Multiway wave

• US 20060005886A1
• Filed: 08/05/2003
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Original Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Parrino, Andrea, Bulgarelli, Cesare
• Granted Patent: US 7,469,716 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/556
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/28 Peritoneal dialysis ; Other peritoneal treatment, e.g. oxygenation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/223 Multiway valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8275 Indicator element rigidly carried by the movable element whose position is indicated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8359 Inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86863 Rotary valve unit

Abstract

What is provided is a flow shut-off element, particularly for use in the medical field of peritoneal dialysis, consisting of a valve body (2) having an inner cavity (3) and a plurality of accesses (4, 5, 6); a selector having a projecting portion inserted into the inner cavity of the valve body and movable relatively to the latter into a predetermined number of operating positions to create predetermined paths in which the fluid flow is permitted and/or shut off between the said accesses. Also provided is an auxiliary element interposed in a removable way between the valve body and the selector, this element having positioning means to enable an operator to determine when one of the said predetermined operating positions of the selector has been reached.

Claims

1-30. -30. (canceled)

31. Flow shut-off element comprising:

a valve body having an inner cavity and a plurality of accesses communicating with said inner cavity to allow a flow of fluid;

a selector associated with said valve body and movable relatively to the latter into a predetermined number of operating positions, said selector being active in said inner cavity to form, as a result of movements into said operating positions, predetermined paths in which the fluid flow is permitted and/or shut off between said accesses; and

an auxiliary element associated with said valve body and made in the form of an independent body, said auxiliary element being provided with positioning means to enable an operator to determine when one of said predetermined operating positions of said selector has been reached.

32. Element according to claim 31, wherein said selector comprises a predetermined number of catches and/or notches designed to interact with said positioning means to make it possible to perceive when said predetermined operating positions of said selector have been reached.

33. Element according to claim 32, wherein said positioning means have at least one corresponding catch and/or notch designed to be engaged in at least one of said notches and/or catches.

34. Element according to claim 31, wherein said positioning means comprise an elastic element having a locking catch designed to interact with corresponding notches present in said selector.

35. Element according to claim 32, wherein the notches of said selector are formed in an essentially circular ring of the selector.

36. Element according to claim 31, wherein said selector comprises a projecting portion designed to be inserted, in operating conditions, into the inner cavity of said valve body, relative movements of said selector with respect to the valve body and to the auxiliary element causing different operating positions to be reached.

37. Element according to claim 36, wherein a circular ring of notches of said selector is essentially coaxial with said projecting portion, interacting with the latter to delimit a cavity for engagement with said valve body.

38. Element according to claim 34, wherein said locking catch is positioned at a free end of said elastic element.

39. Element according to claim 34, wherein said elastic element has an essentially curved axis of extension.

40. Element according to claim 31, wherein said positioning means comprise a stop projection to form a mechanical stop to the movement of said selector.

41. Element according to claim 31, wherein said positioning means are shaped in such a way as to permit a relative rotation of said selector with respect to said valve body in only one direction.

42. Element according to claim 31, wherein said auxiliary element has a central through cavity.

43. Element according to claim 42, wherein said positioning means comprise a locking catch designed to interact with corresponding notches present in said selector, and a stop projection to form a mechanical stop to the movement of said selector, said locking catch and stop projection face towards said central through cavity of said auxiliary element.

44. Element according to claim 36, wherein said projecting portion of said selector is of essentially cylindrical shape and is at least partially shaped to be complementary to said inner cavity of said valve body.

45. Element according to claim 36, wherein said selector is movable with respect to said valve body and about an axis of rotation, said projecting portion being preferably cylindrical and having its axis of extension coinciding with the axis of rotation.

46. Element according to claim 36, wherein said projecting portion comprises predetermined channels designed to interact with said accesses formed in said valve body to create different fluid paths within said shut-off element according to the relative positions of said selector with respect to said valve body.

47. Element according to claim 31, wherein said valve body comprises at least a first, a second and a third access for the fluid, said selector being capable at least of switching said shut-off element between a condition in which the flow of fluid is prevented, a condition in which fluid flows from the third to the second access, a condition in which fluid flows from the first to the second access, and a condition in which fluid flows from the first to the third access.

48. Element according to claim 31, wherein said selector has at least one aperture, different relative positions of said selector with respect to said valve body providing visual access through said aperture to corresponding different areas of said auxiliary element.

49. Element according to claim 31, wherein said body has on one of its surfaces facing said selector predetermined visual representations, said representations being graphic symbols and/or alphanumeric indications and/or colours relating to the paths in which the fluid flow is shut off and/or permitted between said accesses.

50. Element according to claim 31, wherein said selector has a grip portion to enable a user to rotate it with respect to said valve body.

51. Element according to claim 50, wherein said grip portion is delimited by stiffening ribs extending transversely with respect to an axis of rotation.

52. Element according to claim 37, wherein said valve body has an inner perimetric wall forming said inner cavity, an upper portion of said perimetric wall being designed to be inserted and guided in its movement by the engagement cavity of the selector.

53. Element according to claim 31, wherein, in conditions of engagement of said valve body with said auxiliary element, the inner perimetric wall passes through the central through cavity.

54. Element according to claim 31, wherein the selector and/or the valve body and/or the auxiliary element are essentially discoid in shape.

55. Element according to claim 36, wherein said projecting portion, in operating conditions, is inserted in a fluid-tight way into the inner cavity of the valve body.

56. Element according to claim 31, wherein said valve body has at least one or several locating blocks to enable the auxiliary element to be positioned correctly on said valve body.

57. Element according to claim 56, wherein said auxiliary element has corresponding notches designed to receive said locating blocks of the valve body.

58. Element according to claim 31, wherein said auxiliary element is removably associated with said valve body.

59. Flow shut-off element comprising:

a valve body having an inner cavity and a plurality of accesses communicating with said inner cavity to permit a flow of fluid;

a selector associated with said valve body and movable relatively to the latter into a predetermined number of operating positions, said selector being active in said inner cavity to form, as a result of movements into said operating positions, predetermined paths in which the fluid flow is permitted and/or shut off between said accesses; and

an auxiliary element associated with said valve body, said auxiliary element having on one of its surfaces facing the selector predetermined visual representations, said representations being graphic symbols and/or alphanumeric indications and/or colours relating to the paths in which the fluid is shut off and/or flows within the shut-off element.

60. Flow shut-off element comprising:

a valve body having an inner cavity and a plurality of accesses communicating with said inner cavity to permit a flow of fluid;

a selector associated with said valve body and movable relatively to the latter into a predetermined number of operating positions, said selector being active in said inner cavity to form, as a result of movements into said operating positions, predetermined paths in which the fluid flow is permitted and/or shut off between said accesses; and

an auxiliary element removably associated with said valve body and made in the form of an independent body, said auxiliary element being provided with positioning means to enable an operator to determine when one of said predetermined operating positions of the selector has been reached, said selector comprising an essentially circular ring in which is formed a predetermined number of notches designed to interact with at least one corresponding catch of said positioning means, said catch being designed to be engaged in said notches.