Intermittent regulator

• US 6,228,056 B1
• Filed: 06/16/1999
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boehringer Laboratories, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Boehringer Laboratories, Inc.
• Inventors: Karpowicz, John, Boehringer, John R., Hegedus, Michael I., Turchi, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Kennedy, Sharon
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lam, Ann Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/334,240
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 604/118-123, 604/131-136, 604/140-144, 604/146-147, 604/149, 604/151-154
• US Class Current: 604/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/742 by changing the size of a vent A61M1/7411 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/75 Intermittent or pulsating suction A61M1/63, A61M1/772 take precedence

Abstract

An intermittent regulator is provided in which the regulator alternates between supplying partial vacuum to a patient for withdrawing fluids from the body of a patient, and supplying atmosphere to a patient, at a selected intermittent rate, that is adjustable upon adjusting a timing mechanism. The timing mechanism is isolated from communicating with the vacuum being drawn from a patient, separating the regulator into a “wet” side and a “dry” side. The regulator includes a piston and spool, each having magnets therein, whereby intermittent motion of the piston controls the motion of the spool and which thereby controls the opening of ports for delivery/non-delivery of vacuum to a patient. An alternative embodiment has porting for sensing occlusion in the patient line and converting the regulator from a continuous-on operation to an intermittent operation. An alternative embodiment has separate air inlet and outlet conduits to atmosphere from the “dry” side of the regulator.

Claims

1. An intermittent regulator for use in regulating the vacuum withdrawal of body fluids from a patient, comprising:

(a) regulator housing having vacuum connection means for receiving a source of partial vacuum;

(b) a patient connection means on said housing for connecting the patient to the vacuum connection means for delivering body fluids;

(c) the regulator including a moveable piston in said housing;

(d) the piston being movable in response to vacuum draw from the vacuum connection means, whereby the piston is moveable between first and second positions with the piston carrying a first spool movement means for movement therewith;

(e) the spool carrying a second spool movement means for movement therewith and being movable in response to interaction between said first and second spool movement means when the piston is moved between said first and second positions, with the spool having conduit means for intermittently connecting the patient connection means to the vacuum connection means in response to movement of the spool, for intermittent withdrawal of body fluids from a patient.

2. The regulator of claim 1, wherein said first and second spool movement means each comprise magnets.

3. The regulator of claim 2, including:

(f) timing means carried by said housing and vented to atmosphere, for controlling the movement of the piston and thereby controlling the intermittent withdrawal of body fluids;

(g) diaphragm means separating the timing means from the conduit means;

(h) whereby body fluids delivered to the regulator from a patient are isolated from the timing means.

4. The regulator of claim 2, wherein said piston and spool are free of physical contact with each other during their movements.

5. The regulator of claim 3, including means for adjusting the timing means for varying the intermittent movement of the piston.

6. The regulator of claim 5, wherein said adjusting means are isolated from the body fluids delivered to the regulator from a patient.

7. The regulator of any one of claims 1-3, including a manually engageable override on said spool, for allowing an optional manual override of the movement of the spool.

8. The regulator of any one of claims 1-3, including at least one stop on the spool, for limiting the movement of the spool in at least one direction.

9. The regulator of claim 8, including a pair of stops on the spool, for limiting movement of the spool in two directions.

10. The regulator of any one of claims 1-3, including means carried by the spool providing a visual indication of the position of the spool and thereby providing a visual indication of whether or not the spool is positioned for facilitating fluid flow from a patient.

11. The regulator of claim 9, wherein said means providing a visual indication comprise at least one stop means carried by the spool.

12. The regulator of any one of claims 1-2, wherein at least some of the conduit means on the spool are provided with solids-cutting sharp corners for severing solid particles entrained with fluid in the conduit, as the spool moves intermittently.

13. The regulator of claim 3, wherein said piston and spool are free of physical contact with each other during their movements, including means for adjusting the timing means for varying the intermittent movement of the piston, wherein said adjusting means are isolated from the body fluids delivered to the regulator from a patient, including a manually engageable override on said spool, for allowing an optional manual override of the movement of the spool, including a pair of stops on the spool, for limiting movement of the spool in two directions, including means carried by the spool providing a visual indication of the position of the spool and thereby providing a visual indication of whether or not the spool is positioned for facilitating a body fluid flow from a patient of the regulator, wherein said means providing a visual indication comprise at least one stop means carried by the spool, and wherein at least some of the conduit means on the spool are provided with solids-cutting sharp corners for severing solid particles entrained with fluid in the conduit, as the spool moves intermittently.

14. The regulator of any one of claims 1-2, wherein optionally openable porting is provided for applying vacuum to the piston at the same time vacuum is applied to a patient, whereby the regulator is converted from an intermittent mode of operation to a continuous mode of operation.

15. A regulator for use in regulating the vacuum withdrawal of body fluids from a patient, comprising:

(a) regulator housing having vacuum connection means for receiving a source of partial vacuum;

(b) a patient connection means on said housing for connecting the patient to the vacuum connection means for delivering body fluids;

(c) the regulator including a moveable piston and a movable spool in said housing;

(d) the piston in a first position being normally essentially unvented to atmosphere when the patient connection means is substantially unoccluded, but being movable in response to vacuum draw from the vacuum connection means, whereby the piston is moveable from the first to a second position in which it is vented to atmosphere upon the patient connection means becoming substantially occluded, with the piston carrying a first spool movement means for movement therewith;

(e) the spool carrying a second spool movement means for movement therewith and being movable in response to interaction between said first and second spool movement means when the piston is moved between said first and second positions, with the spool having conduit means for connecting the patient connection means to the vacuum connection means when the patient connection means is substantially unoccluded and for disconnecting the patient connection means from the vacuum connection means while connecting the patient connection means to a vent opening in response to substantial occlusion of the patient connection means, by movement of the spool, for interrupting withdrawal of body fluids from a patient.

16. The regulator of claim 15, wherein said first and second spool movement means each comprise magnets.

17. The regulator of claim 16, including:

(f) timing means carried by said housing and vented to atmosphere, for controlling the movement of the piston and thereby controlling the intermittent withdrawal of body fluids;

(g) diaphragm means separating the timing means from the conduit means;

(h) whereby body fluids delivered to the regulator from a patient are isolated from the timing means.

18. An intermittent regulator for use in regulating the vacuum withdrawal of body fluids from a patient, comprising:

(a) regulator housing having vacuum connection means for receiving a source of partial vacuum;

(b) a patient connection means on said housing for connecting the patient to the vacuum connection means for delivering body fluids;

(c) the regulator including a vacuum responsive member and a movable valve in said housing;

(d) the vacuum responsive member being movable in response to vacuum draw from the vacuum connection means, whereby said member is moveable between first and second positions with the said member carrying a magnet means for movement therewith;

(e) the valve carrying magnet means for movement therewith and being movable in response to interaction between said vacuum responsive member and said valve when the vacuum responsive member is moved between said first and second positions, with the valve having conduit means for intermittently connecting the patient connection means to the vacuum connection means in response to movement of the valve, for intermittent withdrawal of body fluids from a patient.