Medical suction apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for absorbing and collecting, into a fluid receptacle, blood and other interstitial fluids from a patient during the course of a surgical procedure comprising:
- a. absorbing means for contacting and absorbing the fluid to be collected;
b. backing means, attached to said absorbing means, for supporting said absorbing means, said backing means having a substantially centrally positioned orifice formed therein;
c. delivery means, attached to the orifice of the backing means, for receiving suction force a suction source and delivering the suction force to the absorbing means; and
d. suction force proportioning means, in communication with said backing means and said absorbing means, for directing distribution of the suction force from said suction means such that absorbed fluid is efficiently extracted from the absorbing means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a new and useful apparatus and method for absorbing and collecting blood and other fluids which accumulate in a patient during surgical procedures. An absorbent portion is connected to a suction source. When the absorbent portion is placed in contact with the fluid to be collected, the fluid is absorbed by the absorbent portion. Operation of the suction source provides a vacuum which draws the fluid away from the absorbent portion and out of the body. The fluid can be drawn into a receptacle for later cleansing and reuse. A flexible backing plate is attached to the absorbent portion. Channels formed a long the backing plate direct the vacuum evenly across the absorbent portion of the device such that fluid is drawn evenly from the absorbent portion. Suction tubing connects the absorbent portion to the suction source. The absorbent portion and attached backing plate can be folded to fit into small areas.
1501 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An apparatus for absorbing and collecting, into a fluid receptacle, blood and other interstitial fluids from a patient during the course of a surgical procedure comprising:
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a. absorbing means for contacting and absorbing the fluid to be collected; b. backing means, attached to said absorbing means, for supporting said absorbing means, said backing means having a substantially centrally positioned orifice formed therein; c. delivery means, attached to the orifice of the backing means, for receiving suction force a suction source and delivering the suction force to the absorbing means; and d. suction force proportioning means, in communication with said backing means and said absorbing means, for directing distribution of the suction force from said suction means such that absorbed fluid is efficiently extracted from the absorbing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A suction system for absorbing and collecting blood and other interstitial fluids from a patient during surgical procedures into a fluid receptacle for possible reuse comprising:
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a. absorbing means contacting and absorbing fluid to be collected; b. a suction source for providing suction through the absorbing means such that the absorbed fluid is drawn away from said absorbing means; c. a backing plate, attached to said absorbing means, for supporting said absorbing means, said backing plate having a centrally positioned orifice formed therein;
p1 d. delivery means, attached to the orifice of the backing plate, for receiving suction force from the suction source and delivering the suction force to the absorbing means;e. suction force proportioning means, in communication with said backing plate and said absorbing means, for distributing the suction force from said suction means such that absorbed fluid is efficiently extracted from the absorbing means. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for absorbing and collecting blood and other interstitial fluids from a surgical site within a patient comprising the steps:
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a. obtaining an apparatus for absorbing and collecting the blood comprising; 1) absorbing means for contacting and absorbing the fluid to be collected; 2) backing means, attached to said absorbing means, for supporting said absorbing means, said backing means having a substantially centrally positioned orifice formed therein; 3) delivery means, attached to the orifice of the backing means, for receiving suction force from a suction source and delivering the suction force to the absorbing means; 4) suction force proportioning means, in communication with said backing means and said absorbing means, for distributing the suction force from said suction means such that absorbed fluid is efficiently extracted from the absorbing means; b. placing said absorbing means against the area from which the fluid is to be collected; c. allowing the fluid to be absorbed into the absorbing means; d. attaching a suction source to said delivery means; e. operating the suction source such that a suction force is provided through the delivery means to the absorbing means; f. allowing the suction force proportioning means to disperse the suction force along the absorbing means such that absorbed fluid is efficiently extracted from the absorbing means into the delivery means; g. collecting the fluid extracted from the absorbing means into a fluid receptacle for later reuse of the collected fluid. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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Specification