The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 04, 1997
Filed:
Dec. 29, 1994
Robert W Atkinson, Dover, OH (US);
Zimmer, Inc., Warsaw, IN (US);
Abstract
A suction adapter couples a fluid drain tube to a suction canister for fluid collection while maintaining the drain tube at atmospheric pressure for optimal draining flow rate. The suction adapter further allows the surgeon to easily apply suction to the drain tube when he desires to increase the flow rate through the drain tube and to just as easily return the drain tube to atmospheric pressure. The suction adapter does not spill and is muffled to reduce noise. The suction adapter comprises a housing defining an interior space. The housing has a suction port in communication with the interior space for connection to a suction source and a fluid port in communication with the interior space for connection to a fluid drain tube. The housing also has a ventilation port formed in the housing to allow atmospheric air into the interior space. The ventilation port communicates with a ventilation tube located in the interior space, the ventilation tube having a ventilation hole. In a preferred embodiment, a sound dampening porous foam is located within the interior space around the ventilation tube.