Apparatus for removing, washing and displaying fragmentary products of operative procedures

• US 3,929,133 A
• Filed: 11/20/1974
• Issued: 12/30/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mohamed Ismail Ragab
• Original Assignee: Mohamed Ismail Ragab
• Inventors: Ragab, Mohamed Ismail
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yasko, J.
• Application Number:
  US05/525,512
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: 128/277,276,278,275,297,302,348,349,350 32/33
• US Class Current: 604/119
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/42 Gynaecological or obstetrical instruments or methods ligaturing clamps or clips for the umbilical cord A61B17/122; curettage A61B17/320708; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/79 Filters for solid matter specially adapted for dental use A61C17/065

Abstract

An apparatus useful in pregnancy termination utilizes vacuum aspiration to remove the products of conception and transfers such products to a transparent container which is located proximate the patient and in which the larger products of interest are separated out, are washed and are visibly displayed for immediate examination as the operation proceeds.

Claims

1. In a system for removing from the uterus intermixed liquid and non-liquid products of a pregnancy preparatory to external examination of selected removed non-liquid products, comprising in combination:

a. an aspiration cannula sized to permit insertion into the uterus;

b. an aspirate collection chamber adapted to be supported proximate the uterus and having;

1. an outer imperforate transparent wall structure providing an enclosed collection space with a first entrance port having a tubular connection to the cannula for receiving the products, a second entrance port for admitting water to the chamber in a predetermined pattern to wash the products received therein and a third exit port for discharging the products; and

2. filter means comprising a perforate wall structure having plural holes of uniform size formed therein, said filter means being mounted within the collection chamber and being formed and arranged so as to isolate an inner space within the collection chamber which communicates only with said third exit port from the remainder of the space therein communicating with the said entrance ports such that any product flow between the entrance and exit ports is directed through said holes; and

a c. vented container of water having a tubular connection to said second entrance port, whereby with an appropriate level of vacuum applied to the exit port and the cannula in the uterus, the intermixed products along with water are drawn through the respectIve entrance ports into the collection chamber but externally of the isolated inner space followed by the liquid and non-liquid products of less size than said hole diameter being drawn through said perforate structure into such inner space and through the exit port towards the source of such vacuum leaving the filtered out products on display on said perforate wall structure for immediate visual examination.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 including a second container having a first tubular connection to the exit port to receive the products passed by the holes and a second tubular connection to an appropriate source of vacuum.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the collection chamber is formed as a transparent bell chamber with an open lower end and a stopper secured in the open end, the first entrance port comprises the open end of a tube extending through the stopper and connected to the cannula, the second entrance port comprises the open end of a tube extending through the stopper and connected to the water container and of sufficiently reduced diameter with respect to the level of vacuum to spray the water in a predetermined pattern within the collection chamber, the exit port comprises the open end of another tube extending a predetermined distance into such inner space within the collection chamber, and wherein the perforate wall structure forms a closed elongated, tilted off vertical chamber mounted within the collection chamber above the entrance ports and surrounding such inner space.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the stopper and the tubes providing said ports are formed as an integral structure.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1 including operator means for controlling the level of vacuum applied to the cannula.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1 including a second container having a first tubular connection to the exit port to receive the products filtered by the holes and having a second tubular connection to an appropriate source of vacuum, the collection chamber being formed as a transparent bell chamber with an open lower end and a stopper secured in the open end, the first entrance port comprising the open end of a tube extending through the stopper and connected to the cannula, the second entrance port comprising the open end of a tube extending through the stopper and connected to the water container and of sufficiently reduced diameter with respect to the level of vacuum to spray the water in a predetermined pattern within the collection chamber, the exit port comprising the open end of another tube extending a predetermined distance into such inner space within the collection chamber, and wherein the perforate wall structure forms a closed, elongated, tilted off vertical chamber mounted within the collection chamber above said entrance ports surrounding such inner space and including operator means for controlling the level of vacuum applied to the cannula.

7. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said perforate wall structure is formed of a transparent material.

8. A system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said perforate wall structure is formed of a transparent material and said holes are circular.

9. A system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said perforate wall structure comprises two thimble-shaped receptacles adapted to be connected to form said filter means as a closed chamber.

10. A system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the water container is transparent and includes measuring volume indicia on the wall thereof scaled downwardly and the second container is transparent and includes measuring volume indicia on the wall thereof scaled upwardly whereby by visual inspection and subtracting a measured reading of the former from a measured reading of the latter, the volume of said withdrawn products may be ascertained.

11. An aspirate collection chamber for operative procedures in which intermixed liquid and non-liquid products, such as products of conception, are removed from the body for the purpose of examIning those non-liquid products above a selected size, comprising:

a. a closed vertical tubular-shaped outer chamber formed of a transparent imperforate wall structure providing an enclosed collection space with a first entrance port in the bottom end thereof with associated means for making a tubular connection to the site within the body from which the intermixed products are to be withdrawn, a second entrance port in the bottom end thereof with associated means for making a tubular connection to a vented container of water, and a third exit port with associated means for making a tubular connection to a source of vacuum; and

b. a closed tubular-shaped inner chamber formed of a transparent perforate wall structure having plural circular holes of uniform diameter formed therein, said inner chamber being positioned and occupying a portion of the whole space within the outer chamber and surrounding a lesser inner space communicating only with the exit port, whereby with an appropriate level of vacuum applied to the exit port, with the first entrance port connected to the operative site having the intermixed products to be withdrawn, and with the second entrance port connected to a vented source of water, such intermixed products may be drawn into the outer chamber and around the inner chamber washed with the water and those liquid and non-liquid products sufficiently small to pass through the holes may be withdrawn through the exit port to leave the remaining non-liquid products exposed for visual examination on said inner chamber.