Patent ID: 12208195

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, device1according to the invention is adapted for removing by suction a body fluid, primarily nasal fluid, and can be preferably attached to a vacuum cleaner suction pipe as a suction source.

Device1has a releasably interconnected suction bell2and discharge bell3, with central member4being held between suction bell2and discharge bell3.

Central member4defines receiving member or open cup14surrounded by an apertured disc13integral or unitary with receiving member or open cup14. Central member4is removably held in place between suction bell2and discharge bell3by apertured disc13, the periphery of which is engaged with protrusion11of suction bell2and seat12of discharge bell3. Apertured disc13provides air flow communication between suction bell2and discharge bell3.

Suction bell2has a hollow, conical body portion with an open end sized to abut an open end of discharge bell3. Suction bell2also defines air inlet opening16opposite its open end. Air inlet opening16is sized to removably receive a tapered end portion of torch member5, the tip of which end portion extends into receiving member or cup14removably held between suction bell2and discharge bell3.

Connection pipe7coaxial with torch-shaped member5is situated in the bottom portion of the discharge bell3. Upper portion8of connection pipe7extends towards central member4inside discharge bell3, and forms an end or bottom portion9thereof, and extends outwardly beyond discharge bell3to provide a connection stub adapted for receiving a connection member for connection to a vacuum source.

Bottom portion of discharge bell3is fitted with a protrusion10parallel with bottom portion9of connection pipe7such that, together with bottom portion9of connection pipe7, it forms a seat adapted for receiving the connection member (not shown in the drawings).

FIG.2is a sectional view of central member4of device1shown inFIG.1and shows open cup14which provides a receiving space for body fluid. Disc13surrounds cup14and is integral therewith. Disc13is provided with apertures or bores15having a diameter D (seeFIG.3).

The device according to the invention is operated as follows.

When device1is prepared for use, discharge bell3and the suction bell2are snapped together, holding central member4therebetween. To provide a safe connection, protrusion11of suction bell2is received into seat12formed on the upper portion of the discharge bell3, then suction bell2and discharge bell3are interconnected by slightly rotating the suction bell2along the discharge bell3.

Protrusion11of suction bell2and seat12of the discharge bell3can be configured such that the connection is made solely by protrusion11snapping in place in seat12during the interconnection of suction bell2and discharge bell3, without performing any further operations.

After that, an end portion of torch-shaped member5is received in air inlet opening16, defined in the upper portion of suction bell2. The bottom portion of the torch terminates within cup14of the central member4of the suction bell2. Removable suction cone6is then mounted to the torch-shaped member5at the top opening thereof.

The torch-shaped member5and suction cone6can also be an integral or unitary member, if desired.

A connecting element, i.e., a flexible plastic pipe, is then attached to bottom or end portion9of connection pipe7in discharge bell3, with any suitable connection member adapted for facilitating connection of device1to a suction pipe of a vacuum cleaner, being disposed at the other end of the connecting element, situated opposite the discharge bell3.

The device is now ready for removing a body fluid, and can be operated by inserting suction cone6into a nostril of a child, and by removing by suction the body fluid by applying the suction produced by the vacuum cleaner.

In operation, an air/body fluid mixture flowing at a relatively high velocity—1.5-2 m/s—is passed via suction cone6and torch5into cup14of central member4, where the flow direction of the air/body fluid mixture is temporarily reversed and, due to its inertia, the mixture is splashed against the wall of suction bell2, followed by accumulation at the bottom of the discharge bell3while the air portion is carried on unhindered as there is a many thousand fold difference in specific weight between the fluid and air.

Due to the sudden increase of flow diameter, the air flow velocity is significantly reduced—to 1-2 cm/s—so the air flow exiting the device cannot carry off precipitated liquid anymore, even if the liquid gets diluted to a near-water consistency.

Under the influence of vacuum, air is carried further along connection pipe7of discharge bell3of device1that is adapted for preventing fluid from being discharged from the device1at any spatial orientation thereof.

Due to its configuration, device1can hold approximately 5-6 cm3of fluid (depending on density) at any given time, which is entirely sufficient for a single instance of removing by suction a body fluid.

After use, the device can be disassembled to its components and can be easily cleaned or, if necessary, sterilized.

The advantage of the device according to the invention is that it can safely remove the fluids accumulated inside the difficult-to-access cavities irrespective of their density. The removed body fluids can be safely retained inside the device, completely preventing them from entering the suction device.