Aspirator without partition wall for collection of bodily fluids including improved safety and efficiency elements
First Claim
1. An aspirator for removing bodily fluids through human suction and subsequent collection of the removed bodily fluids, comprising:
- a. a container having a bottom wall and a side wall, defining an internal chamber;
b. a top having a first aperture therein and a second aperture therein spaced apart from the first aperture;
c. said first aperture opening into said internal chamber and said second aperture opening into said internal chamber;
d. a first hollow tube having two ends, with the first end inserted through said first aperture such that said first hollow tube opens into said internal chamber and said second end extends for a distance beyond said top and further comprises at least one opening adjacent the tip of the second end;
e. a flexible bellows member comprising an integrally formed flexible bellows and terminating in a sealed bottom at one end and affixed to a bellows cap at its other end;
f. said bellows cap including a solid interior having an opening therethrough which extends into the bellows;
g. a second hollow tube having two ends, with the first end extending through said second aperture in the top of the container and into the opening in said bellows cap to form a press fit against the solid interior of said bellows cap and thereby support the flexible bellows, and the second end attached to a mouthpiece, to thereby provide a closed system permitting gaseous communication between the mouthpiece, the second hollow tube, the bellows cap and the bellows;
h. said flexible bellows extending into said internal chamber such that the flexible bellows is in its fully expanded position when in its equilibrium state, the flexible bellows providing a fluid barrier within the container between the first end of said first hollow tube and the first end of said second hollow tube; and
i. said first end of said first hollow tube extending into said internal chamber at a location exterior to said flexible bellows;
j. whereby in use, the second end of said first hollow tube is inserted into the patient from which bodily fluid is to be removed and the mouthpiece of the second hollow tube is sucked on by the person treating the patient, and suction through the mouthpiece will cause said flexible bellows to contract to thereby create a vacuum in said internal chamber which through gaseous communication with said first hollow tube causes air and bodily fluids from the patient to be sucked into and remain in the internal chamber while the airtight system from the mouthpiece through the flexible bellows prevents any direct communication of air or bodily fluids between the patient and the person treating the patient.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An aspirator including a container having an internal chamber with the chamber having a suction tube connected to a closed bellows within the chamber for creating a vacuum, and also having a patient tube for insertion into the body cavity of a patient for sucking removal of mucus and other excess bodily fulids by the vacuum. The aspirator further includes an injection port by which mucus may be removed from the container and a pressure relief valve to permit air to escape from the container as the flexible bellows expands to its equilibrium state. The suction tube further includes a moisture trap to occlude gaseous flow to the mouthpiece in the event moisture enters the suction system. The apparatus further includes a clip to occlude fluid flow through the patient tube when the operation is completed. The patient tube may include a Yankauer tip or be cut with an oblique angle adjacent its tip. The bellows cap may be attached to the underside of the top of the container in one of several ways.
68 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An aspirator for removing bodily fluids through human suction and subsequent collection of the removed bodily fluids, comprising:
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a. a container having a bottom wall and a side wall, defining an internal chamber; b. a top having a first aperture therein and a second aperture therein spaced apart from the first aperture; c. said first aperture opening into said internal chamber and said second aperture opening into said internal chamber; d. a first hollow tube having two ends, with the first end inserted through said first aperture such that said first hollow tube opens into said internal chamber and said second end extends for a distance beyond said top and further comprises at least one opening adjacent the tip of the second end; e. a flexible bellows member comprising an integrally formed flexible bellows and terminating in a sealed bottom at one end and affixed to a bellows cap at its other end; f. said bellows cap including a solid interior having an opening therethrough which extends into the bellows; g. a second hollow tube having two ends, with the first end extending through said second aperture in the top of the container and into the opening in said bellows cap to form a press fit against the solid interior of said bellows cap and thereby support the flexible bellows, and the second end attached to a mouthpiece, to thereby provide a closed system permitting gaseous communication between the mouthpiece, the second hollow tube, the bellows cap and the bellows; h. said flexible bellows extending into said internal chamber such that the flexible bellows is in its fully expanded position when in its equilibrium state, the flexible bellows providing a fluid barrier within the container between the first end of said first hollow tube and the first end of said second hollow tube; and i. said first end of said first hollow tube extending into said internal chamber at a location exterior to said flexible bellows; j. whereby in use, the second end of said first hollow tube is inserted into the patient from which bodily fluid is to be removed and the mouthpiece of the second hollow tube is sucked on by the person treating the patient, and suction through the mouthpiece will cause said flexible bellows to contract to thereby create a vacuum in said internal chamber which through gaseous communication with said first hollow tube causes air and bodily fluids from the patient to be sucked into and remain in the internal chamber while the airtight system from the mouthpiece through the flexible bellows prevents any direct communication of air or bodily fluids between the patient and the person treating the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification