초록 ▼

A removable manifold for a medical/surgical waste collection system. The manifold is dimensioned to be mounted to a receiver integral with the system. The manifold includes a driver for engaging a complementary valve internal to the receiver. The valve regulates flow between the receiver and the dow

A removable manifold for a medical/surgical waste collection system. The manifold is dimensioned to be mounted to a receiver integral with the system. The manifold includes a driver for engaging a complementary valve internal to the receiver. The valve regulates flow between the receiver and the down line components of the waste collection system. The valve is normally closed. When the manifold is fitted to the receiver the driver engages the valve so as move the valve to the open position. This allows fluid flow from the manifold and receiver to the downstream components of the system.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A manifold for connection to a receiver of a medical/surgical waste collection unit, the receiver having a rotating valve disk that selectively allows/blocks fluid flow through the receiver, the valve disk having a longitudinal axis that extends through the valve disk, said m

What is claimed is: 1. A manifold for connection to a receiver of a medical/surgical waste collection unit, the receiver having a rotating valve disk that selectively allows/blocks fluid flow through the receiver, the valve disk having a longitudinal axis that extends through the valve disk, said manifold including: a housing, said housing having: opposed proximal and distal ends; a proximal section that extends forward from the proximal end, the proximal section at least partially defining a housing void space; a longitudinal axis that extends between the proximal and distal ends and through the proximal section and the housing void space and wherein, at least the proximal section is shaped to be disposed in the waste collection unit receiver and, when, in the receiver, rotate about the housing longitudinal axis; at least one fitting connected to said housing adjacent the distal end, said fitting dimensioned to receive a suction line and having a fluid communication path into the housing void space; and a base plate that extends over the proximal end of said housing so as to define a proximal end of the housing void space so that when said manifold is disposed in the receiver, said base plate is located adjacent the receiver valve disk, said base plate having a center through which the housing longitudinal axis extends and shaped to have an opening through which fluid can flow from the housing void space into the waste collection unit, the opening further shaped to receive a drive member integral with the valve disk, the center of the opening being located in said base plate at a location laterally offset from the base plate center so that rotation of said housing about the housing longitudinal axis results in like rotation of the base plate opening and the rotation of the valve disk around the longitudinal axis of the valve disk, the rotation of the valve disk moving the valve disk between positions in which the disk allows fluid flow through the receiver and in which the disk blocks fluid flow through the receiver. 2. The manifold of claim 1, wherein: said base plate is circularly shaped; and said housing is shaped so that the proximal section has a circularly shaped wall that extends distally forward from said base plate. 3. The manifold of claim 1, further including a filter disposed in the housing void space between said at least one fitting and the base plate opening. 4. The manifold of claim 1, further including a valve mounted to said housing to regulate fluid flow through the base plate opening, said valve configured to be in an open state when the housing is disposed in the waste collection unit receiver and, when said housing is withdrawn from the receiver, to move to a closed state to prevent fluid flow through the base plate opening. 5. The manifold of claim 1, further including a single-piece drip stop mounted to said base plate around the opening, said drip stop having: at least one moveable valve member that, when said manifold is in the waste collection unit receiver, allows fluid flow through the base plate opening, and, when said manifold is removed from the waste collection unit receiver, closes to block fluid flow through the base plate opening; and a seal assembly that, when said manifold is in the waste collection unit receiver, forms a seal between the valve disk drive member and said manifold base plate. 6. The manifold of claim 1, wherein: said housing includes a shell that defines the housing proximal section; said base plate is integrally formed with said shell; and said housing further includes a cap disposed over said shell that further defines the housing void space. 7. The manifold of claim 1, further including two tabs that extend outwardly from said housing, said tabs being centered on diametrically opposed sides of the housing longitudinal axis and being shaped to subtend different arcs around said housing. 8. A manifold for connection to a receiver of a medical/surgical waste collection unit, the receiver having a rotating valve disk that regulates fluid flow through the receiver, the valve disk having a longitudinal axis that extends through the disk and a boss that is radially spaced from the longitudinal axis of the disk, said manifold including: a housing, said housing having: opposed proximal and distal ends; a proximal section that extends forward from the proximal end, the proximal section at least partially defining a housing void space; and a longitudinal axis that extends between the proximal and distal ends and through the housing proximal section and the housing void space and wherein, at least the housing proximal section is shaped to be disposed in the waste collection unit receiver and, when in the receiver, rotate about the housing longitudinal axis; at least one fitting that is connected to said housing adjacent the distal end, said fitting dimensioned to receive a suction line and to define a fluid communication path into the void space two tabs that extend outwardly from said housing, said tabs being centered on diametrically opposed sides of the housing longitudinal axis and being shaped to subtend different arcs around said housing; and a base plate that extends over the proximal end of said housing to define a proximal end of the housing void space so that when said manifold is seated in the waste collection unit receiver, said base plate is located adjacent the valve disk, said base plate having a center through which the housing longitudinal axis extends and shaped to have an opening shaped to receive the valve disk boss and through which fluid can flow from the housing void space, through the valve disk and into the waste collection unit, the opening being centered in said base plate at a location spaced from the base plate center so that rotation of said housing about the housing longitudinal axis results in like rotation of the base plate opening, the valve disk boss and the valve disk, the rotation of the valve disk orienting the disk so that the disk allows fluid flow through the receiver or so that disk blocks fluid flow through the receiver. 9. The manifold of claim 8, wherein: said base plate is circularly shaped; and said housing is shaped so that the proximal section has a circularly shaped wall that extends distally forward from said base plate. 10. The manifold of claim 8, further including a filter disposed in said housing between said at least one fitting and the base plate opening. 11. The manifold of claim 8, further including a valve mounted to said housing to regulate fluid flow through the base plate opening, said valve configured to be in an open state when the housing is disposed in the waste collection unit receiver and, when said housing is withdrawn from the receiver, to move to a closed state to prevent fluid flow through the base plate opening. 12. The manifold of claim 8, further including a single-piece drip stop mounted to said base plate around the opening, said drip stop having: at least one moveable valve member that, when said manifold is in the waste collection unit receiver, allows fluid flow through the base plate opening, and, when said manifold is removed from the waste collection unit receiver, closes to block fluid flow through the base plate opening; and a seal assembly that, when said manifold is in the waste collection unit receiver, forms a seal between the valve disk boss and said manifold base plate. 13. The manifold of claim 8, wherein: said housing includes a shell that defines the housing proximal section; said base plate is integrally formed with said shell; and said housing further includes a cap disposed over said shell, said cap further defining the housing void space. 14. A manifold for connection to a receiver of a medical/surgical waste collection unit, the receiver having a rotating valve disk that allows/blocks fluid flow through the receiver, the valve disk having a longitudinal axis that extends through the disk and a boss that is radially spaced away from the disk longitudinal axis, said manifold including: a housing, said housing having: opposed proximal and distal ends; a proximal section that extends forward from the proximal end, the proximal section at least partially defining a housing void space; and a longitudinal axis that extends between the proximal and distal ends and through the proximal section and the housing void space and wherein, at least the housing proximal section is shaped to be disposed in the waste collection unit receiver and, when in the receiver, rotate about the housing longitudinal axis; at least one fitting connected to said housing adjacent the distal end, said fitting dimensioned to receive a suction line and having a fluid communication path into the void space; a base plate that extends over the proximal end of said housing to define a proximal end of the housing void space so that when said manifold is disposed in the receiver, said base plate is located adjacent the valve disk, said base plate having a center through which the housing longitudinal axis extends and shaped to have an opening for receiving the valve disk boss and through which fluid can flow from the housing void space, through the valve disk boss and into the waste collection unit, the opening being centered in said base plate at a location spaced from the base plate center so that rotation of said housing about the housing longitudinal axis results in like rotation of the base plate opening, the valve boss and the valve disk, the rotation of the valve disk orienting the disk so that the disk allows fluid flow through the receiver or so that the disk blocks fluid flow through the receiver; and a ring formed from elastomeric material that is disposed over an outer surface of said base plate that extends around the base plate opening, said ring shaped to have an exposed surface disposed over said base plate that extends from an outer perimeter of said ring and that tapers distally forward toward the base plate opening. 15. The manifold of claim 14 further including a lip that projects outwardly from the outer surface of said base plate, said lip being radially spaced outwardly from the base plate opening and extending around said ring. 16. The manifold of claim 14, wherein said ring is part of a drip stop, said drip stop including a valve disposed in the void space over the base plate opening that regulates fluid flow through the base plate opening, said valve configured to open when the valve disk boss is received in the base plate opening and close upon withdrawal of the valve disk boss from the base plate opening. 17. The manifold of claim 14, wherein said ring is part of a single-piece drip stop, said drip stop further including a head integral with said ring that is disposed in the housing void space and extends over the base plate opening, said head formed from elastomeric material and having at least one slot that divides said head into a plurality of lips, said lips having a first position in which said lips are spaced apart to allow fluid flow out through the base plate opening and a second position in which said lips abut each other so as to block fluid flow out of the base plate opening. 18. The manifold of claim 14, wherein: said base plate is circularly shaped; and said housing is shaped so that the proximal section has a circularly shaped wall that extends distally forward from said base plate. 19. The manifold of claim 14, further including a filter disposed in said housing between said at least one fitting and the base plate opening. 20. The manifold of claim 14 further including: a first valve disposed in said housing adjacent said fitting that allows fluid flow from said fitting into the housing void space and that blocks fluid flow from the housing void space out through said fitting; and a second valve disposed in said housing adjacent the base plate opening for regulating fluid flow from the housing void space out through the base plate opening that allows fluid flow when the valve disk boss is seated in the base plate opening and that closes upon withdrawal of the valve disk boss from the base plate opening.