U.S. patent application number 13/851663 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-15 for manifold assembly with tangential intake port.
This patent application is currently assigned to Stryker Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Stryker Corporation. Invention is credited to Karen L. Smit, Mark A. Wasserman.
Application Number | 20130206670 13/851663 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 30769977 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130206670 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smit; Karen L. ; et
al. |
August 15, 2013 |
Manifold Assembly with Tangential Intake Port
Abstract
A manifold assembly (12) for a medical waste collection device
(10) includes a manifold housing (14), a manifold cap (16), and a
connection (18). The housing (14) includes a bottom (20) having a
wall (24) extending upwardly about an axis (26) and defines open
periphery (28) having a shoulder (32). A support structure defines
a filter support surface (30). An outlet port (34) is disposed on
the bottom (20). The surface (30) includes an inner ring (38), an
outer ring (40), outer spokes (44) and inner spokes (52). The cap
(16) includes an intake port (58) and is disposed on the housing
(14) to define a chamber (56). Filters (60, 62) are supported on
the surface (30). The cap (16) includes a top (64). The connection
(18) includes a lip (76).
Inventors: |
Smit; Karen L.; (Kalamazoo,
MI) ; Wasserman; Mark A.; (Delton, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Stryker Corporation; |
|
|
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Stryker Corporation
Kalamazoo
MI
|
Family ID: |
30769977 |
Appl. No.: |
13/851663 |
Filed: |
March 27, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12791664 |
Jun 1, 2010 |
8424685 |
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13851663 |
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11115767 |
Apr 27, 2005 |
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12791664 |
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10205051 |
Jul 25, 2002 |
6902673 |
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11115767 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
210/232 ;
210/435 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01D 29/90 20130101;
B01D 29/114 20130101; A61M 1/0056 20130101; B01D 35/30 20130101;
B01D 2201/4084 20130101; B01D 29/01 20130101; B01D 29/58 20130101;
B01D 29/908 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
210/232 ;
210/435 |
International
Class: |
B01D 29/90 20060101
B01D029/90 |
Claims
1. A manifold assembly for use in a medical waste collection
device, said assembly comprising: a manifold housing including a
bottom and a wall extending upwardly from said bottom about an axis
to define an open periphery, said wall having an inner surface and
an exterior surface; a manifold cap attached to said manifold
housing to define a chamber therebetween; an outlet port disposed
on said bottom; an intake port tangentially disposed to direct the
waste against said inner surface of said wall so that the waste
swirls against said inner surface of said wall when being directed
into said chamber from said intake port; and a filter supported in
said chamber to filter the waste between said intake port and said
outlet port.
2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said filter is
spaced radially inwardly from said wall to define a space between
said wall and said filter for collecting material.
3. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a filter support
structure disposed on said bottom and extending upwardly therefrom,
said filter support structure defining a plurality of open spaces
therein.
4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said filter support
structure defines a filter receiving space disposed about said
axis, said filter having a first end disposed in said filter
receiving space.
5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said filter has a
cylindrical shape.
6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said filter is a
hollow cylinder.
7. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said filter support
structure is formed separately from said manifold housing and is
mated to said manifold housing.
8. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said outlet port
defines a passageway extending into said chamber and said filter
support structure is disposed on said bottom of said manifold
housing in coaxial alignment with said passageway.
9. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a connection
retaining said manifold cap on said manifold housing.
10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said connection
includes: a shoulder disposed on said exterior surface of said wall
about said open periphery; and a lip disposed on said manifold cap
and snap-fit over said shoulder to retain said manifold cap on said
manifold housing.
11. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said connection
includes a lip disposed on said manifold cap and protruding
radially inwardly toward said exterior surface of said wall.
12. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a secondary
filter disposed in said chamber.
13. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bottom is
conical.
14. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a plurality of
circumferentially spaced ribs disposed on said cap and engaging
said inner surface of said wall.
15. A manifold assembly for use in a medical waste collection
device, said assembly comprising: a manifold housing including a
bottom and a wall extending upwardly from said bottom about an axis
to define an open periphery, said wall having an inner surface and
an exterior surface; a manifold cap attached to said manifold
housing to define a chamber therebetween; a connection retaining
said manifold cap on said manifold housing; an outlet port disposed
on said bottom and extending therefrom about said axis, said outlet
port defining a passageway and being configured to engage the
collection device for transporting waste from said chamber to the
collection device through said passageway; an intake port disposed
tangent to said wall and configured to direct the waste against
said inner surface of said wall so that the waste swirls against
said inner surface of said wall when being directed into said
chamber from said intake port; and a filter supported in said
chamber to filter the waste between said intake port and said
outlet port, said filter being spaced radially inwardly from said
wall to define a space between said wall and said filter for
collecting material.
16. An assembly as set forth in claim 15 including a support
structure disposed on said bottom.
17. An assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said support
structure defines a filter receiving space disposed about said
axis, said filter having a first end disposed in said filter
receiving space.
18. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said filter has a
cylindrical shape.
19. An assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said filter is a
hollow cylinder.
20. A manifold assembly for use in a medical waste collection
device, said assembly comprising: a manifold housing including a
conical bottom and a wall extending upwardly from said bottom about
an axis to define an open periphery, said wall having an inner
surface and an exterior surface; a manifold cap attached to said
manifold housing to define a chamber therebetween; a connection
retaining said manifold cap on said manifold housing, said
connection including a lip disposed on said manifold cap and
protruding radially inwardly toward said exterior surface of said
wall; an outlet port disposed on said bottom and extending
therefrom about said axis, said outlet port defining a passageway
and being configured to transport waste from said chamber to the
collection device; an intake port disposed tangent to said wall and
configured to direct the waste against said inner surface of said
wall so that the waste swirls against said inner surface of said
wall when being directed into said chamber from said intake port; a
support structure disposed on said bottom in coaxial alignment with
said passageway, said support structure being formed separately
from said manifold housing; and a filter supported in said chamber
by said support structure to filter the waste between said intake
port and said outlet port, said filter being spaced radially
inwardly from said wall to define a space between said wall and
said filter for collecting material.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 12/791,664, filed on Jun. 1, 2010, which is a continuation
of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/115,767 filed on Apr. 27,
2005, now abandoned, which is divisional of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 10/205,051 filed on Jul. 25, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No.
6,902,673, issued Jun. 7, 2005, the benefits of which are hereby
claimed and the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The subject invention relates generally to medical waste
collection devices and, more particularly, to an assembly for
filtering bodily fluids prior to being collected into the
device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] During many surgical procedures, waste materials are
generated which must be captured and disposed of. Such waste
materials include bodily fluids which have been drained from a
patient or by-products that are produced, such as smoke from a
cauterizing procedure.
[0004] Typically, a medical waste collection device having an
intake manifold assembly in conjunction with a vacuum source is
utilized to capture the waste materials, thereby reducing or
eliminating the handling of such materials by employees and, in
turn, reducing exposure of the employees to hazardous waste
materials.
[0005] Each assembly generally includes a housing for storing the
waste material, a lid having a vacuum port connected to the vacuum
source, and a conduit extending between the patient and the
manifold assembly through which the waste material travels. In
operation, the vacuum source applies a negative pressure to the
interior of the housing in order to pull the waste material from
the patient through the conduit and into the intake manifold.
Furthermore, a filter may be disposed in the assembly to prefilter
the fluids or by-products prior to disposal.
[0006] Conventionally, such assemblies comprise many pieces, have a
complex design, and are costly to manufacture and use. Such costs
are passed on to the patient, thereby contributing to the high
costs of health care.
[0007] The present invention is aimed at solving one or more of
these disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES
[0008] The subject invention provides a manifold assembly for use
in a medical waste collection device. The assembly includes a
manifold housing. The manifold housing includes a bottom and a wall
extending upwardly from the bottom about an axis to define an open
periphery. The wall has an inner surface and an exterior surface. A
manifold cap is attached to the manifold housing to define a
chamber therebetween. An outlet port is disposed on the bottom. An
intake port directs the waste against the inner surface of the wall
so that the waste swirls against the inner surface of the wall when
being directed into the chamber from the intake port. A filter is
supported in the chamber to filter the waste between the intake
port and the outlet port.
[0009] The manifold assembly of the present invention collects and
filters waste materials produced during surgical procedures. The
assembly is easily removed, disposed of, and replaced with another
assembly, thereby reducing labor and cost. In addition, the
assembly is easily manufactured and produced at a fraction of the
cost of conventional manifold assemblies, in part due to the
elimination of separate welding requirements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Other advantages of the present invention will be readily
appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to
the following detailed description when considered in connection
with the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a waste collection device
housing the manifold assembly according to one embodiment of the
present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the manifold
assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional side view of the
brim on the cap of the assembly of FIG. 2;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional side view of the
shoulder on the housing of the assembly of FIG. 2; and
[0015] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the assembled
manifold assembly of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the manifold assembly
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the manifold
assembly of FIG. 6; and
[0018] FIG. 8 is an exploded fragmentary view of the manifold
assembly of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate
like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a medical
waste collection device is generally shown at 10 and includes a
manifold assembly generally indicated at 12.
[0020] The manifold assembly 12 includes a manifold housing,
generally indicated at 14, a manifold cap, generally indicated at
16, and a connection, generally indicated at 18. As shown in FIG.
2, the manifold housing 14 and the manifold cap 16 are molded as
two separate or single pieces that snap-fit together via the
connection 18. As shown in FIG. 1, the assembly 12 is removably
disposed on the device 10.
[0021] The manifold housing 14 includes a bottom 20 with a support
structure, generally indicated at 22, disposed thereon. A wall 24
extends upwardly from the bottom 20 about an axis 26 to define an
open periphery 28. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the support structure
22 defines a filter support surface, generally indicated at 30,
above the bottom 20. A shoulder 32 is disposed about the exterior
of the open periphery 28. An outlet port 34 is disposed on the
bottom 20 and extends outwardly therefrom to define a passageway 36
extending into the bottom 20 for transporting waste to the device
10.
[0022] The filter support surface 30 includes an inner ring 38 and
an outer ring 40. The inner ring 38 is disposed about and spaced
from the axis 26. The outer ring 40 is spaced radially inwardly
from the wall 24 to define a groove 42 between the outer ring 40
and the wall 24.
[0023] A plurality of outer spokes 44 extend radially between the
inner and outer rings 38, 40 to define a plurality of open spaces
46 between adjacent spokes 44. Additionally, a plurality of inner
spokes 52 extend radially between the axis 26 and the inner ring
38. The inner spokes 52 are diametrically aligned in pairs to
define a cross 54 intersecting at the axis 26. Each of the pairs is
aligned diametrically with a pair of the outer spokes 44.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the support structure 22 and the bottom
20 are molded with the housing 14 as a one-piece structure. It is
to be understood that the support structure 22 and the bottom 20
may each be molded as a separate piece which is mated with the
housing 14.
[0025] The manifold cap 16 is disposed on the manifold housing 14
for defining a chamber 56 therebetween into which the passageway 36
extends. The cap 16 includes a top 64 and a skirt 66 extending from
the top 64 to a lower edge 68. The cap 16 further includes an
intake port 58 disposed on the cap 16 for receiving waste materials
generated during a surgical procedure which proceed into the
chamber 56, through the passageway 36 and into the device 10. As
shown in FIG. 1, the intake port 58 may be oriented on the cap 16
such that it is normal to the orientation of the outlet port 34 on
the housing 14. However, it is to be understood that the intake
port 58 may be disposed on the cap 16 such that it is oriented
parallel with orientation of the outlet port 34 on the housing
14.
[0026] A primary filter 60 is disposed in the chamber 56 and is
supported on the support structure 22 for filtering the waste
materials and allowing waste to flow through the open spaces 46
defined by the spokes 44, 52 and out through the outlet port 34. A
secondary filter 62 is disposed in the chamber 56 over the primary
filter 60. The filters 60, 62 maintain their position over the
support structure 22 as they fit inside of and are secured in place
by the manifold cap 16. This configuration insures that the waste
materials passing through the manifold assembly 12 also pass
through the filters 60, 62.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 3 through 5, the connection 18 connects
the housing 14 and cap 16 and retains them together. The connection
18 includes the shoulder 32 disposed on the exterior of the wall 24
about the open periphery 28 and a brim 74 disposed about the
exterior of the skirt 66 and extending over and in spaced
relationship to the ribs 70, 72. A lip 76 is disposed on the
interior of the brim 74 for snapping over the shoulder 32 and
retaining the housing 14 and cap 16 together. However, the
connection 18 may be a molded hinge between the cap 16 and housing
14.
[0028] In one embodiment, the bottom 20 is conical and is disposed
below the support surface 30. In addition, the wall 24 of the
housing 14 and the skirt 66 are annular. The outer spokes 44 each
include a polygonal web 48. Each web 48 extends axially downwardly
from the filter support surface 30 to the conical bottom 20. Each
web 48 further extends radially between the outer ring 40 and the
passageway 36 and radially outwardly to the outer ring 40 and have
radially inner edges 50 aligned with the passageway 36.
[0029] The lower edge 68 of the skirt 66 extends downwardly and is
received in the groove 42. A plurality (three) of axially extending
alignment ribs 70 are disposed on the exterior of the skirt 66 for
engaging the interior of the wall 24 of the housing 14 and aligning
the housing 14 and the cap 16 together. The alignment ribs 70
insure that the cap 16 is received properly within the housing 14
so that the lower edge 68 of the skirt 66 is correctly aligned with
the groove 42 to compress the perimeter of each filter and secure
the filters 60, 62 in place.
[0030] Additionally, a plurality (thirty-three) of axially
extending sealing ribs 72 are disposed on the exterior of the skirt
66 for engaging the interior of the wall 24 of the housing 14 to
provide a wedge fit. The brim 74 extends over and in spaced
relationship to the ribs 70, 72, and the sealing ribs 72 seal the
cap 16 within the housing 14 so that the manifold assembly 12 is
water tight and remains water tight.
[0031] In another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 through 8, the
filter support surface 30 extends upwardly from the bottom 20 for
defining the plurality of open spaces 46. The primary and secondary
filters 60, 62 are cylindrical and disposed over the upwardly
extending support surface 30.
[0032] The intake port 58 is disposed on the cap 16 tangent to the
wall 24 for receiving waste and forcing the waste against a first
inner surface 75A of the housing 14 and a second inner surface 75B
of the cap 16. The waste enters the chamber 56 and swirls inside
the housing 14, thereby forcing the waste against the inner
surfaces 75A, 75B to keep the filters 60, 62 clean longer.
[0033] An annular rib 77 is disposed in the groove 42 and spaced
radially between the wall 24 and the outer ring 40 to define an
inner groove 78 for receiving an end 80 of the primary filter 60. A
plurality of engagement ribs 82 are disposed on an inner surface 84
of the cap 16 and extend outwardly therefrom into the chamber 56
for engaging the filters 60, 62. The engagement ribs 82 press the
filters 60, 62 against the bottom 20 of the housing 14 to seal the
filters 60, 62 within the annular rib 77 and prevent waste from
passing beneath the filters 70, 72 and traveling to the outlet port
34.
[0034] The foregoing detailed description shows the preferred
embodiments of the present invention are well suited to fulfill the
objectives of the invention. It is recognized that those skilled in
the art may make various modifications or additions to the
preferred embodiments chosen herein to illustrate the present
invention, without departing from the spirit of the present
invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the subject
matter sought to be afforded protection should be deemed to extend
to the subject matter defined in the appended claims, including all
equivalents thereof.
* * * * *