Combined irrigator and evacuator for closed wounds

Claim 2

A combined irrigator and evacuator for use in bathing a wound with an irrigating solution and removing fluid from the wound, comprising: a. a rigid housing forming a chamber; b. means under bias for dividing said chamber into a pressure-irrigating section and a suction-evacuating section, said bias tending to reduce the volume of said pressure-irrigating section and increase the volume of said suction-evacuating section; c. seal means for preventing fluid flow between said pressure-irrigating section and said suction-evacuating section; d. access means providing fluid flow access to said sections; and e. means in said pressure-irrigating section for containing said irrigating solution.

Claim 3

The combined irrigator and evacuator as in claim 1 wherein said access means comprises an opening in fluid flow communication with said pressure-irrigating section and an opening in fluid flow communication with said suction-evacuating section, wherein said opening to said suction-evacuating section has an outwardly projecting tubular extension to permit connection in fluid flow communication with a fluid conduit means, and wherein said irrigating solution containing means has an opening in fluid flow communication through the opening to said pressure-irrigating section through which said solution can be expelled.

Claim 4

The combined irrigator and evacuator as in claim 2 wherein said opening to said suction-evacuating section includes a flow control means which permits the selective opening and closing of said opening.

Claim 5

The combined irrigator and evacuator as in claim 2 wherein said irrigating solution containing means is a flexible bag in said irrigating section.

Claim 6

The combined irrigator and evacuator as in claim 4 wherein said flexible bag includes a tubular extension projecting outwardly from an opening in said bag, said extension being placed through said access means to said irrigating section for connection to a fluid conduit means, the inclusion of said bag filled with said irrigating solution in said irrigating section displacing the chamber dividing means against bias thereby increasing the volume of said irrigating section and decreasing the volume of said evacuating section, the bias of said chamber dividing means tending to expel said irrigating solution from said bag through said tubular extension and increasing the volume of said evacuating section creating a suction pressure in said evacuating section.

Claim 7

The combined irrigator and evacuator as in claim 5 wherein said tubular extension from said solution bag is a continuous tube having apertures through the remote end thereof for conducting the solution from said bag to said wound, said tube being passed through said access means to said irrigating section and the remote end being placed in fluid flow communication with the wound.

Claim 8

A combined irrigator and evacuator for use in bathing a wound with an irrigating solution and removing fluid from the wound, comprising: a. a rigid housing forming a chamber; b. a planar, resilient diaphragm for dividing said chamber into a pressure-irrigating section and a suction-evacuating section, said diaphragm being secured at its edges to said housing such that fluid flow between said sections is prevented; c. access means providing fluid flow access to said sections; d. flow control means permitting selective opening and closing of said access means; and e. means in said pressure-irrigating section for containing said irrigating solution, said means having an opening in fluid flow communication through the access means to said pressure-irrigating section through which said solution can be expelled.

Claim 9

A combined irrigator and evacuator for use in bathing a wound with an irrigating solution and removing fluid from the wound, comprising: a. a rigid housing forming a chamber; b. a planar, resilient diaphragm for dividing said chamber into a pressure-irrigating section and a suction-evacuating section, said diaphragm being secured at its edges to said housing such that fluid flow between said sections is prevented; c. access means providing fluid flow access to said sections; d. flow control means permitting selective opening and closing of said access means; and e. means in said pressure-irrigating section for containing said irrigating solution, said means having an opening in fluid flow communication through the access means to said pressure-irrigating section through which said solution can be expelled.

Claim 10

The combined irrigator and evacuator as in claim 7 wherein said rigid housing consists of a base having a rim and a cover having a top wall which is adapted to be mounted on said base forming a chamber and wherein the edges of said diaphragm overlap said side walls and are secured to said side walls by said cover, said diaphragm preventing fluid flow between said sections.

Claim 11

The combined irrigator and evacuator as in claim 8 wherein a diaphragm retaining ring is included on the rim of said side walls for securing the edges of said diaphragm to the rim of said side walls preventing a fluid flow seal between said sections and permitting removal of said cover without affecting attachment of said diaphragm.

Claim 12

The combined irrigator and evacuator as in claim 8 wherein said side walls include a plurality of vertically spaced outwardly protruding ribs near the rim of said side walls over which the overlapping edges of said diaphragm extend and wherein said cover has a downwardly extending flange at its edges having an inwardly projecting rib which engages the outwardly projecting ribs of said one side walls to lock the overlapping edges of said diaphragm between said cover and said side walls and to securely attach said cover to said base.

Claim 13

The combined irrigator and evacuator as in claim 7 wherein said access means includes at least one port providing fluid flow communication with said irrigating section and includes an inlet port and an outlet port providing fluid flow communication with said evacuating section, and wherein each of said inlet and outlet ports includes a flow control means to permit selective opening and closing of said ports.

Claim 14

The combined irrigator and evacuator as in claim 11 wherein said evacuating section inlet port has means for receiving fluid conduit means in fluid flow communication.

Claim 15

The combined irrigator and evacuator as in claim 11 wherein said flow control means on said evacuating section outlet port is a removable cap, and wherein said flow control means on said evacuating section inlet port permits fluid flow into said evacuating section and prevents expulsion of fluid from said section through said inlet port.

Claim 16

The combined irrigator and evacuator as in claim 13 wherein said flow control means on said evacuating section inlet port includes a check valve and a shut-off valve.

Claim 17

A combined irrigator and evacuator for use in bathing a wound with an irrigating solution and removing fluid from the wound, comprising: a. a rigid housing forming a chamber; b. a resilient diaphragm for dividing said chamber into a pressure-irrigating section and a suction-evacuating section, said diaphragm being secured at its edges to said housing such that fluid flow between said sections is prevented; c. access means providing fluid flow access to said sections; d. a flexible bag in said pressure-irrigating section, said bag containing an irrigating solution and having a means through which said solution can be expelled; and e. a flow control means for selectively permitting and preventing fluid flow through said access means.

Claim 18

A combined irrigator and evacuator for use in bathing a wound with an irrigating solution and removing fluid from the wound, comprising: a. a rigid housing forming a chamber; b. a resilient diaphragm for dividing said chamber into a pressure-irrigating section and a suction-evacuating section, said diaphragm being secured at its edges to said housing such that fluid flow between said sections is prevented; c. access means providing fluid flow access to said sections; d. a flexible bag in said pressure-irrigating section, said bag containing an irrigating solution and having a means through which said solution can be expelled; and e. a flow control means for selectively permitting and preventing fluid flow through said access means.

Claim 19

The combined irrigator and evacuator as in claim 15 wherein said flexible bag includes a tubular extension projecting outwardly from an opening in said bag and includes a means for selectively obturating fluid flow through said tubular extension, said extension being placed through said access means to said irrigating section for connection to a fluid conduit means, the inclusion of said bag in said irrigating section displacing said diaphragm thereby increasing the volume of said irrigating section and decreasing the volume of said evacuating section, the resiliency of said diaphragm tending to expel said irrigating solution from said bag through said tubular extension and increasing the volume of said evacuating section creating a suction pressure in said evacuating section.

Claim 20

A combined irrigator and evacuator for simultaneously bathing a wound with an irrigating fluid and removing fluids from the wound, comprising: a. a rigid housing consisting of a base having a first end wall and side walls and a cover having a second end wall which is adapted to be mounted on said base forming a chamber therein, said cover having an opening; b. a resilient diaphragm dividing said chamber into an irrigating section between one of said end walls, and said diaphragm and an evacuating section between said diaphragm and the other of said end walls, the edges of said diaphragm overlapping said side walls; c. a diaphragm retaining ring, the perimeter of which overlaps said side walls such that the overlapping, edges of said diaphragm are securely locked between said retaining ring and said side walls thereby preventing fluid flow between said irrigating and evacuating sections, said diaphragm retaining ring being mounted to said side walls permitting the removal of said cover without affecting the attachment of said diaphragm to said side walls; d. a flexible bag containing irrigating solution in said irrigating section, said bag having a tubular extension projecting outwardly through said opening in said cover for connection to a fluid conduit means and including a means for obturating fluid flow through said extension, the inclusion of said bag in said irrigating section stretching said diaphragm; e. an inlet and an outlet opening through said housing communicating with said evacuating section; f. an outwardly extending tubular extension from said inlet for connection to a fluid conduit means and one-way flow control means to permit introduction of fluid into said evacuating section through said inlet and preventing expulsion of fluid from said evacuating section through said inlet; and g. a removable cap adapted to be placed on the outlet to selectively permit expulsion of fluid from said evacuating section.

Claim 21

A combined irrigator and evacuator for simultaneously bathing a wound with an irrigating fluid and removing fluids from the wound, comprising: a. a rigid housing consisting of a base having a first end wall and side walls and a cover having a second end wall which is adapted to be mounted on said base forming a chamber therein, said cover having an opening; b. a resilient diaphragm dividing said chamber into an irrigating section between one of said end walls, and said diaphragm and an evacuating section between said diaphragm and the other of said end walls, the edges of said diaphragm overlapping said side walls; c. a diaphragm retaining ring, the perimeter of which overlaps said side walls such that the overlapping, edges of said diaphragm are securely locked between said retaining ring and said side walls thereby preventing fluid flow between said irrigating and evacuating sections, said diaphragm retaining ring being mounted to said side walls permitting the removal of said cover without affecting the attachment of said diaphragm to said side walls; d. a flexible bag containing irrigating solution in said irrigating section, said bag having a tubular extension projecting outwardly through said opening in said cover for connection to a fluid conduit means and including a means for obturating fluid flow through said extension, the inclusion of said bag in said irrigating section stretching said diaphragm; e. an inlet and an outlet opening through said housing communicating with said evacuating section; f. an outwardly extending tubular extension from said inlet for connection to a fluid conduit means and one-way flow control means to permit introduction of fluid into said evacuating section through said inlet and preventing expulsion of fluid from said evacuating section through said inlet; and g. a removable cap adapted to be placed on the outlet to selectively permit expulsion of fluid from said evacuating section.

Claim 22

The combined irrigator and evacuator as in claim 17 wherein said tubular extension from said flexible plastic bag is a continuous tube having apertures at the remote end thereof for conducting solution from said bag to said wound, and wherein a flow control means is mounted on said tube to control flow through said tube.

Claim 23

The combined irrigator and evacuator as in claim 18 wherein said one-way flow control means also includes a shut-off valve.