Medical suction system

• US 6,673,055 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2002
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bemis Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Bemis Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Bemis, Peter F., Kolste, Steven J., Genett, William J., Newar, Amelia H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kidwell, Michele
• Application Number:
  US10/116,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20020111592A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 604/317, 604/318, 604/319, 604/322, 604/326, 604/403, 604/411, 604/415, 604/416, 134/166.R, 134/168.R, 134/169.R, 134/22.1, 134/22.18, 134/24, 134/26, 153/02, 153/20
• US Class Current: 604/319
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/60 Containers for suction drainage, adapted to be used with an external suction source containers not adapted for subjection to vacuum A61M1/69
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/63 with means for emptying the suction container, e.g. by interrupting suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/10 Equipment for cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/08 Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks

Abstract

A medical suction system comprising a medical suction canister used in draining bodily fluid from a patient, and a cleaning station for automatically draining and cleaning the suction canister and for automatically providing a visible indication that the canister has been cleaned.

Claims

1. A medical apparatus for draining and cleaning the contents of a suction canister, said apparatus comprising:

a cradle adapted to removably support a suction canister for containing fluid drained from a patient, said cradle including an interlocking member adapted to interengage with the suction canister and orient the suction canister relative to said medical apparatus;

a probe insertable into an interior of the suction canister, said probe supplying a cleaning fluid to the interior of the suction canister; and

a drain line configured to remove the contents of the suction canister from said apparatus.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said probe is adapted to remove the contents from the suction canister.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drain line is in communication with a sewer system.

4. A method for disposing of medical waste contained in a suction canister, said method comprising:

placing a suction canister into a cradle, the cradle interengaging with the suction canister and orienting the suction canister;

draining the medical waste contained in the suction canister;

inserting a movable probe into the interior of the suction canister;

supplying a cleaning fluid to the interior of the suction canister through the movable probe; and

removing the movable probe from the interior of the suction canister.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein in the draining act, the probe drains the medical waste contained in the suction canister.

6. An apparatus to drain and clean the contents of a suction canister, said apparatus comprising:

a cabinet;

a cradle adapted to orient a suction canister relative to said cabinet;

a movable probe insertable into the interior of the suction canister, said movable probe supplying a cleaning fluid to the interior of the suction canister;

a drain line adapted to collect and remove the contents of the suction canister from said apparatus;

a supply line adapted to supply the cleaning fluid to said movable probe;

a controller; and

a status indicator.

7. An apparatus for use with a medical suction canister having a cover and a port in the cover, said apparatus comprising:

a cabinet;

two canister supports within the cabinet, each adapted to removably support a suction canister for containing fluid drained from a patient;

a conduit communicable with the suction canister through the port and adapted to supply cleaning fluid to the suction canister; and

a drain line in communication with a sewer system and configured to receive the contents of a suction canister and remove the contents from the apparatus to the sewer system.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein each canister support includes an interlocking member adapted to interengage with a suction canister and orient the suction canister relative to the apparatus.

9. A method for disposing of medical waste contained in a suction canister, said method comprising:

placing a suction canister into a cabinet having a canister support member, the canister support member interengaging with the suction canister and orienting the suction canister;

draining the medical waste contained in the suction canister through a port in the cover of the suction canister to a sewer system; and

supplying a cleaning fluid to the interior of the suction canister through a port in the cover of the suction canister.

10. An apparatus for use with a medical suction canister, said apparatus comprising:

a cabinet;

a canister support adapted to interengage and orient a suction canister relative to the cabinet;

a supply line in communication with a source of cleaning fluid and in communication with the suction canister in the cradle;

a drain line adapted to collect and remove the contents of the suction canister from the apparatus to a sewer system;

a controller; and

a status indicator.