Triggerable passive valve for use in controlling the flow of fluid

• US 20050217743A1
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: LifeScan Scotland Limited (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Bohm, Sebastian
• Granted Patent: US 7,059,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/828
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150213 Venting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150221 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150946 Means for varying, regulating, indicating or limiting the speed or time of blood collection
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0086 Medical applications
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0044 using thermo-electric means
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0057 the fluid being the circulating fluid itself, e.g. check valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0061 actuated by an expanding gas or liquid volume
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0694 by action on throttling means or flow sources of very small size, e.g. microfluidics microvalves F16K99/0001; microstructural devices per se B81B
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2196 Acoustical or thermal energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2224 Structure of body of device

Abstract

The present invention is directed to valves for use in controlling the flow of fluid and, more particularly, to a triggerable passive valve for use in controlling the flow of fluid. In one embodiment, a fluid delivery channel is connected to a flow restrictor and a passive valve positioned in the fluid delivery channel downstream from the flow restrictor. The first passive valve prevents fluid from moving through the channel when the pressure exerted by the fluid on the first passive valve is below the burst pressure. A pneumatic actuator actuates the valve by forcing fluid through the passive valve.

Claims

1. A triggerable passive valve for use in controlling the flow of fluid, said triggerable passive valve comprising:

a fluid delivery channel having an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for discharging fluid, said outlet being downstream from said inlet;

a flow restrictor positioned between said inlet and said outlet;

a first passive valve positioned in said fluid delivery channel downstream from said flow restrictor, said first passive valve having a first predetermined burst pressure, said first passive valve preventing fluid from moving through said channel when the pressure exerted by said fluid on said first passive valve is below said burst pressure;

a control channel having an inlet and an outlet, said control channel outlet being connected to said fluid delivery channel between said flow restrictor and said first passive valve;

a pneumatic actuator connected to said control channel at said control channel inlet; and

a second passive valve positioned in said control channel between said control channel inlet and said control channel outlet.

2. A triggerable passive valve for use in controlling the flow of fluid comprising:

a fluid delivery channel having an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for discharging fluid downstream from said inlet;

a flow restrictor positioned between said inlet and said outlet, said flow restrictor comprising;

a length of said delivery channel having a cross sectional area which is smaller than a cross sectional area of said channel at said inlet;

a first passive valve positioned in said fluid delivery channel downstream from said flow restrictor, said first passive valve having a first predetermined burst pressure, said first passive valve preventing fluid from moving through said channel when the pressure exerted by said fluid on said first passive valve is below said burst pressure, said first passive valve comprising;

a hydrophobic patch positioned on one wall of said fluid delivery channel,

said hydrophobic patch comprising;

a material having a contact angle of between seventy and one hundred eighty degrees;

a control channel having an inlet and an outlet, said control channel outlet being connected to said fluid delivery channel between said flow restrictor and said first passive valve;

a pneumatic actuator connected to said control channel at said control channel inlet, said pneumatic actuator comprising;

an air chamber;

an electrical heater adapted to heat air in said air chamber;

a controller connected to said electrical heater;

a vent, positioned to release air from said pneumatic actuator when pressure in said pneumatic actuator exceeds a predetermined limit; and

a second passive valve positioned in said control channel between said control channel inlet and said control channel outlet, said second passive valve comprising;

a hydrophobic patch positioned on one wall of said fluid delivery channel, said hydrophobic patch comprising;

a material having a contact angle of between seventy and one hundred eighty degrees.

3. A triggerable passive valve for use in controlling the flow of fluid comprising:

a fluid delivery channel having an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for discharging fluid downstream from said inlet;

a flow restrictor positioned between said inlet and said outlet;

a first passive valve positioned in said fluid delivery channel downstream from said flow restrictor, said first passive valve having a first predetermined burst pressure, said first passive valve preventing fluid from moving through said channel when the pressure exerted by said fluid on said first passive valve is below said burst pressure;

a bubble chamber connected to said fluid delivery channel between said flow restrictor and said first passive valve; and

a second passive valve positioned in said control channel between said control channel inlet and said control channel outlet.

4. A triggerable passive valve for use in controlling the flow of fluid comprising:

a fluid delivery channel having an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for discharging fluid downstream from said inlet;

a flow restrictor positioned between said inlet and said outlet, said flow restrictor comprising;

a length of said delivery channel having a cross sectional area which is smaller than a cross sectional area of said channel at said inlet;

a first passive valve positioned in said fluid delivery channel downstream from said flow restrictor, said first passive valve having a first predetermined burst pressure, said first passive valve preventing fluid from moving through said channel when the pressure exerted by said fluid on said first passive valve is below said burst pressure, said first passive valve comprising;

a hydrophobic patch positioned on one wall of said fluid delivery channel, said hydrophobic patch comprising;

a material having a contact angle of between seventy and one hundred eighty degrees;

a control channel having an inlet and an outlet, said control channel outlet being connected to said fluid delivery channel between said flow restrictor and said first passive valve;

a bubble chamber connected to said fluid delivery channel between said flow restrictor and said first passive valve, said bubble chamber comprising;

an electrical heater adapted to heat fluid in said fluid delivery channel, wherein said electrical heater comprises a resistor;

a controller connected to said electrical heater; and

a second passive valve positioned in said control channel between said control channel inlet and said control channel outlet, said second passive valve comprising;

a hydrophobic patch positioned on one wall of said fluid delivery channel, said hydrophobic patch comprising;

a material having a contact angle of between seventy and one hundred eighty degrees.

5. A triggerable passive valve for use in controlling the flow of fluid comprising:

a fluid delivery channel having an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for discharging fluid downstream from said inlet;

a flow restrictor positioned between said inlet and said outlet, said flow restrictor comprising;

a length of said delivery channel having a cross sectional area which is smaller than a cross sectional area of said channel at said inlet;

a first passive valve positioned in said fluid delivery channel downstream from said flow restrictor, said first passive valve having a first predetermined burst pressure, said first passive valve preventing fluid from moving through said channel when the pressure exerted by said fluid on said first passive valve is below said burst pressure, said first passive valve comprising;

a hydrophobic patch positioned on one wall of said fluid delivery channel, said hydrophobic patch comprising;

a material having a contact angle of between seventy and one hundred eighty degrees;

a control channel having an inlet and an outlet, said control channel outlet being connected to said fluid delivery channel between said flow restrictor and said first passive valve;

a bubble chamber connected to said fluid delivery channel between said flow restrictor and said first passive valve, said bubble chamber comprising;

an electrical heater adapted to heat fluid in said fluid delivery channel, wherein said electrical heater comprises a pair of opposed electrodes;

a controller connected to said electrical heater; and

a second passive valve positioned in said control channel between said control channel inlet and said control channel outlet, said second passive valve comprising;

a hydrophobic patch positioned on one wall of said fluid delivery channel, said hydrophobic patch comprising;

a material having a contact angle of between seventy and one hundred eighty degrees.