Valves

• US 20040082923A1
• Filed: 10/08/2003
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smithgroup Companies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Smithgroup Companies Incorporated
• Inventors: Field, Stephen James
• Granted Patent: US 7,726,315 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/267
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0463 combined with suction tubes, catheters or the like; Outside connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/062 used with a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0633 the seal being a passive seal made of a resilient material with or without an opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0613 with means for adjusting the seal opening or pressure A61M39/0693 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/1825 for check valves with flexible valve members
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/445 with exterior sleeve

Abstract

A closed system suction catheter has a catheter enclosed within a flexible envelope secured between a patient end fitting and a machine end fitting. The patient end fitting has a cleaning chamber with a valve at its patient side and is normally closed so that the cleaning chamber is isolated from the patient. The valve has an outer rigid housing enclosing a one-piece elastomeric moulding of tubular shape. The elastomeric moulding has two pads projecting externally through openings in the outer housing. The elastomeric moulding also has a web extending internally across its diameter with a diametrically-extending slit aligned with the pads. A collar mounted on the housing is slidable along the housing to engage the pads so as to apply pressure across the web and open the slit, thereby allowing the catheter to be advanced to the patient.

Claims

1. A valve comprising:

a deformable member, said deformable member having a fluid passage extending therethrough, and a normally-closed opening within said passage arranged such that it can be opened by external pressure applied to said deformable member; and

an external member displaceable on said deformable member between a first position in which said opening through said deformable member remains substantially closed and a second position in which said opening is opened.

2. A valve according to claim 1, wherein said external member is arranged to remain in said first or second position until manual force is applied to displace it to the other position.

3. A valve according to claim 1, wherein said external member is a collar embracing said deformable member.

4. A valve according to claim 1, wherein said external member is displaceable by sliding lengthwise of said passage.

5. A valve according to claim 1, wherein said first position is located to one side of said opening and said second position is substantially aligned with said opening.

6. A valve according to claim 1 including a rigid housing externally of said deformable member and wherein a part of said deformable member projects outwardly through an opening in said rigid housing for engagement by said external member.

7. A valve according to claim 1, wherein said deformable member has a part with an inclined surface arranged for engagement by said external member.

8. A valve according to claim 6, wherein said housing has two openings located diametrically opposite one another, wherein said deformable member has two pads projecting outwardly through respective ones of said openings, and wherein said pads each have an inclined external surface shaped for engagement by said external member such that displacement of said external member causes said pads to be pushed inwardly towards one another thereby opening said opening.

9. A valve according to claim 1, wherein said normally-closed opening is a slit extending diametrically of said passage.

10. A valve according to claim 9, wherein said deformable member is generally tubular and has a transverse web extending across its diameter and formed integrally with said deformable member, and wherein said slit is provided in said web.

11. A valve according to claim 9 including a substantially rigid reinforcement member extending parallel to said slit on opposite sides such that when a force is applied externally along said slit said reinforcement member is bowed outwardly to open said slit.

12. A valve comprising:

a deformable member having a fluid passage extending therethrough;

an internal seal of a deformable material defining a slit extending transversely of said fluid passage; and

a substantially rigid reinforcement member extending parallel to said slit on opposite sides such that when a force is applied externally along said slit said reinforcement member is bowed outwardly to open said slit.

13. A valve comprising:

a tubular deformable member, said deformable member having a fluid passage extending therethrough, a closure member extending across said fluid passage and having a normally-closed slit arranged such that said slit can be opened by external pressure applied to said tubular member; and

an external collar slidable along said tubular member between a first position in which said slit remains substantially closed and a second position in which said slit is opened.

14. A valve according to claim 13 including an outer rigid housing having openings therein, wherein said tubular member has two projecting pads located at opposite sides and aligned with ends of said slit, and wherein said collar is slidable along said housing to engage said pads through said openings in said second position so as to apply pressure to said tubular member along the length of said slit and thereby open said slit.

15. A closed system suction catheter assembly comprising a suction catheter and a valve, said valve comprising:

a deformable member, said deformable member having a fluid passage extending therethrough, and a normally-closed opening within said passage arranged such that it can be opened by external pressure applied to said deformable member; and

an external member displaceable on said deformable member between a first position in which said opening through said deformable member remains substantially closed and a second position in which said opening is opened.

16. An assembly according to claim 15 including a cleaning chamber located towards a patient end of said assembly, wherein said valve is located towards a patient side of said cleaning chamber, and wherein said valve is openable to allow extension of said suction catheter and is closable substantially to isolate said cleaning chamber from the patient and enable cleaning of said catheter.

17. An assembly according to claim 15, wherein said valve is located towards a machine end of said assembly and is connected at a machine end of said suction catheter so as to enable or prevent suctioning along said catheter.

18. A closed system suction catheter assembly comprising:

a suction catheter, a machine end fitting including a suction control valve arranged to control suction applied to said catheter, a patient end fitting having a sliding seal through which said suction catheter can be advanced and retracted, and a flexible envelope extending between said machine end fitting and said patient end fitting and enclosing said catheter between said fittings, wherein said patient end fitting includes a cleaning chamber on a patient side of said sliding seal, said cleaning chamber including an inlet for cleaning fluid and a valve, and wherein said valve includes a tubular deformable member, said deformable member having a fluid passage extending therethrough, a closure member extending across said fluid passage and having a slit normally closed to isolate said cleaning chamber from the patient; and

an external collar slidable along said tubular member between a first position in which said slit remains substantially closed and a second position in which said collar applies pressure to said tubular member to open said slit and to allow the catheter to be advanced from said cleaning chamber.