Hand-held and hand-operated vacuum pump
First Claim
1. A hand-held, hand-operated vacuum pump operable by a user during the birthing process, comprisinga cylinder;
- a piston, located within said a cylinder, which is movable between extended and retracted positions;
means defining a first passage extending into said cylinder from an external space to be evacuated, said external space being defined by the scalp of a baby and a vacuum cranial bell fitted thereon;
a lever operable by the single hand of the user for reciprocatively operating said piston between said extended and retracted positions thereby evacuating gases from said external space and creating a partial vacuum therein;
a first valve for maintaining said partial vacuum in said external space when said piston is in a retracted position; and
a second valve having a predetermined maximum vacuum limit, in communication with said external space, which is automatically operable to reduce the vacuum in said external space when said vacuum exceeds said predetermined maximum limit, thereby controlling the maximum degree of vacuum in said external space during said birthing process without conducting any one of manual and visual operations with respect to the vacuum pump by the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is directed to a hand-operated vacuum pump and more specifically, a hand-held and hand-operated vacuum pump for obstetrical use incorporating an improved vacuum regulation system. The hand-held and hand-operated vacuum pump comprises a cylinder, having a piston located therewithin. The piston is movable between extended and retracted positions by a hand-operated lever. There is a first passage extending into the cylinder from an external space to be evacuated. The space is defined by the scalp of a baby and a vacuum cranial bell fitted thereon. A second passage connects this intermediate chamber with the cylinder through a first valve, preferably a one-way valve located in the cylinder head. A third passage connects the intermediate chamber to a second valve which automatically controls the maximum vacuum in the external space. A fourth passage from the intermediate chamber is a vacuum adjustment valve.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A hand-held, hand-operated vacuum pump operable by a user during the birthing process, comprising
a cylinder; -
a piston, located within said a cylinder, which is movable between extended and retracted positions; means defining a first passage extending into said cylinder from an external space to be evacuated, said external space being defined by the scalp of a baby and a vacuum cranial bell fitted thereon; a lever operable by the single hand of the user for reciprocatively operating said piston between said extended and retracted positions thereby evacuating gases from said external space and creating a partial vacuum therein; a first valve for maintaining said partial vacuum in said external space when said piston is in a retracted position; and a second valve having a predetermined maximum vacuum limit, in communication with said external space, which is automatically operable to reduce the vacuum in said external space when said vacuum exceeds said predetermined maximum limit, thereby controlling the maximum degree of vacuum in said external space during said birthing process without conducting any one of manual and visual operations with respect to the vacuum pump by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A birthing-assistance system, comprising
a hand-operated, hand-held vacuum pump including a cylinder; -
a bell-shaped cranial or vacuum cup means for assisting in the delivery of a baby which is connected to said hand-held vacuum pump and in communication with the interior of said cylinder, said hand-held vacuum pump including a cylinder; a piston, located within said a cylinder, which is movable between extended and retracted position; means defining a first passage extending into said cylinder from an external space to be evacuated, said external space being defined by the scalp of a baby and a vacuum cranial bell fitted thereon; a lever operable by the single hand of the user for reciprocatively operating said piston between said extended and retracted positions thereby evacuating gases from said external space and creating a partial vacuum therein; a first valve for maintaining said partial vacuum in said external space when said piston is in a retracted position; and a second valve having a predetermined maximum vacuum limit, in communication with said external space, which is automatically operable to reduce the vacuum in said external space when said vacuum exceeds said predetermined maximum limit, thereby controlling the maximum degree of vacuum in said external space during said birthing process without conducting any one of manual and visual operations with respect to the vacuum pump by the user. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for operating a hand-held, hand-operated vacuum pump by a user during the birthing process, which comprises:
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providing a hand-operated, hand-held vacuum pump including a cylinder, and a bell-shaped cranial vacuum cup means for assisting in the delivery of a baby which is connected to said hand-held vacuum pump and in communication with the interior of said cylinder, said hand-operated, hand-held vacuum pump including a valve having a predetermined maximum vacuum limit, in communication with said external space, which is automatically operable to reduce the vacuum in said external space when said vacuum exceeds said predetermined maximum limit; inserting said bell-shaped cranial vacuum cup means in a birth canal of a birthing mother and placing said bell-shaped cranial cup means on the scalp of an unborn baby'"'"'s head, the bell-shaped cranial vacuum cup means and the scalp of the baby together defining an external space; creating a partial vacuum in said external space by user operating said hand-held, hand-operated vacuum pump, thereby evacuating gases from said external space and permitting the user to assist the birthing process by maneuvering the baby'"'"'s head for better presentation and an easier birth; and automatically controlling the maximum degree of vacuum in said external space during said birthing process to avoid traumatizing the baby'"'"'s scalp and/or drawing it into the cranial cup without conducting either one of any manual and visual operations with respect to the vacuum pump by the user. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification