Title:
CLOSED WOUND SUCTION SYSTEM
United States Patent 3809498
Abstract:
Apparatus providing a closed system for moving fluids in post-surgical operations and other instances where cleanliness, sterility, and absence of moving parts are desirable. The apparatus comprises a pump device having incorporated therein a plate assembly which supports a collapsible looped tube with the tube being flow connected to passageways formed within the plate assembly so that the plate assembly and tube can be discarded after use. The looped tube is interposed between a removable pressure shoe and a plurality of rollers so that the rollers, when rotating, successively engage and collapse a marginal length of the tube and thereby force fluid contained therein to travel therethrough. The pressure shoe provides a curved surface against which the rollers may press the looped collapsible tube; provides an attachment means for maintaining the plate member properly positioned relative to the remainder of the apparatus; and, also provides a housing within which the tubing and rollers are protected.
US Patent References:
Pumps
Ferrari et al. - December 1958 - 2865303
PERISTALTIC PUMP
Natelson - June 1973 - 3740173
Pumps
Ferrari et al. - December 1958 - 2865303
PERISTALTIC PUMP
Natelson - June 1973 - 3740173
Inventors:
Lewis Jr., Royce C. (Lubbock, TX)
Martin, Kelsey (Azle, TX)
Martin, Kelsey (Azle, TX)
Application Number:
05/315604
Publication Date:
05/07/1974
Filing Date:
12/15/1972
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
417/477.100
International Classes:
A61M1/00; F04B43/12; F04B21/00; F04B43/08; F04B43/12
Field of Search:
417/477,476,475,278,63 116/70
Primary Examiner:
Croyle, Carlton R.
Assistant Examiner:
Gluck, Richard E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Bates, Marcus L.
Claims:
1. In a closed system type surgical evacuator device having sterile inexpensive fluid containing parts which may be discarded after use, the improvement comprising:
2. The evacuator device of claim 1 wherein said flow plate assembly includes a first and a second flow passageway therein, said first flow passageway having an inlet and an outlet, said second passageway having an inlet and an outlet;
3. A closed system type surgical evacuator device having a base, a prime mover, an upstanding support member affixed to said base, a plurality of rollers radially spaced from and rotatable about a common axis;
4. In a closed system type surgical evacuator device having sterile inexpensive fluid containing parts which may be discarded after use, the improvement comprising:
5. An evacuator device for removing fluids from a closed wound, comprising:
6. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said flow plate assembly includes means forming a first and a second flow passageway therein, said first flow passageway having an inlet and an outlet, said second passageway having an inlet and an outlet;
7. The improvement of claim 3 wherein one of said flow passageways of said flow plate assembly includes a chamber connected thereto, said chamber having deformable spaced opposed side walls, the area of one side wall being greater than the area of the opposed wall so that one wall moves in response to a pressure reduction being effected within the chamber; and, an alarm means responsive to movement of said one wall and arranged to
8. An evacuator device for removing fluids from a closed wound, comprising:
9. An evacuator device for removing fluids from a closed wound, said evacuator device comprising:
10. An evacuator device for removing fluids from a closed wound, said evacuator device comprising:
2. The evacuator device of claim 1 wherein said flow plate assembly includes a first and a second flow passageway therein, said first flow passageway having an inlet and an outlet, said second passageway having an inlet and an outlet;
3. A closed system type surgical evacuator device having a base, a prime mover, an upstanding support member affixed to said base, a plurality of rollers radially spaced from and rotatable about a common axis;
4. In a closed system type surgical evacuator device having sterile inexpensive fluid containing parts which may be discarded after use, the improvement comprising:
5. An evacuator device for removing fluids from a closed wound, comprising:
6. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said flow plate assembly includes means forming a first and a second flow passageway therein, said first flow passageway having an inlet and an outlet, said second passageway having an inlet and an outlet;
7. The improvement of claim 3 wherein one of said flow passageways of said flow plate assembly includes a chamber connected thereto, said chamber having deformable spaced opposed side walls, the area of one side wall being greater than the area of the opposed wall so that one wall moves in response to a pressure reduction being effected within the chamber; and, an alarm means responsive to movement of said one wall and arranged to
8. An evacuator device for removing fluids from a closed wound, comprising:
9. An evacuator device for removing fluids from a closed wound, said evacuator device comprising:
10. An evacuator device for removing fluids from a closed wound, said evacuator device comprising:
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
After a patient has undergone surgery, it is advantageous to subject the wound to a continuous suction so as to provide a positive drainage, in a manner which is broadly illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,115,138. Surgical evacuator devices of the prior art usually are limited in form to a compressible pump container fabricated from a resilient elastomeric material having corrugated side walls which form a suction chamber within the interior thereof. Opposed walls of the chamber are forced apart to provide approximately 0.5 psig pressure differential between the interior of the suction chamber and the atmosphere. A plastic tube is inserted within the wound itself and extended outwardly from the patient's body into flow communication with the suction chamber. From time to time, the accumulation of fluids must be emptied from the chamber, thereby bringing about an extremely dangerous condition in that liquid could be forced to back flow into the wound through the tube should the nurse or attendant inadvertently lift the suction chamber to a height exceeding two feet above the wound. Furthermore, it is possible for the patient to roll onto the suction chamber, thereby collapsing the container a sufficient amount to produce a hydrostatic head for the stated back flow to occur.
Moreover, the wound interior is always in direct contact with fluids which have previously been drained therefrom and sometimes the fluids have aged sufficiently whereby they will produce a deleterious physiological effect should they be flowed back into the wound cavity.
Others have proposed a pump apparatus of the closed loop type such as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 2,483,924. Apparatus of this type has the advantage of effectively providing a check valve within the flow passageway which interconnects the wound to the disposal vessel containing the accumulated fluids. However, pumps utilized in this type of system must be cautiously sterilized and reused because of the expense of the various pump components involved. Hence, the reuse of portions of the pump apparatus is undesirable for obvious reasons.
It would be desirable to have made available a closed system for subjecting a wound to a positive drainage which enjoyes all of the above attributes and at the same time avoids the practice of the beforementioned dangers. It would be desirable that such a system include a sterile packaged assembly of all of the components which are to be placed in the fluid communication with the wound, and that the packaged sterile apparatus would be sufficiently low enough in cost to permit it to be discarded after each use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An evacuator device or system for removing fluids from a closed wound, comprising, a base having spaced rollers or pressure exerting means journaled thereto, and a flow plate assembly removably placed about the support member, with the plate carrying a loop of collapsible tubing so that the tubing is disposed outwardly of a portion of the circumference described by the rotating rollers.
A removably pressure shoe releasibly holds the flow plate assembly into proper position relative to the remainder of the apparatus, and provides means for bearing pressure to be exerted against the tubing, thereby enabling the rollers to successively engage and collapse a marginal length of the tubing thereby forcing fluid contained therewithin to constantly travel therethrough with at least one roller always engaging a marginal length of the tubing. The pressure shoe also forms a closure means for the chamber within which the tubing is housed.
The present invention makes possible an inexpensive sterile flow plate assembly which can be discarded after each use. The plate assembly, as an added embodiment, includes a pressure sensing means incorporated therein so that a predetermined minimum pressure is effected upon the wound, and that a warning is evidenced should the evacuator device become inoperative.
Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a closed wound suction system having disposable fluid carrying components associated therewith.
Another object of the invention is to provide a pump apparatus having a disposable flow plate assembly which is held into position with a pressure shoe with the pressure shoe providing a curved wall surface against which the loop of collapsible tubing is pressed.
A further object of this invention is to provide a disposable flow plate assembly having pressure sensing means associated therewith which interrupts current flow to the pump motor and actuates an alarm when the pressure drops below a predetermined value.
A still further object of this invention is to provide improvements in sterile evacuator devices for removing fluids from a closed wound.
Another and still further object of this invention is the provision of improvements in pumps for transferring fluids in surgical operations where a continuous flow of fluid must be maintained under constant reduced pressure and sterile conditions.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a closed wound suction system which eliminates any possibility of back flow of fluids into the wound.
These and various other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description and claims and by referring to the accompanying drawings.
The above objects are attained in accordance with the present invention by the provision of a combination of elements which are fabricated in a manner substantially as described in the above abstract and summary.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a closed wound suction apparatus made in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of part of the apparatus disclosed in the foregoing figures, with some of the parts thereof being broken away and some of the remaining parts thereof being shown in section in order to better illustrate one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4 with some additional parts thereoof being schematically or diagrammatically included therewith;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged part cross-sectional view of part of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 11;
FIGS. 8, 11, and 12 are various part cross-sectional views showing some of the important features of the invention;
FIGS. 9 and 10, respectively, are side and bottom views, respectively, of part of the apparatus disclosed in the foregoing figures;
FIG. 13 is a side view of part of the apparatus disclosed in the foregoing figures; and
FIG. 14 sets forth an alternate embodiment of part of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIG. 1 of the drawings there is disclosed apparatus 15 which forms a closed wound suction system made in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus includes a main box-like enclosure in the form of a housing 16 within which various components of the apparatus may be sealed. The base 17 of the housing has an upwardly directed face to which an upstanding support member 18 is affixed. As best seen in the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, a removable flow plate assembly 19 is bottom supported by the base with the upstanding support member being received therethrough, thereby disposing most of the support member above the plate assembly.
pressure shoe 20, in the form of an inverted "U", forms a closure plate since it encloses the area between the two illustrated upstanding legs 21 and 22, the inner marginal edge portions of which are covered by the outer marginal edges of the legs 23. As seen in FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIG. 9, numeral 123 indicates one of the free depending terminal ends of a pair of spaced parallel legs. Each leg is disposed tangentially to and depend from the outermost circumferenetially extending surface of the pressure shoe.
Looking now to various ones of the figures of the drawings, it will be noted that the pressure shoe further includes a circumferentially extending inwardly directed enlargement 24 which is limited to approximately 180° of curvature. The inside circumferentially extending inwardly directed face of the enlargement terminates at the spaced edge portions or shoulders 25. The apex or uppermost portion of the pressure shoe is provided with a fastener means 26 which enables the shoe to be affixed to each of the upstanding legs of the support member by fastener 126. The specific details of the fastener and the fastener means may take on several different forms; if desired.
The beforementioned flow plate assemly has a longitudinal length defined by terminal edge portions 27 and 28. The plate is apertured or provided with a cut-out 29 of a size to freely receive the upstanding support 18 therethrough. Inwardly directed opposed lands or tubing holders 30, 32, respectively, are provided with tubing fittings 31, 33, respectively, for accommodating the opposed ends of a length of a deformable looped tubing which is flow connected thereto. The precise manner in which the tubing ends are affixed to the plate is considered a matter of choice or design expedient. A passageway 34' interconnects fitting 33 with an outlet fitting 34. A pressure sensitive bellows 35 is flow connected by means of passageway 36' to an inlet 36 and to the beforementioned tubing fitting 31.
As seen illustrated in FIG. 7-12, in conjunction with some of the remaining figures, pressure exerting means in the form of a plurality of rollers, one of which is seen at 37, are individually rotatably received or journaled to a shaft 38 with each of the illustrated rollers being spaced an equal distance from a centrally located shaft 39'. Plate 40 includes a gear disposed about a circumferential edge portion thereof for engagement with a drive gear 41 of an electric motor 42. An opposed plate member is received within a cavity 43 with the beforementioned shaft 39' being received within a counterbore 44.
The term "rollers" used herein is intended to include any device which can successively contact and collapse a marginal length of a looped tube so as to cause fluid contained within the looped tube to flow from an inlet to an outlet of the looped tube. The term "looped tube" as used herein refers to a collapsible tubular flow conduit of any cross-sectional configuration adaptable for use in a fluid pump of the instant type.
Downwardly disposed bracket 45 forms shoulder 46 for engagement with the upwardly directed face of the base. Aperture 47 receives gear 41 therethrough when the motor is properly bolted onto the motor mount plate.
Looped deformable tube 48 has the opposed end portions thereof flow connected to flow fittings 31, 33, with the beforementioned cut-out being located between the spaced tubing fittings.
As seen in the illustration of FIGS. 4 and 5, the beforementioned bellows housing 35 is provided with a weep hole 49 which flow communicates chamber 50 with the atmosphere. The central area of the housing is deformable so that one's finger can press against the housing and impart movement into the bellows for a purpose which will be more fully described later on in this disclosure. A large upper movable wall surface 51 is spaced apart from a smaller movable wall surface 52 so that when a pressure differential is effected between ambient and the interior of the bellows, shaft 53 is moved axially along it's longitudinal length and into engagement with switch 54, with the switch being illustrated in its deenergized or in-operative configuration.
The central opposed portions of the spaced apart walls of the bellows are brought together to form diametrically opposed outwardly opening cylindrical cavities 61, 62, with the lower cavity receiving the illustrated shaft therewithin so that the shaft moves therewith. Surface 62 of the bellows is free to move while surface 64 is anchored to part of the plate assembly.
Tubing 67 is flow connected to inlet fitting 36 with the remaining marginal end portion of the tubing being perforated and housed within the cavity of the wound so that flow communication is effected between the interior of the bellows and the interior of the patient's wound. Outlet fitting 34 is preferably flow connected to an expandable plastic bag 66 by the illustrated tubing. A container other than a plastic bag can be used if deemed desirable.
Looking now to the details of FIGS. 6 and 7, in conjunction with the remaining figures, the flow plate assembly is seen to be supported by the base, with the cut-out telescopingly receiving the upstanding support member and its appurtenances therethrough. The spaced apart legs 21, 22, are each counterbored to provide a cavity within which there is received the illustrated spaced apart opposed rotatable plates 55, 57. The plates are connected to one another by means of members 38 and 39, with shaft 39' being affixed to the spaced apart axially aligned bearings 58. Gear 56 forms an outer peripheral surface of plate 55.
In operation, the flow plate apparatus along with the flow tubing and container 66 preferably is made available in a sterile container or package so that the package can be opened under sterile conditions and the apparatus placed into its operative configuration by merely lowering the flow plate assembly into operative position upon the base with the upstanding support members being received through the cut-out. This step of the operation of assembly places the looped tube into proper relationship relative to the rollers, as seen in the illustrated position disclosed in FIGS. 6, 8, and 12. The pressure shoe is next lowered into operative engagement with the upstanding support member and fastened into proper operative position by means of the beforementioned fastener. The spaced apart legs of the support member now carry any load presented by the pressure shoe while the depending ends of the pressure shoe bias the flow plate assembly in a downwardly direction against the base.
The bag 66 can be placed within the container 70, if desired, and the marginal free end of the tubing 67 can now be placed within the cavity of the wound, using techniques known to those skilled in the art.
The free depending marginal end portion of tubing 67 is preferably provided with a multiplicity of radially spaced apertures and placed within the cavity of the wound by attaching a needle at the opposed end thereof to enable the plastic tube to be threaded subcutaneously from the wound cavity outwardly through healthy skin at a location removed from the incision. The needle is removed from the tubing and the tubing end is flow connected to fitting 36 while the wound is being sutured. This expedient leaves the perforated tube disposed within the cavity of the wound, thereby placing the interior of the wound in flow communication with the first passageway of the flow plate, yet completely isolating the wound from the ambient.
The motor of FIG. 5 is then energized by closing the illustrated switches whereupon the illustrated alarm will sound until a predetermined pressure is developed within passageway 36. The rheostat can be adjusted to regulate the rate with which the rollers describe a circle having an outermost circumference 137.
As seen in FIG. 9, the inner boss 24 of the shoe has a circumference described by dotted line 124. The space or distance between lines 124 and 137 is the required distance which causes the looped tubing 48 to assume a collapsed configuration, such as best seen illustrated at 148 and 248 in FIG. 12. It is essential that there be ample distance 148 between legs 23 and circumference 137 to accommodate the fittings which are attached to the looped tubing 48. As seen in the illustration of FIGS. 11 and 12, there is always at least one roller engaging and collapsing a marginal length of the looped tubing to thereby continuously force fluid contained therewithin to travel therethrough.
Those skilled in the art will now appreciate that the present apparatus provides for effectively isolating the stored fluid in bag 66 from direct communication with the wound via the passageway in tubing 67. Moreover, should bag 66 require replacement or emptying, the apparatus can continue to evacuate the wound while the bag is being changed, thereby eliminating any possible contamination of the interior of the wound.
By fabricating the flow plate assembly of plastic material, the tubing, bag, needle, looped tubing, and plate can be made rugged in design and yet low enough in cost that it can be destructively discarded after each use thereof.
In the modification of FIG. 6, the plate member has been shortened and the inlet 136 and outlet 34 disposed longitudinally relative to one another and to the plate.
In the modification set forth in FIG. 14, the bellows 135 has a lower face 152 placed into engagement with a ball 153 with the ball being captured against the upper face 17 of the base. Switch 160 having leads leading therefrom is actuated by movement of ball 153. So long as reduced pressure is effected at 136, lower wall 152 will press ball 153 in a downward direction to thereby actuate switch 160 which in turn is connected into the circuitry illustrated in FIG. 5. The bellows are attached to a flow plate assembly in the same illustrated manner of FIGS. 4 and 5.
The motor is actuated by closing the switch to the supply of current S and thereafter pressing down upon cover 35 so as to deform the bellows sufficiently to force the ball 153 against the actuator of switch 160. A slight pressure exerted by one's forefinger for a second or so is ample for energization of the motor. The pump will continue to run until the disconnect switch to the source is opened, or until some catastrophe causes loss of reduced pressure within the system.
Those skilled in the art, having studied the switch actuating apparatus generally indicated at 52 and 60 in FIG. 5, for example, will appreciate that the outer chamber 50 is in communication with the ambient by means of weep hole 49 while the inner chamber is in communication with the suction side of the pump. The movable walls 51 and 52 are unequal in size and accordingly a pressure differential effected across the opposed walls of the bellows will move the shaft 53 toward the switch assembly 60. This shaft movement is caused by the unequal wall areas together with the pressure differential thereacross. A reduced pressure within the bellows chamber pulls the opposed walls 51 and 52 toward one another. Since wall 51 is larger in area as compared to wall 52, it follows that atmospheric pressure forces the bellows to move toward the switch assembly upon a reduction in pressure being effected within the chamber formed by the spaced walls.
After a patient has undergone surgery, it is advantageous to subject the wound to a continuous suction so as to provide a positive drainage, in a manner which is broadly illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,115,138. Surgical evacuator devices of the prior art usually are limited in form to a compressible pump container fabricated from a resilient elastomeric material having corrugated side walls which form a suction chamber within the interior thereof. Opposed walls of the chamber are forced apart to provide approximately 0.5 psig pressure differential between the interior of the suction chamber and the atmosphere. A plastic tube is inserted within the wound itself and extended outwardly from the patient's body into flow communication with the suction chamber. From time to time, the accumulation of fluids must be emptied from the chamber, thereby bringing about an extremely dangerous condition in that liquid could be forced to back flow into the wound through the tube should the nurse or attendant inadvertently lift the suction chamber to a height exceeding two feet above the wound. Furthermore, it is possible for the patient to roll onto the suction chamber, thereby collapsing the container a sufficient amount to produce a hydrostatic head for the stated back flow to occur.
Moreover, the wound interior is always in direct contact with fluids which have previously been drained therefrom and sometimes the fluids have aged sufficiently whereby they will produce a deleterious physiological effect should they be flowed back into the wound cavity.
Others have proposed a pump apparatus of the closed loop type such as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 2,483,924. Apparatus of this type has the advantage of effectively providing a check valve within the flow passageway which interconnects the wound to the disposal vessel containing the accumulated fluids. However, pumps utilized in this type of system must be cautiously sterilized and reused because of the expense of the various pump components involved. Hence, the reuse of portions of the pump apparatus is undesirable for obvious reasons.
It would be desirable to have made available a closed system for subjecting a wound to a positive drainage which enjoyes all of the above attributes and at the same time avoids the practice of the beforementioned dangers. It would be desirable that such a system include a sterile packaged assembly of all of the components which are to be placed in the fluid communication with the wound, and that the packaged sterile apparatus would be sufficiently low enough in cost to permit it to be discarded after each use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An evacuator device or system for removing fluids from a closed wound, comprising, a base having spaced rollers or pressure exerting means journaled thereto, and a flow plate assembly removably placed about the support member, with the plate carrying a loop of collapsible tubing so that the tubing is disposed outwardly of a portion of the circumference described by the rotating rollers.
A removably pressure shoe releasibly holds the flow plate assembly into proper position relative to the remainder of the apparatus, and provides means for bearing pressure to be exerted against the tubing, thereby enabling the rollers to successively engage and collapse a marginal length of the tubing thereby forcing fluid contained therewithin to constantly travel therethrough with at least one roller always engaging a marginal length of the tubing. The pressure shoe also forms a closure means for the chamber within which the tubing is housed.
The present invention makes possible an inexpensive sterile flow plate assembly which can be discarded after each use. The plate assembly, as an added embodiment, includes a pressure sensing means incorporated therein so that a predetermined minimum pressure is effected upon the wound, and that a warning is evidenced should the evacuator device become inoperative.
Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a closed wound suction system having disposable fluid carrying components associated therewith.
Another object of the invention is to provide a pump apparatus having a disposable flow plate assembly which is held into position with a pressure shoe with the pressure shoe providing a curved wall surface against which the loop of collapsible tubing is pressed.
A further object of this invention is to provide a disposable flow plate assembly having pressure sensing means associated therewith which interrupts current flow to the pump motor and actuates an alarm when the pressure drops below a predetermined value.
A still further object of this invention is to provide improvements in sterile evacuator devices for removing fluids from a closed wound.
Another and still further object of this invention is the provision of improvements in pumps for transferring fluids in surgical operations where a continuous flow of fluid must be maintained under constant reduced pressure and sterile conditions.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a closed wound suction system which eliminates any possibility of back flow of fluids into the wound.
These and various other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description and claims and by referring to the accompanying drawings.
The above objects are attained in accordance with the present invention by the provision of a combination of elements which are fabricated in a manner substantially as described in the above abstract and summary.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a closed wound suction apparatus made in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of part of the apparatus disclosed in the foregoing figures, with some of the parts thereof being broken away and some of the remaining parts thereof being shown in section in order to better illustrate one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4 with some additional parts thereoof being schematically or diagrammatically included therewith;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged part cross-sectional view of part of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 11;
FIGS. 8, 11, and 12 are various part cross-sectional views showing some of the important features of the invention;
FIGS. 9 and 10, respectively, are side and bottom views, respectively, of part of the apparatus disclosed in the foregoing figures;
FIG. 13 is a side view of part of the apparatus disclosed in the foregoing figures; and
FIG. 14 sets forth an alternate embodiment of part of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIG. 1 of the drawings there is disclosed apparatus 15 which forms a closed wound suction system made in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus includes a main box-like enclosure in the form of a housing 16 within which various components of the apparatus may be sealed. The base 17 of the housing has an upwardly directed face to which an upstanding support member 18 is affixed. As best seen in the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, a removable flow plate assembly 19 is bottom supported by the base with the upstanding support member being received therethrough, thereby disposing most of the support member above the plate assembly.
pressure shoe 20, in the form of an inverted "U", forms a closure plate since it encloses the area between the two illustrated upstanding legs 21 and 22, the inner marginal edge portions of which are covered by the outer marginal edges of the legs 23. As seen in FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIG. 9, numeral 123 indicates one of the free depending terminal ends of a pair of spaced parallel legs. Each leg is disposed tangentially to and depend from the outermost circumferenetially extending surface of the pressure shoe.
Looking now to various ones of the figures of the drawings, it will be noted that the pressure shoe further includes a circumferentially extending inwardly directed enlargement 24 which is limited to approximately 180° of curvature. The inside circumferentially extending inwardly directed face of the enlargement terminates at the spaced edge portions or shoulders 25. The apex or uppermost portion of the pressure shoe is provided with a fastener means 26 which enables the shoe to be affixed to each of the upstanding legs of the support member by fastener 126. The specific details of the fastener and the fastener means may take on several different forms; if desired.
The beforementioned flow plate assemly has a longitudinal length defined by terminal edge portions 27 and 28. The plate is apertured or provided with a cut-out 29 of a size to freely receive the upstanding support 18 therethrough. Inwardly directed opposed lands or tubing holders 30, 32, respectively, are provided with tubing fittings 31, 33, respectively, for accommodating the opposed ends of a length of a deformable looped tubing which is flow connected thereto. The precise manner in which the tubing ends are affixed to the plate is considered a matter of choice or design expedient. A passageway 34' interconnects fitting 33 with an outlet fitting 34. A pressure sensitive bellows 35 is flow connected by means of passageway 36' to an inlet 36 and to the beforementioned tubing fitting 31.
As seen illustrated in FIG. 7-12, in conjunction with some of the remaining figures, pressure exerting means in the form of a plurality of rollers, one of which is seen at 37, are individually rotatably received or journaled to a shaft 38 with each of the illustrated rollers being spaced an equal distance from a centrally located shaft 39'. Plate 40 includes a gear disposed about a circumferential edge portion thereof for engagement with a drive gear 41 of an electric motor 42. An opposed plate member is received within a cavity 43 with the beforementioned shaft 39' being received within a counterbore 44.
The term "rollers" used herein is intended to include any device which can successively contact and collapse a marginal length of a looped tube so as to cause fluid contained within the looped tube to flow from an inlet to an outlet of the looped tube. The term "looped tube" as used herein refers to a collapsible tubular flow conduit of any cross-sectional configuration adaptable for use in a fluid pump of the instant type.
Downwardly disposed bracket 45 forms shoulder 46 for engagement with the upwardly directed face of the base. Aperture 47 receives gear 41 therethrough when the motor is properly bolted onto the motor mount plate.
Looped deformable tube 48 has the opposed end portions thereof flow connected to flow fittings 31, 33, with the beforementioned cut-out being located between the spaced tubing fittings.
As seen in the illustration of FIGS. 4 and 5, the beforementioned bellows housing 35 is provided with a weep hole 49 which flow communicates chamber 50 with the atmosphere. The central area of the housing is deformable so that one's finger can press against the housing and impart movement into the bellows for a purpose which will be more fully described later on in this disclosure. A large upper movable wall surface 51 is spaced apart from a smaller movable wall surface 52 so that when a pressure differential is effected between ambient and the interior of the bellows, shaft 53 is moved axially along it's longitudinal length and into engagement with switch 54, with the switch being illustrated in its deenergized or in-operative configuration.
The central opposed portions of the spaced apart walls of the bellows are brought together to form diametrically opposed outwardly opening cylindrical cavities 61, 62, with the lower cavity receiving the illustrated shaft therewithin so that the shaft moves therewith. Surface 62 of the bellows is free to move while surface 64 is anchored to part of the plate assembly.
Tubing 67 is flow connected to inlet fitting 36 with the remaining marginal end portion of the tubing being perforated and housed within the cavity of the wound so that flow communication is effected between the interior of the bellows and the interior of the patient's wound. Outlet fitting 34 is preferably flow connected to an expandable plastic bag 66 by the illustrated tubing. A container other than a plastic bag can be used if deemed desirable.
Looking now to the details of FIGS. 6 and 7, in conjunction with the remaining figures, the flow plate assembly is seen to be supported by the base, with the cut-out telescopingly receiving the upstanding support member and its appurtenances therethrough. The spaced apart legs 21, 22, are each counterbored to provide a cavity within which there is received the illustrated spaced apart opposed rotatable plates 55, 57. The plates are connected to one another by means of members 38 and 39, with shaft 39' being affixed to the spaced apart axially aligned bearings 58. Gear 56 forms an outer peripheral surface of plate 55.
In operation, the flow plate apparatus along with the flow tubing and container 66 preferably is made available in a sterile container or package so that the package can be opened under sterile conditions and the apparatus placed into its operative configuration by merely lowering the flow plate assembly into operative position upon the base with the upstanding support members being received through the cut-out. This step of the operation of assembly places the looped tube into proper relationship relative to the rollers, as seen in the illustrated position disclosed in FIGS. 6, 8, and 12. The pressure shoe is next lowered into operative engagement with the upstanding support member and fastened into proper operative position by means of the beforementioned fastener. The spaced apart legs of the support member now carry any load presented by the pressure shoe while the depending ends of the pressure shoe bias the flow plate assembly in a downwardly direction against the base.
The bag 66 can be placed within the container 70, if desired, and the marginal free end of the tubing 67 can now be placed within the cavity of the wound, using techniques known to those skilled in the art.
The free depending marginal end portion of tubing 67 is preferably provided with a multiplicity of radially spaced apertures and placed within the cavity of the wound by attaching a needle at the opposed end thereof to enable the plastic tube to be threaded subcutaneously from the wound cavity outwardly through healthy skin at a location removed from the incision. The needle is removed from the tubing and the tubing end is flow connected to fitting 36 while the wound is being sutured. This expedient leaves the perforated tube disposed within the cavity of the wound, thereby placing the interior of the wound in flow communication with the first passageway of the flow plate, yet completely isolating the wound from the ambient.
The motor of FIG. 5 is then energized by closing the illustrated switches whereupon the illustrated alarm will sound until a predetermined pressure is developed within passageway 36. The rheostat can be adjusted to regulate the rate with which the rollers describe a circle having an outermost circumference 137.
As seen in FIG. 9, the inner boss 24 of the shoe has a circumference described by dotted line 124. The space or distance between lines 124 and 137 is the required distance which causes the looped tubing 48 to assume a collapsed configuration, such as best seen illustrated at 148 and 248 in FIG. 12. It is essential that there be ample distance 148 between legs 23 and circumference 137 to accommodate the fittings which are attached to the looped tubing 48. As seen in the illustration of FIGS. 11 and 12, there is always at least one roller engaging and collapsing a marginal length of the looped tubing to thereby continuously force fluid contained therewithin to travel therethrough.
Those skilled in the art will now appreciate that the present apparatus provides for effectively isolating the stored fluid in bag 66 from direct communication with the wound via the passageway in tubing 67. Moreover, should bag 66 require replacement or emptying, the apparatus can continue to evacuate the wound while the bag is being changed, thereby eliminating any possible contamination of the interior of the wound.
By fabricating the flow plate assembly of plastic material, the tubing, bag, needle, looped tubing, and plate can be made rugged in design and yet low enough in cost that it can be destructively discarded after each use thereof.
In the modification of FIG. 6, the plate member has been shortened and the inlet 136 and outlet 34 disposed longitudinally relative to one another and to the plate.
In the modification set forth in FIG. 14, the bellows 135 has a lower face 152 placed into engagement with a ball 153 with the ball being captured against the upper face 17 of the base. Switch 160 having leads leading therefrom is actuated by movement of ball 153. So long as reduced pressure is effected at 136, lower wall 152 will press ball 153 in a downward direction to thereby actuate switch 160 which in turn is connected into the circuitry illustrated in FIG. 5. The bellows are attached to a flow plate assembly in the same illustrated manner of FIGS. 4 and 5.
The motor is actuated by closing the switch to the supply of current S and thereafter pressing down upon cover 35 so as to deform the bellows sufficiently to force the ball 153 against the actuator of switch 160. A slight pressure exerted by one's forefinger for a second or so is ample for energization of the motor. The pump will continue to run until the disconnect switch to the source is opened, or until some catastrophe causes loss of reduced pressure within the system.
Those skilled in the art, having studied the switch actuating apparatus generally indicated at 52 and 60 in FIG. 5, for example, will appreciate that the outer chamber 50 is in communication with the ambient by means of weep hole 49 while the inner chamber is in communication with the suction side of the pump. The movable walls 51 and 52 are unequal in size and accordingly a pressure differential effected across the opposed walls of the bellows will move the shaft 53 toward the switch assembly 60. This shaft movement is caused by the unequal wall areas together with the pressure differential thereacross. A reduced pressure within the bellows chamber pulls the opposed walls 51 and 52 toward one another. Since wall 51 is larger in area as compared to wall 52, it follows that atmospheric pressure forces the bellows to move toward the switch assembly upon a reduction in pressure being effected within the chamber formed by the spaced walls.