US3871377A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Evacuator apparatus
Assignee: Richards Manufacturing Co LP
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Filing: 1968-09-25
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Granted: 1975-03-18
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Expires: 1988-09-25
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus particularly useful for the evacuation of waste fluids from closed surgical wounds or other closed cavities or areas in a patient. There is disclosed a thin walled clear plastic envelope filled with reticulated polyurethane foam material, wherein the elastic recovery forces of the yieldable foam material are utilized for effecting a suction in a small flexible tube having a distal end adapted for embedded placement in a closed wound. The foam material and envelope also serve as storage container means for the body fluid evacuated from the wound.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry T Treace
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:39
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/64; A61M1/68
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
Evacuator apparatus useful particularly for evacuating body fluids from a closed wound comprising a body including envelope means defined by wall structure, at least a substantial area of said wall structure being substantially thin and flexible, at least one suction tube having a portion adapted fOr engagement with the wound of a patient and for conducting body fluids from the wound into the tube interior, connecting means physically sealingly connecting said tube to said wall structure of said envelope means and communicating the suction tube interior with the interior of said envelope means, and resilient means in the interior of said envelope means engaging at least a portion of said thin and flexible area of said wall structure and manually compressible from an uncompressed disposition to a compressed disposition for subsequent movement from said compressed disposition to said uncompressed disposition, said resilient means consisting of yieldable open cellular mass structure means of substantial elastic recovery capacity and also of substantial fluid retaining capacity in the interior thereof in communication through said suction tube with said wound engaging portion of said suction tube for evacuating body fluids from a wound and storing the evacuated body fluids in the interior of said mass structure means when said resilient means moves from said compressed disposition towards said uncompressed disposition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
Evacuator apparatus useful particularly for evacuating body fluids from a closed wound comprising a body including envelope means defined by wall structure, at least a substantial area of said wall structure being substantially thin and flexible, at least one suction tube having a portion adapted fOr engagement with the wound of a patient and for conducting body fluids from the wound into the tube interior, connecting means physically sealingly connecting said tube to said wall structure of said envelope means and communicating the suction tube interior with the interior of said envelope means, and resilient means in the interior of said envelope means engaging at least a portion of said thin and flexible area of said wall structure and manually compressible from an uncompressed disposition to a compressed disposition for subsequent movement from said compressed disposition to said uncompressed disposition, said resilient means consisting of yieldable open cellular mass structure means of substantial elastic recovery capacity and also of substantial fluid retaining capacity in the interior thereof in communication through said suction tube with said wound engaging portion of said suction tube for evacuating body fluids from a wound and storing the evacuated body fluids in the interior of said mass structure means when said resilient means moves from said compressed disposition towards said uncompressed disposition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The evacuator apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes means for selectively engaging or disengaging said suction tube from said wall structure of said envelope means and for making or breaking a fluid connection between the suction tube interior and the interior of said envelope means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
The evacuator apparatus of claim 2 wherein the portion of said suction tube adjacent said wall structure is of longitudinally uniform configuration and wherein said connecting means includes a sleeve-like suction nib having a proximal end sealingly fitted on said wall structure over a suction aperture in said wall structure and wherein the distal end portion of said nib includes structure defining a small bore interior surface configured correspondingly with the exterior surface of said portion of said portion of said tube being adapted to be telescopically frictionally sealingly removably engaged with the distal portion of said suction nib.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
The evacuator apparatus of claim 1 which additionally includes means for supporting said evacuator body on the person of a patient and including a pair of oppositely directed apertured tabs secured on the wall structure of said envelope means and includes strap members; said evacuator body being adapted to be supported on a patient by passing said strap members through the apertures of said tabs and securing the strap members on the patient.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The evacuator apparatus of claim 1 wherein said envelope means is substantially of one piece construction and said wall structure is substantially entirely formed of thin clear plastic sheeting.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The evacuator apparatus of claim 5 wherein said mass structure means comprises reticulated foam material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The evacuator apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mass structure means fills substantially the entire interior of said envelope.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The evacuator apparatus of claim 7 wherein said mass structure means comprises reticulated foam material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The evacuator apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mass structure means comprises reticulated foam material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
The evacuator apparatus of claim 1 which additionally includes exhaust valve means including a sleeve-like exhaust nib having a proximal end portion sealingly fitted on said wall structure over an exhaust aperture in said wall structure; fluid in said envelope being adapted to be exhausted through said exhaust nib upon squeezing or compressing said envelope, and including plug means adapted to be manipulated selectively to plug or open said exhaust nib and for placing the interior of said evacuator body under suction pressure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
210 words
In a suction drainage device for extraction and collection of body fluids from wounds defined by a collapsible container having walls formed of air-impermeable material with an inlet opening in one of said walls and a conduit of tuBing having its distal end adapted to be inserted into a body wound and its proximal end connected to said container in fluid-tight relation therewith and in operative communication with the interior of said container through said inlet opening, the improvement in combination therewith comprising a resiliently compressible open cell foam pad encased within said container and exerting a separating force on said container walls tending to maintain said container in a normally expanded position, said container being adapted to expel air and assume a collapsed position upon being subjected to external pressure compressing said foam pad and to develop an internal negative pressure while being expanded by the resilient force of said foam pad against said container walls after release of said external pressure, whereby when said foam pad is compressed and then allowed to expand with said distal end of the tubing inserted in a body wound, said negative pressure developed within said container will cause body fluids to be drawn from said wound through said tubing towards said container.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
210 words
In a suction drainage device for extraction and collection of body fluids from wounds defined by a collapsible container having walls formed of air-impermeable material with an inlet opening in one of said walls and a conduit of tuBing having its distal end adapted to be inserted into a body wound and its proximal end connected to said container in fluid-tight relation therewith and in operative communication with the interior of said container through said inlet opening, the improvement in combination therewith comprising a resiliently compressible open cell foam pad encased within said container and exerting a separating force on said container walls tending to maintain said container in a normally expanded position, said container being adapted to expel air and assume a collapsed position upon being subjected to external pressure compressing said foam pad and to develop an internal negative pressure while being expanded by the resilient force of said foam pad against said container walls after release of said external pressure, whereby when said foam pad is compressed and then allowed to expand with said distal end of the tubing inserted in a body wound, said negative pressure developed within said container will cause body fluids to be drawn from said wound through said tubing towards said container.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The suction drainage device of claim 11 wherein said inlet opening is one of two openings in the walls of said container, said container being airtight except for said openings, the second of said openings being an outlet opening provided with releasable closure means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The suction drainage device of claim 11 wherein said container is provided with means for attachment to a support for said container.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The suction drainage device of claim 13 wherein said means for attachment is a strap member secured to the outer surface of said container walls.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The suction drainage device of claim 11 wherein said tubing is provided with a plurality of apertures at its distal end.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-17 | 1978-09-16 | 1979-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-17 | 1982-09-16 | 1983-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-17 | 1986-09-16 | 1987-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |