Flow Controllers
First Claim
1. A flow controller comprising;
- a body comprising a fluid inlet, a first fluid outlet, and a second fluid outlet, said body being adapted to receive a movable actuator member for selectively bringing the fluid inlet and fluid outlets into fluid communication; and
an actuator member at least partially received within the body, wherein said actuator member is adapted for at least substantially non-rotational movement between a first position and a second position within the body, wherebyin the first position, the fluid inlet is in fluid communication with the first fluid outlet and not the second fluid outlet and in the second position, the fluid inlet is in fluid communication with the second fluid outlet and not the first fluid outlet and the actuator member is prevented from moving from said second position to said first position
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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 selectively establishes fluid communication between the inlet and an outlet In a first position, the fluid inlet is in 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 establish fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the other fluid outlet, thereby halting flow through the first outlet 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.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A flow controller comprising;
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a body comprising a fluid inlet, a first fluid outlet, and a second fluid outlet, said body being adapted to receive a movable actuator member for selectively bringing the fluid inlet and fluid outlets into fluid communication; and an actuator member at least partially received within the body, wherein said actuator member is adapted for at least substantially non-rotational movement between a first position and a second position within the body, whereby in the first position, the fluid inlet is in fluid communication with the first fluid outlet and not the second fluid outlet and in the second position, the fluid inlet is in fluid communication with the second fluid outlet and not the first fluid outlet 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)
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9. A flow controller comprising:
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a body defining a cavity, said body comprising a fluid inlet, a first fluid outlet, and a second fluid outlet; an actuator member at least partially received within the cavity and adapted for movement from a first position to a second position within said cavity; and a flow channel defined by the actuator member and comprising a fluid entrance and a fluid exit, wherein the fluid entrance is adjacent to the fluid inlet and the fluid exit is adjacent to the first fluid outlet for allowing fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet in said first position, the fluid entrance is adjacent to the fluid inlet and the fluid exit is adjacent to the second fluid outlet for allowing fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the second fluid outlet in said second position, said fluid entrance is substantially larger than the fluid inlet, and said fluid exit is substantially larger than each of the fluid outlets, and the actuator member is prevented from moving from said second position to said first position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A fluid processing set comprising:
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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 defining a single flow channel and at least partially received within the cavity for at least substantially non-rotational movement from a first position to a second position within the cavity, whereby in said first position the flow channel allows for fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet of the body, and in said second position the flow channel allows for fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the second fluid outlet of the body, and wherein the actuator member is prevented from moving from said second position to said first position. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of collecting at least two quantities of a biological fluid from a biological fluid source, comprising:
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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 flow channel and 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 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 flow through said 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 (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification