Adjustable suction device for medical use

• US 4,487,600 A
• Filed: 08/10/1983
• Issued: 12/11/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alan W. Brownlie, Roger D. Spier
• Original Assignee: Alan W. Brownlie, Roger D. Spier
• Inventors: Brownlie, Alan W., Spier, Roger D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): KRUTER, JEROME
• Application Number:
  US06/521,849
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 433/91, 433/95, 433/96, 15/418, 15/419, 604/43, 604/48, 604/40, 604/35, 604/118, 604/119, 604/73, 604/902, 604/93, 604/118, 604/131, 604/173, 604/181, 604/264, 137/625.3, 239/539, 239/541, 239/586, 27/24 R, 27/24 A
• US Class Current: 604/35
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3201 Scissors for biopsy A61B10/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/84 Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0075 Valve means

Abstract

An adjustable, disposable suction device that is particularly adapted for medical use. The device is used for removing excess blood or body fluids from an open incision during surgery and is constructed so that it can drain the fluids from a point source or from a larger general area. In the latter case the device can be adjusted to control how much fluid is removed in a given period of time. The device is essentially comprised of a handle, a rigid outer tube formed with an oblique bend and a coacting flexible inner tube. The outer tube is connected at one end to the handle and has a plurality of longitudinally spaced radial apertures adjacent its free end. The flexible inner tube is positioned with a sliding fit in the rigid tube. The inner tube is open at its outer or free end but is otherwise imperforate. With this arrangement, the inner tube can be moved longitudinally within the outer tube to block all of the outer tube apertures or selectively open some or all of them.

In a second embodiment the outer tube is larger in diameter allowing passage of fluids between the tubes.

Claims

1. An adjustable, disposable suction device comprising a hollow handle, an elongated substantially rigid outer tube connected at one end to the handle, the rigid tube having a plurality of longitudinally spaced radial apertures adjacent its free end, an imperforate flexible inner tube positioned in the rigid tube, there being clearance between the flexible and rigid tubes to permit the flow of fluid therebetween, the flexible tube being substantially coextensive with the rigid tube and being movable longitudinally within the latter so that it is operable to block all of the radial apertures in the rigid tube or selectively open some or all of them, a hollow slide member mounted in the handle for longitudinal movement relative thereto, the slide member being connected at one end of the flexible tube with the interiors of the tube and member being in communication with one another, coupling means at the other end of the hollow slide member for connecting its interior with a vacuum source, and means on the slide member for manually moving it back and forth and thereby move the flexible tube to open or close the radial apertures in the rigid tube, the free end of the rigid outer tube having a reduced diameter portion into which the free end of the flexible inner tube can be moved, the inner tube being received in the outer tube reduced diameter portion with a close sliding fit whereby the inner tube operates to block the radial apertures in the outer tube when its free end is positioned in the reduced diameter portion of the outer tube.

2. A suction device as defined in claim 1 wherein the free end of the rigid outer tube is closed except for a small aperture that is not blocked by the flexible inner tube when the free end of the latter is positioned in the reduced diameter portion of the outer tube.

3. An adjustable, disposable suction device comprising a hollow handle, an elongated substantially rigid outer tube connected at one end to the handle, the rigid tube having a plurality of longitudinally spaced radial apertures adjacent its free end, an imperforate flexible inner tube positioned in the rigid tube, the tubes being dimensioned so that there is clearance between the outer diameter of the flexible tube and inner diameter of the rigid tube sufficient to permit the flow of fluid therebetween, the flexible tube being movable longitudinally within the rigid tube, means for connecting the inner end of the flexible tube to vacuum source, the free end of the rigid tube being formed below its radial apertures with a reduced diameter portion into which the outer, free end of the flexible tube can be moved, the flexible tube being received in the reduced diameter portion with a close sliding fit so that when it is positioned therein suction in the flexible tube cannot operate to draw fluids into the rigid tube through the radial apertures, withdrawal of the flexible tube from the reduced diameter portion of the rigid tube permitting fluid to be drawn into the tubes through the radial apertures.

4. A suction device as defined in claim 3 wherein the free end of the rigid outer tube is closed except for a small aperture that is not blocked by the flexible inner tube when the free end of the latter is positioned in the reduced diameter portion of the outer tube.

5. A suction device as defined in claim 4 wherein the reduced diameter portion of the rigid tube has at least one aperture in its sidewall.

6. A suction device as defined in claim 3 wherein the means for connecting the inner end of the flexible tube to a vacuum source is a hollow slide member mounted in the handle for longitudinal movement relative thereto, the slide member being connected at one end to the flexible tube and having coupling means at its other end for connecting it to a vacuum source.

7. A suction device as defined in claim 6 together with an actuator connected to the slide member for manually moving it back and forth whereby the flexible tube is moved longitudinally within the rigid tube.

8. A suction device as defined in claim 7 together with coacting detent means on the actuator and handle for releasably holding the flexible tube in a plurality of different positions of adjustment in the rigid tube.