Small volume effusion trap
First Claim
1. A re-usable small volume effusion trap comprising:
- a. a housing unit comprising an upper portion, a bottom portion, an inlet opening, an outlet opening, an inlet passageway that connects the inlet opening to a drainage tube, and a vacuum passageway that connects the outlet opening to a vacuum opening;
wherein the drainage tube and the vacuum opening are located on the bottom portion of the housing unit;
wherein the inlet passageway and the vacuum passageway also communicate with a top-facing surface of the housing unit;
wherein the inlet opening and the outlet opening are not located on the top-facing surface of the housing unit;
wherein the upper portion of the housing unit is shaped to fit an opening of a detachable, standard-sized sample vial;
b. at least two elongate, rigid, hollow members;
c. an inlet connector; and
d. an outlet connector;
wherein a first elongate, rigid hollow member connects the inlet opening to the inlet connector, and wherein a second elongate, rigid hollow member connects the outlet opening to the outlet connector.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A small volume effusion trap for use with common surgical or medical instruments having a housing unit with two elongate, rigid, hollow members, a vacuum source, and a drainage tube. In an embodiment, a standard, commercially available sample vial attaches to the housing unit to collect the effusion. The sample vial can be utilized directly in standardized diagnostic and/or therapeutic analysis apparatuses. To collect a small volume of effusion, one elongate, rigid, hollow member is connected to standard surgical or medical aspirators and the other elongate, rigid, hollow member is connected to the vacuum line. With suction applied to the elongate, rigid, hollow member, an area of reduced pressure is produced in the sample vial so as to cause aspirated effusion to proceed from the surgical or medical apparatus through the elongate, rigid hollow member into the sample vial.
28 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A re-usable small volume effusion trap comprising:
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a. a housing unit comprising an upper portion, a bottom portion, an inlet opening, an outlet opening, an inlet passageway that connects the inlet opening to a drainage tube, and a vacuum passageway that connects the outlet opening to a vacuum opening;
wherein the drainage tube and the vacuum opening are located on the bottom portion of the housing unit;
wherein the inlet passageway and the vacuum passageway also communicate with a top-facing surface of the housing unit;
wherein the inlet opening and the outlet opening are not located on the top-facing surface of the housing unit;
wherein the upper portion of the housing unit is shaped to fit an opening of a detachable, standard-sized sample vial;b. at least two elongate, rigid, hollow members; c. an inlet connector; and d. an outlet connector; wherein a first elongate, rigid hollow member connects the inlet opening to the inlet connector, and wherein a second elongate, rigid hollow member connects the outlet opening to the outlet connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for obtaining small volume effusion from a patient comprising:
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a. providing a surgical or medical apparatus and a vacuum line; b. providing a re-usable small volume effusion trap comprising a housing unit comprising an upper portion, a bottom portion, an inlet opening;
an outlet opening;
an inlet passageway and a vacuum passageway;
at least two elongate, rigid, hollow members;
an inlet connector;
an outlet connector;
a vacuum opening; and
a drainage tube, wherein the upper portion of the housing unit is shaped to fit an opening of a detachable, sample vial, wherein the inlet passageway connects the inlet opening to the drainage tube; and
wherein the vacuum passageway connects the outlet opening to the vacuum opening, wherein the inlet passageway and the vacuum passageway also communicate with a top facing surface of the housing unit;
wherein the inlet opening and the outlet opening are not located on the top-facing surface of the housing unit;c. connecting the inlet connector to the surgical or medical apparatus; d. connecting the outlet connector to the vacuum line; e. attaching the sample vial to the housing unit so that the interior of the sample vial incorporates both the drainage tube and the opening to the vacuum passageway; f. applying a vacuum to the vacuum passageway to the sample vial to draw effusion into the vial; and g. detaching the vial from the housing unit upon gathering a desired amount of effusion into the vial. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification