Safety interface and valve for anesthesia gas scavenging

• US 4,180,066 A
• Filed: 10/20/1977
• Issued: 12/25/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vital Signs Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Vital Signs Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Boelens, Martin, Wall, Terence D., Milliken, Ralph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Application Number:
  US05/844,045
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 128/188, 128/145.8, 128/145.6, 128/145.7, 128/145.5, 137/493.1, 137/493.2, 137/526, 137/568
• US Class Current: 128/205.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/009 Removing used or expired gases or anaesthetic vapours filtering, sterilising or disinfecting the exhaust air in drainage systems A61M1/784; bacterial filters in the expiratory path A61M16/1065
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/91 Anesthesia gas scavenging system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7772 One head and seat carried by head of another
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7897 Vacuum relief type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86043 Reserve or surge receiver

Abstract

A safety interface for connection between an anesthesia patient circuit and a disposal system, and a combined positive and negative pressure relief valve for the safety interface.

The safety interface comprises a housing defining a passageway, means for connecting an upstream end of the passageway to the waste anesthetic gas outlet of an anesthesia patient circuit, means for connecting the downstream end of the passageway to a disposal system, a negative pressure relief valve and a positive pressure relief valve in communication with the passageway. The positive pressure release valve and negative pressure release valve are preferably provided in the form of a combined positive and negative pressure release valve, and a second negative pressure release valve is preferably also provided. Preferably, a restrictor partially obstructs the passageway at a point on its upstream to downstream extent, and the positive pressure relief valve communicates with the passageway at a point downstream of the restrictor. Means for connecting a reservoir in communication with the passageway upstream of the restrictor are preferably provided.

The double acting pressure relief valve comprises a spindle, a first disc mounted on the spindle, a spindle receptacle for supporting said spindle, a coil spring seated in said spindle receptacle and surrounding said spindle, and a second disc having at least one aperture therein which may be closed by contact with said first disc, said second disc slidingly engaging said spindle and situated between said first disc and said spindle receptacle. The coil spring biases the second disc towards the housing so that the second disc may engage a raised ridge surrounding an opening in the housing.

Claims

1. A safety interface for connection between an anesthesia patient circuit and a disposal system, said interface comprising:

(a) a housing defining a passageway having an upstream end and a downstream end, said passageway having a restrictor between said upstream and downstream ends partially obstructing flow therethrough, said housing also defining a port extending from the downstream end of the passageway to an opening on the exterior of said housing, said housing including a raised ridge surrounding said opening;

(b) means for connecting the upstream end of said passageway to the waste anesthetic gas outlet of an anesthesia patient circuit;

(c) means for connecting the downstream end of said passageway to a disposal system;

(d) means for connecting a reservoir to the upstream end of said passageway;

(e) negative pressure relief valve means in communication with said passageway and responsive to a negative pressure therein;

(f) a chimney affixed to said housing and extending outwardly therefrom, so that the bore of said chimney is in communication with said opening;

(g) combined positive and negative pressure relief valve means responsive to positive and negative pressures in said passageway and constructed and arranged to interrupt the communication between said opening and the bore of said chimney said combined valve means including;

a spindle;

a first disc mounted on said spindle;

a spindle receptacle secured to the inside of said chimney and defining a pocket having an open end confronting said opening;

a coil spring seated in the pocket of said spindle receptacle and surrounding at least an end portion of said spindle in slidable relation therewith; and

a second disc having at least one aperture therein, said second disc slidably engaging said spindle and situated between said first disc and said spindle receptacle, said spring engaging said second disc and biasing said second disk towards said housing, said second disk being constructed and arranged for abuting engagement with said raised ridge, said first disk being constructed and arranged to be located within said opening and overly all of the apertures in said second disk, and

(h) said negative pressure relief valve means opening in response to a greater negative pressure than said negative pressure to which the negative pressure relief valve portion of said combined positive and negative pressure relief valve means is responsive.

2. The safety interface of claim 1 wherein said spindle receptacle includes a body defining said pocket and three equi-distant arms extending from said body to the interior surface of said chimney.

3. A safety interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein said negative pressure relief valve means communicates with the upstream end of said passageway.

4. A safety interface for connection between an anesthesia patient circuit and a disposal system, said interface comprising:

(a) a housing defining a passageway, said passageway having an upstream end and a downstream end;

(b) means for connecting the upstream end of said passageway to the waste anesthetic gas outlet of an anesthesia patient circuit;

(c) means for connecting the downstream end of said passageway to a disposal system;

(d) a first negative pressure relief valve in communication with said passageway;

(e) a restrictor partially obstructing said passageway at a point on its upstream-to-downstream extent;

(f) a positive pressure relief valve in communication with said passageway at a point downstream of said restrictor, and

(g) means for connecting a reservoir in communication with said passageway at a point upstream of said restrictor.

5. An interface as claimed in claim 4 further comprising an enclosed reservoir in communication with said passageway at a point upstream of said restrictor and connected to said passageway by way of said means for connecting a reservoir.

6. An interface as claimed in claim 5 wherein said reservoir is a distensible bag.

7. An interface as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a second negative pressure relief valve in communication with said passageway.

8. An interface as claimed in claim 7 wherein said first negative pressure relief valve and said positive pressure relief valve constitute a combined positive and negative pressure relief valve.