WO2006117207A1

WO2006117207A1 - Aspirator particularly for medical use

Info

Publication number: WO2006117207A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/004139
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paolo Fontanili; Fabio Balugani
Original assignee: Eurosets S.R.L.
Priority date: 2005-05-04
Filing date: 2006-05-03
Publication date: 2006-11-09
Also published as: EP1933896A1; ITMN20050004U1

Abstract

An aspirator (1) particularly for medical use, comprising means (2) adapted to provide a selective power supply in three forms: electrical mains, rechargeable batteries (3), and disposable batteries (5,6).

Description

ASPIRATOR PARTICULARLY FOR MEDICAL USE

Technical Field

The invention relates to an aspirator particularly for medical use. Background Art It is known that in the postoperative course it is necessary to drain the blood and exudates that form at the surgical wound in order to keep the wound in optimum conditions and also to recover blood to be used in autotransfusion.

Drainage is achieved by connecting, by means of a line, the wound to a collection container, to which the liquids generated in the wound are conveyed by gravity or by suction, the container being commonly provided by means of a unit which comprises a vacuum pump driven by an electric motor.

The background art comprises aspirators which, according to a first type, are adapted to be fed by means of the electric mains or by means of rechargeable batteries, and further comprises a second type of aspirator, which is adapted to be fed by means of disposable batteries, but both of these kinds are unable to ensure, particularly in the steps of transferring the patient from one ward to another, the continuity of the power supply, and therefore of the operation of the vacuum pump, this characteristic being obviously essential in order to ensure a correct treatment of the patient. Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide an aspirator which has power supply means capable of giving great assurances of continuity in operation.

This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by an aspirator particularly for medical use, according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises means which are adapted to provide a selective power supply in three forms: electric mains, rechargeable batteries, and disposable batteries. Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the description of an aspirator, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the aspirator according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of the automatic selector used in the aspirator of the invention;

Figure 3 is a table that illustrates the different possible operation modes of the device, as far as power supply is concerned. Ways to carrying out the Invention

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates the aspirator, which comprises a connector 2 for supplying power by connection to the electrical mains, rechargeable batteries 3, and a compartment 4 adapted to accommodate two 1.5-volt disposable batteries 5,

6, which are connected in series so as to supply a voltage of 3 volts.

The choice of adopting two such disposable batteries is particularly advantageous in terms of stand-alone operation and operating costs: moreover, such batteries ensure very easy availability in the sanitary field. The aspirator according to the invention comprises an automatic selector which is managed by a microprocessor, which determines the use of one of the three described forms of power supply by acting on the basis of a scale of priorities.

Figure 2 illustrates the automatic selector used in the aspirator of the invention, wherein reference numeral 7 indicates a microprocessor that manages and control the power supply sources that have to be used.

In particular, the reference numeral 8 indicates a power supply that draws power from the mains and VA indicates the voltage of the power supply, and KTA indicates a switch that operatively connects the power supply 8 to the motor M of the aspirator. KTl and KT2 respectively indicate switches that operatively connect the disposable batteries 5, 6 and the rechargeable battery 4 to the microprocessor 7, while KTM indicates a switch that allows the power supplied 4, 5 and 8 to be connected to the motor M. When the power supply 8 is present it has priority over the other two power sources and the switch KTA is then closed.

Vl and V2 indicate the voltages across the disposable batteries 5, 6 and the rechargeable battery 4 respectively.

The table in figure 3 illustrates the various operation modes of the device.

Vlmin and V2 min indicate thresholds respectively for the disposable batteries 5, 6 and the rechargeable battery 4 and such thresholds must be overcome if that particular power source is to be used to supply power to the motor of the aspirator. The priority between the disposable batteries and the rechargeable battery can be established via software programming.

In the practical embodiment of the invention, all the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. MN2005U000004 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. An aspirator particularly for medical use, characterized in that it comprises means adapted to provide a selective power supply in three forms: electrical mains, rechargeable batteries, and disposable batteries.

2. The aspirator according to claim 1, characterized in that the disposable batteries comprise two 1.5-volt batteries connected in series.

3. The aspirator according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with an automatic selector managed by a microprocessor which determines the use of one of the three forms of power supply on the basis of a scale of priorities.