U.S. patent number 3,599,639 [Application Number 04/851,686] was granted by the patent office on 1971-08-17 for portable suction pump system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Borg-Warner Corporation. Invention is credited to Donald R. Spotz.
United States Patent |
3,599,639 |
Spotz |
August 17, 1971 |
PORTABLE SUCTION PUMP SYSTEM
Abstract
A portable suction or vacuum pump system especially for medical
use, which meets the requirements of pharyngeal and tracheal
suctioning (high suction, low flow), gastric decompression or
stomach pumping (moderate suction, low flow and cyclic operation),
and pleural suctioning (low suction, high flow). Operation is by
batteries, external DC or external AC by use of a power converter.
A vacuum regulator and pump characteristics permit the various
combinations of suction and flow.
Inventors: |
Spotz; Donald R. (Cleveland,
OH) |
Assignee: |
Borg-Warner Corporation
(Chicago, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
25311401 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/851,686 |
Filed: |
August 20, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/119; 137/205;
604/151; 604/245 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
1/80 (20210501); Y10T 137/3109 (20150401); A61M
2205/8206 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
1/00 (20060101); A61m 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/276--278
;137/205 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Rosenbaum; Charles F.
Claims
I claim:
1. A suction pump system especially adaptable for medical use
comprising a suction pump having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet
being connected to a fitting for use with a patient;
means to drive said pump;
means including a power source for energizing said driving
means;
a fluid collection and suction container connected between said
pump inlet and to said fitting;
a check valve connected between said container and said inlet to
permit air flow to said inlet and to prevent air flow to said
container;
a regulator connected between said check valve and said container
to regulate the degree of suction in said container;
a gauge connected between said check valve and said container to
indicate the degree of suction in said container;
a vacuum switch connected between said check valve and said
container for controlling the operation of said driving means;
a float valve connected between said check valve and said container
for preventing fluid flow from said container to said pump; and
a vent valve connected to said container to permit exhaust from
said container to the atmosphere.
2. A suction pump system as recited in claim 1 wherein said power
source comprises battery means.
3. A suction pump system as recited in claim 2 wherein said battery
means is rechargeable and said power source further comprises means
to recharge said battery means.
4. A suction pump system as recited in claim 1 wherein said power
means is external and comprises a source of DC current.
5. A suction pump system as recited in claim 1 wherein said power
source is external and comprises a source of AC current.
6. A suction pump system as recited in claim 1 wherein said power
source is internal and comprises a battery means, and said system
further comprises a timer for indicating the length of time said
battery means is operated.
7. A suction pump system as recited in claim 1 wherein said power
source is internal and comprises a battery means, and said system
further comprises a voltage cutout for stopping said motor when the
voltage of said battery means reaches a predetermined level.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Heretofor, suction systems for medical purposes have been designed
for hospital use where portability and sources of power for
operating pump is no problem. Size, within reason, is no problem.
However, there has been growing need for a unit for use in the
field--one that is portable, one capable of providing various
combinations of suctions and air flow and one capable of operating
from various power sources.
THE INVENTION
The pumping system herein designed is portable, and because of its
component parts and their arrangement, is capable of providing
various combinations of suction and flow, as required in medical
use and especially in the field and is capable of operation from
various power sources.
THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the vacuum circuit of the
system of this invention; and
FIG. 2 is an electrical schematic associated with the system.
THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Looking at the drawings, there is diagrammatically illustrated the
suction or vacuum part of the system in FIG. 1 and the electrical
part of the system in FIG. 2. In the system, a DC motor 11 is
coupled to a suction pump 12, preferably of the vane type in which
the vanes and rotor are carbon and the remaining parts are
constructed of corrosion resistant materials. In order to eliminate
some servicing (except for periodic cleaning of the pump), the pump
is preferably constructed with bearings which are grease lubricated
for life. The carbon vanes also require no lubrication. While this
general type of pump is preferred, other types of suction pumps can
be used in the system if necessary or desirable. The motor 11 can
be energized by battery or from an external power source, as will
later be described.
The suction or vacuum part of the system includes, in addition to
the pump 12, a noise muffler 13 connected to the outlet of the pump
by a conduit 14, and a bottle or container 15 connected to the
inlet of the pump by a conduit 16. A conduit 17 from the bottle 15
permits selective coupling of the bottle 15 to a pumping field. The
bottle or container 15 acts as a suction or vacuum reservoir as
well as a container for drain fluids, as will be described.
In the line 16, there are an air filter and trap 18, a check valve
19, a vacuum regulator 20, a vacuum gauge 21, a vacuum switch 22, a
float valve 23, and a pressure vent valve 24.
The check valve 19 and the pressure vent valve 24 are of
conventional construction, as for example a spring biased ball or
member which when seated prohibits the passage of fluid there
through and which when unseated permits the discharge of fluid in
one direction.
The float valve 23 is also of conventional construction. For
example, the valve may contain a float in a container which will
block flow through a conduit when the fluid in the container
reaches a certain level.
The vacuum regulator 20 is also of conventional construction in
that it contains an adjustable orifice, as for example a biased
ball and a seat with means to adjust the bias force.
Likewise, the vacuum switch 22 is of conventional construction and
includes a diaphragm connected to a switch means, such that changes
in the vacuum level in the system cause actuation of the switch
means.
Because the various parts are of conventional construction, and
well known in the art, no further detailed description is
considered necessary, it being understood that various
constructions other than that described above could be used if
their functions are equivalent.
In operation, the motor 11 effects rotation of the rotor (not
shown) of the pump 12 resulting in the exhaustion of air through
the noise muffler 13. To permit both a preselected suction limit in
the bottle or container 15, as well as cyclic operation when
necessary or desirable, other elements are included in the flow
line or conduit 16. The vacuum regulator 20 permits the selection
of a vacuum level at the bottle 15 by bleeding outside air into the
system at the selected level of vacuum and thus preventing
excessive vacuum level. A vacuum switch 22 controls the
energization of the motor 11 for cyclic operation, switching the
motor on at a low value of vacuum and switching the motor off at
the preset value, both values being factor set, while the vacuum
gauge 21 indicates, for visual observation, the level of the vacuum
in the bottle 15.
Accordingly, once the bottle 15 is evacuated to a selected level,
and air is not permitted to enter the system through the line or
conduit 17, the level of vacuum in the bottle 15 remains, even
through air flows to the pump 12.
The float valve 23 prevents fluid which has been collected or is
collecting in the bottle 15 from travelling from the bottle to the
pump 12. Thus, even if the container 15 is overfilled with fluids,
and fluid reaches the float valve, the valve prevents flow of these
fluids to the pump 12 by closing the conduit 16 to the pump.
Under certain circumstances, for example in pleural cavity
suctioning, a pressure can be developed in the pumping field when a
person breathes if the vacuum pump is not operating, which pressure
must be vented to the atmosphere. Also, in the event of sudden
reduced atmospheric pressure, as in the case of an aircraft
pressurized cabin rupture, fluids may be forced back into the
patient if the pressure differential is not relieved. For these
functions, the pressure vent valve 24 is provided.
Attention now directed to FIG. 2 of the drawings showing the
electrical part of the system being described. This part includes
the motor 11 connected through a three-position ganged selector
switch 25 to alternative power sources, i.e., an internal battery
26 or to an external source (not shown) through a case plug 27.
Between the positive side of the power source and the motor is an
off-on switch 28. Preferably, the internal battery is rechargeable,
as for example of the silver cadmium type. The external power
supply unit, one which can be operated from an AC source but which
will supply DC to the motor 11 and regulated charging power to the
battery. External power can also be any source of DC of correct
voltage.
As is illustrated, the selector switch 25 has three positions. When
in the No. 1 position, current is supplied from the external power
source and also the battery is charged if connected to a
combination battery charger power supply.
When in the NO. 2 position, current is supplied by the battery 26.
This circuit includes an elapsed time timer 29 which indicates the
length of time the system has been operating on the battery 26 and
which indicates to the operator a need for battery recharging. The
battery circuit includes a low voltage cutoff switch 30 which is
responsive to battery voltage and which will cut off the motor 11
when the voltage is below a predetermined level, to prevent damage
to the battery 26. During startup when using the battery, a switch
28A is momentarily closed to activate the low voltage switch. A
mode switch 31, movable between open and closed positions included
in the various circuits, permits the selection of steady or cyclic
operation. When in closed position, operation is steady, because
the vacuum switch 22 is shorted out. When in open position, the
vacuum switch operates between two preset limits of vacuum.
Position No. 3 of the selector switch is a battery recharge circuit
and connects the battery 26 to the external battery charger/power
supply unit which is not shown.
In order to indicate to the observer whether or not the unit is in
operation, a pilot light 32 is connected in parallel to the motor
11.
Attesting to the portability of a unit incorporating the various
parts enumerated, a self-contained, battery operated unit is housed
in a shock-resistant aluminum case which is water tight when
closed. Typical dimensions of such a case are 9 inches .times.
91/2inches .times. 13 inches. Using a 20 volt battery pack of six
3.3 volt silver-cadmium batteries, rated 5.0 ampere hours, new
batteries will provide about seven hours operation at a 5 inch
suction value. In the cased system, the collection container is
capable of holding about 1600 cc of fluid. Such a unit weighs about
17 pounds.
* * * * *