U.S. patent number 3,845,765 [Application Number 05/345,756] was granted by the patent office on 1974-11-05 for drainage fluid removing device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Plus Ika Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Yukio Ikeda.
United States Patent |
3,845,765 |
Ikeda |
November 5, 1974 |
DRAINAGE FLUID REMOVING DEVICE
Abstract
A flexible plastic bag is accommodated within a rigid outer
vessel, and the interiors of the bag and the vessel are evacuated
to draw drainage fluids through a tube into the bag. The bag with
drainage fluids thus collected can then be disposed of together
with the fluids.
Inventors: |
Ikeda; Yukio (Tokyo,
JA) |
Assignee: |
Plus Ika Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
(Tokyo-to, JA)
|
Family
ID: |
12346258 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/345,756 |
Filed: |
March 28, 1973 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 30, 1972 [JA] |
|
|
47-31987 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/319 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
1/604 (20210501) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
1/00 (20060101); A61m 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/276,277
;137/197,199,205 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Laudenslager; Lucie H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Waters, Roditi, Schwartz &
Nissen
Claims
I claim:
1. In a drainage fluid removing device having a rigid outer vessel,
an inner flexible bag with an opening, means for suspending said
flexible bag within said outer vessel, a drainage fluid suction
tube inserted at one end thereof into said bag, and vacuum-creating
means for evacuating the interior of said outer vessel thereby to
cause the pressure within the bag to be negative and to draw
drainage fluid through said suction tube into the bag: an
improvement wherein said bag comprises seal line means
fluid-tightly closing said opening of the bag and traversing said
one end of said suction tube, a flat bag-shaped net member
enclosing said one end of the suction tube, and a flexible flat
bag-shaped cover member enclosing said net member and said one end
of the suction tube and having an opening providing communication
between the interiors of the cover member and the bag, said cover
member being fluid-tightly secured to said one end of the tube and
to said bag by said seal line means except at an unsealed part
around said one end of the tube, whereby the interior of the bag is
in communication with the interior of said outer vessel through
said unsealed part.
2. The drainage fluid removing device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said net member has a pair of lateral openings on both
sides of said one end of the suction tube.
3. The drainage fluid removing device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said opening of said cover member faces in the same
direction as the opening at said one end of the tube.
4. The drainage fluid removing device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said net member and said cover member are substantially
rectangular.
5. The drainage fluid removing device as claimed in claim 4,
wherein said bag has holes by which the bag is suspended from said
suspending means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to techniques for removing and
temporarily collecting fluids by suction as in surgery where blood,
other body excretions, medicinal fluids, and other drainage fluids
are removed by a sump drain or the like, particularly a suction
type device operated by motive power means or by hand.
More particularly, this invention relates to a new and advanced
device for carrying out drainage as referred to above, in which
negative pressure is utilized to draw drainage fluids into a
receptacle of flexible material such as a plastic bag, in which the
drainage fluids are temporary accumulated, and the drainage fluids
are subsequently disposed of together with and in the flexible
bag.
Bodily fluid suction devices presently in use, in general, are of a
type comprising, essentially a glass bottle or a rigid plastic
bottle, a lid such as a rubber stopper disposed in the mouth of the
bottle, a suction or evacuating device connected to one of two
openings in the lid, and a suction pipe connected at one end
thereof to the other opening in the lid and having the function of
directly sucking drainage fluids at its other end. By operating the
evacuating device to evacuate the bottle inerior, the resulting
negative pressure is utilized to draw and remove the drainage
fluids into the bottle. After use, the fluids within the bottle are
disposed of, and the bottle is washed with water to be used
again.
In this type of conventional drainage fluid suction device, the
aftertreatment after the suction procedure is accompanied by
problems. In the first place, the drainage fluids per se contain a
large number of viruses and other pathogenic microorganisms. For
this reason, persons handling these bottles are exposed to great
risk of infection such as when washing the bottles or disposing of
the drainage fluids in the event of bottle breakage.
Furthermore, in the event that washing and sterilization is not
carried out thoroughly, some of the drainage fluid adheres to the
suction bottle and gives rise to an unsanitary condition which is
inconsistent with the ideal of cleanliness in parts of hospitals
such as operation rooms and wards. Accordingly, the development of
a safe suction vessel device for drainage and disposal of body
fluids without the risk of infection has been desired by the
medical world, particularly personnel, such as nurses, who directly
handle such devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of this invention to provide a safe drainage
fluid suction device as stated above.
More specifically, an object of this invention is to provide a safe
drainage fluid suction device wherein, instead of a glass bottle, a
low-price disposable bag made of a flexible plastic material is
used to draw off drainage fluids by suction into the bag for
temporary storage by a simple and safe procedure, and the bag
thereafter is disposed of together with the fluids contained
therein, the entire work being carried out without any physical
contact between the operator and the drainage fluids.
Another object of the invention is to provide in a device as stated
above, means in and by which negative pressure is utilized to draw
drainage fluids into the flexible bag, which bag is prevented from
collapsing because of the high atmospheric pressure acting on its
exterior surface and is held substantially in the form of a
container vessel.
This object has been achieved by the device of this invention, in
which there is provided a rigid vessel having strength for
withstanding atmospheric pressure applied to its outer surface and
adapted to contain the flexible bag therein thereby to isolate the
bag from the outside atmosphere, the interior of the bag being in
communication with its exterior, that is, the interior of the rigid
vessel when the interior of the bag is evacuated.
According to this invention, briefly summarized, there is provided
a drainage fluid suction device comprising a rigid outer vessel, a
flexible bag accommodated within said outer vessel, a tube for
conducting drainage fluids from a point outside of the device to
the interior of the bag, and a vacuum-creating means for evacuating
the interiors of the outer vessel and the bag thereby to draw said
drainage fluid through said tube into the bag.
The nature, principle, further features, and utility of this
invention will be more clearly apparent from the following detailed
description with respect to specific examples of suction devices
illustrating preferred embodiments of this invention when read in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are
designated by like reference numerals.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are respectively a perspective view, an elevation
view in vertical section, and a partially exploded perspective view
showing one embodiment according to this invention for suction and
discharge of body excretion fluids;
FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the suction
device of the invention in the case where, within an ordinary outer
vessel, a flexible bag with open top is held and accommodated
through the use of a support frame;
FIG. 4B is a relatively enlarged, fragmentary elevation, view
partly in vertical section, showing an embodiment of construction
of the a bag rim holder on the support frame;
FIG. 5A is an elevation view partly cut away, showing one
embodiment of a flexible bag with sealed upper edge;
FIG. 5B is a similar elevation view showing another embodiment of a
flexible bag with sealed upper edge;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the essential construction of
one embodiment of a support frame for supporting a bag as
illustrated in FIG. 5A or 5B;
FIG. 7 is an elevation view showing a modification of the bag used
in this invention;
FIG. 8 is a relatively enlarged, fragmentary view in section taken
along line VIII--VIII in FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a similar view in section taken along line IX--IX in FIG.
7.
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly cut away, of the
parts shown in FIGS. 8 and 9; and
FIG. 11 is a perspective view, with a part shown in vertical
section, showing an embodiment of support means for supporting in
suspended state the bag illustrated in FIG. 7 and the upper part of
an outer vessel adapted to support, in turn, the support means.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring first to FIGS. 1 through 3, the device according to this
invention illustrated therein has an outer vessel structure 1 made
of a rigid synthetic resin or glass and having a closed bottom and
an open top, which can be closed by a bell-like cover 2 detachably
secured to the outer vessel 1 by fastening means 3. The outer
vessel 1 and its cover 2 thus form a closed vessel adapted to
accommodate therewithin a flexible bag 4 made of a material such as
a flexible synthetic resin and supported at its upper open end, the
upper peripheral rim 5 thereof being bent outward and over the
upper rim 6 of the vessel 1 and clamped between rim 6 and the lower
rim 7 of the cover 2. A rubber packing or gasket 8 is interposed
between the lower rim 7 of the cover and the upper rim 6 of the
vessel 1 for gas tightness therebetween.
The vessel 1 is provided in its side wall at the lower part thereof
with a primary suction nozzle 10 having an outwardly projecting end
for connection with one end of a length of suction rubber tubing 9
connected at its other end to a vacuum pump (not shown). The
interior of the vessel 1 can thereby be evacuated by operating the
vacuum pump.
The space S outside of and surrounding the flexible bag 4 and
formed between the outer surface of the bag 4 and inner surface of
the vessel 1 is intercommunicated with the interior I of the bag 4
within the vessel 1 by a length of rubber tubing 11 connected at
its lower end to the outwardly projecting end of a secondary
suction nozzle 12 in the side wall of the vessel 1 at the lower end
thereof. The other, upper end of the rubber tubing 11 is connected
to the outer end of a suction metal tube 14 inserted into the
vessel interior through a stopper 13 fitted into a central opening
in the uppermost part of the cover 2.
The inner ends of the above mentioned primary and secondary suction
nozzles 10 and 12 project into the interior of the vessel 1 and
have holes 10A and 12A, respectively, formed in their lower side
walls. The purpose of these holes is to maintain clear passage
through the nozzles even when the extreme inner tips of these
nozzles abut against and are closed by the bag 4 when suction is
applied.
The above mentioned stopper 13 of the cover 2 is provided with
another through hole, through which a suction metal tube 16 is
inserted into the interior of the vessel 1. To the upper outer end
of metal tube 16, one end of a length of rubber tubing 15 for
drawing drainage fluids is connected. The other, outer end of the
rubber tubing 15 is provided with a suction nozzle 15A.
The lower inner tip of the metal tube 16 is inserted downward into
flexible bag 4 to a level somewhat below that of the upper rim of
the bag. The purpose of this is to prevent spattering of the
drainage fluids onto the inner surface of the cover 2 of the vessel
when these fluids injected through the lower end of the metal tube
16 strike the surface of any fluid already accumulated in the bag
4.
The outer vessel structure 1 is made of a transparent or
translucent material so as to facilitate observation from the
outside of the state of the drainage and the drainage fluids being
drawn into the bag 4. Furthermore, a graduated scale 17 for
indicating the volume of fluids drawn into the bag 4 is provided on
the side wall of the bag.
The suction device of the above described arrangement according to
this invention operates in the following manner. The aforementioned
vacuum pump (not shown) is first started to evacuate the space S
around the bag 4, the air being drawn out therefrom through the
rubber tubing 9. As a consequence, the negative pressure of the
space S draws the air within the flexible bag 4 through the
communicating rubber tubing 11, whereby although the bag 4 is
flexible, its interior can be evacuated without its collapse and
with its shape in its original stage because there is almost no
difference in the pressures inside and outside the bag.
Accordingly, it is possible to draw and temporarily store drainage
fluids similar to the operation of a conventional suction device in
which a glass vessel is used. Moreover, when a desired quantity of
the drainage fluids has been drawn into the bag 4, the bag
containing the fluids can be taken out, as it is, and disposed of
together with the fluids since it is made of an inexpensive
material such as a vinyl resin. Therefore, there is no necessity of
washing the container vessel after use as was necessary in the case
of a conventional device, and the possibility of the operator
directly contacting the drainage fluids containing pathogenic
microorganisms is greatly reduced, whereby the suction device of
the invention affords a high degree of sanitation.
In another embodiment of this invention as illustrated in FIGS. 4A
and 4B, a special outer vessel provided with a connection nozzle
for connection to the vacuum pump and a nozzle for pressure
equalization is not used, but an ordinary rigid vessel 1a is used
to accommodate a flexible bag 4a, into which drainage fluids are
drawn. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the bag 4a is supported and
held in opened state by an annular member 20 over and around which
the upper edge part of the bag 4a is folded outward and clamped
against the member 20 by another annular member 21.
The annular member 20 is secured to and supported by a support
frame 19, while the upper annular member 21 is slidably connected
to vertical members of the support frame 19. The support frame 19
is mounted on a suitable base 18 resting on the bottom of the outer
vessel 1a. The outer vessel 1a has a gas-tight cover 2a provided
with metal tubes 14 and 16 passed through the top of the cover for
connection respectively to one end of a rubber tubing 9a connected
at the other end to a vacuum pump (not shown) and one end of the
aforementioned rubber tubing 15 for drawing drainage fluid as in
the preceding embodiment.
By this arrangement, the space S between the outer vessel 1a and
the bag 4a disposed therein is communicative with the interior of
the bag 4a through its upper open end within the outer vessel.
Accordingly, when the interior of the outer vessel 1a is evacuated
by the vacuum pump, the interior of the flexible bag 4a is
simultaneously evacuated, whereby the negatives pressures inside
and outside of the bag 4a are maintained in equalized state, and
drainage fluids can be readily introduced into this flexible
bag.
Since an outer vessel of special construction is not required by
this arrangement, the device is simplified, and since the bag 4a
containing drainage fluids can be taken out in its state of being
held and supported by the support frame 19, the disposal of the
drainage fluids is facilitated and can be accomplished in a
sanitary and convenient manner.
In still another embodiment of this invention as illustrated in
FIGS. 5A and 5B, an outer vessel similar to that in the preceding
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B is used, but, instead of
a flexible bag with an open top as is used in the preceding
embodiments, a flexible bag made of a material such as a platic
with a sealed upper edge is used. The sealed upper edge is provided
with a fluid suction inlet 25 and one or more evacuation outlets
26. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A, the fluid suction inlet 25
of the bag 4b is provided separately from at least one evacuation
outlet 26, while in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5B, the inlet 25
of the bag 4c is disposed concentrically within the outlet 26 in
the form of a tube of relatively large diameter.
Each of the bags 4b and 4c shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is held in
suspended state within the outer vessel, corresponding to that in
FIG. 4, by a support frame 19b as shown in FIG. 6 having a cross
beam 28 provided with spaced pins 29, fixedly embedded therein and
inserted through matching holes 27, in the upper edge of the bag. A
swinging holding plate 30 hinged at one end to the frame 19b is
provided with corresponding holes 32, to receive the outer ends of
the pins 29, when the holding plate 30 is swung toward the cross
beam 28 to clamp and hold the upper edge of the bag 4b (or 4c)
therebetween.
After a bag 4b (or 4c) has been thus secured in place on the frame
19b, the frame 19b together with the bag is placed in the outer
vessel 1a. The suction tube 16 is then connected to the suction
inlet 25, whereby the same effect as that indicated in the case
illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B is obtained. In the case where each
of these bags 4b and 4c with sealed upper edges is used, however,
there is no possibility of spattering, outside of the bags, of the
drainage fluids being drawn into these bags. Accordingly, the
interior of the outer vessel 1a is not contaminated by the drainage
fluids. Moreover, when the bag is being taken out of the vessel 1a
for disposal, the drainage fluids cannot readily spill out of the
bag. Therefore, an even higher degree of sanitation is afforded in
the operations of collecting drainage fluids in the bags and
disposing of the same.
According to another embodiment of a flexible bag suitable for use
in this invention as illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 10, the lower
end of the bag 4d is formed with a sealed edge 34, and the bag is
heat sealed along a transverse line 35 below but near and parallel
to the upper edge of the bag. This bag is also provided with a pair
of holes 27d, between the upper edge and the heat-seal line 35 for
mounting on the support frame.
The lower end 36 of a drainage fluid suction tube 25d extends past
the heat seal line 35 and into the interior of the bag 4d. A
bag-shaped net 37 is disposed within the bag 4d to cover the open
end 36 of the tube 25d. The lateral sides 38 of this net 37 are
open, and the lower edge thereof is closed. A bag-shaped plastic
cover 40 is provided over the net 37. This cover 40 has an open
lower edge 41. The net 37 and cover 40 on the outside of the tube
25d are secured unitarily together with the tube 25d by a heat seal
along transverse line 35A. The cover 40 is further fusion bonded to
the bag 4d by the heat seal line 35 within the bag. However, the
heat seal line 35 has an unsealed part 35B between these parts,
whereby a passageway 35C, as shown in FIG. 8, is formed to
intercommunicate the interior and exterior of the bag 4d.
Accordingly, when a negative pressure acts on the outside surface
of the flexible bag 4d, the resulting pressures are equalized
through the passageway 35C, and the drainage fluids, entering
through the tube 25d, enter the interior of the net 37. A portion
of these fluids pass through the meshing of the net 37 as indicated
by arrows in FIG. 10, while the remainder of the fluid passes past
the lateral open edges 38 of the net 37 and flows through the open
lower edge 41 of the cover 40 into the interior of the bag 4d.
During this flow of the drainage fluids, the net 37 and the cover
40 function to dissipate the dynamic energy of the fluids entering
the bag 4d thereby to cause these fluids to enter the bag
gently.
A bag 4d as described above can be supported within an outer vessel
1d as shown in FIG. 11. The vessel 1d has an annular step or ledge
43 around and near its upper end. A bag supporting rack 19d, which
is supported on this ledge 43, has supporting members 44, joined by
a cross beam 45 spanning the open upper part of the vessel 1d. It
is preferable to interpose an elastic pad 46 between the lower
surfaces of the supporting members 44, and the upper surface of the
ledge 43.
At the middle part of the cross beam 45, there is provided a jaw
member 47A constituting one of a pair of jaws for clamping the tube
25d of the bag 4d, and outward from this jaw member 47A on opposite
sides thereof, there are fixed support pins 48A, for engagement
with the aforementioned holes 27d, in the bag 4d.
A swinging holding plate 49, similar to the aforedescribed holding
plate 30 shown in FIG. 6, is swingably supported by a hinge 50 on a
part of a support member 44. The holding plate 49, which is thus
swingable toward and away from the cross beam 45, is provided with
a jaw member 47B to function cooperatively with its mating jaw
member 47A and members 48B, having holes for receiving respective
pins 48A. A handle 51 for removing and carrying the bag supporting
rack 19d is fixed to the supporting members 47.
At the time of use of this device with the bag 4d, the bag 4d is
first suspended from the pins 48A, passed through the holes 27d, of
the bag, and then the holding plate 49 is closed toward the cross
beam 45, thereby clamping the upper part of the bag and the tube
25d, and the holding plate 49 is locked to the beam 45 by means
(not shown). Next, the handle 51 is gripped, and the rack 19d with
the bag 4d secured thereto is placed in the vessel 1d. Then, the
cover 2d is secured in place on the vessel 1d thereby to connect
the tube 25d to a drainage fluid suction tube 16d provided through
the cover 2d.
With the device in this state, the interior of the vessel 1d is
evacuated through a suction tube 9d by means of a vacuum pump (not
shown). Then, since the interior of the bag 4d is also evacuated,
drainage fluids are drawn into the bag 4d similarly as in the
embodiment described before with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B.
While this invention has been described above with respect to its
application to suction devices for medical uses, it will be
apparent that the invention is not so limited but can be applied to
various uses, including those in physics and chemistry.
* * * * *