Four-port, four-way, stopcock for intravenous injections and infusions and direction of flow of fluids and gasses

• US 20010013370A1
• Filed: 12/12/2000
• Published: 08/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomedical Sales International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: George Loo
• Inventors: Loo, George
• Granted Patent: US 6,418,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/625.47
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/223 Multiway valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86566 Rotary plug
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86871 Plug

Abstract

The present invention provides a four-port, four-way stopcock having two components, a body and a core, that are assembled together and form a fluid-tight and air-tight seal. The body has a number of connectable ports attached to a central chamber. The core has an axial port and is positioned within the central chamber so that it can be rotated with respect to the body. The core also has two independent fluid passages that can carry fluid between two different sets of ports, simultaneously. For example, the core can be rotated to a position wherein fluid flows between the axial port of the core and one of the connectable ports of the body, while separate and different fluid also flows between two other connectable ports of the body.

Claims

1. A stopcock comprising:

a body having a central chamber, and a plurality of connectable ports formed therein that are in fluid communication with the central chamber; and

a core, rotatably sealed inside said central chamber, and having a first cavity and a second cavity and an axially connectable port fluidly connected to said first cavity, wherein

said first cavity fluidly connects said axially connectable port to one of said plurality of connectable ports in said body when said core is positioned in a first position; and

said second cavity fluidly connects two of said plurality of connectable ports in said body, when said core is in said first position.

2. A stopcock as in

claim 1

, wherein said first cavity fluidly connects said axially connectable port to one of said two connectable ports when said core is in a second position;

and said second cavity is blocked from fluidly connecting any of said plurality of connectable ports of said body to another connectable port of said body.

3. A stopcock as in

claim 2

, wherein said first cavity fluidly connects said axially connectable port to another one of said two connectable ports when said core is in a third position;

and said second cavity is blocked from fluidly connecting any of said plurality of connectable ports of said body to another connectable port of said body.

4. A stopcock as in

claim 2

, wherein said first cavity is blocked from fluidly connecting said axially connectable port to any of the plurality of connectable ports, and said second cavity fluidly connects said two connectable ports in said body, when said core is positioned in a fourth position.

5. A stopcock as in

claim 1

, wherein said first cavity is blocked from fluidly connecting said axially connectable port to any of the plurality of connectable ports;

and said second cavity fluidly connects said two connectable ports in said body, when said core is positioned in a third position.

6. A stopcock as in

claim 1

, wherein said two connectable ports ate linearly aligned and said one connectable port is perpendicular thereto.

7. A stopcock as in

claim 1

, wherein said plurality of connectable ports lie in a plane and said axially connectable port is perpendicular thereto.

8. A stopcock as in

claim 1

, wherein said first cavity has a first length making an acute angle with said axially connectable port and a second length making an obtuse angle with said first length.

9. A stopcock as in

claim 1

, wherein the core is rotatable by an attached lever.

10. A stopcock as in

claim 9

, wherein the lever protrudes radially from the core above the central chamber.

11. A stopcock as in

claim 9

, wherein said first cavity opens in direction that said lever protrudes.

12. A stopcock as in

claim 9

, wherein said first cavity opens in direction that an arrow scripted onto the lever points.

13. A stopcock as in

claim 9

, wherein the word “

ON”

is scripted onto the lever.

14. A stopcock as in

claim 1

, wherein one of said two connectable ports has a male luer-lock or luer-slip connector.

15. A stopcock as in

claim 1

, wherein one of said two connectable ports has a female luer-lock or luer-slip connector.

16. A stopcock as in

claim 1

, wherein the axially connectable port is located above the central chamber.

17. A stopcock as in

claim 1

, wherein the axially connectable port has a female luer-lock connector.

18. A method of performing a blood transfusion using a stopcock having a plurality of connectable ports comprising the steps of:

positioning the stopcock wherein fluid flows into a first port, out a second port and into a patient connected to the second port;

re-positioning the stopcock wherein diluting solution flows into a third port, out a fourth port and into a bag of packed red blood cells connected to the fourth port, the packed red blood cells becoming diluted red blood cells, and fluid continues to flow into the first port, out the second port and into the patient;

re-positioning the stopcock wherein the diluted red blood cells flow into the fourth port, out the second port and into the patient.

19. A method of performing a blood transfusion using a stopcock comprising

a body having a central chamber, and a plurality of connectable ports formed therein that are in fluid communication with the central chamber, and a core, rotatably sealed inside said central chamber, and having a first cavity and a second cavity and an axially connectable port fluidly connected to said first cavity, wherein said first cavity fluidly connects said axially connectable port to one of said plurality of connectable ports in said body when rotationally aligned therebetween;

and said second cavity fluidly connects two of said plurality of connectable ports in said body, when said first cavity fluidly connects said axially connectable port to said one connectable port in said body, said method comprising the steps of;

rotating the core to a first position wherein the first cavity is blocked by said body, and the second cavity fluidly connects said two connectable ports,

connecting a bag of packed red blood cells to the axially connectable port,

connecting a bag of saline solution to said one connectable port and rotating the core to a second position wherein the first cavity fluidly connects the axially connectable port and said one connectable port and the second cavity continues to fluidly connect said two connectable ports; and

rotating the core to a third position wherein said first cavity fluidly connects said axially connectable port and one of said two connectable ports, and the second cavity is blocked by said body.

20. A stopcock comprising:

a body having a central chamber and a plurality of ports in fluid communication with the central chamber; and

a core disposed within the body, the core including first and second non-communicating flow channels, the core rotatable to selectively position at least one of the flow channels in fluid communication with a pair of the ports to permit fluid flow from one to another of said ports.

21. The stopcock of

claim 20

wherein the core is further rotatable to simultaneously position each channel in fluid communication with a separate pair of the ports to permit fluid flow between each separate pair of the ports.