IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,290,626
Granted Patent B2
US 12,290,626 · App. 16/803,203 · Granted May 6, 2025

Manifold for a medical waste collection system

Inventors: Michael Zollinger (Chelsea, MI); Peter LaDuke (Holland, MI)
Assignee: Stryker Corporation
A61M1/79A61B2217/005
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,290,626
App. No.
16/803,203
Filed
Feb 27, 2020
Granted
May 6, 2025
Kind
B2
Examiner
WENG, KAI H
Art Unit
3781
USPC
604/317
Abstract

A manifold for coupling a suction tube to a medical waste collection system. A housing includes a body portion, and first and second legs extending from said body portion. An inlet fitting is for coupling to the suction tube. An arm extends outwardly from said housing and includes a proximally-directed surface. A lock element extends outwardly from said housing and includes a distally-directed surface. A spine extends outwardly from said housing and includes a proximally-directed surface. A catch may include a distally-directed surface. A rim of the first leg defines an outlet opening, and the catch and the rim are spaced apart by a void between the first and second legs. The housing may define a manifold volume, and a filter element may be disposed within the manifold volume. A radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag may be at least partially positioned on said second leg.

Claims (30)

1. A manifold for a medical waste collection system including a receiver defining an opening into which the manifold is configured to be inserted, said manifold comprising:

a housing comprising a body portion, a first leg, and a second leg spaced apart from said first leg to define a void, wherein said first leg and the second leg extend proximally from said body portion and said first leg comprises a rim defining an outlet opening, and wherein said housing further comprises an inlet fitting extending distally from said body portion and configured to receive a suction tube;

a seal coupled to said rim of said first leg and shaped to cover said outlet opening; and

an arm extending outwardly from said first leg.

2. The manifold of claim 1 , further a radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag at least partially positioned on said second leg.

3. The manifold of claim 1 , wherein said rim is positioned below said second leg when said manifold is oriented for insertion into the opening of the receiver.

4. The manifold of claim 1 , wherein said housing defines a manifold volume, and wherein said second leg includes a cavity defining a portion of said manifold volume.

5. The manifold of claim 1 , further comprising a spine extending from said first leg.

6. The manifold of claim 5 , wherein said spine comprises a ramped surface tapering towards said first leg.

7. The manifold of claim 1 , wherein said rim has a width larger than a height to define an outlet opening that is non-circular.

8. The manifold of claim 7 , further comprising a second arm, wherein said arm and said second arm each extend laterally from a respective one of opposing sides one of said housing, wherein said arm and said second arm cooperate to define a width that is larger than said width of said rim.

9. The manifold of claim 8 , further comprising lock elements each extending outwardly from said respective one of said opposing sides of said housing.

10. The manifold of claim 1 , further comprising a catch positioned proximal to said rim and proximal to said arm.

11. A manifold for a medical waste collection system including a receiver defining an opening into which the manifold is configured to be inserted, said manifold comprising:

a housing comprising a body portion, a first leg, and a second leg spaced apart from said first leg to define a void, wherein said first leg and said second leg extend proximally from said body portion and said first leg comprises a rim defining an outlet opening, and wherein said housing further comprises an inlet fitting configured to receive a suction tube;

a seal coupled to said rim of said first leg and shaped to cover said outlet opening;

an arm extending outwardly from said first leg; and

a filter element at least partially disposed within said body portion and positioned between said inlet fitting and said outlet opening of said first leg.

12. The manifold of claim 11 , further comprising a radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag at least partially positioned on said second leg.

13. The manifold of claim 11 , wherein said rim has a width larger than a height to define an outlet opening that is non-circular.

14. The manifold of claim 11 , further comprising a catch disposed on said housing and positioned proximal to said rim.

15. The manifold of claim 11 , wherein said housing defines a manifold volume, and wherein said manifold further comprises a filter element disposed within said manifold volume and positioned between said inlet fitting and said outlet opening.

16. A manifold for a medical waste collection system including a receiver defining an opening into which the manifold is configured to be inserted in a proximal direction, said manifold comprising:

a housing comprising a body portion, a first leg, and a second leg spaced apart from said first leg to define a void, wherein said first leg comprises a rim defining an outlet opening, wherein said first leg and the second leg extend proximally from said body portion and a base wall of said second leg defines a proximal end of said manifold, wherein said rim of said first leg is positioned distal to said base wall of said second leg, and wherein said housing further comprises an inlet fitting configured to receive a suction tube;

a seal coupled to said rim of said first leg and shaped to cover said outlet opening;

an arm extending outwardly from said housing; and

a radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag at least partially positioned on said second leg.

17. The manifold of claim 16 , further comprising a spine extending from said housing.

18. The manifold of claim 16 , wherein said rim has a width larger than a height to define an outlet opening that is non-circular.

19. The manifold of claim 16 , wherein said housing defines a manifold volume, and wherein said manifold further comprises a filter element disposed within said manifold volume and positioned between said inlet fitting and said outlet opening.

Assignments (5)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Dec 18, 2024
From: STRYKER CORPORATION
To: STRYKER CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 069737/0184 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2020
From: LADUKE, PETER
To: WIDGET FARMS LLC
Reel/Frame 052877/0820 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2020
From: WIDGET FARMS LLC
To: ESOX ENGINEERING, LLC
Reel/Frame 052879/0525 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2020
From: ESOX ENGINEERING, LLC
To: STRYKER CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052879/0587 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2020
From: ZOLLINGER, MICHAEL
To: STRYKER CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052840/0888 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16522066 · Jul 25, 2019
Continuation 16383218 · Apr 12, 2019
Related Publication 20200324029A1 · Oct 15, 2020
References Cited (301)
US 2784717A · Thompson · 1957 [cited by applicant]
US 2854027A · Kaiser et al. · 1958 [cited by applicant]
US 3044491A · Sangster · 1962 [cited by applicant]
US 3085689A · Hering et al. · 1963 [cited by applicant]
US 3415086A · Trainer · 1968 [cited by applicant]
US 3540062A · Leone · 1970 [cited by applicant]
US 3612089A · Beguiristain · 1971 [cited by applicant]
US 3844407A · Buie · 1974 [cited by applicant]
US 3936031A · Berman et al. · 1976 [cited by applicant]
US 4014329A · Welch et al. · 1977 [cited by applicant]
US 4063556A · Thomas et al. · 1977 [cited by applicant]
US 4291706A · Voges et al. · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4376053A · Bullock et al. · 1983 [cited by applicant]
US 4475904A · Wang · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4643197A · Greene et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4653493A · Hoppough · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4658707A · Hawkins et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4728006A · Drobish et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4729764A · Gualtier · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4735610A · Akkas et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4737148A · Blake · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4744785A · Rosenthal et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4857063A · Glenn · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4863446A · Parker · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4870975A · Cronk et al. · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4915688A · Bischof et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4941975A · Schewe · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4990137A · Graham · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5074334A · Onodera · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5108381A · Kolozsi · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5112019A · Metzler et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5115842A · Crafts et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5182542A · Adelman et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5195961A · Takahashi et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5201417A · Outlaw, III · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5223151A · Rojas · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5242434A · Terry · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5242474A · Herbst et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5284621A · Kaufman · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5308583A · Sanuki · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5312377A · Dalton · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5312479A · Weinstein et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5363860A · Nakao et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5383234A · Russell · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5419687A · Adahan · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5458138A · Gajo · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5464042A · Haunhorst · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5476447A · Noda et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5575293A · Miller et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5601712A · Adams et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5613966A · Makower et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5624417A · Cook et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5624418A · Shepard · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5637103A · Kerwin et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5681742A · MersKelly et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5725516A · Cook et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5736098A · Kerwin et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5792126A · Tribastone et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5807359A · Bemis et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5817068A · Urrutia · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5830199A · Chaffringeon · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5863443A · Mainwaring · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5871476A · Hand · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5885240A · Bradbury et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5901717A · Dunn et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5911786A · Nielsen et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5914047A · Griffiths · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5922196A · Baumann · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5928935A · Reuss, Jr. et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5947954A · Bonaldo · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5968032A · Sleister · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5997733A · Wilbur et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 6024720A · Chandler et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6027490A · Radford et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6045596A · Holland, Jr. et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6056731A · Koetke et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6058731A · Byczynski et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6070751A · Mejias · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6180000B1 · Wilbur et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6187188B1 · Janik et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6222283B1 · Regla · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6244311B1 · Hand et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6273296B1 · Brown · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6331246B1 · Beckham et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6375625B1 · French et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6391102B1 · Bodden et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6400141B1 · Apel et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6488675B1 · Radford et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6506168B1 · Fathallah et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6562233B1 · Schilling et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6579455B1 · Muzik et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6673055B2 · Bemis et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6695891B2 · Reid · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6749319B1 · Muse · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6770061B2 · Wildman · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6788211B2 · Kouznetsov et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6811139B2 · Hishikawa · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6837267B2 · Weis et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6875193B1 · Bonnette et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6893056B2 · Guala · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6893425B2 · Dunn et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6902673B2 · Smit et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6918893B2 · Houde et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6932795B2 · Lopez et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6935459B2 · Austin et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6951228B2 · Steigerwalt et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 7090663B2 · Dunn et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7153294B1 · Farrow · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7244236B2 · Merkle · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7258711B2 · Dunn et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7294256B2 · Happel et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7347828B2 · Francese et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7459078B2 · Klein et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7497340B2 · Hershberger et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7615037B2 · Murray et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7621898B2 · Lalomia et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7758556B2 · Perez-Cruet et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7981049B2 · Ritchie et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8088079B2 · Kaye et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8137329B2 · Romano et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8216199B2 · Murray et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8382660B2 · Okada · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8485987B2 · Videbaek et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8509736B2 · Hodge · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8518002B2 · Murray et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8696674B2 · Howard et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US RE44920E · Dunn et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8740866B2 · Reasoner et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8801682B2 · Kensy · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8858518B2 · Schafer et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8877146B2 · Williamson, IV et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8915897B2 · Murray et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8974399B2 · Teixeira et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9089801B1 · Gavlak et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9143610B2 · Hodge · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9272127B2 · Rada et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9393363B2 · Chong et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9457135B2 · Neatrour et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9579428B1 · Reasoner et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9671318B1 · Bedoe et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9782524B2 · Reasoner et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9788818B2 · Parks · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9795723B2 · Gavlak et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9909103B2 · Howard et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9919136B2 · Lim et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9943291B2 · VanderWoude et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10105470B2 · Reasoner et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10471188B1 · Zollinger et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10549084B2 · Sokolov et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10603416B1 · Zollinger et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20010040123A1 · Beckham · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 20020026160A1 · Takahashi et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20030073928A1 · Kortenbach et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030125639A1 · Fisher et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030164600A1 · Dunn et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030213733A1 · Beckham et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20040016691A1 · Smit et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040055470A1 · Strauser et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040079418A1 · Weis et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040102743A1 · Walker · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040127854A1 · Leinsing et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040138632A1 · Bemis et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040143227A1 · Rollin et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040163884A1 · Austin et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040261525A1 · Chen · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20050004537A1 · Dunn et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050010179A1 · Dunn et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050127212A1 · Kassanits · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050139532A1 · Hershberger et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050171495A1 · Austin et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050173638A1 · Powell · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050183780A1 · Michaels et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050187529A1 · Reasoner et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050189288A1 · Hershberger et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050209585A1 · Nord et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060189950A1 · Rogers et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060231508A1 · Marzett et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20070135778A1 · Murray et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070135779A1 · Lalomia et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070191731A1 · Kaye · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20090234192A1 · Okada · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100030132A1 · Niezgoda et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110046456A1 · Hordum et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110106029A1 · Garren et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20140323914A1 · VanderWoude et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140336599A1 · Patel et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140338529A1 · Reasoner et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20160331951A1 · Sokolov · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160367734A1 · Gavlak · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20170028110A1 · Smith et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170043064A1 · Reasoner et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170128658A1 · Johnson et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170160169A1 · Bedoe et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170304511A1 · Harpham et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180221804A1 · Reasoner et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180235583A1 · VanderWoude et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180243487A1 · Murray et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180256790A1 · Murray et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180264222A1 · Dantanarayana et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180333520A1 · Mills et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190038195A1 · Peterson et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
CH 391963A · 1965 [cited by applicant]
CN 1156228A · 1997 [cited by applicant]
CN 1437492A · 2003 [cited by applicant]
CN 1915451A · 2007 [cited by applicant]
CN 101970033A · 2011 [cited by applicant]
CN 102596289A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
CN 104958822A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
CN 106102796A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
CN 107951576A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
DE 2430329A1 · 1975 [cited by applicant]
EP 0184629A2 · 1986 [cited by applicant]
EP 0691279A2 · 1996 [cited by applicant]
EP 0882440A2 · 1998 [cited by applicant]
EP 1166805A2 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
EP 1099854B1 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
EP 1380316A1 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
EP 2100550A1 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
EP 2359878A2 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
EP 2359879A2 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
EP 2364736A2 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
EP 2384776A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
EP 2384777A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
EP 2388024A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
EP 2388025A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
FR 2744359A1 · 1997 [cited by applicant]
GB 1466242A · 1977 [cited by applicant]
GB 2058227A · 1981 [cited by applicant]
JP S5539296A · 1980 [cited by applicant]
JP H02145393U · 1990 [cited by applicant]
JP H06178780A · 1994 [cited by applicant]
JP H08500763A · 1996 [cited by applicant]
JP H10501145A · 1998 [cited by applicant]
JP H10503391A · 1998 [cited by applicant]
JP H11000392A · 1999 [cited by applicant]
JP 2001017489A · 2001 [cited by applicant]
JP 2003325658A · 2003 [cited by applicant]
JP 2003534088A · 2003 [cited by applicant]
JP 2007209764A · 2007 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009519776A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
WO 9308897A1 · 1993 [cited by applicant]
WO 9626750A1 · 1996 [cited by applicant]
WO 9900154A1 · 1999 [cited by applicant]
WO 03075821A2 · 2003 [cited by applicant]
WO 2004075740A1 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
WO 2005042061A1 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO 2005079947A2 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO 2007070570A2 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO 2007079319A2 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO 2007103842A2 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO 2008118397A1 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
WO 2013090579A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO 2014066337A2 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
WO 2017112684A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
WO 2017127541A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
WO 2018170233A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO 2018175389A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019222655A2 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/399,026, filed Apr. 30, 2019. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/679,922, filed Nov. 11, 2019. [cited by applicant]
English language abstract and machine-assisted English translation for CN 107951576 extracted from espacenet.com database on Aug. 19, 2020, 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report for Application No. PCT/US2019/060732 dated Mar. 12, 2020, 3 pages. [cited by applicant]
ASTM, “Designation: F 960-86, Standard Spefication for Medical and Surgical Suction and Drainage Systems”, 2000, 8 pages. [cited by applicant]
English language abstract for JP 2003-534088 extracted from espacenet.com database on Feb. 26, 2018, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
English language abstract and machine-assisted English translation for EP 1 380 316 extracted from espacenet.com database on Feb. 26, 2018, 21 pages. [cited by applicant]
English language abstract and machine-assisted English translation for FR 2 744 359 extracted from espacenet.com database on Feb. 26, 2018, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
English language abstract and machine-assisted English translation for JP 2001-017489 extracted from espacenet.com database on Feb. 26, 2018, 27 pages. [cited by applicant]
English language abstract and machine-assisted English translation for JP 2003-325658 extracted from espacenet.com database on Feb. 26, 2018, 20 pages. [cited by applicant]
English language abstract and machine-assisted English translation for JPH 02-145393 extracted from PAJ database on Feb. 26, 2018, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
English language abstract and machine-assisted English translation for JPH 06-178780 extracted from espacenet.com database on Feb. 26, 2018, 28 pages. [cited by applicant]
English language abstract for EP 0 882 440 extracted from espacenet.com database on Feb. 26, 2018, 1 page. [cited by applicant]
English language abstract for JP 2007-209764 extracted from espacenet.com database on Nov. 13, 2017, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
English language abstract for JPH 08-500763 extracted from espacenet.com database on Feb. 26, 2018, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
English language abstract for JPH 10-501145 extracted from espacenet.com database on Feb. 26, 2018, 1 page. [cited by applicant]
English language abstract for JPH 10-503391 extracted from espacenet.com database on Feb. 26, 2018, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
English language abstract for JPH 11392 extracted from espacenet.com database on Feb. 26, 2018, 1 page. [cited by applicant]
English language abstract for WO 2004/075740 extracted from espacenet.com database on Nov. 13, 2017, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
English language abstract not found for JP 2009-519776; however, see English language equivalent U.S. Pat. No. 9,782,524. Original document extracted from espacenet.com database on Nov. 13, 2017, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report for Application No. PCT/US2007/063253 dated Dec. 5, 2007, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report for PCT/US2006/047531 dated Aug. 23, 2007, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report for PCT/US2006/061791 dated Jan. 23, 2008, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report for PCT/US2012/069516 dated Apr. 5, 2013, 3 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report for PCT/US2017/014128 dated Jun. 13, 2017, 3 pages. [cited by applicant]
Invitation to Pay Additional Fees and Communication Relating to the Results of the Partial International Search for PCT/US2006/061791 dated Sep. 9, 2007, 3 pages. [cited by applicant]
LMS, “Medi-Flo Valves Specification Sheets”, Nov. 2005, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
LMS, “V33 SureFlo Valve”, 2005, 1 page. [cited by applicant]
Machine-assisted English translation for CH 391963 extracted from espacenet.com database on Feb. 26, 2018, 11 pages. [cited by applicant]
Machine-assisted English translation for JPS 55-39296 extracted from espacenet.com database on Nov. 13, 2017, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
Portable Suction Sources, Health Devices, vol. 7, No. 5, Mar. 1978, pp. 119-141. [cited by applicant]
[cited by applicant]
Stryker Instruments, “Neptune Waste Management System, Instructions for Use, Neptune Gold Rover, REF 700-2, Neptune Docking Station, REF 700-6”, Sep. 2005, 20 pages. [cited by applicant]
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “Definition of Disk or Disc”, Eleventh Edition, p. 206, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
Vernay Laboratories, “Valve Specification Sheets”, Nov. 2005, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
English language abstract for CN 102596289 A extracted from espacenet.com database on Nov. 8, 2023, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
English language abstract for CN 106102796 A extracted from espacenet.com database on Nov. 8, 2023, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
Machine-assisted English translation for CN 1156228 A extracted from espacenet.com database on Apr. 30, 2024, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
English language abstract for CN 1437492 A extracted from espacenet.com database on Apr. 30, 2024, 1 page. [cited by applicant]
English language abstract for CN 1915451 A extracted from espacenet.com database on Apr. 30, 2024, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
English language abstract for CN 101970033 A extracted from espacenet.com database on Apr. 30, 2024, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
English language abstract for CN 104958822 A extracted from espacenet.com database on Apr. 30, 2024, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
English language abstract for DE 23 30 329 A1 extracted from espacenet.com database on Apr. 30, 2024, 1 page. [cited by applicant]