Physiological drainage system with closure means responsive to downstream suction

Claim 2

A suction control for a physiological drain wherein the control closes in response to excessive downstream suction, said control comprising: a body having an internal cavity, a first and a second flow port through the body into the cavity, a flexible diaphragm extending across the cavity; a first sealing surface in said cavity on said diaphragm; and a second sealing surface in the cavity adapted to make a closure with the first sealing surface between the flow ports as a consequence of the exertion of sufficient suction at one of said ports to cause at least one of said sealing surfaces to move toward and against the other, the diaphragm being imperforate throughout its entire area which lies outside of that portion of the second sealing surface which is occluded when the said sealing surfaces abut one another.

Claim 3

A suction control according to claim 1 in which the diaphragm 41 across the cavity to divide it into two chambers, there being a third flow port through said diaphragm interconnecting the chambers, and in which the first sealing surface surrounds the third flow port, and the second sealing surface comprises a wall of one of the chambers, each of the first and second flow ports entering a different respective flow chamber outside the area bounded by a sealing surface.

Claim 4

A suction control according to claim 2 in which a third sealing surface is provided which comprises a wall of the other of said chambers.

Claim 5

A suction control according to claim 3 in which at least one of said walls is flexible.

Claim 6

A suction control according to claim 1 in which the diaphragm extends across the cavity to divide it into two chambers, there being a third flow port through said diaphragm interconnecting the chambers, in which the first sealing surface surrounds the third flow port, each of the first and second flow ports entering a different respective flow chamber outside the area bounded by a sealing surface, in which a flexible complementary diaphragm extends across the cavity in one of said flow chambers, with one of the first and second flow ports entering the flow chamber between the two diaphragms, a surface of said complementary diaphragm forming a sealing surface, and a support member in the other flow chamber supporting the diaphragm away from the wall of the cavity.

Claim 7

A suction control according to claim 5 in which the support is tubular, axially aligned with the third flow port, and perforated to permit flow inside the support and through its wall.

Claim 8

A suction control according to claim 5 in which a vent passage interconnects the flow chamber entered by the other of said first and second flow ports to a relief chamber located between the complementary diaphragm and the wall of the cavity.

Claim 9

A suction control according to claim 7 in which the support is tubular, axially aligned with the third flow port, and perforated to permit flow inside the support and through its wall.

Claim 10

A suction control according to claim 8 in which spacer means prevent adherence of the complementary diaphragm to the wall of the cavity.

Claim 11

A suction control according to claim 1 in which the diaphragm extends across the cavity to divide it into two chambers, its sealing surface facing one of said flow ports and adapted to close the same, the other of said flow ports entering the same chamber as the said one of said flow ports.

Claim 12

A suction control according to claim 10 in which bias spring means is mounted in the chamber which does not receive the flow ports, and biases the sealing surface toward the first-named flow port.

Claim 13

A suction control according to claim 1 in which a pair of said diaphragms is provided, said diaphragms being substantially flat sheets laid against one another and sealed to each other to form an internal flow chamber when fluid pressure is exerted between the diaphragms, the flow ports opening into said flow chamber at linearly spaced-apart locations, each of said diaphragms carrying one of said sealing surfaces.

Claim 14

A suction control according to claim 12 in which a body surrounds said diaphragms to form a cavity receiving the same and permitting their distention by insertion of fluid under pressure.

Claim 15

A physiological drainage system provided with a control for resisting over-drainage as a consequence of downstream suction comprising: a drainage catheter adapted to drain fluid from a source region; a shunt tube to dispose of fluid collected by said catheter; and a suction control comprising: a body having an internal cavity, a first and a second flow port through the body into the cavity, a flexible diaphragm extending across the cavity; a first sealing surface in said cavity on said diaphragm; and a second sealing surface in the cavity adapted to make a closure with the first sealing surface between the Flow ports as a consequence of the exertion of sufficient suction at one of said ports to cause at least one of said sealing surfaces to move toward and against the other, the catheter being connected to one flow port and the shunt tube to the other; the diaphragm being imperforate throughout its entire area which lies outside of that portion of the second sealing surface which is occluded when the said sealing surfaces abut one another.

Claim 16

A physiological drainage system provided with a control for resisting over-drainage as a consequence of downstream suction comprising: a drainage catheter adapted to drain fluid from a source region; a shunt tube to dispose of fluid collected by said catheter; and a suction control comprising: a body having an internal cavity, a first and a second flow port through the body into the cavity, a flexible diaphragm extending across the cavity; a first sealing surface in said cavity on said diaphragm; and a second sealing surface in the cavity adapted to make a closure with the first sealing surface between the Flow ports as a consequence of the exertion of sufficient suction at one of said ports to cause at least one of said sealing surfaces to move toward and against the other, the catheter being connected to one flow port and the shunt tube to the other; the diaphragm being imperforate throughout its entire area which lies outside of that portion of the second sealing surface which is occluded when the said sealing surfaces abut one another.

Claim 17

A physiological drainage system according to claim 14 in which the shunt tube is provided with a check valve at a location removed from its connection to the control.

Claim 18

A physiological drainage system according to claim 14 in which a pump is connected into the system between the catheter and the control.

Claim 19

A physiological drainage system according to claim 16 in which the shunt tube is provided with a check valve at a location removed from its connection to the control.

Claim 20

A physiological drainage system according to claim 14 in which the diaphragm extends across the cavity to divide it into two chambers, there being a third flow port through said diaphragm interconnecting the chambers, and in which the first sealing surface surrounds the third flow port, and the second sealing surface comprises a wall of one of the chambers, each of the first and second flow ports entering a different respective flow chamber outside the area bounded by a sealing surface.

Claim 21

A physiological drainage system according to claim 14 in which the diaphragm extends across the cavity to divide it into two chambers, there being a third flow port through said diaphragm interconnecting the chambers, in which the first sealing surface surrounds the third flow port, each of the first and second flow ports entering a different respective flow chamber outside the area bounded by a sealing surface, in which a flexible complementary diaphragm extends across the cavity in one of said flow chambers, with one of the said first and second flow ports entering the flow chamber between the two diaphragms, a surface of said complementary diaphragm forming a sealing surface, and a support in the other flow chamber supporting the diaphragm away from the wall of the cavity.

Claim 22

A physiological drainage system according to claim 19 in which a vent passage interconnects the flow chamber entered by the other of said first and second flow ports to a relief chamber located between the complementary diaphragm and the wall of the cavity.

Claim 23

A physiological drainage system according to claim 14 in which the diaphragm extends across the cavity to divide it into two chambers, its sealing surface facing one of said flow ports and adapted to close the same, the other of said flow ports entering the same chamber as the other of the said flow ports.

Claim 24

A physiological drainage system according to claim 14 in which a pair of said diaphragms is provided, said diaphragms being substantially flat sheets laid against one another and sealed to each other to form an internal flow chamber when fluid pressure is exerted between the diaphragms, the flow ports opening into said flow chamber at linearly spaced-apart locations, each of said diaphragms carrying one of said sealing surfaces.

Claim 25

A suction control according to claim 1 in which the diaphragm forms a bounding wall of said cavity, and is so disposed and arranged as to shut off flow between the flow ports as a consequence of exertion of sufficient suction on the control.

Claim 26

A suction control according to claim 23 in which the said diaphragm forms an outer wall of the control.

Claim 27

A suction control according to claim 24 in which the control is generally circular in plan view, and in which a seat surrounds the second flow port at the center of the control, the diaphragm overlaying the said seat and the entry of the first flow port into the cavity.

Claim 28

A suction control according to claim 25 in which the diaphragm is fabric-reinforced.

Claim 29

A suction control according to claim 14 in which thE diaphragm forms a bounding wall of said cavity, and is so disposed and arranged as to shut off flow between the flow ports as a consequence of exertion of sufficient suction on the control.

Claim 30

A physiological drainage system according to claim 27 in which the said diaphragm forms an outer wall of the control.

Claim 31

A physiological drainage system according to claim 28 in which the control is generally circular in plan view, and in which a seat surrounds the second flow port at the center of the control, the diaphragm overlaying the said seat and the entry of the first flow port into the cavity.

Claim 32

A physiological drainage system according to claim 29 in which the diaphragm is fabric-reinforced.