EVACUATOR SYSTEM AND APPARATUS

• US 3,565,076 A
• Filed: 05/22/1968
• Issued: 02/23/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Daniel A. Kadan
• Original Assignee: Daniel A. Kadan
• Inventors: Kadan, Daniel A.
• Application Number:
  US04/731,040
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• US Class Current: 604/67
• 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 1/75 Intermittent or pulsating suction A61M1/63, A61M1/772 take precedence

Abstract

A suction system, of the type employed in evacuating fluids from wounds or body cavities of medical patients, is provided with means for relieving suction pressure automatically in response to obstruction of the inlet to the system. The presence of an obstruction is detected in the form of an increase in vacuum pressure within the system which is sensed by a mechanical pressure transducer. The transducer in turn operates a switch which controls an electrically operated air valve adapted to introduce external or atmospheric air pressure into the system.

Claims

1. A pressure relieving evacuator system, comprising:

a substantially closed receptacle having an inlet passage and an outlet passage;

a source of vacuum pressure having a vacuum pressure outlet coupled to the outlet passage of said receptacle and creating vacuum pressure therein;

a pressure transducer means, including a movable element and a pressure chamber, wherein said movable element is displaced relative to a given position in response to variations of pressure within said pressure chamber;

the said pressure chamber having a vacuum pressure inlet coupled to the said outlet passage of said receptacle;

controllable air valve means, movable under control between an open position and a closed position, said air valve means being coupled to said pressure chamber for admitting external air pressure into said chamber when in said open position;

2. The pressure relieving evacuator system of claim 1, wherein said controllable air valve means is electrically controllable, and said mechanically operated control means comprises a mechanically operated electric switch means.

3. The pressure relieving evacuator system of claim 2, wherein said electrically controllable air valve means comprises:

a body member having an air passage coupled to the Interior of said pressure chamber;

a sliding seal member coupled to said body member for slidable displacement between a first position in which said air passage is sealed against the passage of air and a second position in which said air passages open to external air pressure; and

an electric motor device having a driven rotary eccentric member coupled to said sliding seal member for displacing said seal member between said first and second positions.

4. The pressure relieving evacuator system of claim 2, wherein:

the total movement of said movable element in said pressure transducer is proportional to the variations of pressure within said pressure chamber; and

the position of said electrical switch means relative to said movable element is adjustable to select the total movement of said movable element which will operate said switch means.

5. A pressure relieving evacuator system, in accordance with claim 4, further including:

rotatable threaded rod means coupled between said pressure transducer and said electrical switch means to threadedly advance and retract said switch means relative to the said movable element of said pressure transducer, when said rod is rotated.

6. The pressure relieving evacuator system of claim 1, wherein said pressure transducer means comprises:

a body member;

a flexible diaphragm element coupled to said body member and forming a wall of said pressure chamber; and

a plunger member, slidably mounted to said body member, having one end coupled to said flexible diaphragm element and another end mechanically coupled to said mechanically operated control means, operating said control means in response to displacement of said plunger upon flexure of said diaphragm.

7. A pressure relieving evacuator system comprising:

a substantially closed receptacle having an inlet passage and an outlet passage;

a controllable source of vacuum pressure having a vacuum pressure outlet coupled to the closed receptacle and admitting vacuum pressure into the outlet passage of said receptacle;

said controllable source of vacuum pressure being selectively controllable to supply or withhold vacuum pressure;

a pressure transducer means, including a movable element and a pressure chamber, producing movement of said movable element in response to variations of pressure with said pressure chamber;

said pressure chamber having a vacuum pressure inlet coupled to the said outlet passage of said receptacle;

periodically operating air valve means adapted to move periodically between an open position and a closed position, said air valve means being coupled to said pressure chamber for admitting external air pressure into said chamber when in said open position;

mechanically operated control means mechanically coupled to the said movable element of said transducer, and to said controllable source of vacuum pressure to selectively control said source in response to movement of said movable element.

8. The pressure relieving evacuator system of claim 7, wherein:

said controllable source of vacuum pressure comprises an electrically operated vacuum pump; and

said mechanically operated control means comprises a mechanically operated electrical switch means electrically connected to start and stop operation of said vacuum pump upon operation of said switch means in response to variations of vacuum pressure within said pressure chamber.

9. In a pressure relieving evacuator system having a substantially closed receptacle which includes an inlet passage and an outlet passage, and a source of vacuum pressure coupled to provide vacuum pressure in the outlet passage of said receptacle, control apparatus for relieving vacuum pressure in said receptacle, in response to an increase of said vacuum pressure in said receptacle in response to an increase of said vacuum pressure, said control apparatus comprising:

a pressure transducer means including a movable element and a pressure chamber, for producing movement of said movable eleMent in response to variations of pressure within said pressure chamber;

the said pressure chamber having a vacuum pressure inlet coupled to the outlet passage of the receptacle;

controllable air valve means, movable under control between an open position and a closed position, said air valve means being coupled to said pressure chamber for admitting external air pressure into said chamber when in said open position; and

, mechanically operated control means mechanically coupled to the said movable element of said transducer means and to said controllable air valve means operating said air valve means between open and closed position in response to displacement of said movable element.

10. Control apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein said controllable air valve means is electrically operated, and said mechanically operated control means comprises a mechanically operated electrical switch means for controlling said air valve means.