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:
Nov. 28, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 03, 1997
Jeffrey J Christian, San Jose, CA (US);
David Curtis Dillow, Cupertino, CA (US);
Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, NJ (US);
Abstract
Surgical fluid collection devices, systems and methods allow individual containers to be coupled in series using a single inflow port and a single outflow port on each container. Surgical fluids are sealed within a disposable liner in each container. In most embodiments, a one-way valve of the liner seals surgical fluid within the liner to prevent spillage to a surrounding vacuum chamber, and allows flow from the surrounding vacuum chamber into the interior of the liner to equalize pressure across the liner. This arrangement allows the use of flexible, inexpensive liners with large interior volumes, without having to resort to complex pressure equalizing arrangements. A sterilizable polymer receptacle is also provided which can withstand the large pressure forces associated with large fluid collection volumes.