Abstract
An ergonomic suction syringe and method for performing medical procedures in which suction is generated and can be delivered to a medical device by a single-handed compression motion, with suction actuated by forward motion of a piston into a cylinder, and in which suction can be maintained essentially permanently once activated without any further effort by the operator, even hands-free.
Claims
1. An ergonomic suction syringe comprising a cylinder, a piston, a piston rod, a piston head diaphragm, said cylinder variably divided transversely into at least two chambers separated by a movable piston head diaphragm, said cylinder comprising at least a back chamber generally disposed toward a back end of said cylinder, and at least a forward chamber generally disposed toward a forward end of said cylinder, said forward chamber having a tip adapter which comprises a means of transmission for fluids or gases, said back chamber further comprising an air-tight seal to an atmosphere by a membrane generally disposed toward a back end of said back chamber, said membrane having at least an aperture to allow slidable motion of a piston rod there through while comprising a generally air-tight seal to said piston rod, said forward chamber separated from said back chamber by a piston head diaphragm comprising an essentially air-tight seal between said forward chamber and said back chamber when said piston head is positioned accordingly in a first position generally disposed toward said back end of said cylinder, slidable forward movement of said piston head diaphragm from said cylinder back end toward said cylinder forward end generating vacuum in said back chamber, said vacuum transferred from said back chamber to said forward chamber by further slidable forward movement such that said piston head achieves a second position generally disposed toward said forward end of said cylinder, said second position comprising a means for transmission of said vacuum from said back chamber to said forward chamber.
2. An ergonomic suction syringe of claim 1, wherein said means for transmission of said vacuum from said back chamber to said forward chamber is a failure of said piston head diaphragm essentially air-tight seal when said piston head diaphragm is positioned accordingly in said second position, said failure selected from the group consisting of pressure-actuated change in configuration of said piston head, pressure-actuated opening of an aperture in said piston head, pressure-actuated opening of a valve in said diaphragm, pressure-actuated failure of a piston head gasket, at least part of an inner diameter of said forward chamber having a configuration such that said piston head diaphragm loses air-tight contact with a forward chamber inner wall, a conduit or channel external to said forward chamber that allows fluid or gas to “bypass” said air-tight seal in said piston head diaphragm when said piston head diaphragm is positioned accordingly, an aperture in a hollow piston rod and a corresponding aperture in an inner cylinder tube such that proper alignment of said apertures allows transmission of vacuum through said hollow piston rod from said back chamber to said forward chamber.
3. An ergonomic suction syringe of claim 1, comprising a means for expulsion of pressurized matter from said forward chamber during forward movement of said piston, said matter selected from the group consisting of a gas and a fluid.
4. An ergonomic suction syringe of claim 3, wherein said means for expulsion of pressurized matter from said forward chamber during forward movement is selected from the group consisting of a valve or an aperture on an inner cylinder tube.
5. An ergonomic suction syringe of claim 1, comprising a means for expulsion of accumulated matter in said back chamber when said piston is retracted from a forward position to a back position during use, said matter selected from the group consisting of a gas and a fluid.
6. An ergonomic suction syringe of claim 5, wherein said means for expulsion of accumulated gases or liquids in said back chamber when said piston is retracted from a forward position to a back position during use is selected from the group consisting of a valve and a pressure-actuated aperture.
7. An ergonomic suction syringe comprising a cylinder with a back end, said back end generally disposed toward an operator, and a forward end, said forward end generally disposed toward a medical device, said forward end further comprising a means for reversible connection to said medical device, said cylinder being generally hollow, said cylinder back end sealed to an atmosphere with a membrane containing an aperture, and said cylinder further comprising a piston generally disposed within an interior of said cylinder, said piston comprising a back end and a forward end, further said piston comprising at least a piston head at said piston forward end, said piston head occupying substantially the entire cross-sectional area of said interior of said cylinder and further dividing said cylinder into a forward chamber and a back chamber, said piston head securely attached to a forward end of a piston rod, said piston rod extending from said piston head toward said back end of said cylinder and through said aperture in said membrane, through which said membrane said piston rod can move slidably there through but comprising an essentially air-tight seal between said forward chamber and said back chamber when said piston head is positioned accordingly in a first position, said piston head functioning substantially as a movable diaphragm dividing said cylinder into at least a forward chamber and at least a back chamber, said piston having a means for transmission of vacuum pressure from said back chamber to said forward chamber when said piston is positioned accordingly in a second position, and by extension transmission of said vacuum to said attached medical device, said forward chamber also comprising a means of expelling pressurized matter into an atmosphere during advancement of said piston toward said forward end.
8. An ergonomic suction syringe of claim 7 wherein said means for reversible connection to medical devices is a hub adapter.
9. An ergonomic suction syringe of claim 7 wherein said medical device is selected from the group consisting of a needle, a catheter, an angioplasty balloon catheter, a suction tube, and a Yankauer suction tip.
10. An ergonomic suction syringe of claim 7 wherein said means for transmission of vacuum pressure from said back chamber to said forward chamber during forward movement of said piston from said first position to said second position is selected from the group consisting of a pressure-actuated change in configuration of said piston head, a pressure-actuated opening of an aperture in said piston head, a pressure-actuated opening of a valve in said diaphragm, a pressure-actuated failure of a piston head gasket, an inner wall that expands beyond the periphery of the outer diameter of said piston head, a conduit or channel external to said forward chamber that allows fluid or gas to “bypass” said air-tight seal in said piston head diaphragm, and an aperture in a hollow piston rod and a corresponding aperture in an inner cylinder tube such that proper alignment of said apertures allows transmission of vacuum through said hollow piston rod from said back chamber to said forward chamber.
11. An ergonomic suction syringe of claim 7 wherein said means to expel matter from said forward chamber during forward movement of said piston within said cylinder is a one-way valve.
12. An ergonomic suction syringe of claim 11 wherein said one-way valve is generally disposed in a location selected from the following group: toward a forward aspect of said cylinder, on a side of said adapter tip, or mounted as a component to said adapter tip.
13. An ergonomic suction syringe of claim 7 in which said means for transmission of vacuum pressure from said back chamber to said forward chamber comprises a hollow piston rod with an aperture that allows communication of gas or fluid in said back chamber with the inner lumen of said piston rod, said hollow piston rod disposed around an inner cylinder tube along its long axis, said inner cylinder tube securely attached to an inner aspect of said forward chamber and further in direct communication with said means for connection to said medical device, said inner cylinder tube having an aperture generally located towards a forward end of said inner cylinder tube, and said hollow piston rod also comprising an aperture, said inner cylinder tube having an outer aspect that interfaces with an inner aspect of said piston rod such that said interface comprises an air-tight seal, wherein said means for transmission of vacuum pressure from said back chamber to said forward chamber and by extension to said attached medical device during forward movement of said piston is achieved by the advancement of said piston rod to a forward location where said piston rod aperture aligns with said inner cylinder tube aperture, thereby allowing communication of vacuum from said back cylinder chamber to said inner aspect of said inner cylinder tube and by extension to said attached medical device.
14. A method of establishing suction in a lumen of a medical device comprising: (a) reversibly attaching said ergonomic suction syringe comprising a back end generally disposed toward an operator and a front end generally disposed toward a medical device, said ergonomic suction syringe further comprising a cylinder and a piston, said cylinder further comprising at least a back chamber disposed toward said back end and a forward chamber disposed toward said forward end, and said piston comprising at least a piston head securely attached to a piston rod, said forward chamber and said back chamber being separated from each other by a piston head comprising an air-tight seal disposed within said chamber, said piston head occupying substantially an entire cross-sectional area of an interior of said cylinder, said piston head also comprising a means for vacuum transfer between said back chamber and said forward chamber, and said ergonomic suction syringe also comprising a means of transmission of vacuum transfer to a medical device by means of an adapter tip; (b) slidably moving said piston in a forward direction from a first position to a second position within said cylinder until said means for vacuum exchange between said back chamber and said forward chamber is actuated, thereby allowing vacuum in said back chamber to be transmitted to said front chamber and by extension to said attached medical device.
15. A method of establishing suction in a lumen of a medical device of claim 14 wherein said medical device is selected from the group consisting of a needle and an angioplasty balloon catheter.
16. A method of establishing suction in a lumen of a medical device of claim 14 wherein said medical procedure is selected from the group consisting of a phlebotomy, an intravenous access placement, a needle biopsy, a needle aspiration of bodily fluid, a vascular access placement, an angioplasty, and a vascular stent placement.
17. A method of establishing suction in a lumen of a medical device of claim 14 wherein said means for vacuum transfer between said back chamber to said forward chamber is a failure of said piston head diaphragm essentially air-tight seal when said piston head diaphragm is positioned accordingly in said second position, said failure selected from the group consisting of pressure-actuated change in configuration of said piston head, pressure-actuated opening of an aperture in said piston head, pressure-actuated opening of a valve in said diaphragm, pressure-actuated failure of a piston head gasket, at least part of an inner diameter of said forward chamber having a configuration such that said piston head diaphragm loses air-tight contact with a forward chamber inner wall, a conduit or channel external to said forward chamber that allows fluid or gas to “bypass” said air-tight seal in said piston head diaphragm when said piston head diaphragm is positioned accordingly, an aperture in a hollow piston rod and a corresponding aperture in an inner cylinder tube such that proper alignment of said apertures allows transmission of vacuum through said hollow piston rod from said back chamber to said forward chamber.
18. A method of establishing suction in a lumen of a medical device of claim 14 wherein said ergonomic suction syringe further comprises an inner cylinder tube that is securely attached within said cylinder, said secure attachment generally forward within said cylinder, said cylinder tube having an aperture generally located towards said forward end of said cylinder tube, said piston rod also comprising an aperture, said cylinder tube having an outer aspect that interfaces with an inner aspect of said piston rod such that said interface comprises an air-tight seal, wherein said means for transmission of vacuum pressure from said back chamber to said forward chamber and by extension to said attached medical device during forward movement of said piston is achieved by the advancement of said piston rod to a forward location such that said piston rod aperture aligns with said inner cylinder tube aperture, thereby allowing communication of vacuum from said back cylinder chamber to said inner aspect of said inner cylinder tube and thereby by extension to said attached medical device by said adapter tip of said ergonomic suction syringe.
19. A method of establishing suction in a lumen of a medical device of claim 14 in which suction is maintained after release of manual force.
20. A method of establishing suction in a lumen of a medical device of claim 14 in which suction can be maintained essentially permanently without any application of force by said operator.
21. A method of establishing suction in a lumen of a medical device of claim 14 comprising a means to expel compressed gas from said forward chamber when said piston is slidably advanced within said cylinder.
22. A method of establishing suction in a lumen of a medical device of claim 21 wherein said means to expel compressed gas from said forward chamber when said piston is slidably advanced within said cylinder is a one-way valve.
23. A method of establishing suction in a lumen of a medical device of claim 14 wherein manipulation to achieve suction comprises a manual compression motion.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
[0020] FIG. 1 is a cut-away longitudinal view of an exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe.
[0021] FIG. 2 is another cut-away longitudinal view of an exemplary embodiment of a reverse operation syringe, in this view with finger rings as a means for manipulation of said reverse operation syringe.
[0022] FIG. 3 is an end-on view of an example of a component of an ergonomic suction syringe, comprising a piston head.
[0023] FIG. 4 is an oblique view of an example of a component of an ergonomic suction syringe, comprising a piston head gasket.
[0024] FIG. 5A is a cut-away longitudinal view of an exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe. FIG. 5B is a cut-away longitudinal view of an exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe.
[0025] FIG. 6A is a cut-away view of a component of an exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe comprising a one-way valve. FIG. 6B is a cut-away view of a component of another exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe comprising a one-way valve. FIG. 6C is a cut-away view of a component of another exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe comprising a one-way valve. FIG. 6D is a cut-away view of a component of another exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe comprising a one-way valve.
[0026] FIG. 7 is a surface view of a lateral aspect of an exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe.
[0027] FIG. 8 is a cut-away longitudinal view of another exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe, in this illustration with the piston head in a forward position but vacuum not transmitted to the tip adapter of the ergonomic suction syringe.
[0028] FIG. 9 is a cut-away longitudinal view of a similar exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe of FIG. 8, in this illustration with the piston head in a forward position in alignment such that vacuum is transmitted to the tip adapter of the ergonomic suction syringe.
[0029] FIG. 10A is an oblique surface view of an exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe, and FIG. 10B is an end-on surface view of the same embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe from the distal tip end.
[0030] FIG. 11A is an oblique surface view of another exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe, and FIG. 11B is an end-on surface view of the same embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe from the distal tip end.
[0031] FIG. 12 is a cut-away longitudinal view of another exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe.
[0032] FIG. 13 is a cut-away longitudinal view of another exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe.
[0033] FIG. 14A is an oblique surface view of an exemplary embodiment of a piston head gasket. FIG. 14B is an oblique surface view of another configuration of an exemplary embodiment of a piston head gasket.
[0034] FIG. 15A is a cut-away longitudinal view of an exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe in configuration where the vacuum is not transmitted to an adapter at the distal tip of said ergonomic suction syringe. FIG. 15B is a cut-away longitudinal view of an exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe in configuration where the vacuum is transmitted to an adapter at the distal tip of said ergonomic suction syringe.
[0035] FIG. 16A is a cut-away longitudinal view of an exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe in configuration where the vacuum is not transmitted to an adapter at the distal tip of said ergonomic suction syringe. FIG. 16B is an en face view of an exemplary embodiment of a piston head configuration. FIG. 16C is an en face view of another exemplary embodiment of a piston head configuration. FIG. 16D is an en face view of yet another exemplary embodiment of a piston head configuration.
[0036] FIG. 17A is a cut-away longitudinal view of an exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe in configuration where the vacuum is not transmitted to an adapter at the distal tip of said ergonomic suction syringe. FIG. 17B is an en face view of an exemplary embodiment of a piston head configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] An ergonomic suction syringe as disclosed herein is designed to create suction in an attached medical device when a piston is advanced into a syringe cylinder, rather than pressure, and as such, will transmit suction to an attached medical device, rather than injecting pressurized fluids or gases. From FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe comprises a cylinder 10 and a piston 16, said piston comprising a piston rod 17 and a piston head 18, said ergonomic suction syringe including a back end 11 generally disposed toward an operator during use, and a forward end 12 generally disposed toward a medical device during use, said forward end 12 including a tip adapter 101 that allows the ergonomic suction syringe to be connected reversibly to other medical equipment, for example, a needle and a catheter, in some embodiments by a Luer lock connection, and also is a means of egress from a forward chamber 14 for transmission of fluids, gases, or liquids therethrough. Said ergonomic suction syringe includes a back chamber 13, said back chamber 13 closed to said atmosphere by a diaphragm 108, said diaphragm 108 having an aperture whereby said piston rod 17 can move slidably there through, said piston 16 having a piston rod 17 and said aperture 109 having a first generally air-tight seal, said ergonomic suction syringe in which negative pressure is generated in said back chamber 13 by forward sliding motion of a piston head 18 relative to said cylinder, said piston head 18 oriented generally perpendicular to the long axis of said cylinder 10, said piston head 18 generally separating said cylinder 10 into said back chamber 13 and said forward chamber 14, movement in a forward direction of said piston 16 actuated for example by force applied to a piston tab 100 while simultaneously constraining forward motion of the cylinder 10, which the operator may perform for example by holding the cylinder 10 or by manually controlling tabs 15, for example by a one-hand maneuver, said forward advancement of said piston head 18 transmitted by said piston rod 17. In this example, a second air-tight seal between said forward chamber 14 and said back chamber 13 comprises a gasket 19 affixed to the piston head 18, or in other embodiments, a gasket affixed around the circumference of said piston head 18.
[0038] FIG. 2 is another exemplary embodiment of a reverse operation syringe, in this example illustrating an ergonomic suction syringe with a plurality of ring tabs 20 on at least said cylinder and at least another ring tab on said piston 21.
[0039] FIG. 3 is an illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a piston head 18, comprising a structure that is generally circular in one aspect, but in general is shaped like a short cylinder or a disk in that said piston head presents an essentially circular shape when viewed en face but presents an essentially rectangular shape when viewed from a side. In one example, the piston head 18 is not a perfect circle when viewed enface but contains a notch 30 in its outer edge, said notch permitting vacuum to pass from said back chamber 13 to said forward chamber 14 during operation of the ergonomic suction syringe when a threshold back chamber suction pressure is achieved, thereby transmitting suction from said back chamber 13 to said forward chamber 14, and, by extension, to a medical device, said medical device comprising a closed system without communication to the atmosphere, to said forward chamber 14 by securely affixing said medical device to an adapter tip 101. This example is provided to illustrate one design of a defect in said piston head 18 that could provide a means of transmission of vacuum from said back chamber to said forward chamber once a critical threshold of vacuum is exceeded and a change in configuration of said piston gasket 19 occurs, but one can readily appreciate that many other configurations of defects in said piston head could achieve the same function, such as for noncomprehensive example fenestrations, flap valves, trap doors, hinged segments. When attached to a closed system, suction will essentially remain until the piston is move back relative to the cylinder 10, whereupon the gasket will be deformed and not provide an airtight seal, and gas will move from the back chamber 13 into said forward chamber 14, relieving the suction in said forward chamber 14. An alternative means to relieve the pressure, among others, would be to disconnect the tip adapter 101 from said medical device, exposing the adapter tip 101 to said atmosphere. In this illustration there is a central receptacle 31 as a means for connecting said piston head 18 and said piston shaft 17, but in other examples they could be fabricated integral to each other.
[0040] FIG. 4 is an illustration of an embodiment of a piston gasket 19, comprising a base 40 and a rim 41 generally perpendicular thereto. Said piston gasket 19 is generally round in one dimension and is in contact with an inner aspect of said cylinder 10, but not secured to it, so that when said piston is moved within said cylinder 10, said piston gasket 19 serves as a means to prevent movement of gas or liquid from said forward chamber 14 into said back chamber 13 until a critical threshold of suction pressure is achieved. When said critical threshold of suction pressure is achieved, said means to prevent movement of vacuum from said back chamber 13 into said forward chamber 14 fails, and suction is transmitted to said forward chamber and to a medical device attached thereto. In one embodiment, once suction is transmitted to said forward chamber and to a medical device attached thereto, the piston gasket 19 reverts to its original shape and again serves as a means of an air-tight seal between said forward chamber 14 and said back chamber 13. In another embodiment, once suction is transmitted to said forward chamber 13 and said piston gasket 19 transforms to its initial shape, it is incompetent to the movement of gases and fluids on retraction and allows free movement of gases and fluids that were accumulated in said back chamber 13 into said forward chamber 14. In another embodiment, said back chamber has other means for allowing ejection of gases or fluids therein, in one example for illustration only that doesn't limit this disclosure, said means of allowing ejection of gases or fluids from said back chamber may be a one valve located accordingly on said walls of said back chamber through which fluids or gases can pass unidirectionally out of said back chamber 13 with retraction of said piston rod 17 toward said back end 11 of said ergonomic suction syringe. In one embodiment said piston gasket 19 is securely attached to a forward aspect of said piston head 18, but in other embodiments said gasket 19 could be attached to an outer circumference of said piston head 18, or said gasket 19 could be attached to the back surface of the piston head 18, or said gasket 19 could be absent altogether, among other embodiments.
[0041] In FIG. 5A another exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe is illustrated, this example also including an exit port 102 for gases or fluids from said forward chamber 14, in this exemplary embodiment comprising a one-way valve such that fluid or gas can exit said forward chamber 14 but not enter said forward chamber 14, as the piston is slidably moved forward relative to the cylinder 10, in this example said one-way valve is securely attached to the side of the forward chamber 14. FIG. 5B illustrates another embodiment of said exit port 102, in this example securely attached to the side of a tip adapter 101. It can be readily envisioned by those familiar with the field that said exit port 102 could also be an external component and reversibly connected to said adapter tip 101.
[0042] FIG. 6A is an illustration of a magnified view of exemplary side ports 102 which in these examples comprise one-way valve, in this example comprising a flap valve, which comprises a closable valve element 105 and an attachment means 106 to one aspect of said one-way valve. In this illustration, the arrow is within said forward chamber 14, and shows the direction of motion of gas out of the cylinder 10 during forward motion of the piston 16 relative to the cylinder 10. Those familiar with the art will understand that during initial forward motion of the piston 16, gas will be expelled from said forward chamber 14 to said atmosphere. In one embodiment, when forward motion of said piston 16 continues until said critical threshold of suction is achieved and said gasket 19 fails to provide an air-tight seal, thereby permitting movement of gas from said forward chamber 14 to said back chamber 13 and transmission of suction from said back chamber 13 to said forward chamber 14, gas will be initially drawn into said forward chamber 13 in a direction indicated by the arrow, and said flap 105 will move to a closed position as shown in FIG. 6B, preventing gas from outside of said ergonomic suction syringe from entering said forward chamber 14, thereby preserving suction therein and by extension in an attached medical device. FIG. 6C is a cut-away magnified view of a similar one-way valve, comprising in this embodiment a duck-bill valve, shown in an open position for example during initial forward motion of said piston (arrow depicts direction of motion of gas from the forward chamber 14 to said atmosphere), and in FIG. 6D, after a critical threshold of suction pressure is achieved and said gasket 19 fails to provide air-tight seal, thereby permitting movement of gas from said forward chamber 14 to said back chamber 13 and transmission of suction from said back chamber 13 to said forward chamber 14, a closable member 105 will move to a closed position, thereby preventing loss of suction in said forward chamber 14 and any attached medical device.
[0043] FIG. 7 is another embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe, in this example including a one-way valve comprising an aperture 107 in a sidewall of said cylinder 10 forward chamber (not shown) covered with a compliant band as a means to permit egress of gas from said forward chamber during forward motion of said piston 16 relative to said cylinder 10 while preventing ingress of gas from said atmosphere into said forward chamber 14 after a critical threshold of suction pressure is achieved and said gasket 19 fails to provide air-tight seal between said forward chamber 14 and said back chamber 13, whereby suction is transmitted from said back chamber 13 to said forward chamber 14.
[0044] FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 illustrate another exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe shown in longitudinal sections, in which said piston 16 is advanced generally toward a forward end of a forward chamber 14, and in said configuration vacuum would be present in said back chamber 13 but not transmitted to said tip adapter 101 of said ergonomic suction syringe. In this embodiment said piston rod 17 comprises a hollow central lumen 111, and also comprises at least an aperture 112 as a means of egress that permits fluid and gas communication between an inner aspect and an outer aspect of said piston rod 17, said aperture 112 disposed generally toward a forward end of said piston rod 17. Further, in this exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe there is an inner cylinder tube 110 that comprises a hollow central lumen, and that is air-tight securely mounted to a forward element of said cylinder 10, and over which said piston rod 17 is mounted thereon slideably but generally sealed to movement of liquid or gas between an outer aspect of said inner cylinder tube 110 and an inner aspect of said piston rod 17. Moreover, in this exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe said inner cylinder tube 110 comprises at least an aperture 113 generally disposed toward a forward end of said inner cylinder tube 110 that permits fluid or gas communication between an inner aspect of said inner cylinder tube 110 and an outer aspect of said inner said cylinder tube 110, said outer aspect of said inner cylinder tube corresponding to an inner aspect of said piston rod 17 where said inner cylinder tube 110 and said outer piston rod 17 overlap. In some embodiments of said ergonomic suction syringe said inner cylinder tube 110 may also comprise at least another forward aperture 114 that serves as a communication between said forward chamber 14 and an inner lumen of said adapter tip 101, thereby by extension to an attached medical device (not shown). Said forward aperture 114 for example is located in a position such that it allows gas or liquid to pass from said forward cylinder chamber 14 during advancement of said piston 16 until said piston head 18 covers said forward aperture 114, thereby sealing further passage of fluid or gas across said forward aperture 114, and allowing vacuum to be transmitted to said adapter tip 101 without any loss of vacuum through said forward aperture 114. For example, a way of operating this embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe is to connect said ergonomic suction syringe to a medical device at an adapter 101 generally disposed at a forward end of said cylinder 10, and to begin application of vacuum to said medical device by starting with said piston 16 fully retracted in a direction toward said back end 11 of said cylinder 10 such that said piston head 18 is generally disposed toward said back end of said back chamber 13, and then advancing said piston 17 forward in said cylinder 10, to a position generally depicted in FIG. 8, said advancing motion generating vacuum in said back chamber 13, and continuing to advance said piston 16 until said piston head 18 is generally disposed toward a forward end of said forward chamber 14, advancing said piston 16 until said piston rod aperture 112 generally aligns with said inner cylinder tube aperture 113 as generally depicted in FIG. 9, whereupon vacuum generated in said back chamber 113 is transmitted into said inner lumen 111 of said inner cylinder tube 110, and thereby to said attached medical device (not shown) via a lumen 115 of said adapter tip 101, said lumen 115 of said adapter tip in some embodiments also comprising a one-way valve that permits fluid or gas to enter said forward chamber 14 but not to exit said forward chamber 14. Further, said piston rod 16 or said inner cylinder tube 110 may comprise means of maintaining alignment of said piston rod aperture 112 and said inner cylinder tube aperture 113 such that when said piston rod 16 is advanced said piston rod aperture 112 interfaces directly with said inner cylinder tube aperture 113. In an exemplary embodiment, said advancing motion of said piston 17 in said cylinder 10 causes pressurization of a liquid or of a gas in said forward chamber 14 of said cylinder, said liquid or gas thereby being expelled from said anterior chamber 14 through said forward aperture 114 of said inner cylinder tube 110, and then in one exemplary embodiment said liquid or gas being further expelled from said ergonomic suction syringe by means of a port 102, which may in some cases comprise a one-way valve that permits flow of fluid or gas out of said forward chamber 14 to an atmosphere but not in an opposite direction from said atmosphere into said forward chamber 14.
[0045] FIG. 10A is an oblique lateral surface view of another exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe where a means for transferring vacuum 116 from said back chamber (not shown) to said forward chamber (not shown) comprises an expansion of a side wall of a forward aspect of said cylinder 10, said expansion resulting in a loss of contact of a piston head 18 or a piston head gasket 19 at that region to an inner wall of said cylinder 10, thereby permitting transmission of a vacuum from said back chamber 13 to a forward end of said forward chamber 14 and thereby to a medical device attached thereto. FIG. 10B is an end-on surface view of an ergonomic suction syringe depicted in FIG. 10A.
[0046] FIG. 11A is an oblique lateral surface view of another exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe where a means for transferring vacuum 116 from said back chamber 13 to said forward chamber 14 comprises a hollow tube securely attached to a forward aspect of said cylinder 10, a long axis of said tube's orientation being essentially in line with a long axis of said cylinder 10, said hollow tube thereby permitting transmission of a vacuum from said back chamber 13 to a forward end of said forward chamber 14 and thereby to a medical device attached thereto. FIG. 11B is an end-on surface view of an ergonomic suction syringe depicted in FIG. 11A.
[0047] FIG. 12 is a longitudinal cut-away view of another exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe in which a means 116 for transmission of vacuum generated in said back chamber 13 to said forward chamber 14 is an annular expansion of the cross-sectional diameter of a forward aspect of said cylinder 10.
[0048] FIG. 13 is a longitudinal cut-away view of another exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe in which a means for transmission of vacuum generated in said back chamber 13 to said forward chamber 14 is for said cylinder 10 to possess a variable bore, with enlargement of said bore at a point 117 generally disposed to a forward end of said forward chamber 14 relative to a bore of said cylinder 10 further toward said back end 11.
[0049] FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B are an oblique surface views of exemplary embodiments of said piston head gasket 19, said piston head gasket 19 comprising a generally flat disk attached securely to a piston head 18, in this exemplary embodiment further comprising a means for transmission of vacuum from said back chamber 13 to said forward chamber 14, said means comprising a flap valve 43, said flap valve 43 comprising overlapping membranes having an initial closed configuration as shown in FIG. 14A impervious to passage of vacuum across said flap valve 43, and at least a second open configuration as shown in FIG. 14B permitting transmission of vacuum from said back chamber 13 to said forward chamber 14. In one exemplary embodiment, conversion from said closed configuration to said open configuration is actuated when a threshold of vacuum pressure is achieved, said threshold being the level of vacuum at which said flap valve 43 is no longer competent. It can readily be appreciated that said means for transmission could comprise other configurations of one-way valves. It can further be appreciated that a feature of said one-way valves is that they serve as a means of egress for any fluids and gases that may accumulate in said back chamber 13 during use to said forward chamber 14 on a retraction maneuver of said piston 16 after said ergonomic suction syringe has been used to create vacuum in a medical device.
[0050] FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B are longitudinal cutaway views of another exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe. FIG. 15A depicts an ergonomic suction syringe with a piston 16 advanced to a location such that a piston head 18 is generally disposed toward a forward end of a cylinder 10, but not far enough forward that it interfaces with a means 118 to transmit vacuum from a back chamber 13 to a forward chamber 14. In this exemplary embodiment, with said piston 16 advanced forward in said cylinder 10, there may be vacuum in said back chamber 13. FIG. 15B depicts an exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe with said piston 16 advanced further forward in said cylinder 10 such that said piston head 18 is located within said means 118 of transmitting vacuum from said back chamber 13 to said forward chamber 14, thereby to an attached medical device if present. In this embodiment a physical stop 119 is incorporated in the forward chamber that serves to arrest further forward movement of said piston 16 when said piston head 18 is in a location comprising a means 119 of vacuum transmission from said back chamber 13 to said forward chamber 14. Said stop optimally positions said piston head 18 to activate and maintain maximum vacuum, while not allowing said piston head 18 or said piston gasket 19 from contacting a forward end of said forward chamber 14 such that said piston head 18 or said piston head gasket 19 interfere with transmission of vacuum or passage of gases or liquids through a tip adapter 101. One can readily appreciate that there are many configurations of said physical stop 119 that would achieve this purpose.
[0051] FIGS. 16A-D illustrate another exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic syringe. FIG. 16A is a longitudinal cutaway view of said ergonomic suction syringe in which said means 118 of transmission of vacuum from said back chamber 13 to said forward chamber 14 comprises a defect 118 in said piston head 18, said defect slidably interfacing with a structural element 120 that runs along an inner aspect of a cylinder 10 wall, generally running longitudinally within said cylinder 10 and having a generally constant cross-sectional shape, in a generally air-tight seal over almost the entire range of motion of said piston head 18 during use, except at a point generally disposed toward a forward end of said forward chamber 14 whereupon said structural element 120 is not present, and whereupon advancement of said piston 16 moves said piston head forward beyond the end of said structural element 120, leaving said defect 118 unplugged, allowing vacuum to be transmitted from said back chamber 13 to said forward chamber 14 through said defect 118. One can readily envision that said defect 118 can have numerous alternative shapes, and FIG. 16B is an exemplary embodiment of an end-on view of said piston head 18 in which said defect 118 generally comprises a circle, or oval, in which case said structural element 120 would have a corresponding cross-section shape. FIG. 16C is an exemplary embodiment of an end-on view of said piston head 18 in which said defect 118 generally comprises a semicircle, in which case said structural element 120 would have a corresponding cross-section shape. FIG. 16D is an exemplary embodiment of an end-on view of said piston head 18 in which said defect 118 comprises a generally rectangular shape, or a square shape, in which case said structural element 120 would have a corresponding cross-section shape.
[0052] FIG. 17A and FIG. 17B represent another exemplary embodiment of an ergonomic suction syringe. In this exemplary embodiment, said means of transmitting vacuum from said back chamber 13 to said forward chamber 14 comprises a generally crescent-shaped defect in said piston head 18, in which said structural element 120 in said cylinder 10 would have a corresponding cross-section shape.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0053] References and citations to other documents, such as patents, patent applications, provisional patent applications, patent publications, journals, books, papers, web content, that have been made throughout this disclosure are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
EQUIVALENTS
[0054] The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The foregoing embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects illustrative rather than limiting on the invention described herein. Scope of the invention is thus indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
CONCLUSIONS
[0055] In summary, the invention disclosed herein comprises an ergonomic suction syringe and method for performing medical procedures in which said ergonomic suction syringe generates suction that can be delivered to a medical device by a single-handed compression motion, with suction actuated by forward motion of a piston into a cylinder, and in which suction can be maintained essentially permanently once activated without any further effort by the operator, even hands-free.
