SYSTEM FOR ASPIRATING FLUIDS FROM A BODY USING NEGATIVE PRESSURE

• US 20140194835A1
• Filed: 06/14/2012
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medela Holding AG (Olle Larsson Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Medela Holding AG (Olle Larsson Holding AG)
• Inventors: Ehlert, Hilmar
• Granted Patent: US 10,076,592 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 1/732 Visual indicating means for vacuum pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/784 by filtering, sterilising or disinfecting the exhaust air, e.g. swellable filter valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/85 with gas or fluid supply means, e.g. for supplying rinsing fluids or anticoagulants for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92, A61M1/94; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463; dental instruments with combined rinsing and aspirating A61C17/0208
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site

Abstract

A system for aspirating fluids from a body by means of negative pressure has: a drainage line for removing the fluid from the body, a fluid collection container connected to the drainage line and used to collect the aspirated fluid, a pump by which the negative pressure used to aspirate the fluid is generated in the drainage line, and an auxiliary line whose end near the body is in fluidic communication with an end, near the body, of the drainage line. In the system, a closed circuit is present or can be generated which interconnects this pump, the auxiliary line, the drainage line and the fluid collection container and through which air or a liquid can be pumped. This system prevents and removes obstructions in the drainage line and also permits a relatively accurate measurement of the negative pressure in the body cavity.

Claims

1. System for aspirating fluids from a human or animal body by means of negative pressure, which system has:

a drainage line for removing the fluid from the body, a fluid collection container connected to the drainage line for collecting the aspirated fluid, a pump for generating the negative pressure in the drainage line to aspirate the fluid , and an ancillary line whose end near the body is in fluidic communication with an end, near the body, of the drainage line, wherein in the system, an approximately closed circuit is one of present or can be generated, which interconnects pump, the ancillary line, the drainage line and the fluid collection container and through which air can be pumped, wherein the ancillary line is usable for flushing the drainage hose.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the system has a two-way valve for forming the approximately closed circuit.

3. System according to claim 2, wherein the two-way valve has a first position, in which the connection between pump and ancillary line is interrupted, such that air aspirated through the pump is released into the environment and the circuit is open.

4. System according to claim 3, wherein the two-way valve has a second position, in which the connection between pump and ancillary line is closed and the circuit is closed.

5. System according to claim 1, wherein a pressure sensor is present, which measures the pressure in the drainage line.

6. System according to claim 5, wherein the pressure sensor is arranged between pump and fluid collection container.

7. System according to claim 1, wherein the drainage line ends in the fluid collection container, and the pump generates the negative pressure in the fluid collection container.

8. System according to claim 1, wherein a filter is arranged at the pump-side outlet of the fluid collection container.

9. System according to claim 1, wherein the ancillary line has a filter.

10. System according to claim 1, wherein the pump is a diaphragm vacuum pump.

11. Drainage pump unit for use in a system according to claim 1, wherein the drainage pump unit has a suction pump for generating a negative pressure which is used to aspirate a fluid and which can be applied in a drainage line connectable to the drainage pump unit, wherein the drainage pump unit can be connected to an ancillary line whose end near the body is in fluidic communication with an end, near the body, of the drainage line, wherein the drainage pump unit moreover has a two-way valve, wherein the two-way valve serves, in a first position, to release air from the suction pump into the environment and, in a second position, to connect the suction pump to the ancillary line, wherein, in the second position of the two-way valve, the ancillary line is usable for flushing the drainage hose.

12. Method for operating a system according to claim 1, which system has:

a drainage line for removing the fluid from the body, a fluid collection container connected to the drainage line for collecting the aspirated fluid, a pump for generating in the drainage line the negative pressure to aspirate the fluid , and an ancillary line whose end near the body is in fluidic communication with an end, near the body, of the drainage line, said method being wherein a connection between this pump and the ancillary line is established through which air or a liquid flows from the pump through the ancillary line, as a result of which a approximately closed circuit is generated in the system, wherein the circuit interconnects this pump, the ancillary line, the drainage line and the fluid collection container, as a result of which this air or this liquid is pumped through the drainage line into the fluid collection container, as a result of which the drainage line is cleaned.

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein the pump is stopped after the drainage line has been cleaned, and the pressure in the drainage line is measured by means of a pressure sensor.

14. Method according to claim 12, wherein the connection between pump and ancillary line is interrupted and, after this interruption, the pump generates a negative pressure in the drainage line for the purpose of aspirating the fluids in the body.

15. Method according to claim 12, wherein establishment and interruption of the connection between pump and ancillary line take place automatically and recurrently.