Patent US6375625B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6375625B1
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US
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In-line specimen trap and method therefor
Assignee: Conmed Corp
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Filing: 2001-05-11
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Granted: 2002-04-23
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Expires: 2021-05-11
Abstract
Abstract The in-line specimen trap operates in conjunction with a suction or irrigation line and a second line leading to a surgical site. The trap includes a specimen container, a cap coupled to the specimen container and an operator controlled, multi-modal valve disposed in or on the cap. The valve includes at least a bypass passage and a container input port and a container output port. The bypass passage limits flow exclusively between the first and second lines, that is, between the suction/irrigation line and the line leading to the surgical site. The position of an operator control interface determines the selection of the bypass mode or trap and collection mode. The method establishes, under operator control, a bypass channel between the first and second lines channels under operator control, the specimen fluid and debris from the second line through the specimen container to the first line, and, closes the specimen container after the channeling step.
Inventors
- 👤 C. Kenneth French
- 👤 Garrett L. Barker
- 👤 Melvin E. Levinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 07:50
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B10/00; A61B10/0045; A61B10/02; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/60; A61B10/0096; A61M1/71; A61M1/77; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/58; A61M2205/583
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
An in-line specimen trap adapted to be coupled between first line carrying controlled suction or irrigation and a second line leading to a surgical site, said trap comprising: a specimen container; a cap coupled to said specimen container; an operator controlled multi-modal valve disposed in or on said cap, said multi-modal valve having at least a bypass passage, said bypass passage limiting flow exclusively between said first and second lines, and a container input port and container output port, said input and output ports permitting flow through said container via said first and second lines.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
An in-line specimen trap adapted to be coupled between first line carrying controlled suction or irrigation and a second line leading to a surgical site, said trap comprising: a specimen container; a cap coupled to said specimen container; an operator controlled multi-modal valve disposed in or on said cap, said multi-modal valve having at least a bypass passage, said bypass passage limiting flow exclusively between said first and second lines, and a container input port and container output port, said input and output ports permitting flow through said container via said first and second lines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 1 wherein said multi-modal valve includes an operator control shifting flow between said bypass passage and said input and output ports.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bypass passage is fluidly coupled to said first and second pines in a first control mode and said input and output ports lead to and from said specimen container and are fluidly coupled to said first and second lines and in a second control mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 1 wherein said specimen container is defined by container walls and one of said walls defines a lower interior surface, the specimen trap including a leader tube coupled to said output port, said leader tube extending proximately towards said lower interior surface of the specimen container wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bypass passage in said multi-modal valve defines a first flow path, said input and output ports, in conjunction with said specimen container, define a second flow path, said multi-modal valve having a third path blocking flow between said first and second lines.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 5 wherein said bypass passage is fluidly coupled to said first and second lines via said first flow path in a first control mode and said input and output ports lead to and from said specimen container and are fluidly coupled to said first and second lines via said second flow path and in a second control mode and said first and second lines are closed in the blocking third path in a third control mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 6 wherein said multi-modal valve includes an operator control shifting and blocking flow between said first, second and third paths, respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 7 wherein said operator control includes a rotating operator interface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 8 including a rotating valve manifold defining said first, second and third paths, said manifold coupled to said rotating operator interface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 9 wherein said manifold is mounted in said cap.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cap is detachably coupled to said specimen container.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 1 wherein said specimen container is a elongated, transparent container and said cap is mounted on the top of the container.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 7 wherein said operator control includes a linearly movable operator interface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 13 including a linearly movable valve manifold defining said first, second and third paths, said manifold coupled to the linear operator interface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 14 wherein said manifold is mounted in said cap.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bypass passage in said multi-modal valve defines a first flow path, and said input and output ports, in conjunction with said specimen container, define a second flow path.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
66 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 16 wherein said bypass passage is fluidly coupled to said first and second pines via said first flow path in a first control mode and said input and output ports lead to and from said specimen container and are fluidly coupled to said first and second lines via said second flow path and in a second control mode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 17 wherein said multi-modal valve includes an operator control shifting flow between said first and second flow paths.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
60 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 18 wherein said operator control includes one of a rotating operator interface and a linearly movable operator interface and the specimen trap includes one of a rotating valve manifold and a linearly movable valve manifold, said manifold defining said first and second flow paths and said manifold coupled to said operator interface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 19 wherein said manifold is mounted in said cap.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
56 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 2 wherein said bypass passage is fluidly coupled to said first and second pines in a first control mode and said input and output ports lead to and from said specimen container and are fluidly coupled to said first and second lines and in a second control mode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
55 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 21 wherein said specimen container is defined by container walls and one of said walls defines a lower interior surface, the specimen trap including a leader tube coupled to said output port, said leader tube extending proximately towards said lower interior surface of the specimen container wall.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 22 wherein said bypass passage in said multi-modal valve defines a first flow path, said input and output ports, in conjunction with said specimen container, define a second flow path, said multi-modal valve having a mode blocking flow between said first and second lines.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
84 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 23 wherein said bypass passage is fluidly coupled to said first and second pines via said first flow path in a first control mode and said input and output ports lead to and from said specimen container and are fluidly coupled to said first and second lines via said second flow path and in a second control mode and said first and second lines are closed in the blocking third path in a third control mode.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 24 wherein said operator control shifts and blocks flow between said first, second and third paths, respectively.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 25 wherein said operator control includes a rotating operator interface.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 26 including a rotating valve manifold defining said first, second and third paths, said manifold coupled to said rotating operator interface.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 27 wherein said manifold is mounted in said cap.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 28 wherein said cap is detachably coupled to said specimen container.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 29 wherein said specimen container is a elongated, transparent container and said cap is mounted on the top of the container.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 25 wherein said operator control includes a linearly movable operator interface.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 31 including a linearly movable valve manifold defining said first, second and third paths, said manifold coupled to the linear operator interface.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
An in-line specimen trap as claimed in claim 32 wherein said manifold is mounted in said cap.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of selectively (a) trapping specimen fluid and debris and (b) permitting suction and irrigation flow between a first line carrying controlled suction or irrigation and a second line leading to a surgical site, the method comprising: providing a specimen container; establishing, under operator control, a bypass channel between said first and second lines; channeling, under operator control, said specimen fluid and debris from said second line through said specimen container to said first line; and, closing said specimen container after said channeling step.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of selectively (a) trapping specimen fluid and debris and (b) permitting suction and irrigation flow between a first line carrying controlled suction or irrigation and a second line leading to a surgical site, the method comprising: providing a specimen container; establishing, under operator control, a bypass channel between said first and second lines; channeling, under operator control, said specimen fluid and debris from said second line through said specimen container to said first line; and, closing said specimen container after said channeling step.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 34 including blocking flow, under operator control, at said first line and at said second line.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 34 wherein said establishing step occurs under at a first operative control point and said channeling step occurs at a second operative control point.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 35 wherein said establishing step occurs under at a first operative control point, said channeling step occurs at a second operative control point and said blocking occurs at a third control point.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-04-22 | 2005-10-22 | 2006-04-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-04-22 | 2009-10-22 | 2010-04-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-04-22 | 2013-10-22 | 2014-04-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |