US4022218A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surgical suction tube
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-09-22
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Granted: 1977-05-10
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Expires: 1995-09-22
Abstract
Abstract A surgical suction tube for removing surgical debris from within a sterile surgical operative field that is highly resistant to clogging. A tapering transparent plastic tube forms a suction tip having a plurality of apertures at its small end and a tapered opening at its large end and is inserted in the surgical wound to be cleaned. A turbulence chamber having a generally circular transverse cross section, a bulbous central portion tapering to two smaller ends has one end inserted into the large tapered end of the suction tip and the other end connected to flexible plastic tubing that leads from the sterile field to a source of suction and debris-collecting elements. The suction appearing at the suction tip apertures draws debris into the turbulence chamber in which the air turbulence generated therein maintains particulate matter in the debris in a loose state, preventing frequent clogging. When clogging does occur, the tube can be quickly cleared by removing the tip and reversing the chamber with respect to the tubing.
Inventors
- 👤 Max F. Riddick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:59
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/84; A61M2206/00; A61M2206/10; A61M2206/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S604/00; Y10S604/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A surgical suction tube highly resistant to clogging for removing debris such as bone particles, blood, irrigating solution, and the like from an operative wound when connected to tubing supplying suction to the tube, comprising: suction tip means for inserting into a wound, said tip means having at least one opening therein through which the debris is drawn; and turbulence-generating means having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet normally connected to said suction tip means, and said outlet normally connected to said tubing, said turbulence-generating means utilized for agitating the debris to prevent cohesion or packing of the debris whereby the debris is caused to flow freely into the tubing, said turbulence-generating means being essentially symmetrical with respect to said inlet and said outlet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A surgical suction tube highly resistant to clogging for removing debris such as bone particles, blood, irrigating solution, and the like from an operative wound when connected to tubing supplying suction to the tube, comprising: suction tip means for inserting into a wound, said tip means having at least one opening therein through which the debris is drawn; and turbulence-generating means having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet normally connected to said suction tip means, and said outlet normally connected to said tubing, said turbulence-generating means utilized for agitating the debris to prevent cohesion or packing of the debris whereby the debris is caused to flow freely into the tubing, said turbulence-generating means being essentially symmetrical with respect to said inlet and said outlet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
193 words
A surgical suction tube highly resistant to clogging for removing debris such as bone particles, blood, irrigating solution, and the like from an operative wound when connected to tubing supplying suction to the tube, comprising: suction tip means for inserting into a wound, said suction tip means comprising a tapering circular tube having a large opening at one end and a small opening at the opposite end, said tip having a plurality of apertures disposed adjacent said small opening of said tube; and turbulence-generating means connected to said suction tip means, said turbulence-generating means utilized for agitating the debris to prevent cohesion or packing of the debris whereby the debris is caused to flow freely into the tubing, said turbulence-generating means comprising a chamber of essentially circular transverse cross section having a bulbous central portion and tapering from said central portion to two ends, one of said ends being of a size and taper to be inserted into said large opening of said suction tip for forming said connection, and both of said ends being of a size and taper to be inserted into the tubing supplying suction to said surgical suction tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
193 words
A surgical suction tube highly resistant to clogging for removing debris such as bone particles, blood, irrigating solution, and the like from an operative wound when connected to tubing supplying suction to the tube, comprising: suction tip means for inserting into a wound, said suction tip means comprising a tapering circular tube having a large opening at one end and a small opening at the opposite end, said tip having a plurality of apertures disposed adjacent said small opening of said tube; and turbulence-generating means connected to said suction tip means, said turbulence-generating means utilized for agitating the debris to prevent cohesion or packing of the debris whereby the debris is caused to flow freely into the tubing, said turbulence-generating means comprising a chamber of essentially circular transverse cross section having a bulbous central portion and tapering from said central portion to two ends, one of said ends being of a size and taper to be inserted into said large opening of said suction tip for forming said connection, and both of said ends being of a size and taper to be inserted into the tubing supplying suction to said surgical suction tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The surgical tube as defined in claim 2 in which said turbulence chamber includes a plurality of inwardly projecting spoilers circumferentially disposed about the interior wall of said central portion thereof for preventing laminar flow through said chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The surgical suction tube as defined in claim 2 in which said tapering tube and said chamber are formed from inflexible transparent plastic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The surgical suction tube as defined in claim 2 in which said tapering tube is bent near the center of its length, said bend forming an obtuse angle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The surgical suction tube as defined in claim 2 in which said tapering tube is bent near the center of its length, said bend forming essentially a right angle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The surgical suction tube as defined in claim 2 in which said tapering tube is bent near the center of its length, said bend forming essentially a 180-degree angle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
135 words
A surgical suction tube for removing surgical debris from an operative wound when connected to flexible tubing supplying suction to the tube, comprising: an elongate turbulence chamber having two ends and an essentially circular transverse cross section, one of said ends of said chamber removably connected to the suction-supplying tubing; and a tubular suction tip removably connected to the second of said chamber ends for inserting into an operative wound and drawing surgical debris into its interior thence into said turbulence chamber in response to such suction; whereby the occurrence of clogging of said chamber by debris becoming packed in said end connected to said suction tubing can be cleared by removing said suction tip from said second end, removing the tubing from said first end, and inserting said second end into said suction tubing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
135 words
A surgical suction tube for removing surgical debris from an operative wound when connected to flexible tubing supplying suction to the tube, comprising: an elongate turbulence chamber having two ends and an essentially circular transverse cross section, one of said ends of said chamber removably connected to the suction-supplying tubing; and a tubular suction tip removably connected to the second of said chamber ends for inserting into an operative wound and drawing surgical debris into its interior thence into said turbulence chamber in response to such suction; whereby the occurrence of clogging of said chamber by debris becoming packed in said end connected to said suction tubing can be cleared by removing said suction tip from said second end, removing the tubing from said first end, and inserting said second end into said suction tubing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The surgical suction tube as defined in claim 8 in which said turbulence chamber includes a bulbous center portion tapering inward from said center portion to said ends.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3100490A
Cited
US3885565A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-09 | 1980-11-08 | 1981-05-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-09 | 1984-11-08 | 1985-05-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-09 | 1988-11-08 | 1989-05-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |