate a suction vacuum in the suction element, wherein a control device and at least one sensor which is connected to the control device are provided, wherein the control device is equipped to influence the suction power acting at the suction opening dependent on the signals received from the sensor, characterized in that the sensor is designed as an acoustic wave sensor which is equipped to detect acoustic waves which are generated by the suction element during the operation thereof.

2. The suction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device and/or the acoustic wave sensor are equipped to detect at least one predetermined characteristic acoustic wave pattern on the basis of the detected acoustic waves and, when such a characteristic acoustic wave pattern is detected, to change the suction power acting at the suction opening.

3. The suction device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control device is equipped, upon detection of such a characteristic acoustic wave pattern, to reduce the suction power acting at the suction opening.

4. The suction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the acoustic wave sensor is arranged on the suction element, on the suction side of the pump, on a connection between the suction element and the pump, or in the suction element, in the pump or in the connection therebetween.

5. The suction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein acoustic waves in the frequency range above 11 kHz, in particular above 15 kHz, are detected as characteristic acoustic wave patterns.

6. The suction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein acoustic waves in a frequency range of up to at most 50 kHz are detected as characteristic acoustic wave patterns.

7. The suction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the acoustic wave sensor is designed as a piezoelectric sensor, which is secured on the suction element.

8. The suction device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the piezoelectric sensor is secured on the suction element so as to be freely oscillating at least in part.

9. The suction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one adherence-suction sensor is provided which is connected to the suction element, to the pump or to a connection therebetween, in such a way that an adherence suction of the suction element can be registered.

10. The suction device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the adherence-suction sensor is connected to the control device, wherein the control device is equipped to register the signal from the adherence-suction sensor and, upon detection of an adherence suction of the suction element), to reduce the suction power acting at the suction opening, in particular to switch off, for a predetermined time, the suction power acting at the suction opening.

11. The suction device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the control device is equipped to actuate a valve device in phases of the reduction or switching-off of the suction power acting at the suction opening, wherein the opened valve device connects the suction opening of the suction element to a liquid source.

12. The suction device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the adherence-suction sensor is designed as a pressure sensor which is connected to the suction element, to the suction side of the pump or to a connection therebetween, in such a way that the vacuum generated by the pump can be registered, and the control device is equipped to evaluate the pressure registered by the pressure sensor and to detect an adherence suction of the suction element when a predetermined pressure value is not reached and/or when a time profile of the pressure typical of an adherence suction is detected.

13. The suction device as claimed claim 9, wherein the adherence-suction sensor is designed as a current sensor which detects the current consumption of an electric motor provided for driving the pump, and the control device is equipped to evaluate the current registered by the current sensor and to detect an adherence suction of the suction element when a predetermined current value is exceeded and/or when a time profile of the current typical of an adherence suction is detected.

14. The suction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the change or the reduction of the suction power acting at the suction opening is effected by influencing the actual pumping power of the pump, by switching in a bypass, by at least partially shutting off the suction element or a connection of the suction element to the pump, and/or by changing or closing the suction opening.

15. The suction device as claimed in claim 1 designed as a medical suction device, in particular for suctioning blood and/or other body liquids during a surgical intervention.