Abstract:
A method of removing body fluids from a patient and disposing of the body fluids, the method comprising the steps of (a) providing a container including a bottom wall having therein a drain, (b) providing a drainage device for automatically opening the drain and draining the contents of the container, (c) collecting body fluids in the container, (d) placing the container on the drainage device, and (e) operating the drainage device so that the drainage device opens the drain and drains the contents of the container.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 09/239,842, filed Jan. 29, 1999, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/877,771 filed Jun. 6, 1997, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,476 which is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 08/582,358 filed Jan. 5, 1996, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,255 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 01/547,759 filed Oct. 24, 1995, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,371, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/365,695 filed Dec. 29, 1994 issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,428. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to medical methods and apparatus for removing body fluids from patients and relates to disposing of the body fluids. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Suction canisters are used in hospital environments and particularly during various surgical procedures to store drained bodily fluid from a patient. In general, suction canisters are used in conjunction with a vacuum source which enables bodily fluid to be drained from the patient and stored in the canister. Each canister generally includes a receptacle for holding the bodily fluid, a lid with a vacuum port and a patient port, a suction conduit connecting the vacuum port to a vacuum source, and a patient conduit for conveying the bodily fluid from the patient into the receptacle through the patient port. When the suction conduit is connected to the vacuum source, a negative pressure gradient is created in the interior of the receptacle so that the bodily fluid is drawn from the patient and into the suction canister via the patient conduit. 
     Other types of containers, such as urine collectors and chest drainage devices, can also be used to collect body fluids. 
     It has become important in environments such as hospitals to eliminate the handling of and thus reduce employee exposure to bodily fluids. Currently, hospitals dispose of such bodily fluid in various ways. Bodily fluid can be poured from the suction canister down the hospital sink and into the sewer system, can be incinerated as a liquid or solid, or can be disposed of at an approved hazardous waste site. If hospital employees have to handle the bodily fluid, spattering of the bodily fluid can result in hospital employees contacting the hazardous fluid. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides improved methods and apparatus for removing body fluids from patients and relates to disposing of the body fluids. 
     More particularly, the invention provides a suction canister including a container having a chamber for collecting fluids, a patient port, and a vacuum port. The patient and vacuum ports communicate with the chamber. When a vacuum is created in the chamber via the vacuum port, fluid is thereby drawn into the container via the patient port. The chamber is partially defined by a wall, preferably the bottom wall, including a protrusion extending into the chamber. The protrusion defines a passageway having an open outer end and a closed inner end. The protrusion includes a thin portion such that the protrusion can be broken to provide communication between the passageway and the chamber for draining fluid contained in the suction canister. Preferably, the passageway has an axis, the wall is molded with mold parts movable relative to each other in a direction parallel to the axis, and the thin portion has a reduced thickness in a direction parallel to the axis. This makes it easier to control the thickness of the thin portion during molding, because it is easier to control the relative positions of the mold parts in the direction of parting than in other directions. The invention preferably also provides a drainage device for breaking the thin portion of the protrusion and draining the canister. 
     The invention also provides a method of removing body fluids from a patient and disposing of the body fluids. The method includes the steps of providing a molded suction canister including a molded-in drain, providing a drainage device for automatically opening the molded-in drain and draining the contents of the suction canister, collecting body fluids in the suction canister, connecting the suction canister to the drainage device, and operating the drainage device so that the drainage device opens the drain and drains the contents of the suction canister. 
     The invention also provides another method of removing body fluids from a patient and disposing of the body fluids, the method comprising the steps of providing a container including a bottom wall having therein a drain, providing a drainage device for automatically opening the drain and draining the contents of the container, collecting body fluids in the container, placing the container on the drainage device, and operating the drainage device so that the drainage device opens the drain and drains the contents of the container. The drain can either be integrally molded with the container or provided by a plug closing an opening in the container. 
     The invention provides a suction canister or container that is easily drained of potentially hazardous fluid without contact with the fluid. The suction canister when used in conjunction with the drainage device allows a convenient means of disposing of the fluid content. 
     Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following description, claims and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is perspective view of an apparatus embodying the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the suction canister and the drainage device; 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the suction canister connected to the drainage device; 
     FIG. 4 is a view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the tool of the drainage device breaking the protrusion of the suction canister; 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing an alternative construction and mold parts; 
     FIG. 7 is view taken along line  7 — 7  in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of the drain of a container that is a second alternative embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing the drain being opened; 
     FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view of the drain of a container that is a third alternative embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 showing the drain being opened; 
     FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view of the drain of a container that is a fourth alternative embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 showing the drain being opened; 
     FIG. 14 is a partial sectional view of the drain of a container that is a fifth alternative embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 15 is a view taken along line  15 — 15  in FIG. 14; 
     FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 14 showing the drain being opened; 
     FIG. 17 is a partial sectional view of the drain of a container that is a sixth alternative embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 17 showing the drain being opened; 
     FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a drain pipe that is the seventh embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 20 is a front view of the drain pipe; 
     FIG. 21 is a side view of the drain pipe; 
     FIG. 22 is a partial sectional view of the drain pipe and the suction canister in a first or ready position; and 
     FIG. 23 is a partial section view of the drain pipe and the suction canister in a second or draining position. 
    
    
     Before one embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the views, there is shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 an apparatus  5  embodying the invention. The apparatus comprises a suction canister  10 . The suction canister includes a container  14  which defines a chamber  18  for collecting drained fluid. The container  14  is preferably plastic (such as clear polystyrene) and is injection molded. The container  18  has an open upper end  22  and a closed lower end  26 . The container  18  is defined by an annular side wall  30  and by a bottom wall  34 . The bottom wall  34  includes a-molded-in drain formed by a protrusion  38  extending into the chamber  18 . By “molded-in” it is meant that the container  14  and the drain are formed in a single injection molding process. 
     As best shown in FIG. 2, the protrusion  38  defines a passageway  42  that tapers upwardly and has an open lower or outer end  46  and a blind or closed upper or inner end  50 . More particularly, the protrusion  38  includes a first wall portion  54 . The first wall portion  54  defines the outer end  46  of the passageway  42 . As shown in FIG. 2, the first wall portion  54  is not uniform in height throughout its entire circumference due to a curvature of the bottom wall  34 . However, it should be noted that the first wall portion  54  can be uniform in height throughout its circumference. Further, the height of the first wall portion  54  is preferably minimized to minimize the volume of fluid that remains in the-suction canister  10  after it has been drained. 
     The protrusion  38  also includes a second wall portion  58  that defines the closed inner end  50  of the passageway  42 . The second wall portion  58  defines an outwardly or downwardly opening, non-circular socket  62  at the inner end  50  of the passageway  42  as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The socket is preferably hexagonal. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, a thin or frangible wall portion  66  integrally connects the first wall portion  54  and the second wall portion  58 . As will be explained in more detail hereafter, the frangible wall portion  66  can be broken to provide communication between the passageway  42  and the chamber  18  to enable draining of the fluid from the suction canister  10 . The frangible wall portion  66  is small in size (preferably about 0.010 inch thick) to provide for ease of breakage when draining is desired yet is also strong enough to withstand the tensile and circumferential stresses when a vacuum is created in the chamber  18  when the suction canister  10  is being filled with fluid. Further, due to the placement and configuration of the frangible wall portion  66  and the socket  62 , inadvertent breaking of the protrusion  38  is minimized. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the suction canister  10  also includes a lid  70  which closes the upper end  22  of the container  14 . The lid  70  has therein a patient port  74  which communicates with the chamber  18 . Extending upwardly from the patient port is a patient port wall  78 . To enable communication between the fluid to be drained and the patient port  74 , a patient conduit  82  is affixed to the patient port wall  78  by forcing one end  86  of the patient conduit  82  over the patient port wall  78 . The other end  90  of the patient conduit  82  communicates with the fluid to be drained such as in a patient cavity  94 . When the patient conduit  82  is not attached to the patient port wall  78 , a cap (not shown) can be placed over the patient port wall  78  to prevent any fluid from leaking from the suction canister  10 . 
     The lid  70  of the suction canister  10  also includes a vacuum port  98  which communicates with the chamber  18  via a filter (not shown). The filter can be, for example, a hydrophobic filter. Extending upwardly from the vacuum port  98  is a vacuum port wall  102 . To enable a vacuum to be created in the chamber  18  of the suction canister  10 , the vacuum port  98  communicates with a vacuum source  106  via a suction conduit  110 . The suction conduit  110  is affixed to the vacuum port wall  102  by forcing one end  114  of the suction conduit  110  over the vacuum port wall  102 . The other end  118  of the suction conduit  110  is placed in communication with the vacuum source  106 . The filter prevents contamination of the vacuum source  106 . When the suction conduit  110  is not attached to the vacuum port wall  102 , a cap (not shown) can be placed over the vacuum port wall  102  to prevent any fluid from leaking from the suction canister  10 . 
     The suction canister  10  is used in the collection of fluids as follows. One end  114  of the suction conduit  110  is affixed to the vacuum port wall  102  as previously described and the other end  118  is placed in communication with the vacuum source  106 . One end  86  of the patient conduit  82  is affixed to the patient port wall  78  as previously described and the other end  90  is placed in communication with the fluid to be drained such as in the patient cavity  94 . When the vacuum source  106  is on, a vacuum is created in the chamber  18  of the container  14  such that fluid is drawn from the patient cavity  94 , through the patient conduit  82  and into the container  14  via the patient port  74 . 
     When the container  14  is filled with fluid or fluid no longer needs to be collected, the patient conduit  82  and the suction conduit  110  can be detached from the lid  70  of the suction canister  10 . The caps can then be placed on the patient port wall  78  and the vacuum port wall  114  as previously described to prevent fluid from leaking from the container  14 . The suction canister  10  can then be stored until the suction canister is to be drained of its fluid contents. 
     The apparatus  5  also comprises a drainage device  122  with an upwardly tapered drain conduit  126  and a movable tool  130  as shown in FIG.  1 . Preferably, the drainage device  122  uses water pressure and a venturi to create a vacuum that suctions the fluid from the container  14  and delivers this fluid directly to the sanitary sewer line. The drainage device  122  can include a device such as the Deknatel EDUCATOR™ manufactured by Deknatel, Inc. of Fall River, Mass. A suitable drainage device is also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,038, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     To enable the fluid in the container  14  to be drained, the drainage device  122  breaks the protrusion  38  as follows. When a suction canister  10  needs to be drained, the suction canister  10  is placed onto the drainage device  122  so that the drain conduit  126  of the drainage device  122  is inserted into the passageway  42  of the suction canister  10  as shown in FIG.  3 . The drain conduit  126  has a configuration that is complementary to the passageway  42 . A friction fit between the drain conduit  126  and the first wall portion  54  of the suction canister  10  provides a fluid seal. When the drain conduit  126  is fully wedged into the passageway  42  and the seal formed, the tool  130  is extended upwardly from the drainage device  122  and into the socket  62  of the passageway  42  as shown in FIG.  3 . The tool  130  has a configuration that is complementary to that of the socket  62 . Referring now to FIG. 5, further upward movement of the tool  130  (as depicted by arrow A) in conjunction with rotational movement of the tool  130  (as depicted by arrow B) breaks the frangible wall portion  66  of the protrusion  38 , thereby disconnecting the second wall portion  58  from the first wall portion  54 . The breakage of the protrusion  38  allows the fluid within the container  14  to exit the chamber  18  and enter the drainage device  122  via the drain conduit  126 . As shown by the small arrows in FIG. 5, the fluid flows through the conduit  126  around the tool  130 . The seal between the drain conduit  126  and the first wall portion  54  of the protrusion  38  prevents fluid from flowing anywhere but through the passageway  42  and into the drainage device  122 . 
     During drainage of the fluid from the suction canister  10 , the caps on the patient port wall  78  and/or the vacuum port wall  102  can be removed to vent the chamber  18  to aid in drainage of the fluid. Alternatively, a vent could be provided in the drainage device  122  to aid in drainage of the fluid from the suction canister  10 . 
     An apparatus  200  which is a first alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. Except as described below, the apparatus  200  is identical to the apparatus  5 , and common elements have been given the same reference numerals. 
     The apparatus  200  comprises a suction canister  210  including a container  214 . The container  214  is preferably made of clear polystyrene. The passageway  42  has an axis  226 , and the container  214  is preferably injection molded using mold parts  218  and  222  which are movable relative to each other or part in the direction of the axis  226 . In other words, the mold parts  218  and  222  part vertically as shown in FIG.  6 . This is identical to the manner in which the container  14  shown in FIGS. 1-5 is preferably molded. 
     It has been found that it can be difficult to control the thickness of the thin wall portion  66  of the container  14  because it can be difficult to precisely maintain the relative horizontal positions of the mold parts during molding. Any sideways or horizontal movement of one mold part relative to the other can have a significant effect on the thickness of the thin wall portion  66 , because the wall portion  66  has a reduced thickness in the horizontal direction. On the other hand, it is relatively easy to maintain the relative vertical positions of the mold parts, i.e., the spacing of the mold parts in the direction of parting. 
     For this reason, the container  214  has a thin wall portion  266  with a reduced thickness in the direction of parting of the mold parts  218  and  222 , i.e., in the vertical direction in FIG.  6 . Viewed another way, the thin wall portion  266  has a reduced thickness in a direction parallel to the axis  226 . The thickness of the wall portion  266  is preferably 0.010 inch, and can be relatively easily controlled. The wall portion  266  also has a radial or horizontal dimension that is substantially greater than the reduced thickness. This radial dimension is preferably approximately 0.060 inch. Variation of this dimension during molding is not critical. The thin wall portion  266  is easily broken when draining is desired yet is also strong enough to withstand the stress of a vacuum in the chamber  18 . In fact, it has been found that the thin wall portion  266  can be broken simply by pushing upwardly on the second wall portion  58 . It is not necessary to twist the wall portion  58  in order to break the wall portion  266 . 
     The container  214  also differs from the container  14  in that the socket  62  is star-shaped rather than hexagonal. Obviously, any non-circular shape can be employed. 
     It should be noted that the bottom wall of the container could be conical or sloped toward the drain for improved drainage. 
     An apparatus  300  which is a second alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. Except as described below, the apparatus  300  is identical to the apparatus  5 , and common elements have been given the same reference numerals. 
     The apparatus  300  comprises a container  305  with a bottom wall  309  having therein an opening  313  closed by a plug  317  inserted in the opening  313 . The plug  317  is preferably made of an elastomer or thermoplastic and snaps into the opening. The plug has therein a blind central passageway  321  with a closed upper end  325 . As shown in FIG. 9, the drainage device  122  includes a pointed conduit or hollow needle  329  that pierces the upper end  325  of the passageway  321  so that fluid flows out of the container  305  through the needle or conduit  329 . 
     An apparatus  400  which is a third alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. Except as described below, the apparatus  400  is identical to the apparatus  5 , and common elements have been given the same reference numerals. 
     The apparatus  400  comprises a container  405  with a bottom wall  409  having therein an opening  413  closed by a plug  417  inserted in the opening  413 . The plug  417  is preferably made of an elastomer or thermoplastic and snaps into the opening. As shown in FIG. 11, the drainage device  122  includes a conduit  429  with a closed upper end and side openings  433 . The conduit  429  pushes the plug up into the container  405  so that fluid flows out of the container  405  through the openings  433  and into the conduit  429 . 
     An apparatus  500  which is a fourth alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. Except as described below, the apparatus  500  is identical to the apparatus  5 , and common elements have been given the same reference numerals. 
     The apparatus  500  comprises a container  505  with a bottom wall  509  having therein an opening  513  closed by a plug  517  inserted in the opening  513 . The plug  517  is preferably made of a thermoplastic and snaps into the opening. The plug has therein a blind central passageway  521  with a closed lower end  525 . As shown in FIG. 13, the drainage device  122  includes a pointed conduit or hollow needle  529  that pierces the lower end  525  of the passageway  521  so that fluid flows out of the container  505  through the needle or conduit  529 . 
     An apparatus  600  which is a fifth alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 14-16. Except as described below, the apparatus  600  is identical to the apparatus  5 , and common elements have been given the same reference numerals. 
     The apparatus  600  comprises a container  605  with a bottom wall  609  having therein an internally threaded opening  613  closed by a plug  617 . The plug  617  is preferably made of a thermoplastic and threads into the opening  613 . As shown in FIG. 15, the plug has a hexagonal head  621 . As shown in FIG. 16, the drainage device  122  includes a tool  629  with a socket  633  that engages the plug head  621  and unthreads the plug  617  from the opening  613  so that fluid flows out of the container  605  through the opening  613 . 
     An apparatus  700  which is a sixth alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18. Except as described below, the apparatus  700  is identical to the apparatus  5 , and common elements have been given the same reference numerals. 
     The apparatus  700  comprises a container  705  with a bottom wall  709  having therein an opening  713  closed by a plug  717 . The plug  717  is preferably made of a thermoplastic and is glued, ultrasonically welded or otherwise secured over the opening. The plug  717  has a construction similar to the bottom wall of the container  214  shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Thus, the plug  717  has a first wall portion  541  a second wall portion  58  and a frangible wall portion  266  like those of the suction canister  210 . As shown in FIG. 18, the drainage device  122  includes a conduit  729  with a closed upper end and side openings  733 . The conduit  729  breaks the thin wall portion  721  and extends into the container  705  so that fluid flows out of the container  705  through the openings  733  and into the conduit  729 . 
     An apparatus which is a seventh alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 19-23. Except as described below, the apparatus is identical to the apparatus  5 , and common elements have been given the same reference numerals. 
     The apparatus comprises a drain pipe  802  as particularly shown in FIGS. 19-21. The drain pipe  802  includes a cylindrical wall  804  which defines a central passageway  806 . The wall  804  terminates in an end surface  808  such that the passageway  806  is accessible from the end surface  808 . The drain pipe  802  has therein three generally U-shaped recesses  810 ,  812  and  814  in the wall  804  and adjacent the end surface  808 . A first portion  816  of the wall  804  is located between the recess  810  and the recess  812 . A second portion  818  of the wall  804  is located between the recess  812  and the recess  814 . A third portion  820  of the wall  804  is located between the recess  814  and the recess  810 . Preferably, the first portion  816  includes more of the circumference of the end surface  808  of the wall  804  than do the second or third portions  818  and  820 , respectively. 
     The first portion  816  of the wall  804  does not terminate in a common plane with the second or third portions  818  and  820 , respectively. Instead, the first portion  816  terminates in a first plane  822  and the second and third portions  818  and  820 , respectively terminate in a second plane  824 . 
     In operation, the drain pipe  802  interacts with the suction canister  10  as follows. Referring to FIG. 22, the suction canister  10  is positioned on the drainage device  122  such that a drain  826  is positioned adjacent the drain pipe  802 . The drain  826  includes a cylindrical wall  828  that defines a drain port  829  that is preferably generally circular, however, other configurations of the port  829  could also be used. A cap or cover  830  over the drain port  829 . Preferably, the cap  830  is formed such that the material is thinner around the periphery  831  of the cap  830  than the remainder of the cap  830  or the wall  828 . 
     Preferably, the wall  828  and the cap  830  are integral with the suction canister  10  so as to define a molded-in drain. However, it should be noted that the invention is not limited to the use of a molded-in drain. Further, preferably the drain port  829  is located at the bottom of the suction canister  10 , however, other locations of the drain port  829  could also be used. 
     In a first or ready position shown in FIG. 22, the drain pipe  802  is spaced from the cap  830  and the cap  830  covers or blocks the drain port  829  to prevent fluid from exiting the suction canister  10  via the drain port  829 . 
     To open the drain  826  so as to allow the fluid held in the suction canister  10  to drain out of the suction canister  10 , the drainage device  122  dislodges or moves the cap  830  so that fluid can flow out of the suction canister  10  via the drain port  829 . In the preferred embodiment, the drainage, device  122  utilizes the drain pipe  802  to dislodge the cap  830 . Specifically, the drainage device  122  moves the pipe drain  802  into contact with the cap  830 . In the preferred embodiment, the drainage device  122  moves the drain pipe  802  upwardly to contact the cap  830  on the bottom of the suction canister  10 . It should be noted that the suction canister  10  could also be moved into contact with the drain pipe  802 . 
     As the drain pipe  802  moves upwardly, the first portion  816  is the first part of the drain pipe  802  to contact the cap  830 . Further upward movement of the drain pipe  802  begins to break or sever the connection between the wall  828  and the cap  830  at a location adjacent the first portion  816  of the pipe drain  802 . Continued upward movement of the pipe drain  802  continues to break the connection between the wall  828  and the cap  830  around almost, but not all of, the periphery of the cap  830 . 
     Because the second and third portions  818  and  820 , respectively, of the drain pipe  802  terminate in the plane  824  that is spaced from the plane  822  in which the first portion  816  terminates, the connection between the cap  830  and the wall  828  around the periphery of the cap  830  is not completely severed. Instead, and with reference to FIG. 23, a hinge  832  remains intact so that the cap  830  does not completely release from the suction canister  10 . As the drain pipe  802  ceases its upward movement, the second and third portions  818  and  820 , respectively, of the drain pipe  802  cause the cap  830  to pivot about the hinge  832  to a generally vertical position, termed the second or draining position. The drain pipe  802  holds or fixes the cap  830  in this second position and does not allow the cap  830  to move within the interior of the suction canister  10 . 
     With the cap  830  in its second position as in shown in FIG. 23, the fluid held in the suction canister  10  can drain through the passageway  806  in the drain pipe  802  then through the drainage device  122  to the sewer. An advantage of a cap that does not completely sever from the suction canister  10  is that the cap can be positioned and maintained in that position so as not to block the drainage of the fluid through the drain pipe  802 . If the cap  830  completely severed from the suction canister  10 , the combination of the fluid flow and suction can lodge the cap  830  over the drain pipe  802  and block or partially block fluid flow through the passageway  806 . However, it should be noted that if desired, the drain pipe  802  could completely sever the cap  830  from the suction canister  10  by further upward movement of the drain pipe  802 . 
     It should also be noted that, if desired and depending upon the plastic used to fabricate the suction canister  10 , the portion of the connection between the wall  828  and the cap  830  that will act as the hinge  832  can be injection molded with more plastic such that the hinge  832  is thicker than the rest of the periphery of the connection between the wall  828  and the cap  830 . A thicker plastic in the hinge  832  can reinforce the hinge  832  and further prevent the cap  830  from completely dislodging from the suction canister  10 . 
     While several drain arrangements and drain opening devices have been disclosed, it should be understood that other types of drains and other devices for opening drains are within the scope of the invention. 
     Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims, wherein the term “container” includes suction canisters, urine collectors, chest drainage devices and other types of containers for collecting body fluids.