VALVE SYSTEMS AND INJECTOR SYSTEM INCLUDING SUCH VALVE SYSTEMS

• US 20070272311A1
• Filed: 05/24/2006
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Medrad Incorporated (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Trocki, Mark, Capone, Christopher D., Reilly, David M., Neill, James R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,475,701 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/601.200
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/2473 Valve comprising a non-deformable, movable element, e.g. ball-valve, valve with movable stopper or reciprocating element
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/2486 Guided stem, e.g. reciprocating stopper
• 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 39/228 with a tubular diaphragm constrictable by radial fluid force
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/24 Check- or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2567 Alternate or successive inflows
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2569 Control by depletion of source
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2572 One inflow supplements another
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2622 Bypass or relief valve responsive to pressure downstream of outlet valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7838 Plural
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7843 Integral resilient member forms plural valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7849 Bypass in valve casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86726 Valve with bypass connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87338 Flow passage with bypass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87555 Having direct response valve [e.g., check valve, etc.]

Abstract

A valve system for use in a system including a first source of a first pressurized fluid and a second source of a second pressurized fluid includes a valve housing including a first inlet port adapted to be placed in fluid connection with the first source, a second inlet port adapted to be placed in fluid connection with the second source and an outlet port. The valve system further includes a backflow prevention system to prevent flow of the first pressurized fluid through the second inlet and to prevent flow of the second pressurized fluid through the first inlet port. The valve system is adapted to provide a fluid path between at least the first inlet port and the outlet port to enable fluid to be drawn from the outlet port to the first inlet port. Several of the valve systems of the present invention provide for flow from the first inlet port to the outlet port and concurrent flow from the second inlet port to the outlet port.

Claims

1. A valve system for use in a system comprising a first source of a first pressurized fluid and a second source of a second pressurized fluid, the valve system comprising:

a valve housing comprising a first inlet port adapted to be placed in fluid connection with the first source, a second inlet port adapted to be placed in fluid connection with the second source and an outlet port; and

a backflow prevention system to prevent flow of the first pressurized fluid through the second inlet and to prevent flow of the second pressurized fluid through the first inlet port,

wherein the valve system is adapted to provide a fluid path between at least the first inlet port and the outlet port to enable fluid to be drawn from the outlet port to the first inlet port.

2. The valve system of claim 1 wherein the backflow prevention system comprises a first check valve in fluid connection with the first inlet port and a second check valve in fluid connection with the second inlet port.

3. The valve system of claim 2 further comprising a bypass flow path to direct flow around the first check valve, thereby providing the fluid path between the outlet port and the first inlet port to enable fluid to be drawn from the outlet port to the first inlet port.

4. The valve system of claim 3 wherein the backflow prevention system comprises a sealing member movable within the valve housing in response to pressure changes, the sealing member having a normal state in which it is biased to block flow into the second inlet port, while a fluid path between the first inlet port and the outlet port is provided to enable fluid to be drawn from the outlet port to the first inlet port.

5. The valve system of claim 4 wherein the at least one sealing member is biased by at least a first spring.

6. The valve system of claim 4 wherein the sealing member comprises a piston member biased to abut a portion of the valve housing to block flow into the second inlet port, the piston having a passage therethrough in fluid connection with the outlet.

7. The valve system of claim 6 further comprising a valve housing member having a passage therethrough in fluid connection with the first inlet port, the first check valve being in fluid connection with the passage in the valve housing member, the passage in the piston being in fluid connection with the passage in the valve housing member, a fluid path being provided around the housing member to provide the bypass flow path in fluid connection with the passage in the piston and the first inlet port when the piston is biased to abut the portion of the valve housing.

8. The valve system of claim 7 wherein flow from the second fluid path causes the piston to move out of abutment with the portion of the valve housing to provide a fluid connection between the second inlet port and the outlet port, the piston being moved to abut the valve housing member to block the bypass flow path, the passage in the piston remaining in fluid connection with the passage in the valve housing member.

9. The valve system of claim 3 further comprising a bypass flow path to direct flow around the second check valve, thereby providing a fluid path between the outlet port and the second inlet port to enable fluid to be drawn from the outlet port to the second inlet port.

10. The valve system of claim 1 wherein the backflow prevention system comprises at least a first sealing member movable within the valve housing in response to pressure changes.

11. The valve system of claim 10 wherein the first sealing member is biased to provide the fluid path between the first inlet port and the outlet port.

12. The valve system of claim 10 wherein the first sealing member is biased by a first spring.

13. The valve system of claim 12 wherein flow from the second inlet port causes movement of the first sealing member to block the fluid path between the first inlet port and the outlet port.

14. The valve system of claim 13 further comprising a second sealing member moveable within the valve housing and a second spring positioned between the first sealing member and the second sealing member, flow from the first inlet and concurrent flow from the second inlet causing the second spring to compress so that a fluid path is provided between the first inlet port and the outlet port and a fluid path is provided between the second inlet port and the outlet port.

15. The valve system of claim 1 wherein the backflow prevention system comprises a deformable sealing member biased to block flow into the second inlet port.

16. The valve system of claim 15 wherein flow of fluid into the second inlet port at a first pressure deforms a first portion of the sealing member to block flow into the first inlet port.

17. The valve system of claim 16 wherein flow of fluid into the second inlet port at a second pressure higher than the first pressure deforms a second portion of the sealing member to open a fluid path between the second inlet port and the outlet port.

18. The valve system of claim 17 wherein the valve housing comprises a first housing member comprising the first inlet and a second housing member comprising the second inlet port, the first housing member and the second housing member being attached to form the valve housing, the deformable sealing member being positioned between the first housing member and the second housing member.

21. The valve system of claim 1 wherein the backflow prevention system comprises a flexible conduit positioned within the valve housing to block the second inlet port from being in fluid connection with the outlet port, a passage through the conduit providing the fluid path between the first inlet port and the outlet port to enable fluid to be drawn from the outlet port to the first inlet port.

22. The valve system of claim 21 wherein an increase in pressure in the second inlet port compresses a first portion of the flexible conduit to close the fluid path between the first inlet port and the outlet port.

23. The valve system of claim 22 wherein a further increase in pressure in the second inlet port causes a second portion of the flexible conduit to compress to create a fluid path between the second inlet port and the outlet port.

24. The valve system of claim 1 providing for flow from the first inlet port to the outlet port and concurrent flow from the second inlet port to the outlet port.

19. The valve system of 17 wherein a fluid path is provided between the first inlet port and the outlet port regardless of a state of the deformable sealing member.

20. The valve system of claim 19 wherein flow into the first inlet port and concurrent flow into the second inlet port causes flow from the first inlet port into the outlet port and concurrent flow from the second inlet port into the outlet port.

25. An injection system comprising:

a first source of a first pressurized fluid;

a second source of a second pressurized fluid, and

a valve system comprising;

a valve housing comprising a first inlet port in fluid connection with the first source, a second inlet port in fluid connection with the second source and an outlet port; and

a backflow prevention system to prevent flow of the first pressurized fluid through the second inlet and to prevent flow of the second pressurized fluid through the first inlet port,

wherein the valve system is adapted to provide a fluid path between at least the first inlet port and the outlet port to enable fluid to be drawn from the outlet port to the first inlet port.

26. The injection system of claim 25 wherein the first source is a first syringe in fluid connection with a powered injector and the second source is a second syringe in fluid connection with the powered injector.

27. A valve system for use in a system comprising a first source of a first pressurized fluid and a second source of a second pressurized fluid, the valve system comprising:

a valve housing comprising a first inlet port adapted to be placed in fluid connection with the first source, a second inlet port adapted to be placed in fluid connection with the second source and an outlet port;

at least one deformable sealing member in operative connection with the first inlet port and the second inlet port, the at least one deformable sealing member being biased to block flow into the second inlet port, and

a fluid path between the first inlet port and the outlet port regardless of a state of the at least one deformable sealing member.

28. The valve system of claim 27 wherein flow of fluid into the second inlet port at a first pressure deforms a central portion of the sealing member to block flow into the first inlet port.

29. The valve system of claim 28 wherein flow of fluid into the second inlet port at a second pressure, higher than the first pressure, deforms an outer portion of the sealing member to open a fluid path between the second inlet port and the outlet port.

30. The valve system of claim 29 wherein flow into the first inlet port and concurrent flow into the second inlet port deforms the central portion of the deformable sealing member and causes flow from the first inlet port into the outlet port and concurrent flow from the second inlet port into the outlet port.

31. The valve system for claim 29 wherein the valve housing comprises a first housing member comprising the first inlet and a second housing member comprising the second inlet port, the first housing member and the second housing member being attached to form the valve housing, the deformable sealing member being positioned between the first housing member and the second housing member.

32. The valve system for claim 29 wherein the valve housing comprises a first housing member and a second housing member that are attachable to form the valve housing comprising the first inlet port, the second inlet port and the outlet port, the deformable sealing member being positioned between the first housing member and the second housing member.