Vacuum regulator having selectable adjustment ranges

A vacuum regulator has a vacuum range controller and a manifold including an inlet opening, a vacuum source connection, and a bleed orifice. The vacuum range controller includes a regulator stem having a metering tip, a stem body, and an adjustment rod. The metering tip is selectively positioned against the bleed orifice. The vacuum range controller further includes a vacuum adjuster having an adjustment collar and a resilient member which are coaxially disposed on a portion of the regulator stem. An adjustment knob engages the adjustment rod for concurrent rotational movement therewith.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates in general to vacuum regulators. More specifically, the invention is directed to vacuum regulators for use with medical suction and aspirator devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Medical suction and aspiration devices are used to remove bodily fluids during medical procedures or emergency situations. These suction and aspiration devices often require adjustment of the vacuum level applied to a patient. It is desirable to allow an operator to control the vacuum applied to a suction tool during a procedure. The invention provides a vacuum regulator having a plurality of vacuum adjustment ranges. The vacuum adjustment ranges each includes an adjustment capability within the limits of a selected vacuum adjustment range.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a vacuum regulator having a manifold including an inlet opening, a vacuum source connection, and a bleed orifice. A regulator stem has a metering tip, a stem body, and an adjustment rod. The metering tip is selectively positioned against the bleed orifice. A vacuum adjuster has an adjustment collar and a resilient member that are coaxially disposed on a portion of the regulator stem. An adjustment knob engages the adjustment rod for concurrent rotational movement therewith.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, a suction device10having a housing12is shown inFIG. 1. The housing12is approximately one half of a complete housing structure where the other housing portion (not shown) is generally the complimentary or mirror image of the housing12. The two housing halves cooperate to orient and enclose the various components of the suction device10. The housing12may be formed in one piece or from a plurality of pieces if so desired. The housing12provides relative positioning and fixturing of a vacuum regulator13that includes a vacuum manifold, shown generally at16, and a vacuum range controller, shown generally at18. The housing can also position and secure a suction pump, shown generally at14.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the vacuum manifold16includes a first inlet opening20and a second inlet opening22. The first and second inlet openings20and22communicate through a manifold regulator tube24with the suction pump14, a vacuum monitoring port26, and a bleed orifice28. In an embodiment of the invention, either the first or second inlet opening is functional and the other opening is closed.

As shown inFIG. 2, a vacuum pump intake30provides a negative pressure communication between the suction pump14and one of the first and second inlet openings20and22. The strength of the negative pressure drawn in by, for example, the inlet opening20is adjusted and controlled by the vacuum regulator13. An intake orifice32is coupled with the intake30for selective fluid communication by an intake valve34. The intake orifice32may be a singular aperture or a plurality of apertures. The intake valve34is shown having a reed-type valve configuration, but any valve arrangement that can operate from a closed position to an open position to allow a generally one-way fluid communication between the suction pump14and the intake30may be used.

Still referring toFIG. 2, an exhaust port36is selectively coupled for fluid communication with a cooperating piston40and a cylinder42by an exhaust valve38. The exhaust valve38is shown having a reed-type valve configuration, but any valve arrangement that can operate from a closed position to an open position to allow substantially one-way fluid communication between the piston40and the exhaust port36may be used. The piston40and the cylinder42provide a variable volumetric cavity that draws in and expels a fluid, such as air. The piston40includes a seal44and a seal support46that cooperate to provide a sliding seal engagement against the inner surface of the cylinder42. The piston40is coupled to a motor (not shown) and a crank mechanism (not shown) by a connecting rod48. Though shown as a singular structure, the piston40and rod48may be separate structures, either rigidly, pivotally, or flexibly engaged together. Alternatively, the vacuum pump14may be a separate unit located outside of the housing12.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, the vacuum range controller18of the vacuum regulator13includes a regulator stem50having a metering tip52, a necked-down portion54, a stem body56, and an adjustment rod58. The metering tip52is disposed within a portion of the manifold16and includes the necked-down portion54extending through the bleed orifice28. The metering tip52is movable relative to the bleed orifice28to create a variable orifice size and thus a variable fluid flow or negative pressure characteristic at the selected first and second inlet opening20and22. The stem body56extends from the necked-down portion54and terminates in the adjustment rod58. The stem body56and the adjustment rod58have torque-transmitting outer profiles that also accommodate relative linear movement of a mating component engaged thereon. The torque-transmitting profile is shown as crossed axis projections, though any suitable geometry may be used, such as for example, triangular, square, hexagonal, and oval geometries.

Still referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, the vacuum range controller18further includes a vacuum adjuster60that includes an adjustment collar62having a first helix64and a second helix66, and a resilient member68. The outer profile of the stem body56engages a correspondingly shaped bore formed through the adjustment collar62. The adjustment collar62is supported by the stem body56for relative linear movement and concurrent rotation therewith. The first helix64defines a first vacuum adjustment range and the second helix defines a second vacuum adjustment range. One of the first and second vacuum adjustment ranges is greater than the other adjustment range. The resilient member68is shown disposed coaxially onto the stem body56, but other orientations may be used. The resilient member68provides a biasing force that reacts between the adjustment collar62and a resilient member stop70. The resilient member stop70is positioned between the stem body56and the adjustment rod58of the regulator stem50. Depending upon the desired range of vacuum operation intended for the suction device10, the selected one of the first and second helixes64and66locates against a helix seat72to provide the vacuum adjustment range associated therewith.

The suction device10, including the housing12, the vacuum manifold16, and the vacuum range controller18may be made from any variety of materials suitable to such devices. These materials may be plastics, such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polystyrene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, or other suitable plastic materials. Alternatively, some or all of the components may be made from metals, such as aluminum, stainless steel, brass, copper, or sintered alloys of these metals, in combination with various other alloying constituents.

In operation, the regulator13maintains the vacuum level in the manifold16by admitting a fluid at a positive pressure that is greater than the vacuum source negative pressure, such as air at ambient pressure through the bleed orifice28. The vacuum monitoring port26may be connected to a pressure transducer (not shown), controller (not shown), printed circuit board (not shown) or other display, control, or monitoring device. The monitoring port26provides a negative pressure signal for monitoring, controlling, or otherwise alerting a user to the operating condition of the device. The resilient member68of the vacuum range controller18establishes a threshold force required to move the metering tip52from engagement with the bleed orifice28. An adjustment knob74engages the adjustment rod58for concurrent rotational movement therewith and relative sliding linear movement therebetween.

Referring toFIG. 3, as the adjustment knob74is rotated, for example in a clockwise direction as viewed in the direction of the arrow, the adjustment rod58, stem body56, metering tip52, and adjustment collar62rotate therewith. The selected helix, such as the second helix66, which is located against the helix seat72by the biasing force of the resilient member68, moves relative to the helix seat72as the adjustment knob74is rotated. As the second helix66moves against the helix seat72, the adjustment collar62is displaced linearly toward the resilient member stop70thus compressing the resilient member68contained therebetween. As the resilient member68is compressed between the collar62and the stop70, a greater force is exerted by the metering tip52onto the bleed orifice28, thus increasing the resistance to unseat the tip52from the orifice28.

This greater unseating force of the metering tip52thus requires a stronger vacuum response force to overcome the biasing force keeping the bleed orifice28blocked. Once a sufficient vacuum level is generated in the manifold regulator tube24to overcome the biasing force, the metering tip52lifts off of the bleed orifice28and air is drawn into the manifold regulator tube24. Further, the adjustment rod58is also free to move axially relative to the adjustment knob74in response to the vacuum level. The air, admitted at ambient pressure, mitigates the negative pressure created by the suction pump14at the selected one of the first and second inlet openings20and22.

While the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it should be understood that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the essential scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments, but that the invention shall include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.