Apparatus for continuously aspirating a fluid from a fluid source

• US 7,357,142 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2004
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MD Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: MD Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Merkle, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kirshnamurthy; Ramesh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Price; Craig
• Application Number:
  US11/027,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20060144440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 137/205, 137/255, 137/256, 137/101.25, 137/101.27, 137/208, 137/110, 137/112, 137/87.02, 137/202, 137/1, 141/65, 141/95, 141/198, 141/323, 141/324, 604/35, 604318-320, 604/323, 604/324, 604/326, 222/36
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/782 using valves with freely moving parts, e.g. float valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3382 Upper level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2534 Liquid level response
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3109 Liquid filling by evacuating container
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/469 Sequentially filled and emptied [e.g., holding type]

Abstract

An apparatus for continuously aspirating a fluid from a fluid source. A vacuum source is operatively connected to a first container forming a first chamber and a second container forming a second chamber. A fluid collection tube provides communication between the fluid source and each of the first chamber and the second chamber. A first level sensor is positioned within the first chamber and a second level sensor is positioned within the second chamber. Upon receiving a signal generated by one of the first level sensor and the second level sensor, a relay responsively exposes a vacuum within one of the first chamber and the second chamber to continuously aspirate at least a portion of the fluid from the fluid source. A shut-off valve is preferably positioned within each of the first chamber and the second chamber to prevent communication between the vacuum source and the corresponding chamber with a fluid level within the chamber at a fluid level setpoint.

Claims

1. An apparatus for continuously aspirating a fluid from a fluid source comprising:

a vacuum source;

a first container forming a first chamber and operatively connected to the vacuum source, a first level sensor positioned within the first chamber and sensing a level of the fluid within the first chamber;

a second container forming a second chamber and operatively connected to the vacuum source, a second level sensor positioned within the second chamber and sensing a level of the fluid within the second chamber;

a fluid collection tube providing communication between the fluid source and each of the first chamber and the second chamber; and

a relay receiving at least one signal from at least one of the first level sensor and the second level sensor, and the relay responsively either activating a first solenoid valve to expose the vacuum source to the first chamber while preventing communication between the vacuum source and the second chamber or activating a second solenoid valve to expose the vacuum source to the second chamber while preventing communication between the vacuum source and the first chamber, to continuously aspirate at least a portion of the fluid from the fluid source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

the first solenoid valve connecting the first container to the vacuum source and activatable to provide communication between the vacuum source and the first chamber; and

the second solenoid valve connecting the second container to the vacuum source, and activatable to provide communication between the vacuum source and the second chamber,

the relay in electrical communication with each of the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve, the relay receiving the at least one signal and responsively opening one of the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve and closing the other of the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a first shut-off valve positioned within the first chamber and preventing communication between the vacuum source and the first chamber with a first fluid level within the first chamber at a first fluid level setpoint; and

a second shut-off valve positioned within the second chamber and preventing communication between the vacuum source and the second chamber with a second fluid level within the second chamber at a second fluid level setpoint.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein, with the first shut-off valve prevents communication between the vacuum source and the first chamber, at least a portion of the fluid contained within the first container is drained through a drainage assembly connected to the first container.

5. A method for continuously aspirating a fluid from a fluid source comprising:

aspirating at least a portion of the fluid from the fluid source and into a first chamber formed by a first container, the first chamber in communication with a vacuum source;

collecting the aspirated fluid within the first container until a first level sensor within the first chamber senses a setpoint of a first fluid level;

closing a first solenoid valve by a relay receiving a signal transmitted from the first level sensor to prevent communication between the vacuum source and the first chamber;

opening a second solenoid valve to provide communication between the vacuum source and a second chamber formed by a second container, the second chamber in communication with the vacuum source; and

with the first solenoid valve closed, aspirating at least a portion of the fluid from the fluid source and into the second chamber as the aspirated fluid collected in the first container is drained into a drain pipe.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

collecting the aspirated fluid within the second container until a second fluid level within the second chamber approaches a second fluid level setpoint;

closing the second solenoid valve to prevent communication between the vacuum source and the second chamber; and

opening the first solenoid valve to provide communication between the vacuum source and the first chamber.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein, upon sensing the first fluid level approaching the first fluid level setpoint, the first level sensor transmits a signal to the relay to close the first solenoid valve.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein, with the first solenoid valve closed, the relay opens the second solenoid valve to provide communication between the vacuum source and the second chamber.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein, upon sensing the second fluid level is approaching the second fluid level setpoint, a second level sensor transmits a second signal to the relay to close the second solenoid valve, and with the second solenoid valve closed, the relay opens the first solenoid valve to provide communication between the vacuum source and the first chamber.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of counting when each of the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve is activated to close.