Scavenger System for Anesthesia Circuits

In the previous application above referred to, the gas being used for an anesthetic is exhausted into the ambient atmosphere in the operating room and is capable of affecting the surgical personnel. It is an object of this invention to provide an exhaust valve for the anesthetic circuit that may be adjustable by the anesthetist as the operation proceeds, and that will assure removal of the gas from the operating area.

A scavenger system for an anesthesia circuit having a male and female compenent and a passageway therethrough, said components being rotatable relative to each other to open and close said passageway, and a laterally extending parabolic passageway having a tubular connection on said passageway terminating in an enlarged, aerated chamber on a vacuum is maintained to draw the gas out of the chamber without placing anegative pressure on the escape passageway.

FIG. 1 is an elevational, perspective view of the enlarged chamber.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view, in cross section, of the enlarged chamber.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional end view of the enlarged chamber, taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an extended side elevational view of the valve, illustrating the component parts thereof.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional side view of the valve assembly.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional end view of the valve assembly taken on the line 6--6 of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of the completed scavenger assembly.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the male member of the control valve onto which the neck of the anesthesia breathing bag 2 is attached. An annular enlarged portion 3 of the male member is provided with raised markers 4, 4 to provide tactile indicia for the anesthetist. The female component 5, into which the male component 1 extends, also bears the raised markers 6. An annular ring 7 is formed on the outside surface of the member 1 and fits in the groove 8 in the inside wall of the female component 5, and a cutaway portion 8 of the male component provides an adjustable opening to the parabolic passageway 9 and tubular stem 10. An annular seal 11 is formed in the stem 10 consisting of a groove in which the annular projection 13 in the connecting member 14 is formed. The extended end of the connecting member 14 is annularly reduced and notched, as at 17', to receive the flexible hose 16 leading into the enlarged vacuum chamber 17. An annular groove 18 in the female component, in axial alignment with the parabolic passageway 9, permits a constant exhaust passageway through the valve.

The vacuum chamber 17 has the extended tapered hose receiving member 19, notched to anchor said hose 16 thereon, at a remote location from the bag 2, and is axially connected to the inwardly extended tube 20, which extends into the chamber 17. The end members of the chamber 17 are provided with air openings 21, 21 and at the discharge end of the chamber 17 another inwardly extending tubular member 22, is mounted, and an outwardly extended tapered, notched hose connection 23 extends from the said end of said chamber 17. A flexible hose 24 is connected to said last mentioned connection 23, and a vacuum pump (not shown) is remotely located from the said chamber 17 and maintains a vacuum on the chamber 17 and discharges into the free atmosphere, preferably outside of the operating room. The discharge end of the chamber 17 is constructed in the same manner as the other end member, having air passageways therethrough.

In use, the anesthetist starts the gas circuit, and controls the exhaust gas by means of the rotation of the male component, the raised portion thereof having raised indicia 4 and corresponding raised indicia on the female member, the center markers on each being longer than the markers on each side of the center marker, so that the anesthetist can feel the position of the markers and thus determine the position of the cutaway portion of the male member and consequently the degree of opening of the valve. Grip pads as 24 on the female component, and the area between the markers on the male member being knurled, assist in the careful and exact control of the valve. The parabolic tubular member provides a free passage of gas from the valve and the groove 18 permits constant exhaust into the parabolic member. The vacuum on the chamber 17 will constantly move the gas through the discharge hose, the air openings at each end of the chamber 17 permiting ample gas to satisfy the pull of the vacuum pump without exerting negative pressure on the hose 16, so that the flow from the valve will be controlled by the opening therein, and the pressure applied to the bag 2 during normal use. All of the exhaust gas will be thus captured by the chamber 17 and will be discharged where desired, remotely from the operating area.