Control unit for intermittent suction system

Claim 2

A control unit 12 for use with an intermittent suction device for withdrawing fluids from a patient cavity, said control unit 12 having an inlet for connecting to a source of vacuum 10 and having first and second outlets, characterised by (a) means 32 connected to the inlet for providing a signal alternating between vacuum and atmospheric pressure at predetermined intervals, (b) first and second passage means 42, 50 receiving said alternating signal and transmitting said signal to first and second outlets. (c) means 48 in said second passage means 50 to delay by a predetermined amount of time, the time between said first passage 42 sensing said signal changing from vacuum to atmospheric pressure and the time said change in signal is transmitted to said second outlet.

Claim 3

A control unit as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that said first passage means 42 includes a regulator 40 to set the vacuum level of signal reaching said first outlet.

Claim 4

A control unit 12 for use with an intermittent suction device for withdrawing fluids from a patient cavity, said control unit having an inlet for connecting to a source of vacuum 10 and having first and second outlets, (a) an intermittent suction unit 32 connected to said inlet and having an outlet, said intermittent suction unit adapted to provide a signal at its outlet alternating at predetermined intervals between vacuum and atmospheric pressure, (b) first passage means 42 connecting said alternating vacuum/atmospheric pressure signal from said outlet of said intermittent suction unit 32 to said first outlet of said control unit, (c) said first passage means 42 having a regulator 40 to control the level of vacuum delivered to said first outlet, (d) second passage means 50 connecting said alternating vacuum/atmospheric pressure signal from said outlet of said intermittent suction unit 32 to said second outlet, (e) pause valve means 48 in said second passage means comprising a housing 52 having an inlet 54 and an outlet 56, said pause valve 48 having means to cause a predetermined delay in the time said pause valve inlet 54 senses a change in the signal from said intermittent suction unit vacuum to atmospheric pressure and the time said pause valve outlet signal changes from vacuum to atmospheric pressure.

Claim 5

A control unit 12 for use with an intermittent suction device for withdrawing fluids from a patient cavity, said control unit having an inlet for connecting to a source of vacuum 10 and having first and second outlets, (a) an intermittent suction unit 32 connected to said inlet and having an outlet, said intermittent suction unit adapted to provide a signal at its outlet alternating at predetermined intervals between vacuum and atmospheric pressure, (b) first passage means 42 connecting said alternating vacuum/atmospheric pressure signal from said outlet of said intermittent suction unit 32 to said first outlet of said control unit, (c) said first passage means 42 having a regulator 40 to control the level of vacuum delivered to said first outlet, (d) second passage means 50 connecting said alternating vacuum/atmospheric pressure signal from said outlet of said intermittent suction unit 32 to said second outlet, (e) pause valve means 48 in said second passage means comprising a housing 52 having an inlet 54 and an outlet 56, said pause valve 48 having means to cause a predetermined delay in the time said pause valve inlet 54 senses a change in the signal from said intermittent suction unit vacuum to atmospheric pressure and the time said pause valve outlet signal changes from vacuum to atmospheric pressure.

Claim 6

A pause valve 48 comprising a housing 52 having an inlet 54 for receiving a signal that changes from vacuum to atmospheric pressure and outlet 56 for providing a signal, characterised by (a) a valve means in said housing 52 intermediate said inlet 54 and said outlet 52 and having a valve seat 60 and a moveable valve member 58 adapted to move between open and closed positions with respect to said valve seat 60, said moveable valve member 58 being biased toward its open position, (b) first and second control chambers 70, 68 formed on opposite sides of said moveable valve member 58 acting upon said valve member, said first control chamber 70 being connected to said inlet 54, both of said control chambers being balanced at vacuum when said received signal is at vacuum, (c) said first and second control chambers 70, 68 being fluidly connected by a restricted passage means 80, said restricted passage containing a reservoir 82, (d) said moveable valve member 58 adapted to overcome said bias to close said valve responsive to the presence of atmospheric pressure in said first control chamber 70 upon said received signal changes from vacuum to atmospheric pressure while retaining vacuum in said second control chamber 68 and at said outlet 56, (e) means to allow atmospheric pressure to bleed at a predetermined rate through said restricted passage means 80 from said first control chamber 70 to said second control chamber 68, (f) means responsive to said second control chamber 68 reaching atmospheric pressure balancing said control chambers to cause said bias 86 to move said moveable valve member 58 to the open position allowing atmospheric pressure from said inlet 54 to reach said outlet 56.

Claim 7

A pause valve 48 comprising a housing 52 having an inlet 54 for receiving a signal that changes from vacuum to atmospheric pressure and outlet 56 for providing a signal, characterised by (a) a valve means in said housing 52 intermediate said inlet 54 and said outlet 52 and having a valve seat 60 and a moveable valve member 58 adapted to move between open and closed positions with respect to said valve seat 60, said moveable valve member 58 being biased toward its open position, (b) first and second control chambers 70, 68 formed on opposite sides of said moveable valve member 58 acting upon said valve member, said first control chamber 70 being connected to said inlet 54, both of said control chambers being balanced at vacuum when said received signal is at vacuum, (c) said first and second control chambers 70, 68 being fluidly connected by a restricted passage means 80, said restricted passage containing a reservoir 82, (d) said moveable valve member 58 adapted to overcome said bias to close said valve responsive to the presence of atmospheric pressure in said first control chamber 70 upon said received signal changes from vacuum to atmospheric pressure while retaining vacuum in said second control chamber 68 and at said outlet 56, (e) means to allow atmospheric pressure to bleed at a predetermined rate through said restricted passage means 80 from said first control chamber 70 to said second control chamber 68, (f) means responsive to said second control chamber 68 reaching atmospheric pressure balancing said control chambers to cause said bias 86 to move said moveable valve member 58 to the open position allowing atmospheric pressure from said inlet 54 to reach said outlet 56.

Claim 8

A pause valve as claimed in claim 4 characterised in that said restricted passage includes a fixed orifice 80 leading to said reservoir 82 from said first control chamber 70.

Claim 9

A pause valve 48 having an inlet 54 for receiving a signal changing from vacuum to atmospheric pressure and an outlet 56 providing a changing signal from vacuum to atmospheric pressure after a predetermined time delay characterised by (a) said pause valve 48 having a valve seat 60 between said inlet 54 and said outlet 56 and a moveable valve member 58 adapted to move to open and closed positions with respect to said valve seat 60, (b) first and second control chambers 70, 68 formed on opposite sides of said moveable valve member 58 acting on said moveable valve member, said first and second control chambers being connected by a restricted passage means, (c) bias adapted to move said moveable valve member 58 to its open position when the pressures in said control chambers 70, 68 are equal, (d) passage means 76 connecting said first control chamber 70 to said inlet 54, (e) said moveable valve member 58 adapted to move to its closed position upon the increase in pressure at said inlet 54 by a predetermined amount to cause sufficient imbalance between said first 70 and second 68 control chambers to overcome said spring bias 86, (f) bleed means to allow a predetermined rate of flow through said restricted passage 80 to cause balancing of pressures in said first and second control chambers 70, 68 over a predetermined period of time, (g) said spring bias 86 moving said moveable valve member 58 to its open position upon said first and second control chambers 70, 68 reaching balanced pressures to allow the pressure in said inlet 54 to be communicated to said outlet 56.

Claim 10

A pause valve 48 having an inlet 54 for receiving a signal changing from vacuum to atmospheric pressure and an outlet 56 providing a changing signal from vacuum to atmospheric pressure after a predetermined time delay characterised by (a) said pause valve 48 having a valve seat 60 between said inlet 54 and said outlet 56 and a moveable valve member 58 adapted to move to open and closed positions with respect to said valve seat 60, (b) first and second control chambers 70, 68 formed on opposite sides of said moveable valve member 58 acting on said moveable valve member, said first and second control chambers being connected by a restricted passage means, (c) bias adapted to move said moveable valve member 58 to its open position when the pressures in said control chambers 70, 68 are equal, (d) passage means 76 connecting said first control chamber 70 to said inlet 54, (e) said moveable valve member 58 adapted to move to its closed position upon the increase in pressure at said inlet 54 by a predetermined amount to cause sufficient imbalance between said first 70 and second 68 control chambers to overcome said spring bias 86, (f) bleed means to allow a predetermined rate of flow through said restricted passage 80 to cause balancing of pressures in said first and second control chambers 70, 68 over a predetermined period of time, (g) said spring bias 86 moving said moveable valve member 58 to its open position upon said first and second control chambers 70, 68 reaching balanced pressures to allow the pressure in said inlet 54 to be communicated to said outlet 56.

Claim 11

A pause valve as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that said restricted passage includes a reservoir 82 and a fixed orifice 80 leading to said reservoir 82 from said first control chamber 70.

Claim 12

A pause valve 48 comprising a housing 52 having an inlet 54 for receiving a signal that changes from vacuum to atmospheric pressure and outlet 56 for providing a signal, characterised by (a) a valve means in said housing 52 having a valve seat 60 and a moveable valve member 58 adapted to move between open and closed positions with respect to said valve seat 60, said moveable valve member 58 being biased towards its open position, (b) first and second control chambers 70, 68 formed on opposite sides of said moveable valve member 58 acting upon said valve member, said first control chamber 70 being connected to said inlet 54, both of said control chambers being balanced at vacuum when said received signal is at steady vacuum, (c) said first and second control chambers 70, 68 being fluidly connected by a restricted passage means, (d) said moveable valve member 58 adapted to overcome said bias 86 to close said valve upon the presence of atmospheric pressure in said first control chamber 70 when said received signal changes from vacuum to atmospheric pressure while initially retaining vacuum in said second control chamber 68, (e) means to allow atmospheric pressure to bleed at a predetermined rate through said restricted passage means from said first control chamber 70 to said second control chamber 68, (f) means responsive to said second chamber 68 reaching atmospheric pressure balancing said chambers to cause said bias 86 to move said moveable valve member 58 to the open position allowing atmospheric pressure from said inlet 54 to reach said outlet 56.

Claim 13

A pause valve 48 comprising a housing 52 having an inlet 54 for receiving a signal that changes from vacuum to atmospheric pressure and outlet 56 for providing a signal, characterised by (a) a valve means in said housing 52 having a valve seat 60 and a moveable valve member 58 adapted to move between open and closed positions with respect to said valve seat 60, said moveable valve member 58 being biased towards its open position, (b) first and second control chambers 70, 68 formed on opposite sides of said moveable valve member 58 acting upon said valve member, said first control chamber 70 being connected to said inlet 54, both of said control chambers being balanced at vacuum when said received signal is at steady vacuum, (c) said first and second control chambers 70, 68 being fluidly connected by a restricted passage means, (d) said moveable valve member 58 adapted to overcome said bias 86 to close said valve upon the presence of atmospheric pressure in said first control chamber 70 when said received signal changes from vacuum to atmospheric pressure while initially retaining vacuum in said second control chamber 68, (e) means to allow atmospheric pressure to bleed at a predetermined rate through said restricted passage means from said first control chamber 70 to said second control chamber 68, (f) means responsive to said second chamber 68 reaching atmospheric pressure balancing said chambers to cause said bias 86 to move said moveable valve member 58 to the open position allowing atmospheric pressure from said inlet 54 to reach said outlet 56.