Surgery – Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material – Aspiration collection container or trap
Patent
1993-02-09
1994-06-07
Hirsch, Paul J.
Surgery
Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material
Aspiration collection container or trap
604 35, 604 37, A61M 100
Patent
active
053185480
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to mucus extractors and more particularly to a mucus extractor for newly born babies.
Babies when born often have their nasal passages blocked with mucus and it is necessary to clear these passages in such a manner that the baby will not be harmed. Known mucus extractors comprise a chamber with an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe. Suction provided by a Midwife is applied to the outlet pipe and the inlet pipe is inserted into the nasal passage. Though good control is achievable by a skilled Midwife the extractor is unsatisfactory because if too much suction is applied the Midwife can ingest some of the mucus. This can be dangerous if the baby is affected by one or more contagious diseases.
A further known extractor which avoids the above problem comprises a chamber with inlet tube and with an electrically driven suction pump, preferably battery powered. This though avoiding the above problem is expensive and often, when required in an emergency, the batteries are flat and fitting replacement batteries, even if available, is time-consuming.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a mucus extractor which avoids the above disadvantages, is relatively simple in construction and may be considered as a disposable item thereby avoiding any cross-contamination.
The present invention therefore provides an extractor for extracting mucus comprising a first chamber, inlet means for the chamber the inlet means being formed integrally with or being provided with a flexible pipe for insertion, in use, into the nasal passage of a baby, a second chamber the second chamber being flexible to enable the volume of air inside the chamber to be changed from a first to a second volume the second volume being smaller than the first volume, first one way valve means connecting the first and second chambers the first one way valve means allowing passage of air from the first chamber to the second chamber but not allowing passage of air from the second chamber to the first chamber, second one way valve means connecting the second chamber to the ambient air and being operative to allow passage of air from the second chamber to the ambient air but not allowing passage of air from the ambient air into the second chamber, characterised in that the first chamber is, in the normal upright operational position of the extractor, situated below the second chamber, in that the second chamber comprises a bellows like structure, in that the bellows like structure and the first container are formed to be in line with each other such that the extractor is able to be gripped by the digits of a single hand and in that the bellows are operable by a single digit of that hand and in that the inlet means is positioned below the first one way valve means to prevent contamination of the first valve means by the mucus and is positioned towards the top of the first chamber to enable, in the normal upright operation position of the extractor, the mucus to fall into the first chamber in a direction away from the first valve means and in that the second one way valve means is constructed within the bellows structure to be non blockable by the fingers of the hand when the device is operated.
In the present invention ambient air means the atmosphere surrounding the mucus extractor.
Preferably the extractor is made of plastics material.
In a preferred embodiment the first chamber may comprise two parts an upper and lower part, the lower part being removably attached to the upper part.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a general schematic cross sectional side elevation view of a first mucus extractor according to the present invention illustrating the principle of operation;
FIG. 2 shows a schematic side elevation view of a second mucus extractor according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 shows a first one way valve for use in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 or 2 in a first closed position;
FIG. 4 shows the valve of FIG. 3
REFERENCES:
patent: 1141373 (1915-06-01), Behm
patent: 1925230 (1933-09-01), Buckout
patent: 3892226 (1975-07-01), Rosen
patent: 5024653 (1991-06-01), Kohnke
patent: 5035688 (1991-07-01), Inui
patent: 5062835 (1991-11-01), Maitz et al.
patent: 5167621 (1992-12-01), Band et al.
Hirsch Paul J.
Regent Limited
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