Suction apparatus
First Claim
1. Suction pump apparatus comprising a housing having an imperforate base member and an imperforate closure member dimensioned and configured for superimposing upon said base member in sealing relationship therewith to define a vacuum chamber therebetween, said housing defining a vacuum chamber at least a portion of which serves as a storage compartment for aspirated fluid, said closure member being configured so as to define in combination with said base member a first larger vacuum chamber section and at least one second smaller vacuum chamber section communicating with and extending from said first chamber section, said second chamber section becoming narrower towards the end thereof remote from said first chamber section, an inlet in said housing for the introduction of aspirated fluid into said storage compartment, an outlet in said housing for the discharge of fluid therefrom, and a vacuum pump carried by said housing in communication with said vacuum chamber for maintaining a predetermined vacuum therein, whereby aspirated fluid is drawn into said storage compartment through said inlet.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Suction apparatus for use in draining fluids from operative wounds or other body cavities includes a housing having a vacuum chamber, at least a portion of which serves as a storage compartment for aspirated fluids. A vacuum pump in the apparatus has an inlet in communication with the vacuum chamber for providing a vacuum therein. The storage compartment has an inlet for introducing aspirated fluid therein, and an outlet is provided for emptying fluid from the compartment. Suitable means are provided on the compartment for measuring the quantity of aspirated fluid collected in the storage compartment.
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Citations
17 Claims
- 1. Suction pump apparatus comprising a housing having an imperforate base member and an imperforate closure member dimensioned and configured for superimposing upon said base member in sealing relationship therewith to define a vacuum chamber therebetween, said housing defining a vacuum chamber at least a portion of which serves as a storage compartment for aspirated fluid, said closure member being configured so as to define in combination with said base member a first larger vacuum chamber section and at least one second smaller vacuum chamber section communicating with and extending from said first chamber section, said second chamber section becoming narrower towards the end thereof remote from said first chamber section, an inlet in said housing for the introduction of aspirated fluid into said storage compartment, an outlet in said housing for the discharge of fluid therefrom, and a vacuum pump carried by said housing in communication with said vacuum chamber for maintaining a predetermined vacuum therein, whereby aspirated fluid is drawn into said storage compartment through said inlet.
- 7. Suction pump apparatus comprising a housing structure defining a vacuum chamber, an inlet to said vacuum chamber for receiving aspirated fluid, an outlet on said vacuum chamber for discharging said fluid, said housing structure defining a substructure sealed from said vacuum chamber, vacuum pump means within said substructure, said vacuum pump means having an inlet communicating with said vacuum chamber, said vacuum chamber having a first chamber section and a second chamber section, said second chamber section having a smaller volumetric capacity than said first chamber section, said second chamber section being constructed and arranged to receive the aspirated fluid initially introduced into said vacuum chamber, thereby facilitating accurate measurement of small quantities of aspirated fluid initially introduced into said second chamber section, said housing structure having a first end section and a second end section, said housing structure further comprising a base and a cover extending between said first and second end sections, said substructure being located at said first end section, said section chamber section being located at said second end section, said vacuum pump inlet being located at said first end section and extending to a position such that said housing structure is adapted to be placed in use in two positions, one position with said first end section generally overlying said second end section and the other position wherein said first and second end sections are generally horizontally aligned.
- 10. Suction pump apparatus comprising a housing structure defining a vacuum chamber, an inlet to said vacuum chamber for receiving aspirated fluid, an outlet on said vacuum chamber for discharging said fluid, said housing structure defining a substructure sealed from said vacuum chamber, vacuum pump means within said substructure, said vacuum pump means having an inlet communicating with said vacuum chamber, said vacuum chamber having a first chamber section and a second chamber section, said second chamber section having a smaller volumetric capacity than said first chamber section, said vacuum chamber having a third chamber section separated from said second chamber section, said first chamber section being contiguous with said second and third chamber sections, said second chamber section being constructed and arranged to receive the aspirated fluid initially introduced into said vacuum chamber, whereby after said second chamber section becomes full with aspirated fluid, the continuing incoming aspirated fluid spills over to fill said third chamber section and after said third chamber section becomes full, the aspirated fluid begins to fill said first chamber section, thereby facilitating accurate measurement of small quantities of aspirated fluid initially introduced into said second chamber section.
Specification