Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1326~17
Backqround_of the invention
The present invention relates to a liquid reinfusion
flexible bag sy~tem having an external supporting frame wlth
releasable locking elements so as to permlt the bag to be
maintained in an opened position while the bag is belng filled
or permitted to collapse during reinfusion by releasing the
frame locking elements.
It is well known in the prior art to provide flexible
bags for collecting blood from a surgical site by applying
suction to the bag so as to draw the liquid from the surgical
site into the bag. Such devices provide means for retaining
the bag in an open position during the filling operation and
for collapsing the bag during the reinfusion step. Such a
device is disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,500,308, issued February
19, 1985.
The prior art also discloses various means for supporting
flexible bags externally such as U.S. Patents 4,393,880;
4,312,353; 4,650,4~8 and 4,501,584. Such devices also include
frames for maintaining flexible bagæ in an extended position
such as disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,449,969. However, such
frames are expensive, difficult to handle and do not provide
means for permitting the flexlble bag to collapse when it is
being emptied.
SummarY of the invention
As embodied and broadly described herein, the inventlon
provldes a relnfuslon bag lncludlng a flexlble contalner
having a side wall and top and bottom end walls, and lnlet
tube in the top end wall, an outlet tube adapted to be
connected to a suctlon source ln the top end wall, a
reinfuslon tube ln the bottom end wall, a plurallty of
relatlvely rlgid frame members disposed around the side wall
of the flexlble container and releasable locking means
attached to said frame members and extending across the top
and bottom end walls for retaining the end walls of the
flexible container in an extended position 80 that the
container 18 maintained in an open posltlon.
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As embodied and broadly described herein, the invention
provides a reinfusion bag having fir~t portions of the bag
formed of flexible material, second portions of the bag being
formed with relatively rigid material, inlet, outlet and
reinfusion ports in said bag, and means releasably engageable
with the relatively rigid second portions of said bag for
retaining said bag in an extended uncollapsed position so that
when said last named means is released and disengaged from
said relatively rigid second portions of the bag, the flexible
container is readily collapsible.
An object of the present invention is to provide a
flexible container with means for locking the container in an
extended position wherein the locking elements may be removed
from the bag to permit the bag to collapse.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
flexible bag with integrally formed frame members disposed at
spaced points around the periphery of the container with
locking arms disposed at each end of the bag which may be
moved between locked position in engagement with the frame
members to retain the bag in an extended position to an
unlocked position wherein the bag may collapse.
Other objects of the present invention will become more
readily apparent upon consideration of the following detailed
speclfication taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings wherein,
Brief Descri~tion of the Drawinas
- Figure 1 is a perspective elevational view of a blood
bag lncorporating the locking means according to the present
invention;
- Figure 2 is an elevatlonal view of the bag when fllled
with liquid with the locking mean~ disengaged from the bag and
in disassembled position; and
- Figure 3 is a similar view showing the bag being
emptied.
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Detailed DeQcrl~tion of the Invention
~ eferring now more specifically to the drawings wherein
like numerals indicate like parts throughout the sevetal views,
there is shown at 1 in Fi~. 1 a flexible bag of a generally
cylindrical configuration having end walls integrally formed
therewith. The bag is provided with an inlet tube 2 which
provides a means for withdrawing blood from a surgical site
into the bag through a filter 4 on the inner end therof having
a 170 micron mesh. ~ second tube 3 is provided at the upper
end of tLe bag for connection with a suction source. The inner
end of the tube 3 is provided with a restrictor (not shown)
which has sufficiently s~all openings therein which only
permits air to pass therethrough. The opposite end of the bag
is provided with an IV spike or reinfusion tube 5. The bag is
also provided with a separate port 13 at the upper end for
adding heparin or other substances to the blood within the bag.
There is provided means for locking the bag in a fully
extended position and this means includes a plurality of spaced
frame members 6 which are formed of a relatively rigid material
and which may be integrally formed with the bag or
alternatively may be secured at each end portion therof to the
flexible bag. At each end thereof the frame members 16 are
provided with a pair of crossed locking arms 7 and 71. ~s
shown in Fig, 2 the locking arms are connected together by
central interengaging slots 11. One of each pair of locking
arms 7 and 71 may be provided with finger apertures 12 to
facilitate removal of the arms from the bag.These locking arms
are provided witb pins 8 on the outer ends thereof and these
pins engage in openings 9 in the end~ of frame member~ 6. In
the specific embodiment shown, there are four frame members 6
Rpaced 90 apart around the periphery of the flexible bag 1.
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When the ~our locking aro~ 7 and 71 have the pins 8 ~n
engagement within the openings 9 of frame member~ 6 at both
ends of bag 1 as shown in Yig . 1, the flexible bag is
maintained in its extended position. By providing qeparable
locking arms the insertion of the arms on the bag is
facilitated in that each arm is separately engaged with the bag.
r~hen it is desired to permit the bag to collapse, the
crossed locking arms 7 and 71 are removed from engagement
with the frame members 6 so as to permit the walls of the bag
to collapse a's shown in ~i'g. 3.
In use the flexible bag 1 is extended to its open position
by moving the locking arms 7 and 71 into engagement with both
the upper and bottom walls of the bag with the pins 8 in
engagement within the apertures 9. The bag is supported in any
convenient manner adjacent to the patient and the outer end of
the inlet tube 2 is placed at *he surgical site. The tube 5 is
closed off and the tube 3 is connected to any suitable source
of suction. Blood from the surgical site will then be drawn
into the flexible bag 1 which will maintain its extended open
position by the frame members 6 and locking elements 7 and 71
serving to prevent collapse of the bag. When the bag is filled
the inlet tube 2 is clamped off and the suction tube 3 i8
removed from the source of suction and clamped off. The
locking arms 7 and 71 are then removed from engagement with
the frame members 6. The reinfusion tube 5 is connected with
an IV needle passing into the circulatory system of the
patient. Blood will then flow from the bag 1 back into the
patient through reinfusion tube S. If neces-~ary, external
pressure may be applied to the bag to force the bag towards a
collapsed po~ition.
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Obviously, many modifications and variations of the
present invention are possible in light of the foregoing
teachings.
What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by
Letters Patent is:
