Fluid extractors

Details Fluid extractors Fluid extractors

1991-09-23

1992-12-01

Hirsch, Paul J.

Surgery

Means for introducing or removing material from body for...

Material introduced into and removed from body through...

604319, A61M 100

Patent

active

051676214

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to fluid extractors, e.g., for extracting and collecting mucus from a patient, and has for its object the provision of an extractor readily operated merely by a physical sucking action while ensuring patient and user isolation, with minimal need of handling, and completely or partially disposable.
According to the present invention, a fluid extractor comprises at least three closed compartments in vertical succession, the uppermost compartment being separated from a second compartment by an elastic diaphragm, the second compartment being separated from the lowermost compartment by a partition containing a first non-return valve closed to air flow from the second compartment to the lowermost compartment, a second non-return valve closed to air flow from the atmosphere to the second compartment, a first flexible tube communicating at one end with the upper region of the uppermost compartment, and a second flexible tube communicating at one end with the upper region of the lowermost compartment, the diaphragm being distended upwards by suction, applied by mount to the remote end of the first flexible tube and through that tube to the uppermost compartment, from a neutral state to which it returns when the suction is released.
Thus, with the user's mouth holding the remote end of the first flexible tube--which preferably has a mouthpiece--the extractor will hang down and leaves the user's hands free to handle or hold the patient (e.g. a new-born baby) and direct the remote end of the second flexible tube into its mouth or elsewhere.
When the user sucks, upward distending of the diaphragm causes suction in the second compartment which causes the first non-return valve to open, thereby drawing air from the lowermost compartment into the second compartment, whereby suction is created in the second flexible tube to draw mucus or other fluid from the patient. The user can then release the suction applied to the first flexible tube, and can breathe freely, the diaphragm being urged towards its neutral state by its own elasticity, thus closing the first non-return valve to prevent return of air to the lowermost compartment and the second flexible tube so that fluid drawn from the patient cannot be expelled therefrom, the second non-return valve being opened by pressure building up in the second compartment to allow air to flow therefrom to the atmosphere. Repeated sucking and releasing of the first flexible tube therefore results in a build-up and maintenance of reduced pressure in the lowermost compartment, to continued drawing of fluid from the patient and discharging of it into that compartment.
If the cycle is repeated until fluid in the lowermost compartment reaches and passes through the first non-return valve it cannot reach the first flexible tube because of the barrier provided by the elastic diaphragm. Likewise, the elastic diaphragm provides a barrier to the user's breath (and particularly any germs therein) reaching the patient or even the fluid drawn off from the patient. However, the lowermost compartment is preferably transparent, to enable its contents to be viewed and repetition of the cycle discontinued before fluid in it reaches the first non-return valve.
The three compartments may be provided in one unified hollow body, in which case the whole extractor is disposable. Alternatively, the lowermost compartment may be formed by a hollow member detachable from a hollow body housing the uppermost and second compartments, in which case the lowermost compartment and the second fiexible tube may be disposable, a fresh hollow member with a fresh second flexible tube attached thereto being fitted to the hollow body for re-use thereof. Yet again, a hollow member forming a disposable lowermost compartment, possibly to be used for storing or transporting a patient's fluid sample for analysis or testing, may be connected to the uppermost compartment by a connector incorporating the second compartment, rom which connector branches the second flexible tube, and which connector or a part th

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patent: 4655740 (1987-04-01), Ruhland
patent: 4787894 (1988-11-01), Turnbull
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patent: 4950247 (1990-08-01), Rosenblatt
patent: 4995123 (1990-11-01), May
patent: 5024613 (1991-06-01), Vasconcellos et al.

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