Vacuum indicating connection for surgical wound-closing apparatus

Claim 1

A COMBINED VACUUM LINE AND VACUUM-INDICATING CONNECTION FOR A SURGICAL VACUUM BOTTLE, COMPRISING A CAP FORMED FOR SECURE PHYSICAL CONNECTION WITH THE NECK OF SUCH A BOTTLE, SAID CAP HAVING AN APERTURE FOR PASSING A VACUUM-CONNECTING TUBE, AN UPSTANDING TUBE-GUIDING CAGE INTEGRAL WITH SAID CAP AND APERTURED IN ITS LATERAL WALL TO EXPOSE A SURFACE PORTION OF SUCH TUBE; A VACUUMDISTENDIBLE ELASTIC DIAPHRAGM WITHIN SAID CAP AND ADAPTED TO BE EDGE-SEALED BY SAID CAP AGAINST THE BOTTLE NECK, WITH ITS CENTRAL PORTION FREE FOR DEFLECTION IN RESPONSE TO EVACUATION OF THE BOTTLE, AND A TUBE SECURED INTEGRALLY TO SAID CENTRAL PORTION AND EXTENDING LOOSELY THROUGH SAID CAP APERTURE AND SAID CAGE, FOR AXIAL MOTION IN RESPONSE TO THE VACUUM-INDUCED MOTION OF THE FREE PORTION OF SAID DIAPHRAGM; THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE TUBE PORTION LYING WITHIN SAID CAGE BEING DISTINCTIVELY MARKED SO AS TO PROVIDE A VISIBLE INDICATION OF THE DEGREE OF DISTENTION OF SAID DIAPHRAGM, AND THEREBY OF THE CONDITION OF EVACUATION OF THE BOTTLE.