Abstract:
A manifold assembly ( 12 ) for a medical waste collection device ( 10 ) is provided. The manifold assembly ( 12 ) comprises a housing ( 14 ) and a cap ( 16 ) connected to the housing ( 14 ) by a snap-fit connection ( 18 ). The housing ( 14 ) includes a bottom ( 20 ) and a wall ( 24 ) extending upwardly therefrom about an axis ( 26 ). A support structure ( 22 ) is disposed on the bottom ( 20 ) of the housing ( 14 ) to support a plurality of filters ( 60, 62 ). An intake port ( 58 ) is disposed on the cap ( 16 ) at a tangential position relative to the wall ( 24 ) such that the fluid and material entering the manifold assembly ( 12 ) is directed along the wall ( 24 ) to better separate the material from the fluid and increase the life of the filters ( 60, 62 ).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The subject invention relates generally to medical waste collection devices and, more particularly, to an assembly for filtering bodily fluids prior to being collected into the device.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     During many surgical procedures, waste materials are generated which must be captured and disposed of. Such waste materials include bodily fluids which have been drained from a patient or by-products that are produced, such as smoke from a cauterizing procedure.  
         [0003]     Typically, a medical waste collection device having an intake manifold assembly in conjunction with a vacuum source is utilized to capture the waste materials, thereby reducing or eliminating the handling of such materials by employees and, in turn, reducing exposure of the employees to hazardous waste materials.  
         [0004]     Each assembly generally includes a housing for storing the waste material, a lid having a vacuum port connected to the vacuum source, and a conduit extending between the patient and the manifold assembly through which the waste material travels. In operation, the vacuum source applies a negative pressure to the interior of the housing in order to pull the waste material from the patient through the conduit and into the intake manifold. Furthermore, a filter may be disposed in the assembly to prefilter the fluids or by-products prior to disposal.  
         [0005]     Conventionally, such assemblies comprise many pieces, have a complex design, and are costly to manufacture and use. Such costs are passed on to the patient, thereby contributing to the high costs of health care.  
         [0006]     The present invention is aimed at solving one or more of these disadvantages.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES  
       [0007]     The subject invention provides a manifold assembly for use in a medical waste collection device. The assembly includes a manifold housing including a bottom with a support structure disposed thereon and a wall extending upwardly from the bottom about an axis to define an open periphery. The assembly further includes a manifold cap for disposition on the manifold housing for defining a chamber therebetween and a connection for connecting and retaining the housing and cap together. A support structure having a filter support surface is disposed above the bottom for defining a plurality of open spaces therein.  
         [0008]     The manifold assembly of the present invention collects and filters waste materials produced during surgical procedures. The assembly is easily removed, disposed of, and replaced with another assembly, thereby reducing labor and cost. In addition, the assembly is easily manufactured and produced at a fraction of the cost of conventional manifold assemblies, in part due to the elimination of separate welding requirements.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a waste collection device housing the manifold assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the manifold assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary cross-sectional side view of the brim on the cap of the assembly of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary cross-sectional side view of the shoulder on the housing of the assembly of  FIG. 2 ; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of the assembled manifold assembly of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the manifold assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the manifold assembly of  FIG. 6 ; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is an exploded fragmentary view of the manifold assembly of  FIG. 6 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]     Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a medical waste collection device is generally shown at  10  and includes a manifold assembly generally indicated at  12 .  
         [0019]     The manifold assembly  12  includes a manifold housing generally, indicated at  14 , a manifold cap, generally indicated at  16 , and a connection, generally indicated at  18 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the manifold housing  14  and the manifold cap  16  are molded as two separate or single pieces that snap-fit together via the connection  18 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the assembly  12  is removably disposed on the device  10 .  
         [0020]     The manifold housing  14  includes a bottom  20  with a support structure, generally indicated at  22 , disposed thereon. A wall  24  extends upwardly from the bottom  20  about an axis  26  to define an open periphery  28 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the support structure  22  defines a filter support surface, generally indicated at  30 , above the bottom  20 . A shoulder  32  is disposed about the exterior of the open periphery  28 . An outlet port  34  is disposed on the bottom  20  and extends outwardly therefrom to define a passageway  36  extending into the bottom  20  for transporting waste to the device  10 .  
         [0021]     The filter support surface  30  includes an inner ring  38  and an outer ring  40 . The inner ring  38  is disposed about and spaced from the axis  26 . The outer ring  40  is spaced radially inwardly from the wall  24  to define a groove  42  between the outer ring  40  and the wall  24 .  
         [0022]     A plurality of outer spokes  44  extend radially between the inner and outer rings  38 ,  40  to define a plurality of open spaces  46  between adjacent spokes  44 . Additionally, a plurality of inner spokes  52  extend radially between the axis  26  and the inner ring  38 . The inner spokes  52  are diametrically aligned in pairs to define a cross  54  intersecting at the axis  26 . Each of the pairs is aligned diametrically with a pair of the outer spokes  44 .  
         [0023]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the support structure  22  and the bottom  20  are molded with the housing  14  as a one-piece structure. It is to be understood that the support structure  22  and the bottom  20  may each be molded as a separate piece which is mated with the housing  14 .  
         [0024]     The manifold cap  16  is disposed on the manifold housing  14  for defining a chamber  56  therebetween into which the passageway  36  extends. The cap  16  includes a top  64  and a skirt  66  extending from the top  64  to a lower edge  68 . The cap  16  further includes an intake port  58  disposed on the cap  16  for receiving waste materials generated during a surgical procedure which proceed into the chamber  56 , through the passageway  36  and into the device  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the inlet port  58  may be oriented on the cap  16  such that it is normal to the orientation of the outlet port  34  on the housing  14 . However, it is to be understood that the inlet port  58  may be disposed on the cap  16  such that it is oriented parallel with orientation of the outlet port  34  on the housing  14 .  
         [0025]     A primary filter  60  is disposed in the chamber  56  and is supported on the support structure  22  for filtering the waste materials and allowing waste to flow through the open spaces  46  defined by the spokes  44 ,  52  and out through the outlet port  34 . A secondary filter  62  is disposed in the chamber  56  over the primary filter  60 . The filters  60 ,  62  maintain their position over the support structure  22  as they fit inside of and are secured in place by the manifold cap  16 . This configuration insures that the waste materials passing through the manifold assembly  12  also pass through the filters  60 ,  62 .  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIGS. 3 through 5 , the connection  18  connects the housing  14  and cap  16  and retains them together. The connection  18  includes the shoulder  32  disposed on the exterior of the wall  24  about the open periphery  28  and a brim  74  disposed about the exterior of the skirt  66  and extending over and in spaced relationship to the ribs  70 ,  72 . A lip  76  is disposed on the interior of the brim  74  for snapping over the shoulder  32  and retaining the housing  14  and cap  16  together. However, the connection  18  may be a molded hinge between the cap  16  and housing  14 .  
         [0027]     In one embodiment, the bottom  20  is conical and is disposed below the support surface  30 . In addition, the wall  24  of the housing  14  and the skirt  66  are annular. The outer spokes  44  each include a polygonal web  48 . Each web  48  extends axially downwardly from the filter support surface  30  to the conical bottom  20 . Each web  48  further extends radially between the outer ring  40  and the passageway  36  and radially outwardly to the outer ring  40  and have radially inner edges  50  aligned with the passageway  36 .  
         [0028]     The lower edge  68  of the skirt  66  extends downwardly and is received in the groove  42 . A plurality (three) of axially extending alignment ribs  70  are disposed on the exterior of the skirt  66  for engaging the interior of the wall  24  of the housing  14  and aligning the housing  14  and the cap  16  together. The alignment ribs  70  insure that the cap  16  is received properly within the housing  14  so that the lower edge  68  of the skirt  66  is correctly aligned with the groove  42  to compress the perimeter of each filter and secure the filters  60 ,  62  in place.  
         [0029]     Additionally, a plurality (thirty-three) of axially extending sealing ribs  72  are disposed on the exterior of the skirt  66  for engaging the interior of the wall  24  of the housing  14  to provide a wedge fit. The brim  74  extends over and in spaced relationship to the ribs  70 ,  72 , and the sealing ribs  72  seal the cap  16  within the housing  14  so that the manifold assembly  12  is water tight and remains water tight.  
         [0030]     In another embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 6 through 8 , the filter support surface  30  extends upwardly from the bottom  20  for defining the plurality of open spaces  46 . The primary and secondary filters  70 ,  72  are cylindrical and disposed over the upwardly extending support surface  30 .  
         [0031]     The intake port  58  is disposed on the cap  16  tangent to the wall  24  for receiving waste and forcing the waste against a first inner surface  75 A of the housing  14  and a second inner surface  75 B of the cap  16 . The waste enters the chamber  56  and swirls inside the housing  14 , thereby forcing the waste against the inner surfaces  75 A,  75 B to keep the filters  70 ,  72  clean longer.  
         [0032]     An annular rib  76  is disposed in the groove  42  and spaced radially between the wall  24  and the outer ring  40  to define an inner groove  78  for receiving an end  80  of the primary filter  70 . A plurality of engagement ribs  82  are disposed on an inner surface  84  of the cap  16  and extend outwardly therefrom into the chamber  56  for engaging the filters  70 ,  72 . The engagement ribs  82  press the filters  70 ,  72  against the bottom  20  of the housing  14  to seal the filters  70 ,  72  within the annular rib  76  and prevent waste from passing beneath the filters  70 ,  72  and traveling to the outlet port  34 .  
         [0033]     The foregoing detailed description shows the preferred embodiments of the present invention are well suited to fulfill the objectives of the invention. It is recognized that those skilled in the art may make various modifications or additions to the preferred embodiments chosen herein to illustrate the present invention, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the subject matter sought to be afforded protection should be deemed to extend to the subject matter defined in the appended claims, including all equivalents thereof.