Surgical suction device that uses positive pressure gas
View Patent ↗Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for generating a variable liquid vacuum with an accompanying stable gas flow rate. In particular, when a suction device suctions a liquid and gas mixture it is advantageous to provide a variable vacuum or vacuum to apply to the liquid component while the flow rate of the gas stays constant or essentially constant.
1. A method for generating suction, comprising:
generating a suction flow within a suction device using an adjustable vacuum within the suction device;
wherein the suction flow comprises a liquid flow and a gas flow; and
wherein the liquid flow is adjustable while the gas flow remains essentially constant in response to an adjustment of the adjustable vacuum; and
preventing backflow of the gas, the liquid, or a combination thereof by a backflow prevention valve comprising a sliding body and a diaphragm, wherein the sliding body is configured to move along the central axis within the device when acted upon by pressure transferred from a pressure source via the diaphragm to the sliding body, and the diaphragm is configured to move with respect to the sliding body.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable vacuum is generated by an area of relative low pressure within the suction device.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the area of relative low pressure is generated by directing a flow of a pressurized gas through a first conduit of the device into a second conduit of the device.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the suction device has a central axis and the first conduit is positioned at an angle less than 90 degrees relative to the central axis.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the adjustable vacuum is adjusted by adjusting the diameter of the first conduit.
6. A method, comprising:
generating suction within a suction device;
adjusting the suction so that a suction capacity of a liquid is adjusted while a suction capacity of a gas remains essentially constant; and
preventing backflow of the gas, the liquid, or a combination thereof by a backflow prevention valve comprising a sliding body and a diaphragm, wherein the sliding body is configured to move along the central axis within the device when acted upon by pressure transferred from a pressure source via the diaphragm to the sliding body, and the diaphragm is configured to move with respect to the sliding body.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the suction is generated by an area of relative low pressure within the suction device.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the area of relative low pressure is generated by directing a flow of a pressurized gas through a first conduit of the device into a second conduit of the device.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the suction device has a central axis and the first conduit is positioned at an angle less than 90 degrees relative to the central axis.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the adjustable suction is adjusted by adjusting the diameter of the first conduit.