Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of receiving fluids and disposing fluids from the body of a patient comprising: placing a disposable semi-rigid, burst resistive container having an open mouth inside a rigid outer canister; supporting said container from said canister such that a space is formed between the wall surfaces of said container and said canister; fixedly attaching a cover over said open mouth of said canister to form an integral unit; retaining said cover in place by coacting with said container; applying vacuum to the interior of said container; drawing fluid from the patient into said container; and removing said semi-rigid container and said cover as an integral unit to maintain a seal and avoid contamination when all fluid is received for disposal thereof.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of receiving fluids and disposing fluids from the body of a patient comprising: placing a disposable semi-rigid, burst resistive container having an open mouth inside a rigid outer canister; supporting said container from said canister such that a space is formed between the wall surfaces of said container and said canister; fixedly attaching a cover over said open mouth of said canister to form an integral unit; retaining said cover in place by coacting with said container; applying vacuum to the interior of said container; drawing fluid from the patient into said container; and removing said semi-rigid container and said cover as an integral unit to maintain a seal and avoid contamination when all fluid is received for disposal thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said step of placing said cover over said open mouth of said canister is done by a push-down action, and wherein said step of retaining said cover in place by coacting with said container is by snap-in fit, whereby to afford simple and fast assembly at time of use, and to enable a pre-use unassembled condition affording efficient space saving storage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein the step of removing said semi-rigid, burst resistive container comprises removing said cover and said container from said canister with said coaction between said cover and container remaining effective to afford removal of said cover and container as a unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The invention according to claim 3 wherein said container has an open mouth defined by a lip, and wherein said retaining step seals said cover to said container lip by means of said coaction, which coaction and seal are maintained during and after said removing step, and further comprising disposing of said cover and container as a sanitary sealed unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention according to claim 4 wherein said removing step is done by a simple snap-out action.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
167 words
A method of receiving disposing and storing fluids suctioned from the body of a patient comprising: inserting a disposable open topped semi-rigid, burst resistive container within a rigid outer canister, said container having sufficient rigidity to maintain its shape in atmospheric pressure but not being sufficiently rigid to maintain its shape in the presence of an internal vacuum; supporting the walls of said container away from the walls of said canister to define a space therebetween; applying a vacuum both to the interior of said container and to the exterior of said container in said space in order to maintain the shape of said container while applying suction to the patient; fixedly attaching a cover to the open end of said container around the periphery thereof; drawing fluid from the patient through said cover for reception and storage in said container; and removing said cover and said container as an integral unit to maintain a seal and avoid contamination for disposal after all fluids have been received.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
167 words
A method of receiving disposing and storing fluids suctioned from the body of a patient comprising: inserting a disposable open topped semi-rigid, burst resistive container within a rigid outer canister, said container having sufficient rigidity to maintain its shape in atmospheric pressure but not being sufficiently rigid to maintain its shape in the presence of an internal vacuum; supporting the walls of said container away from the walls of said canister to define a space therebetween; applying a vacuum both to the interior of said container and to the exterior of said container in said space in order to maintain the shape of said container while applying suction to the patient; fixedly attaching a cover to the open end of said container around the periphery thereof; drawing fluid from the patient through said cover for reception and storage in said container; and removing said cover and said container as an integral unit to maintain a seal and avoid contamination for disposal after all fluids have been received.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention according to claim 6 wherein the step of covering comprises covering said canister by a cover coating with the step of supporting.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention according to claim 7 wherein said cover coacts with both said container and said canister.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention according to claim 7 further comprising resiliently compressing both the sidewall and lip of said container during said covering step.