Pressure responsive fluid collection system
First Claim
1. A system for collecting body fluids comprising:
- (a) a vacuum source;
(b) a closed fluid collection vessel having an inlet port and an outlet port, said ports being in flow communication above the level of fluid within said vessel;
(c) an inlet conduit having its discharge end in flow communication with said inlet port and its intake end disposed to be immersed in said body fluid;
(d) a vacuum conduit connecting said vacuum source and said outlet port; and
(e) pressure responsive means associated with said vacuum conduit for reducing air flow to said vacuum source in response to a significant increase in pressure within said collection vessel caused by said inlet conduit ingesting significant amounts of air.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A collection system having a vacuum source in flow communication with a closed fluid collection vessel which is in flow communication with an inlet conduit disposed to apply the vacuum to non-gaseous fluids. The non-gaseous fluids to be collected are ingested through the inlet conduit through an inlet port to the closed collection vessel where they are retained. The collection vessel is kept at a negative gauge pressure through an outlet port connecting the collection vessel to the vacuum source. A variable restriction means is provided at one point between the outlet port and the vacuum source for reducing the cross-sectional area available for flow. The restriction means is responsive to the pressure differential across it and thus tends to reduce gas flow through the system in response to increasing differential pressure.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A system for collecting body fluids comprising:
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(a) a vacuum source; (b) a closed fluid collection vessel having an inlet port and an outlet port, said ports being in flow communication above the level of fluid within said vessel; (c) an inlet conduit having its discharge end in flow communication with said inlet port and its intake end disposed to be immersed in said body fluid; (d) a vacuum conduit connecting said vacuum source and said outlet port; and (e) pressure responsive means associated with said vacuum conduit for reducing air flow to said vacuum source in response to a significant increase in pressure within said collection vessel caused by said inlet conduit ingesting significant amounts of air. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification