Flow Controllers
First Claim
1. A flow controller comprising:
- a body defining a cavity, said body comprising a fluid inlet, a first fluid outlet, and a second fluid outlet; and
an actuator member at least partially received within the cavity and defining a first flow channel and a second flow channel, whereinthe actuator member is adapted for at least substantially non-rotational movement from a first position to a second position within said cavity,the first flow channel allows for fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet in said first position,the second flow channel allows for fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the second fluid outlet in said second position, andthe actuator member is prevented from moving from said second position to said first position.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Flow controllers are provided for interconnecting a fluid source to two separate collection zones. The flow controllers include a body having a fluid inlet communicating with the source and two fluid outlets, each communicating with one of the collection zones. An actuator member received within a cavity of the body includes first and second flow paths. In a first position, the first flow path is aligned with the fluid inlet of the body to allow fluid communication with one of the fluid outlets and the associated collection zone. The actuator member is non-rotationally moved to a second position within the cavity to align the second flow path with the fluid inlet of the body, thereby halting flow through the first flow path and allowing fluid communication with the other collection zone. An optional safety feature prevents movement of the actuator member from the second position to the first position.
-
Citations
44 Claims
-
1. A flow controller comprising:
-
a body defining a cavity, said body comprising a fluid inlet, a first fluid outlet, and a second fluid outlet; and an actuator member at least partially received within the cavity and defining a first flow channel and a second flow channel, wherein the actuator member is adapted for at least substantially non-rotational movement from a first position to a second position within said cavity, the first flow channel allows for fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet in said first position, the second flow channel allows for fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the second fluid outlet in said second position, and the actuator member is prevented from moving from said second position to said first position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A flow controller comprising:
-
a body defining a cavity, said body comprising a fluid inlet, a first fluid outlet, and a second fluid outlet; a generally cup-shaped insert received within the cavity, said insert comprising an inlet hole aligned with the fluid inlet, a first outlet hole aligned with the first fluid outlet, and a second outlet hole aligned with the second fluid outlet; and an actuator member at least partially received within the insert for movement from a first position to a second position within said insert, whereby in said first position the actuator member allows for fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet, and in said second position the actuator member allows for fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the second fluid outlet. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. A fluid processing set comprising:
-
a first collection container; a second collection container; and a flow controller comprising a body defining a cavity, said body comprising a fluid inlet, a first fluid outlet communicating with the first collection container, and a second fluid outlet communicating with the second collection container, and an actuator member at least partially received within the cavity and defining a first flow channel and a second flow channel, wherein the actuator member is adapted for at least substantially non-rotational movement from a first position to a second position, the first flow channel allows for fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet in said first position, the second flow channel allows for fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the second fluid outlet in said second position, and the actuator member is prevented from moving from said second position to said first position. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
-
-
39. A method of collecting at least two quantities of a fluid from a fluid source, comprising:
-
providing a first collection container and a second collection container; providing a flow controller body having a fluid inlet, a first fluid outlet communicating with the first collection container, and a second fluid outlet communicating with the second collection container; providing an actuator member defining a first flow channel and a second channel separate from said first channel, said actuator member movably received by the body; introducing flow of said fluid to the fluid inlet of the flow controller body with the actuator member in a first position within the flow controller body, thereby directing the flow through said first flow channel and said first fluid outlet to said first collection container; moving the actuator member from the first position to a second position within the flow controller body without substantial rotational movement, thereby directing the blood flow through said second flow channel and said second fluid outlet to said second collection container; and preventing movement of the actuator member from the second position to the first position. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
-
Specification