WO1997028067A1

WO1997028067A1 - Suction instrument holder

Info

Publication number: WO1997028067A1
Application number: PCT/US1997/001365
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonathan L. R. Bradford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-02-02
Filing date: 1997-02-01
Publication date: 1997-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 1998-08-02
Also published as: AU1756997A

Abstract

An assembly (10) for holding a suction instrument (12) such as the wand-nozzle (56) of a tonsil suction aspirator comprising an elongated container (16) and a holder (14) having a base wall (20), top flange with an aperture (83) for receiving the container (16), and a bottom flange (18). The bottom flange has a raised, rounded protuberance (40) and the bottom (42) of the container (16) has a complementary cavity (44) such that as the container (16) is lowered through the aperture (83) itself centers and seats by the mating engagement of the protuberance (40) in the cavity (44). A key (80, 72) is provided on the holder or container with a corresponding slot (86, 74) in the other, fixing the container in rotation to display volume markings (70) thereon.

Description

SUCTION INSTRUMENTHOLDER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

Technical Field

This invention relates to a device for holding the aspirator end of suction instrument while it is not being used in the throat or mouth of a patient and, more particularly, this invention relates to an improved holder for a tonsil suction aspirator wand.

Technical Background

Many medical, dental and surgical procedures require removal of body fluids and tissue debris from the site at which the surgeon or dentist is operating. Aspirators are used when the access to the site is the mouth and trachea. Aspirators terminate in an elongated hand held wand, usually bent, comprising a handle portion and an elongated tube terminating in a nozzle. Holders are provided to hold the wand when it is not in use.

List of References

U.S. Patent Nos. Patentee

4,090,513 McPherson

4,597,551 Ciechanowski, et al.

4,672,703 Frazier

5,224,679 Code

Statement of the Prior Art

The McPherson patent relates to a storage device for a data pen. the device includes a holster-like cavity disposed at an angle and supported in a holder.

Ciechanowski, et al. relates to a holder for a vacuum wand for use in manufacturing electronic devices comprising an elongated cylindrical shell with a smoothly, tapered longitudinal slot. Frazier describes an open basket holder for holding an electrical device close to the side rail of a bed.

The Code patent illustrates an open ended holster for holding a medical or dental suction nozzle. The original wrapper for the nozzle is placed in the holster to prevent contamination.

The holster disclosed in the Code patent is difficult to use. The flexible wrapper must be removed from the wand intact and then inserted and clipped into the holster. A forceful insertion of the wand could rip or dislodge the wrapper causing contamination of the environment with possibly infectious body fluids and tissue. The flexible film of the wrapper can be pulled by vacuum into the openings in the nozzle.

Another type of suction instrument holster has recently been introduced that is much easier to use by nurses and respiratory therapists and does not entail the risk of contamination experienced with the Code device. The holster utilizes an elongated rigid, plastic cylinder which is slidingly mounted in a holder including a back plate, a top flange having an aperature to receive the cylinder and a bottom flange. A further support in the form of a U-shaped guide is provided intermediate the top and bottom flanges.

The cylinder is not subject to tearing or ripping and securely retains fluids and tissue draining from the nozzle of the aspirator. The rigid cylider readily slides into and mounts in the holder.

The cylinder can be rinsed and sterilized by liquid or gaseous sterilization agents such as Cidex or ethylene oxide. The cylider can be filled with antibacterial rinsing iquid while it is being used to hold the aspirator wand. The cylinder can be sterilized and reused or can be disposed to insure that there is no cross contamination from patient- to-patient. The suction instrument holder prevents accidental direct suction of skin or body of the nurse or technician which can lead to hematomas. The holder helps eliminate blockage of the nozzle for longer periods and is much more efficient to use. The nozzle is maintained in a clear septic environment which also contributes to minimization of cross-contamination by air borne infectious agents.

However, the cylinder is not positively mounted in the holder. It can freely rotate or can tip or slide since the flat bottom of the cylinder is mounted on the flat bottom flange and there is some play between the cylinder and the intermediate guide member. Furthermore, when the cylinder contains volume markings or lines, the markings can be rotated to the rear toward the back plate and will be hidden from view.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An improved suction instrument holder provided by the invention includes a holder which cooperates with the container to self-seat the countainer in a positive manner which prevents sliding of the container. One of the bottom wall of the container or the bottom flange contains a rounded protrusion and the other contains a complementary cavity such that as the container is lowered through an aperature in the top flange, the protrusion will enter the cavity and positively self-seat the assembly. The holder can also seat the container in a selected orientation such that the face with markings always faces away from the back plate of the holder.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a suction instrument holder which seats the container with a preselected orientation and prevents rotation of the container. One way to achieve preferential alignment is to provide a key on the inner edge of the aperature in the top flange and a slot on the container. The container will not lower into the holder unless the key engages the slot. The volume markings or other indicia will be disposed 180° from

the slot on the front of the container and the container can not rotate in the holder.

Another means of providing a self-aligning container is to provide a key-slot arrangement on the raised protrusion. The container will lower onto the protrusion and will self- seat or can be aided to seat the key into the slot by gently rotating the container.

The holder of the invention reliably and firmly hold the suction instrument without the container slipping or rotating. The volume markings are always positioned to the front of the holder. The holder is found to be so stable that the intermediate support member is no longer necessary.

These and many other features and attendant advantages of the invention will become apparent as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is an exploded assembly view of a first embodiment of a suction instrument holder according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded assembly view of the holder of Figure 1 shown in relation to a suction instrument;

Figure 3 is a rear view in elevation of the container shown in Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a partial assembly view of an alternative embodiment of a container and opposed lower flange. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to Figures 1 to 3, the holder 10 for the suction instrument 12 includes a holster stand 14 and a disposable container or flask 16. The stand 14 has a bottom edge 18, a vertical base 20 and a top flange 22. A Velcro or adhesive strip 24 can be attached to the back wall 26 of the base 20.

The bottom ledge 18 of the holder 10 contains a raised conical protrusion 40 and the bottom wall 42 of the container 16 contains a complementary conical cavity 44. When the container 16 is lowered through the aperature 83 in the top flange 22, the protrusion 40 will enter the cavity 44. Even if the protrusion 40 is off-center, it will center and seat the protrusion 40 in the cavity 44. The suction instrument 12 can be a unitary, light weight plastic member comprising an inlet end fitting 50 for connection to a hose, not shown, a handle portion 52, a bent tubular extension 54 and a nozzle 56 having peripheral slots 58 normal to the longitudinal axis of the adjacent tubular extension 54. The suction instrument 12 is in the form of a manually held wand that is positioned within a body orifice such as adjacent the tonsils and when not in use is placed in the container 16 by penetrating the slot 60 in the flexible cap 62 and lowering the instrument 12 until nozzle 56 is adjacent the protrusion 40.

The container 16 can contain volume markings 70. In order to face the markings 70 outwardly, the convex member 40 can have a mating slot recess 74 to register and seat the container 16 with the volume markings 70 facing outwardly as shown in Figure 4. When the key 72 and slot are engaged, the container is prevented from rotating. In another embodiment as shown in Figure 1-2, the holder stand 14 can contain a key member 80 of the top flange 22 mounted on the lip 82 of the aperatures 83. The container 16 will have a complementary slot 86 to receive the key 80 member and positively lock the container 16 in position.

If a hook and loop fastener such as Velcro is used, another Velcro strip 30 is provided for attachment to the wall 32 of the console of the suction device or other available wall surface. The adhesive films 34 on the strips 34, 30 can be covered with a peelable sheet, not shown, to protect them before attachment to the device and the wall.

It is to be realized that only preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and that numerous substitutions, modifications and alterations are permissible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An assembly (10) for holding a manually held suction instrument (12), comprising: an elongate container (16) for receiving said instrument (12) having a side wall, bottom wall (42) and an open top, and including volumetric markings (70) on a selected first face of said side wall and a generally longitudinal slot (86) on a selected second face of said side wall; a holder (14) having a base wall (20) including a top edge (22) and a bottom edge (18), a ledge connected to said top edge of said base wall (20) having an aperture (83) conformed for sliding receipt of said container (16) , said aperture (63) including a key (80) conformed for receipt in said slot (86) upon the sliding receipt of said container (16) in said aperture (83) and a flange (18) connected to said bottom edge of said base wall (20) ; and one of said bottom wall (42) and flange (18) including a raised convex, tapered protuberance (40) and the other including a complementary, mating concave cavity (44) , said protuberance (40) and cavity (44) cooperating to align said container (16) upon the receipt thereof in said aperture (83).

2. An assembly (10), according to Claim 1, further comprising: a lid (62) conformed for receipt in said top of said container (16) including a cutout for receiving said instrument (12).

3. An assembly (10), according to Claim 1, wherein: said instrument (12) is a tonsil suction aspirator.

4. An assembly (10) for holding a manually held suction instrument (12) , comprising: an elongate container (16) for receiving said instrument (12) having a side wall, bottom wall (42) and an open top, and including volumetric markings (70) on a selected first face of said side wall; a holder (14) having a base wall (20) including a top edge (22) and a bottom edge (18) , a ledge coonnected to said top edge of said base wall (20) having an aperture (83) conformed for sliding receipt of said container (16) and a flange (18) connected to said bottom edge of said base wall (20) ; and one of said bottom wall (42) and flange (18) including a raised convex, tapered protuberance (40) and the other including a complementary, mating concave cavity (44) , said protuberance (40) and cavity (44) cooperating to align said container (16) upon the receipt thereof in said aperture (83) , a key (72) disposed on one of said protuberance (40) or cavity (44) and a slot (74) conformed to receive said key (72) on the respective other one thereof.

5. An assembly (10), according to Claim 4, further comprising: a lid (62) conformed for receipt in said t p of said container (16) including a cutout (60) for receiving said instrument (12).

6. An assembly (10), according to Claim 4, wherein: said instrument (12) is a tonsil suction aspirator.