Suction drainage apparatus

Claim 2

Suction drainage apparatus comprising: first means defining a trap chamber having an inlet adapted to be connected to a catheter to be received in a body cavity to drain fluids therefrom, and an outlet, said chamber being adapted to serve as a trap foR body fluids drained from the body cavity; second means defining at least one additional chamber for receiving liquid and having a first inlet connected to said first chamber outlet, a second inlet, and an outlet adapted to be connected to a vacuum source; said additional chamber first inlet extending thereinto a distance sufficient to be just immersed in a liquid received in said additional chamber; said second inlet establishing communication from the interior of said additional chamber to the exterior thereof and extending thereinto to be immersed in a liquid received in said additional chamber a distance sufficient to establish a desired negative pressure; and means in said apparatus for preventing reverse flow through said first chamber inlet while precluding pressure buildup in said first chamber.

Claim 3

The suction drainage system of claim 1 wherein said additional chamber is comprised of two components each adapted to receive a liquid, a first of said compartments including said first inlet and the second of said compartments including said second inlet and said outlet, and means establishing a path of gas flow between said compartments.

Claim 4

The suction drainage apparatus of claim 2 wherein said preventing means comprises a third chamber adapted to receive a liquid, said third chamber including an outlet to the exterior of the third chamber above a desired liquid level therein and an inlet just slightly below the desired liquid level; and means establishing a gas flow path between said third chamber inlet and one of said first chamber and said first and second compartments.

Claim 5

The suction drainage apparatus of claim 3 further including means establishing a liquid flow path between said third chamber and said first compartment.

Claim 6

The suction drainage apparatus of claim 4 wherein said liquid flow path includes selectively operable valve means.

Claim 7

The suction drainage apparatus of claim 3 wherein said gas flow path is established to said first chamber.

Claim 8

The suction drainage apparatus of claim 1 wherein said preventing means comprises a third chamber adapted to receive a liquid, said third chamber including an outlet to the exterior of the third chamber above a desired liquid level therein and an inlet just slightly below the desired liquid level; and means establishing a gas flow path between said third chamber inlet and one of said first and second chambers.

Claim 9

The suction drainage apparatus of claim 7 wherein said gas flow path is established to said first chamber.

Claim 10

Suction drainage apparatus comprising: a chamber defining a body fluid drainage trap, said chamber including an inlet and an outlet; a catheter in fluid communication with said inlet; a vacuum source of the type that may fail in open or closed states; vacuum-regulating means; means establishing a gas flow path from said outlet to said vacuum source via said vacuum-regulating means; means in said gas flow path for precluding the flow of gas therein from said vacuum source to said cathether should the vacuum source fail in an open state; and means in fluid communication with said chamber for establishing a pressure relief path should the vacuum source fail in a closed state.

Claim 11

Suction drainage apparatus comprising: a chamber defining a body fluid drainage trap, said chamber including an inlet and an outlet; a catheter in fluid communication with said inlet; a vacuum source of the type that may fail in open or closed states; vacuum-regulating means; means establishing a gas flow path from said outlet to said vacuum source via said vacuum-regulating means; means in said gas flow path for precluding the flow of gas therein from said vacuum source to said cathether should the vacuum source fail in an open state; and means in fluid communication with said chamber for establishing a pressure relief path should the vacuum source fail in a closed state.

Claim 12

Suction drainage apparatus comprising: means defining a trap chamber having an inlet adapted to be connected to a catheter, and an outlet; means defining a pair of seal chambers, each adapted to receive liquid to a predetermined level, and each having an inlet at least just below said predetermined level and an outlet above said predetermined level; means defining a pressure regulating chamber adapted to receive liquid to a predetermined level and having a first inlet and an outlet thereabove and a second inlet therebelow, said outlet being adapted to be connected to a vacuum source; means establishing a first gas flow path from said trap chamber outlet to at least one of said seal chamber inlets; means establishing a second gas flow path from said one seal chamber outlet to said pressure regulating chamber first inlet; ane means establishing a third gas flow path from the other seal chamber inlet to one of said trap chamber, said one seal chamber and said pressure-regulating chamber; said other seal chamber outlet and said pressure-regulating chamber second inlet being open to the atmosphere.

Claim 13

Suction drainage apparatus comprising: means defining a trap chamber having an inlet adapted to be connected to a catheter, and an outlet; means defining a pair of seal chambers, each adapted to receive liquid to a predetermined level, and each having an inlet at least just below said predetermined level and an outlet above said predetermined level; means defining a pressure regulating chamber adapted to receive liquid to a predetermined level and having a first inlet and an outlet thereabove and a second inlet therebelow, said outlet being adapted to be connected to a vacuum source; means establishing a first gas flow path from said trap chamber outlet to at least one of said seal chamber inlets; means establishing a second gas flow path from said one seal chamber outlet to said pressure regulating chamber first inlet; ane means establishing a third gas flow path from the other seal chamber inlet to one of said trap chamber, said one seal chamber and said pressure-regulating chamber; said other seal chamber outlet and said pressure-regulating chamber second inlet being open to the atmosphere.

Claim 14

The suction drainage apparatus of claim 10 wherein said third gas flow path is established between said other seal chamber inlet and said trap chamber outlet.

Claim 15

The suction drainage apparatus of claim 11 further including means establishing a liquid flow path between said seal chambers.

Claim 16

The suction drainage apparatus of claim 12 further including selectively operable valve means in said liquid flow path.

Claim 17

The suction drainage apparatus of claim 10 further including means establishing a liquid flow path between said seal chambers.

Claim 18

The suction drainage apparatus of claim 14 further including selectively operable valve means in said liquid flow path.

Claim 19

The suction drainage apparatus of claim 10 further including a catheter connected to said trap chamber inlet and a vacuum pump connected to said pressure regulating chamber outlet.