GB2262165A - Twin bottle clinical suction apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

In a body fluid collection system, a motorised changeover assembly automatically transfers the suction S and patient P connecting ports from a first suction bottle to a standby bottle at timed intervals. Release of the vacuum during transfer, causes the potentially dangerous aerosols in the bottle to subside. A liquid level sensor in each bottle monitors the full state and gives a visible and audible warning to change the full bottle for a fresh one. If both bottles reach the full state, both the suction and the patient ports are closed and a continuous audible and visual warning is given for urgent attention. A single rotatable valve body having suitable through-channels is driven by motor M to switch the suction and patient ports simultaneously (fig 2). Bleed channels (4, 5) are provided to release the vacuum. The timer circuit is variable to allow cycle times between 5 and 15 minutes. <IMAGE>

Description

A TWIN BUTTLE CLINICAL SUCTION APPARATUS WITH AUTOMATIC CHANGEOVER This invention relates to a means of resolving a problem when using clinical suction apparatus of either the single or the double bottle type with manual changeover.

Aerosols are generated when fluid enters a collecting vessel under vacuum. These aerosols may pass through the inline filter and pump to escape out to the environment through the pump exhaust when portable stand a lone suction units are used.

These aerosols may contain dangerous bacteria. It is the aim of the invention to reduce this incidence of infection. There are allied clinical benefits to be zurthur made as a result.

An art iL' t' defence against contamination by a Senior Micro-biologist published in the October 1988 issue of the periodical "Medical Horizons" highlihgted the problem outlined above with cases of five deaths in a London Hospital resulting from the sorced of infection being traced to contaminated suction apparatus.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described way of examle with reference to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 - A drawing of the automatic changeover assembly that transfers the patient and suction ports to the standby bottle when changeover is actioned.

Figure 2 - A drawing of the core and barrel details of the general assembly.

Figure 3 - A drawing of the circuitry involved.

According to the invention the patient and suction ports of each bottle B1 and B2 are connected through a motorised changeover unit rig. 1/3, B1 to R15 and B1P, and B tit B2S and B2P; and for each to join a common port for the suction S and the patient P. A vacuum release hole is related to the bottle on standby at the end of each rotation for the mild inrush of air to subside Lhe aerosol vapour and minimise its escape through the suction port.Changeover is made at regular intervals to use the vacuum release feature for subsiding the aerosol vapours. Benefits are also gained for the nursing staff by introducting a simple two wire liquid level detector to audibly and visibly learn w}iitn a bottle is full. The closure of all ports are automatically made when both bottles are full to the prescribed limits with a continuous audible and visible warning given of the emergency. By replacing the full bottle at the nurses convenience but before the second bottle is full results i in virtually continuous suction to the patient apart from the short time nominally 10 seconds to create the requirerd vacuum at each changeover action.

When any bottle is connected to the patient the motorised core 2 of barrel assembly 1 is aligned so that a continuous 6.5mm.dia.

smooth bore piping links the patient to the bottle thus making the assembly suitable for oethopaedic use The two holes associated with the patient through the motorised centre core 2 are at right angles to each other so that when one pair of ports are in line with a hole the other ports are closed. By drilling two radial holes at right angles in the barrel only three ports are necessary for the suction feed. This necessitates only one -Y- port connection for the two patient ports B1P and B2P to the patient port P. A simplistic drawing is shown on the left hand side of the circuit diagram of this port logic.

Two vacuum bleed holes 4 & 5 are shown in each patient port.

If preferred a core and barrel assembly could be used with wight ports ins Lead of the seven as shown in rig. 1 with identical details for the patient and for the suction ports.

TIt would required a second -Y- piece for communicating the two suction port to the suction port S.

A multivibrator circuit 9 controls which suction bottle is in use and operates wiLh a 5-15 minute cycle time. At the end of each time period orie of -t lit? two flip flops 12 or 13 changes state and causes the appropriate 1.e.d. lamp L1 or L2 to flash and initiate a tree second warning bleep via the timer 17 and speaker SP.

The flip flop sLage changing state initiates a pulse to trigger the appropriate flip flop 14 or 15 to start the DC Motor M. This will drive the quadrant gear 3 until the endstoy, Switch G is reachel-l defined by contacts at terminals T. At mid travel the two opto sensors 7 on the board assembly 6 generate an output from 11. At the end of travel of 3 the switch G resets the relevant flip flop and the motor M stops.This process is cyclic and continues until suction is no longer required or until the mandatory mechanical valve closes the suction port to the bottle.

By incorporating two wire probes into each bottle with their height set to determine the volume of fluid to be collected furthur benefits are to be gained from the invention. When the liquid level reaches the relevant probes in both bottles the AND logic responds with the opto sensor output 11 at the mid travel of the quadrant gear that reacts by stopping the motor n. Triac switch It; also by virtue of the AND output stops the local suction pump M1 if used instead of the distributed suction feed. The gear 3 stopping in mid travel effectively closes both suction and patient potc'ts - a desirable feature at this stage.

In addition a continuous audidle bleep and visual warning is given demanding immediate attention to the apparatus in the interest of patient care.

In instance where safe liquids are drawn quickly into the bottle the multi-vibrator can be switched off and one bottle will fill to the probe level when switch over to the standby bottle will take place automatically. Thi short audible warning and continuous flashing light operates until the bottle is changed which can now be at the nurses convenience and not during crises.

If the light ceases to flash after changeover then the procedure will repeat itself to complete the filling to the probe level.

When both bottles are full to the approved maximum two-thirde full state the motor M will stop as described above at the safe mid-way position and audible bleep and flashing light warning will continuously occur.

At the start of operations initial switch-on sets the appropriate flip flops from the basic flip flop 10 and the motor drives to a s bottle position.

The knob 8 is introduced for the system to be operated manually in the event on electronic or mains failure related to the unit.

Rubber 0-rings separate the ports along the centre-core axis and assist in the smooth turning. The assembly lends itself to low temperature sterilisation by carrying out the automatic changeover sequence using the sterilising fluid in place of the patient and continuing the cleaning action until both bottles are full and the ports closed to mid position as described above.

Claims (1)

1. A motorised changeover assembly that transfers the suction and patient connecting pipes from one suction bottle to a standby bottle during changeover, means for the transfer to take place over a regular time periods, means for stopping the regular transfer and to continuously fill one bottle if required, means for the release of the vacuum to the standby bottle, means using a liquid level detector in each bottle to audibly warn by sight and sound that the changeover has taken place, means for closing all ports when both bottles are full and give a continuous audible and visual warning for immediate attention, and means electronically fot -Eclilevint; the above.

A motorised changeover assembly as claimed in Claim 1 with a rotating cor that routes the patient and suction ports to either of two suction bottles effectively closing one port while opening the other during transfer.

A A motorised changeover assembly as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2, with means of releasing the vacuum in the bottle at the end of transfer 1. A motorised changeover assemblyas claimed in Claim 2 and Claim with means for detecting the liquid level in the bottle and signifying by flashing light and short audible warning that a bottle full state has been reached and can be changed at the nurses convenience.

5. A motorised changeover assembly as claimed in Claim 3 and Claim 4 with mean" of closing all ports at micl travel during transfer.

6. A motorised changeover assembly as claimed in Claim 4 and Claim 'i with meals for continuous audible and visual warning of the full state of both bottles to indicate urgent attention is needed.

7. A motorised changeover assembly substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 - 3 of the accompagnying drawing.