Closed wound suction evacuator
First Claim
1. A medical evacuator system for evacuating fluids from the body comprising in combination:
- (a) a closed compressible container having top and bottom portions connected by a flexible sidewall, said container adapted to be compressed and to expand to develop a vacuum on expansion;
(b) a vacuum assist means disposed within said container which assists in the expansion of the container and in developing the vacuum in the container; and
(c) an outlet means providing communication between the interior of the container and the atmosphere and an inlet means providing communication between the interior of the container and a drainage tube,said vacuum assist means comprised of a spider device having two or more rib member means disposed between the top and bottom portions, a positioning means to securely locate the rib member means within the container, a hinge means to allow the rib member means to move from an extended rest position to a compressed activated position and a separate mechanical force means engaging exteriorly on said rib member means which mechanical force means acts in a direction substantially perpendicular to said flexible sidewall to return the rib member means to their extended rest position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An evacuator system comprising a compressible container inside of which is positioned a vacuum assist device. The vacuum assist device aids in the expansion of the container and in developing a vacuum in the container upon expansion. The vacuum assist device within the evacuator acts to maintain a substantially constant level of vacuum as the evacuator expands while drawing fluids from a closed wound and collecting the fluids in the evacuator container. The evacuator includes an outlet for providing communication between the interior of the container and the atomosphere, and an inlet providing communication between the interior of the container and a drainage tube. The evacuator may include a novel valve mechanism which enables the evacuator to be activated, held in an activated position until needed, and then released from the held position for use to draw fluid from a patient.
81 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A medical evacuator system for evacuating fluids from the body comprising in combination:
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(a) a closed compressible container having top and bottom portions connected by a flexible sidewall, said container adapted to be compressed and to expand to develop a vacuum on expansion; (b) a vacuum assist means disposed within said container which assists in the expansion of the container and in developing the vacuum in the container; and (c) an outlet means providing communication between the interior of the container and the atmosphere and an inlet means providing communication between the interior of the container and a drainage tube, said vacuum assist means comprised of a spider device having two or more rib member means disposed between the top and bottom portions, a positioning means to securely locate the rib member means within the container, a hinge means to allow the rib member means to move from an extended rest position to a compressed activated position and a separate mechanical force means engaging exteriorly on said rib member means which mechanical force means acts in a direction substantially perpendicular to said flexible sidewall to return the rib member means to their extended rest position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An evacuator system for evacuating fluids from the body comprising in combination:
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(a) a compressible container having top and bottom portions connected by a flexible sidewall, said container adapted to be compressed and to expand to develop a vacuum on expansion; (b) a vacuum assist means disposed within said container which assists in the expansion of the container and in developing the vacuum in the container; and (c) an outlet means providing communication between the interior of the container and the atmosphere and an inlet means providing communication between the interior of the container and a drainage tube, said vacuum assist means comprised of a spider device including two or more rib member means disposed between the top and bottom portions, a positioning means to firmly locate the rib member means within the container, a hinge means to allow the rib member means to move from an extended rest position to a compressed activated position and a mechanical force means which acts to return the rib member means to their extended rest position, said positioning means being attached to the rib member means and comprising an upper positioning means and a lower positioning means, wherein said upper positioning means includes upper positioning members and a top plate member connected thereto, and wherein said lower positioning means includes lower positioning members and a bottom plate member connected thereto, and wherein the rib member means connects the upper positioning means and the lower positioning means and wherein said rib member means have the mechanical force means disposed about the middle portion of said rib member means, and wherein the upper positioning members are arms hingedly connected to the top plate member and the upper portion of said rib member means are hingedly connected to said top plate member, and wherein said rib member means are hingedly connected at a point about midway between the upper portion of said rib member means and a lower portion of said rib member means, said mid-point hinge means of said rib member means being capable on downward compression of said rib member means of flexing outwardly, the outward flexing of said rib member means being restrained by the mechanical force means disposed around said rib member means at a point approximate to said mid-point hinge means, and wherein the lower portion of said rib member means are hingedly connected to the bottom plate member, and wherein the lower positioning members are legs hingedly connected to said bottom plate member. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification