IP Library Granted Patent US 10,617,798
Granted Patent B2
US 10,617,798 · App. 15/318,644 · Granted Apr 14, 2020

Device for aspirating and transferring blood

Inventors: Robin Mann (Villingen-Schwenningen, DE); Martin Walti (Zurich, CH)
Assignee: MEDELA HOLDING AG
A61M1/0005A61M1/0001A61M1/0025A61M1/0068A61M1/3632A61M1/3666A61M39/223A61M39/24A61M2205/3306A61M2205/3337
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,617,798
App. No.
15/318,644
Granted
Apr 14, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A device for aspirating and transferring blood during a surgical operation has a first chamber and a second chamber for collecting and transferring the aspirated blood, and an electronically controlled valve unit for connecting the chambers to a vacuum source. The valve unit establishes this connection alternately between the first chamber and the vacuum source and the second chamber and the vacuum source, such that the first or second chamber connected to the vacuum source can be filled with aspirated blood, and the other, second or first chamber can be emptied at the same time. The valve unit is connected to the first and second chamber and permits a pressure increase in the first or second chamber to be emptied. This device allows blood to be efficiently collected and transferred during operations in a way that is gentle on the blood.

Claims (26)

1. A device for aspirating and transferring blood during a surgical operation, comprising:

a first chamber and a second chamber for collecting and transferring the aspirated blood, and an electronically controlled valve unit for connecting the chambers to a vacuum source,

wherein the valve unit establishes this connection alternately between the first chamber and the vacuum source and between the second chamber and the vacuum source, such that the first or the second chamber connected to the vacuum source can be filled with aspirated blood, and the other, second or first chamber can be emptied at the same time,

wherein the valve unit is connected to the first and second chamber and permits a pressure increase in the first or the second chamber to be emptied,

wherein the valve unit has a first valve module which establishes the connection between the first and second chamber and the vacuum source and has an additional second valve module, which permits the pressure increase,

and wherein the first and second valve modules are controllable independently of each other.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the valve unit is connectable to an overpressure source and creates an alternate connection between the first chamber and the overpressure source, such that the first or second chamber to be emptied can be emptied with a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein a first filling level sensor for measuring the filling level in the first chamber and a second filling level sensor for measuring the filling level in the second chamber are present, wherein the valve unit is controlled according to a sensor signal from at least one of these filling level sensors.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the valve unit is arranged in a housing, wherein the first and second chambers are held releasably in a fixed position on the housing.

5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein the first and second chambers are arranged in a common blood collection container, which is held releasably in a fixed position on the housing.

6. The device according to claim 4 , wherein the vacuum source is arranged in the housing.

7. The device according to claim 4 , wherein a control unit for controlling the valve unit is arranged in the housing.

8. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the vacuum source and the overpressure source are two separate pumps, or wherein the vacuum source and the overpressure source are formed by a single pump.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the vacuum source is a non-peristaltic pump.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the vacuum source is a controllable pump.

11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the chambers have a downwardly tapering internal cross section.

12. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the filling level sensor of each chamber extends from the top downward into the area of the tapering internal cross section.

13. A secretion collection container having a first chamber and a second chamber for collecting and transferring aspirated blood during a surgical operation, comprising

an inlet,

an outlet, and

at least one interior,

wherein the interior is divided, by means of a separating wall, into a first area and a second area,

wherein the first area basically forms the first chamber and the second area basically forms the second chamber,

wherein the interior has a downwardly tapering internal cross section, and

wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are, in a respective upper area, delimited by an oblique rib.

14. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the vacuum source is a piston pump or a diaphragm pump.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2026
From: MEDELA HOLDING AG
To: MEDELA AG
Reel/Frame 075045/0230 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2017
From: MANN, ROBIN; WALTI, MARTIN
To: MEDELA HOLDING AG
Reel/Frame 041091/0295 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 14174598 · Jun 26, 2014 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170128637A1 · May 11, 2017