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Contents
1. Puritan Bennett Corporation Vacutron Suction Regulator Operations and Maintenance Guide Mar 1989 Allied Healthcare Products Inc St Louis MO Allied Healthcare Products Inc Instruments of Care Medical Gas Technology product brochure May 2002 Ohmeda Product Information Madison WI Precision Medical User Manual Nov 1999 Northampton PA Boehringer Suction Regulators Operating and Maintenance Instructions 1992 Norristown PA Boehringer Suction Regulators Information Brochure 1998 Norristown PA cited by examiner Primary Examiner Nicholas D Lucchesi Assistant Examiner Matthew F DeSanto 74 Attorney Agent or Firm Edward W Goebel Jr Jon L Woodard MacDonald Illig Jones amp Britton 57 ABSTRACT A vacuum pressure regulator system for use in association with a vacuum system in which a vacuum is employed for healthcare purposes for assisting in monitoring and regu lating the vacuum pressure and having a manual pressure control valve to adjust the treatment vacuum pressure sup plied to the patient a vacuum pressure sensor to sense the treatment vacuum pressure for the patient in the system and producing a treatment vacuum pressure signal a sampling circuit which intermittently samples the pressure signal generated by the pressure sensor and generate sampling signals an electrically powered pressure display circuit and digital pressure display for receiving the sampling signals and providi2. con trols known as vacuum regulators are provided by which the level of vacuum pressure can be controlled and varied Pressure gauges are also provided either incorporated in or matched with the vacuum regulator which monitor the level of vacuum pressure In the past the mechanical systems in such vacuum regulators for actually varying and controlling the vacuum used simple vent valves and the like Such valves could be controlled manually usually by a control knob The pressure gauge was usually a mechanical type gauge which consisted of a pressure sensor with a dial and a needle showing the pressure An operator would glance at the dial and needle from time to time to ensure that the vacuum level remained stable at the desired pressure Such known pressure gauge systems have been somewhat primitive Usually known vacuum regulators used a simple mechanical type pressure gauge with a needle type readout dial showing the pressure An operator would monitor the gauge reading and might adjust the manual pressure control as desired This system was somewhat old fashioned for the hospital environment and was not always practical in emer gency situations for example in a paramedic environment at an accident scene for example or in an ambulance For example the dial and needle may require to be checked repeatedly and it was possible for the paramedic to misread the dial Such known systems were also capable of providing for intermit
3. a United States Patent Stinson US006960190B2 US 6 960 190 B2 Nov 1 2005 10 Patent No 45 Date of Patent 54 VACUUM REGULATOR AND METHOD 75 Inventor David C Stinson Richmond Hill CA US 73 Assignee Amvex Corporation Richmond Hill CA Notice Subject to any disclaimer the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U S C 154 b by 0 days 21 Appl No 10 248 094 22 Filed Dec 18 2002 65 Prior Publication Data US 2004 0122365 A1 Jun 24 2004 5D Int Cl o oo ond nds S ne A61M 1 00 CEA UE o PRENDI KE PEE 604 119 58 Field of Search 604 28 30 31 604 35 500 503 505 506 514 65 67 604 118 121 245 247 317 326 128 205 19 128 911 56 References Cited U S PATENT DOCUMENTS 4 710 165 A 12 1987 McNeil et al 604 67 4 795 448 A 1 1989 Stacey et al 4 988 336 A 1 1991 Kohn 604 67 5 419 768 A 5 1995 Kayser se 604 119 5 766 155 A 6 1998 Hyman et al 6 162 194 A 12 2000 Shipp e 604 151 2001 0035051 A1 11 2001 Karlicek 73 708 2003 0040687 A1 OTHER PUBLICATIONS 2 2003 Boynton et al Amvex Corporation Brochure Patricia L Carroll R N Middletown CT The Principles of Vacuum amp Its Use in the Hospital Environment 14 VACUUM SOURCE POTENTIOMETER Brenda Shelton et al Medical Applications of Suction A Nursing Manual 1985
4. duce the vacuum pressure with the system Such control valves are known and the details are not shown for the sake of clarity The control knob 30 connects to the control valve for manual operation and adjustment of the control valve by an operator This permits the operator to manually adjust the level of vacuum being supplied to the patient The mode selection control 38 allows an operator to select either an off position or an automatic operation position of the control valve or manual override position which cuts out the control valve and applies full vacuum to the patient A pressure sensor 44 senses the vacuum pressure and provides a pressure signal FIG 5 illustrates the electronic circuit by which the pressure signal is sampled at intervals A further vent 46 is provided in the line connection to the patient A sampler circuit 48 is located in housing 12 which is described below A pressure sampler 50 is connected to the pressure sensor 44 and operates at intervals to sample the pressure detected in the pressure sensor Sampler 50 is powered by power supply 40 This can be anyone of or a combination of the various different power supplies listed above Pressure sampler 50 is connected to amplifier 52 to amplify the pressure signal Amplifier 52 is connected to micro controller 54 Controller 54 is connected to a digital display typically an LCD display shown as 56 Display 56 is located in
5. ed to a patient and signals an alarm The invention further provides such a vacuum pressure regulator system in which an operator override control is US 6 960 190 B2 3 provided whereby an operator can manually override said pressure control valve and supply full vacuum for treatment of said patient The vacuum applied to the patient may be and usually is connected to the patient through a know collection bottle and material removed from the patient may be allowed to collect in such a collection bottle thus preventing the mate rial from being withdrawn up into the vacuum system itself The invention also provides a method of supplying and regulating a vacuum to a patient with a non mains powered regulator and sampling the vacuum pressure at timed inter vals so as to conserve power The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with more particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure For a better understanding of the invention its operating advan tages and specific objects attained by its use reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descrip tive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG 1 is a schematic view of a vacuum pressure system showing the vacuum pressure regulator illustrating the invention FIG 2 is a sectional illustration of a vacuum pressure r
6. egulator of FIG 1 along line 2 2 of FIG 1 FIG 3 is a conduit diagram illustrating the layout of the various conduits connecting the components of the pressure regulator of FIG 1 FIG 4 is a block diagram illustrating the connection of the mechanical components of the vacuum pressure controls FIG 1 and FIG 5 is a block circuit diagram of the vacuum pressure sensor and display DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG 1 it will be seen that the invention is there illustrated in the form of a vacuum regulator 10 having a housing 12 a vacuum source connection 14 and a vacuum patient connection 16 Typically the vacuum connection 14 will be connected to a known vacuum conduit 18 common in many hospitals and paramedical vehicles The conduit in a hospital is located in or on a wall and has connection points in various rooms by means of which a paramedic doctor or nurse may have quick access to a source of vacuum wherever required The patient connection 16 may be connected by a patient hose 20 to a vacuum tube or device not shown by means of which the patient may be treated with a vacuum in any desired cir cumstances Typically a collector bottle 24 is provided in the patient hose for collecting any mucous or other material removed from the patient via the hose Referring to FIGS 2 and 3 the components within the vacuum regulator housing are seen in more detail On the housing 12 there is a manually o
7. essure signals to a display whereby the pressure of said vacuum can be monitored manually operating a control valve to control said vacuum pressure and sensing a change in the position of said manual control and generating a control signal thereby and said control signal varying said intervals of said intermittent pres sure sensing whereby to provide an instantaneous display of pressure 2 A method as claimed in claim 1 including providing circuitry powered by a mains power supply with a trans former 3 The method of regulating a vacuum treatment to a patient supplied from a vacuum source by means of a non mains powered vacuum regulator and comprising sensing the pressure of vacuum being supplied to the patient at regular time intervals and generating pres sure signals thereby supplying said pressure signals to a display whereby the pressure of said vacuum can be monitored manually operating a control valve to control said vacuum pressure and sensing a change in the position of said manual control and generating a control signal thereby and said control signal varying said intervals of said intermittent pres sure sensing whereby to provide an instantaneous display of pressure 4 The method of regulating a vacuum treatment to a patient supplied from a vacuum source as claimed in claim 10 15 20 25 30 35 6 3 and including sensing an absence of vacuum pressure and generating an alarm signal t
8. hereby 5 The method of regulating a vacuum treatment to a patient supplied from a vacuum source as claimed in claim 4 and including operating an override switch whereby to override said venting of said vacuum pressure and to supply full vacuum pressure to said patient 6 A method of regulating the level of vacuum adminis tered to a patient comprising a adjusting a pressure control valve to a selected vacuum administered to said patient b intermittently sensing said vacuum with circuitry to general signals in response thereto c supplying said generated signals to a display to digitally display said level of vacuum d powering said circuitry by a battery e amplifying said intermittently sensed vacuum f including a micro controller in the circuitry for gen erating said signals to said display g reducing power requirements from said battery when said micro processor intermittently senses said vacuum h generating an alarm when said microprocessor senses an absence of vacuum i manually adjusting said pressure control valve j intermittently sensing said vacuum at a pre selected time interval and k temporarily increasing said time interval when manu ally adjusting said pressure control valve 7 method as claimed in claim 6 including the step of manually overriding said pressure control valve to supply full vacuum to said patient 8 A method as claimed in claim 7 including saving said generated
9. ions thus permitting it to be used anywhere in a facility or in the field if needed Preferably the vacuum pressure display will be incorporated in the body of a manual vacuum pressure regulator so that the digital vacuum pressure display is provided in a single compact unit Preferably there will also be an alarm of some form incorporated in the pressure gauge which will alert the attendant if there is a loss of vacuum Preferably the pressure regulator will be designed to operate on a minimum of power so that it can be powered by a long life battery a rechargeable battery a 12 volt battery or by solar power if desired Mains power connec tions could also be incorporated so as to be available to be used when required as an optional alternative supply The regulator control will preferably incorporate a poten tiometer connected to the logic so that when the control knob is rotated to adjust the pressure the sampling rate is increased temporarily This will give an instantaneous read out on the display of the new pressure SUMMARY OF INVENTION With a view to providing the foregoing advantages the invention comprises a vacuum pressure regulator system for use in association with a vacuum system in which a vacuum is employed for healthcare purposes for assisting in moni toring and regulating the vacuum pressure and which vacuum pressure regulator system has a manual pressure control valve operable by an operator to adjust
10. ng a visible display and a non mains power supply 8 Claims 4 Drawing Sheets 22 PRESSURE SAMPLER AND DISPLAY 48 U S Patent Nov 1 2005 Sheet 1 of 4 US 6 960 190 B2 U S Patent Nov 1 2005 Sheet 2 of 4 US 6 960 190 B2 FIG 3 US 6 960 190 B2 Sheet 3 of 4 Nov 1 2005 U S Patent v Sls bY MOSN3S L n 300A oe 9v 8t AVIdSId ONY H3 IdWvs 38nsSs3ud it p Y3SLIWOILNSLOd gONM JOM LNO2 3AT1VA JOB LNOO JOYNOS WANIYA vl ov US 6 960 190 B2 Sheet 4 of 4 Nov 1 2005 U S Patent eae LE Ya ldMWvs SYuNSS3ud YATIONLNOD OYDIW US 6 960 190 B2 1 VACUUM REGULATOR AND METHOD BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The invention relates to medical and hospital healthcare vacuum systems and in particular to a vacuum pressure gauge and regulator having a solid state non mains powered sensor for monitoring the vacuum pressure and enabling the operator to maintain a stable level of vacuum for adminis tration to a patient and to a vacuum regulator incorporating such a vacuum pressure gauge In the field of health care vacuum systems are required in many circumstances A vacuum may be required to be applied to a patient for a variety of reasons In these cases care must be taken to ensure that the level of vacuum negative pressure is maintained at the level required for a particular treatment To do this manual
11. perable control knob 30 connected to a pressure control valve 32 within housing 12 By operation of knob 30 the vacuum pressure can be adjusted manually as desired Knob 30 is coupled with a control sensor in this case a potentiometer ring 31 known per se FIG 4 for reasons described below The vacuum regulator 10 has a visual indicator or window 34 for a display described below on which the treatment vacuum pressure is displayed and also has an 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 4 alarm 36 The alarm may be a flashing light or an audible buzzer or a combination of warning alert devices A mode select switch 38 is operable to select either automatic regulation or manual override as desired In accordance with the invention a power source in this case a battery 40 is located within housing 12 and is connected to a circuit board of the vacuum sensor as will be described below Other forms of power source could replace the battery or could be combined with the battery a rechargeable storage device solar power or a mains power supply and transformer FIG 4 illustrates the vacuum conduit connections within the housing 12 between the various mechanical compo nents corresponding to FIG 3 but in schematic form The vacuum source 14 is shown connected to the control valve 32 The valve 32 is connected to a vent to atmosphere 42 for allowing entry of air to re
12. signals in memory ks ce o k k k
13. tent vacuum pulses to be supplied at intervals The intermittent control in many cases was difficult to maintain and difficult to regulate as to timing US Pat No 4 988 336 issued Jan 29 1991 G S Kohn discloses a complex vacuum pressure regulator in which the vacuum source is used to drive a rotary air powered motor which in turn drives an electrical generator which is part of the regulator The vacuum control valve is electrically operated and turns the vacuum on and off for intermittent supply of vacuum to the patient This system is unnecessar ily complex in that it incorporates its own electrical genera tor and uses that generator to power the electronic on off switching of the vacuum U S Pat No 5 419 768 issued May 30 1995 J P Kayser discloses a vacuum regulator in which the actual vacuum control valve is operated by a solenoid The solenoid is programmed to open and close the valve automatically for intermittent operation This system is also complex and would consume a considerable power supply 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 2 There is a need for a vacuum pressure regulator having a more precise pressure readout preferably one that provides a better visual readout such as could be provided by a digital numeral LCD display Preferably such a system will be independent of mains power and will be a system that is solid state operated with battery power for most applicat
14. the treatment vacuum pressure supplied to the patient a vacuum pressure sensor operable to sense the treatment vacuum pressure for the patient in the system and to produce a treatment vacuum pressure signal a sampling circuit operable intermittently by electrical power to sample said pressure signal generated by said pressure sensor at predetermined time intervals and generate sampling signals an electrically powered pressure display circuit and digital pressure display for receiving said sampling signals and generating a visible digital pres sure display and a non mains power supply connected for supplying power both to said sampling circuit for sampling said vacuum sensor and to said display circuit and said digital display The invention further seeks to provide such a vacuum pressure regulator including a no pressure signal generator for generating at least one no pressure signal representing an absence of treatment vacuum pressure and an alarm signal generator and an alarm responsive thereto operable in response to a no pressure signal to generate an alarm The invention further provides such a vacuum pressure regulator system in which said regulator is manually oper able to adjust said treatment vacuum pressure so as to maintain a desired level of vacuum pressure The invention further provides such a vacuum pressure gauge system in which said no pressure signal generator responds to the occlusion of a treatment device connect
15. window 44 above The controller 54 is also connected to the potentiometer of control knob 30 The controller 54 controls the sampler 50 which then samples the pressure at predetermined time intervals This provides a read out on the display 56 each time a sample is taken This greatly reduces the power consumption of the system Thus a power supply in the form of a long life battery will provide extended operation without the need for a mains connec tion The sampling rate can be changed by the controller 54 Thus as the control knob 30 is rotated the controller 54 will temporarily increase the sampling rate of the sampler 50 In this way the display will give an instantaneous reading of the new pressure setting A memory 58 is connected to controller 54 The foregoing is a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is given here by way of example only The invention is not to be taken as limited to any of the specific features as described but comprehends all such variations thereof as come within the scope of the appended claims US 6 960 190 B2 5 What is claimed is 1 The method of regulating a vacuum treatment to a patient supplied from a vacuum sources by means of a non mains powered vacuum regulator and comprising sensing the pressure of vacuum being supplied to the patient at regular time intervals so as to conserve power and generating pressure signals thereby supplying said pr
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