Check valve for a fluid administration system

• US 20050194047A1
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Liebel-Flarsheim Company (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Bausmith, William E. III
• Granted Patent: US 7,581,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/512
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0078 for fluid inflow from the body into the catheter lumen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/242 designed to open when a predetermined pressure or flow rate has been reached, e.g. check valve actuated by fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/2433 Valve comprising a resilient or deformable element, e.g. flap valve, deformable disc
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/2466 being fixed in its center
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/2493 Check valve with complex design, e.g. several inlets and outlets and several check valves in one body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/223 Multiway valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/24 Check- or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7838 Plural
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7854 In couplings for coaxial conduits, e.g., drill pipe check valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7879 Resilient material valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7888 With valve member flexing about securement

Abstract

In general, the present invention includes a connector for a fluid administration system, the connector comprising a housing, a first conduit and a second conduit defined by said housing, wherein said first conduit is in fluid communication with said second conduit, and at least a first check valve disposed within said housing; and a fluid administration system, comprising a fluid input device, a fluid output device operatively connected to said fluid input device, and a check valve disposed within said fluid administration system, said check valve adaptable to allow flow of a fluid from said fluid output device to said fluid input device. The check valve of the fluid administration system comprises a first body portion defining a first passageway for fluid flow, and a second body portion defining a second passageway for fluid flow, said second body portion adapted to be in receiving relationship with said first body portion such that said first passageway and said second passageway are in fluid communication with one another, and wherein said second body portion is movable relative to said first body portion between a first position and a second position, wherein when said second body portion is in said first position, fluid flow may occur in a first direction, but not in a second direction, said second direction being substantially opposite to said first direction, and when said second body portion is in said second position, fluid flow may occur in said second direction.

Claims

1. A connector for a fluid administration system, the connector comprising:

a housing;

a first conduit, a second conduit, and a third conduit defined by said housing, wherein said first conduit is in fluid communication with said second conduit, and each of said first conduit and said second conduit is in fluid communication with said third conduit; and

at least a first check valve disposed within said housing.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein said first check valve includes a diaphragm.

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of said first check valve is disposed within said first conduit.

4. The connector of claim 2, wherein said first check valve is disposed between said first conduit and said second conduit.

5. The connector of claim 3, wherein said diaphragm includes a proximal surface and a distal surface, said distal surface being adjacent to said second conduit.

6. The connector of claim 4, wherein said diaphragm includes a proximal surface and a distal surface, said proximal surface being adjacent to said first conduit and said distal surface being adjacent to said second conduit.

7. The connector of claim 2, wherein said diaphragm is elliptical.

8. The connector of claim 2, wherein said first conduit is adapted to transport a first fluid.

9. The connector of claim 8, wherein said second conduit is adapted to transport a second fluid.

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein said diaphragm is movable between an opened position and a closed position.

11. The connector of claim 10, wherein said first fluid communicates with said second conduit when said diaphragm is in said opened position.

12. The connector of claim 10, wherein said first fluid is prevented from communicating with said second conduit when said diaphragm is in said closed position.

13. The connector of claim 10, wherein said housing further defines a cavity adapted to receive a plug.

14. The connector of claim 13, further comprising a plug disposed within said cavity.

15. The connector of claim 14, wherein said plug further defines a plug conduit in fluid communication with said first conduit and said second conduit.

16. The connector of claim 15, wherein said first fluid communicates with said plug conduit when said diaphragm is in said opened position.

17. The connector of claim 14, wherein said plug is elliptical.

18. The connector of claim 2, further comprising a second check valve disposed within said housing.

19. The connector of claim 18, said second check valve including a diaphragm and said second check valve being at least partially disposed within said second conduit.

20. The connector of claim 18, said second check valve including a diaphragm and said second check valve being disposed between said second conduit and said third conduit.

21. The connector of claim 18, wherein said diaphragm of said first check valve includes a proximal surface and a distal surface, said distal surface being adjacent to, said third conduit.

22. The connector of claim 21, wherein said second check valve includes a diaphragm, said diaphragm including a proximal surface and a distal surface, said distal surface being adjacent to said third conduit.

23. The connector of claim 10, wherein said diaphragm is flexible.

24. The connector of claim 23, wherein said diaphragm is adapted to deform in the distal direction into said open position wherein said first fluid communicates with said second conduit.

25. A fluid administration system, comprising:

a fluid input device;

a fluid output device operatively connected to said fluid input device; and

a check valve disposed within said fluid administration system, said check valve selectively adaptable to allow flow of a fluid or not allow flow of a fluid from said fluid output device to said fluid input device through or past said check valve.

26. The fluid administration system of claim 25, wherein the check valve comprises:

a first body portion defining a first passageway for fluid flow; and

a second body portion defining a second passageway for fluid flow, said second body portion adapted to be in receiving relationship with said first body portion such that said first passageway and said second passageway are in fluid communication with one another, and wherein said second body portion is movable relative to said first body portion between a first position and a second position;

wherein when said second body portion is in said first position, fluid flow may occur in a first direction, but not in a second direction, said second direction being substantially opposite to said first direction, and when said second body portion is in said second position, fluid flow may occur in said second direction.

27. The fluid administration system of claim 26, said check valve further including a diaphragm disposed between said first body portion and said second body portion in the path of fluid flow, said diaphragm being movable between an open position and a closed position.

28. The fluid administration system of claim 27, further including a sleeve substantially surrounding a portion of said second body portion, said sleeve including a cam and said sleeve being positionable in an engaged position or a disengaged position;

29. The fluid administration system of claim 28, wherein when said sleeve is in said first position, said sleeve is in confronting relationship with said first body portion and operates counter to and creates a force greater to the bias of said spring, such that said connector is in confronting relationship with said diaphragm and said diaphragm is in said closed position.

30. The fluid administration system of claim 29, wherein when said sleeve is in said second position, said sleeve is not in confronting relationship with said first body portion, such that said spring biases said connector such that said connector is not in confronting relationship with said diaphragm and said diaphragm is in said open position.

31. The fluid administration system of claim 30, wherein said diaphragm is flexible.

32. The fluid administration system of claim 31, wherein a proximal end of said second body portion is adjacent said diaphragm when said second body portion is in said first position.

33. The fluid administration system of claim 32, wherein said proximal end of said second body portion contacts and confronts said diaphragm to deform said diaphragm into the open position toward the proximal end of the check valve, when said second body portion is in said second position.

34. The fluid administration system of claim 30, wherein said check valve further includes at least one bypass groove.

35. The fluid administration system of claim 34, wherein said at least one bypass groove is disposed in said first passageway and is adapted to be in fluid communication with said second passageway.

36. The fluid administration system of claim 35, wherein said at least one bypass groove is in fluid communication with said second passageway when said diaphragm is in said open position.

37. The fluid administration system of claim 36, wherein said at least one bypass groove is not in fluid communication with said first passageway when said diaphragm is in said closed position.

38. The fluid administration system of claim 26, further comprising a seal disposed between said first body portion and said second body portion.

39. The fluid administration system of claim 38, wherein said seal includes an O-ring.

40. The fluid administration system of claim 28, further comprising a spring operatively connected to said second body portion, said spring positioned to bias said second body portion away from said first body portion.

41. A fluid administration system, comprising:

a fluid input device;

a first delivery tube having first and second ends, said first end of said first delivery tube being operatively connected to said fluid input device;

a connector further comprising a housing, first, second, and third conduits defined by said housing, wherein said first conduit is in fluid communication with said second conduit and each of said first conduit and said second conduit is in fluid communication with said third conduit, and a check valve disposed within said housing, said second end of said first delivery tube being operatively connected to said connector;

a second delivery tube having first and second ends, said first end of said second delivery tube being operatively connected to said connector; and

a fluid output device operatively connected to said second end of said second delivery tube.

42. The fluid administration system of claim 41, wherein said check valve includes a diaphragm.

43. The fluid administration system of claim 42, wherein at least a portion of said check valve is disposed within said first conduit.

44. The fluid administration system of claim 42, wherein said check valve is disposed between said first conduit and said second conduit.

45. The fluid administration system of claim 42, wherein said diaphragm includes a proximal surface and a distal surface, said distal surface being adjacent to said second conduit.

46. The fluid administration system of claim 45, said proximal surface being adjacent to said first conduit.

47. The fluid administration system of claim 42, wherein said diaphragm is movable between an opened position and a closed position.

48. The fluid administration system of claim 41, wherein said check valve further comprises:

a first body portion defining a first passageway for fluid flow;

a second body portion defining a second passageway for fluid flow, said second body portion adapted to be in receiving relationship with said first body portion such that said first passageway and said second passageway are in fluid communication with one another, and wherein said second body portion is movable relative to said first body portion between a first position and a second position;

wherein when said second body portion is in said first position, fluid flow may occur in a first direction, but not in a second direction, said second direction being substantially opposite to said first direction, and when said second body portion is in said second position, fluid flow may occur in said second direction.

49. The fluid administration system of claim 48, wherein said check valve further comprises a diaphragm disposed between said first body portion and said second body portion in the path of fluid flow, said diaphragm being movable between an open position and a closed position.