U.S. patent number 3,595,234 [Application Number 04/800,546] was granted by the patent office on 1971-07-27 for vacuum control for medicosurgical suction tube.
This patent grant is currently assigned to David S. Sheridan. Invention is credited to Isaac S. Jackson.
United States Patent |
3,595,234 |
Jackson |
July 27, 1971 |
VACUUM CONTROL FOR MEDICOSURGICAL SUCTION TUBE
Abstract
A vacuum controller for a medicosurgical suction tube is formed
with a concave face aligned with a longitudinal bore through the
connector. An elliptical opening passes through the concave face to
the bore and an elastic band surrounds the central portion of the
controller. When a medicosurgical tube assembly attached to the
controller is connected to a vacuum source, a suction is not pulled
in the tube assembly until the elliptical opening is closed by
depressing the elastic band onto the concave face. The elastic band
serves to prevent contaminating material entering the tube assembly
from the control finger of the operator and suctioned material in
the tube from touching the control finger of the operator.
Inventors: |
Jackson; Isaac S. (Greenwich,
NY) |
Assignee: |
Sheridan; David S. (Argyle,
NY)
|
Family
ID: |
25178677 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/800,546 |
Filed: |
February 19, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/119 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
1/7411 (20210501) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
1/00 (20060101); A61m 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/276--278,298--300 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Rosenbaum; Charles F.
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which I claim an exclusive
property or right are defined as follows:
1. A vacuum controller for a medicosurgical suction tube comprising
a central body portion having a longitudinal axis and a pair of
opposed ends transverse to said axis, an integral male connector
portion extending axially from one of said ends and an integral
female connector portion extending axially from the other of said
ends, said body portion having a side face of concave shape, a bore
extending axially through said body portion and said connector
portions, an opening extending through said side face to said bore
and an elastic band extending around the periphery of said central
portion of sufficient width to completely cover said opening when
depressed into contact with said side face.
2. A vacuum controller as claimed in claim 1 wherein said central
body portion is of triangular cross section.
3. A vacuum controller as claimed in claim 1 wherein the effective
area of said opening is greater than the smallest transverse
cross-sectional area of said bore.
4. A vacuum controller as claimed in claim 1 that is permanently
attached to a medicosurgical suction tube through the female
connector portion and forms the proximal end section of the suction
tube.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Medicosurgical suction tubes are constructed in a variety of shapes
and sizes for a number of different applications in medical and
surgical procedures. Such medicosurgical suction tubes can take the
form of suction catheters which are used for the aspiration of
mucus from the nose, mouth, pharynx, trachea or bronchi of
patients. Alternatively, such suction tubes may be used for
connection to sump drain tubes or other pieces of equipment or
structures where application of a vacuum as a part of a clinical or
surgical operation is required. The new vacuum controllers of this
present invention are contemplated for use in connection with any
form of medicosurgical suction tube whether it be a suction
catheter, suction connector tube or the like.
The control of suction, either in extent of time or degree of
vacuum may be required in connection with the use of medicosurgical
tubes. In many types of patient treatments, it is frequently
necessary for the person administering the treatment to have some
means associated with the suction tube structure which permits
vacuum to be instantaneously controlled from an on to an off
position and vice versa. A convenient way of accomplishing this has
been to provide a small aperture somewhere in the suction tube
structure and the control of suction has been accomplished by the
person administering the treatment placing a thumb or finger over
this aperture. As can be understood, closing the aperture with the
thumb or finger induces the vacuum whereas uncovering the aperture
breaks the vacuum by admitting atmospheric air to the system. The
control aperture in some devices has been constructed in a suction
catheter near the proximal end (see U.S. Pat. No., 3,375,828 ).
The direct contact of a thumb or finger of a person administering
treatment to a patient using the medicosurgical suction tube as a
means for control of the suction has been recognized by the medical
profession and surgical equipment manufacturers as a potential
source of contamination. Accordingly, it would serve to aid
maintenance of sterile conditions if some means were provided by
which the convenience of control of suction in devices of this type
could still be accomplished by simple manipulation of a thumb or
finger but at the same time the thumb or finger would not come into
direct a new with a suction control aperture constituting a part of
the suction tube structure. However, in providing such an
improvement, there is the requirement of assuring that the means
provided to avoid direct contact with the control aperture does not
interfere with absolute and immediate response of the system to the
movement of the thumb or finger of the operator. Thus, there could
be disastrous results if the means used to prevent direct contact
of the thumb or finger with the control aperture failed to permit
the vacuum to be broken as soon as the thumb or finger was removed
from the control unit. Such a circumstance would result in the
continued application of the vacuum when the person administering
the treatment found it necessary to cease the application of the
suction.
OBJECTS
A principal object of the present invention is the provision of a
new form of vacuum controller for medicosurgical suction tubes.
Further objects include the provision of:
1. Vacuum control means for medicosurgical suction tubes, e.g.,
suction catheters or the like, in which control of the suction can
be obtained by manipulation of a thumb or finger of the person
administering treatment to a patient but in which the thumb or
finger effecting the control does not come into direct contact with
the aperture through which control of the suction is regulated.
2. Improved vacuum controllers for medicosurgical suction tubes
which can be made and sold at relatively low cost for use with
disposable suction catheters or the like intended for a single use
with a single patient.
3. An improved vacuum controller for a medicosurgical suction tube
which is positive in operation insuring immediate response to
movement of a thumb or finger of an operator in use of a suction
tube structure involving the vacuum controller.
Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present
invention will become apparent from the detailed description given
hereinafter; it should be understood, however, that the detailed
description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the
invention, is given by way of illustration only, since various
changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from
this detailed description. It should also be understood the
foregoing abstract of the disclosure is for the purpose of
providing a nonlegal brief statement to serve as a searching
scanning tool for scientists, engineers, and researchers and is not
intended to limit the scope of the invention as disclosed herein
nor is it intended it should be used in interpreting or in any way
limiting the scope or fair meaning of the appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing objects are accomplished by forming a vacuum
controller for medicosurgical suction tubes to include a central
body portion having a longitudinal axis and a pair of opposed ends
transverse to the axis. On one of the ends, there is provided an
integral male connector portion and from the other end, an integral
female connector portion extends axially. The body portion of the
connector is provided with a side face of concave shape, there is a
bore extending axially through the body portion and through the
integral connector portions and an elliptical opening extends
through the side face with the concave shape to the bore, creating
a fluid conduit through which air may be drawn into the bore of the
vacuum controller. Around the periphery of the central portion of
the controller there extends an elastic band, such as a rubber
band, which is of sufficient width to completely cover the
elliptical opening in the concave side face when the rubber band is
depressed into contact with the face by the thumb or finger of an
operator using the vacuum controller.
Advantageously, the body portion of the controller is formed with a
triangular cross section providing, in addition to the concave side
face, two additional side faces, the elastic band then extending
round these three faces and being in contact with two of them and
effectively held above the other because of the concave
configuration.
As additional preferred features, the vacuum controller is molded
as an integral or single unit of plastic material, although it can
be fabricated from metal parts as a single unit or separate parts
suitably screwed or otherwise fastened together.
Advantageously, the effective are of the opening through the
concave side face is greater than the smallest transverse
cross-sectional area of the bore which extends through the
connector. The male connector portion of the controller may be
provided on the outside with ribs or raised portions which serve as
gripper means for tubing that may be placed around the male
connector portion. Alternatively, the male connector portion may be
smooth, but preferably of tapered form. The vacuum controller may
be a unit in itself being unconnected to any suction tubing
assembly or, alternatively, it may be permanently attached to a
medicosurgical suction tube through the female connector portion
which would form the proximal end section of the suction tube,
e.g., a suction catheter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
A more complete understanding of the structure and method of use of
the new vacuum controllers for medicosurgical suction tubes may be
had by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of vacuum
controller in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an enlarged scale of a vacuum
controller of the invention similar to that shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of another form of a vacuum
controller in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.
2.
FIG. 5 is an end sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG.
2.
FIG. 6 is a side sectional vie of another embodiment of vacuum
controller in accordance with the invention.
Referring in detail to the drawing, the vacuum controller 2
comprises a central body portion 4 having a pair of opposed
transverse ends 6 and 8. An integral male connector portion 10
extends axially from the end 6 and an integral female connector
portion 12 extends axially from the other end 8. A bore or hole 14
extends axially through the body portion and both connector
portions forming a fluid passage through the controller. This bore
or hole may be of uniform diameter throughout but, advantageously,
the portion 16 extending through the male connector portion 10 will
be of uniform diameter while the portion 18 extending through the
center body portion and the female connector portion 12 will be
tapered.
The body portion 4 may have any desired number of sides but a
triangular cross section comprising three side faces 20, 22 and 24
is preferred since this enables the controller to be most easily
accommodated to the fingers of the hand 26 of the operator using
the suction tube structure incorporating the vacuum controller.
The side face 24 of the body portion 4 is concave in shape and an
elliptical opening 28 extends through the face 24 into the
longitudinal bore 14.
An elastic band 30, e.g., a rubber sleeve formed of "Penrose"
rubber tubing, is stretched over the three faces 20, 22 and 24 of
the center portion of the controller. Advantageously, the band is
of a width equivalent to the distance between the opposed ends 6
and 8 of the center portion, although it may be narrower than this.
In any event, it should be sufficiently wide so that when the band
30 is depressed by a finger 32 of the operator's hand 26, the
elastic band will cover completely the opening 28.
The male connector portion, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, may have
ribs or protrusions 32 which serve as gripper means for tubing that
may be placed around the male connector portion 10. In an
alternative form of controller 34 as shown in FIG. 3, the male
connector portion 36 is of smooth wall tapered configuration.
The vacuum controller may be unconnected to any other portion of a
suction tubing assembly creating a single unit as shown in FIGS. 2
and 3. Advantageously, however, the controller may be attached to a
suction connector tube 38 by forcing it over the male connector
portion 10 as shown in FIG. 1. In a preferred embodiment, the
suction catheter 40 will be provided on its proximal end section
with a male connector 42 which is tapered to fit into the female
connector end 12 of the vacuum controller.
In view of the foregoing description, the method of use of the new
vacuum controllers will be readily apparent to those acquainted
with the use of suction catheters and equivalent medicosurgical
suction tubes. As shown in FIG 1, the connector tube 38 is
positioned over male connector end 10 and attached at the other end
to a source of vacuum (not shown) and the male connector 42 of the
suction catheter 40 is inserted into the female connector 12 of the
vacuum controller. With the vacuum then being drawn through the
tube 38, no suction is created in the tube 40 as long as the
elastic band 30 remains in the normal position as shown in FIG. 5
created by the elasticity in the band. However, when the finger 32
of the operator's hand 26 is depressed on the band 30 over the
concave side face 24 of the controller, the opening 28 will be
covered, but without the finger 32 coming into direct contact with
the opening 28. This effective closing of the opening 28, then,
prevents air from the surrounding atmosphere entering the system
and immediately the vacuum existing in the line 38 will be applied
to the suction catheter or equivalent tube 40.
To insure positive operation of the controller, the elastic band 30
should have sufficient strength to return to an open position as
shown in FIG. 5 upon release of the operator's finger 32. This drum
effect insures that the band will pull off the opening or slot 28
when the finger is removed thereby releasing the suction from the
suction catheter 40.
The opening 28 is advantageously of elliptical shape to permit only
partial covering by the depressing of the band 30 in the event that
some partial application of vacuum existing in the line 38 is
desired in the suction catheter 40. However, the opening 28 may be
circular in shape In any event, it is desirable that the effective
area of the opening 28 be equal to or greater than the smallest
transverse cross-sectional area of the longitudinal bore 14 in the
controller. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, this would be
the cross-sectional area of the portion 16 of the bore or hole
14.
The rubber sleeve or elastic band 30 provides protection against
entrance into the tube assembly of contaminating material from
fingers of the user. Also, it prevents the finger of the operator
from being contaminated by contact with suctioned material passing
through the controller bore. Hence, it is preferably maintained as
shown in the drawings. However, if for some particular reason it
was desired to use the controller without the rubber sleeve, it can
be easily rolled back or pulled off of the center portion 4 of the
controller.
In an alternative form of medicosurgical tube incorporating the
vacuum controller, the controller 2 would be permanently attached
to the distal end of the tube 38 which would lead to the vacuum
source, e.g., the tube 38 can be permanently attached to the
controller by the use of solvent, cement or the like. The suction
catheter 40 instead of having a molded connector such as 42 shown
in FIG. 1, could have a tapered end fitting to slip into the female
connector end 12 of the vacuum controller as shown in phantom line
in FIG. 4. This arrangement provides economy of use of suction
catheters. Thus, a catheter with a plain connector end, such as the
male connector 42, is less expensive to manufacture than a suction
catheter complete with a vacuum controller permanently attached. In
the recommended hospital procedures today, a sterile disposable
suction catheter is used only once and then discarded. In some
cases, a patient will be suctioned every 15 minutes for 24 hours or
more. With the vacuum controller 2 attached to the connector tube
38, the vacuum controller will not be discarded with each suction
catheter.
Where economy of use might be less important than some other
consideration, the vacuum controller 2 could be made a permanent
part of the suction catheter 40, e.g., by cementing the proximal
end of the catheter in the female connector end 12 of the
controller. In such case, the opening in the connector end 12 would
need to be made in various sizes to accommodate the different
standard sizes of suction catheters in use, e.g., 5 to 18 French
size.
The male connector end 10 of the controller 2 can be made in
various sizes to fit into various sizes of connector tubes although
with a tapered form, the connector end 10 will make a tight seal
with a fairly broad range of tubing sizes.
The controller 2 may be made as a separate unit without being
permanently attached to either a connector tube or to a suction
catheter.
The modified version of the vacuum controller shown in FIG. 6 is
useful where permanent attachment to a suction catheter is desired.
Here, the controller 42 includes the longitudinal bore 44, tapered
male connector end 46, female connector end 48 and concave side
face 50. The end 48 has a cylindrical opening 52 into which the
proxinal end 54 of the suction catheter 56 is cemented.
* * * * *