Patent ID: 8361083
Filing Date: 2013-01-29
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A vacuum extractor for use by a physician in an obstetrical delivery, the vacuum extractor in suction communication with a vacuum source and comprising: an elongated hollow stem having a plurality of apertures serially positioned along its length; a cup supported on one end of the stem, an open end of the cup directed away from the stem, the vacuum source connected to an interior of the cup so that when the plurality of apertures is closed and the open end of the cup is brought into contact with a scalp of a fetus a vacuum secures the cup to the scalp of the fetus; and a handle member disposed on the stem, the handle member including: handle ears; and a traction-limiting element in arrangement with the handle ears and operative to open and close the plurality of apertures serially positioned along the length of the stem, wherein when no traction is applied by the physician to the handle ears the traction-limiting element blocks air flow from an ambient atmosphere through the plurality of apertures to the stem and when the physician applies traction to the handle ears, when a magnitude of the traction exceeds a predetermined value, the traction-limiting element is operative to sequentially open the plurality of apertures allowing an increasing flow of air from the ambient atmosphere to reduce the vacuum on the scalp of the fetus between contractions of a birthing process.