LIQUID COINFUSION UNIT

• US 20100012207A1
• Filed: 06/16/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Satoh, Takashi, Funamura, Shigeaki, Kitani, Ichiro
• Application Number:
  US12/485,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20100012207A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/625.410
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0205 for injecting media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/20 having means for promoting or enhancing the flow, actively or passively
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/045 pre-slit to be pierced by blunt instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/223 Multiway valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86823 Rotary valve

Abstract

A liquid coinfusion unit and processes are provided inside which liquid and air are unlikely to accumulate which consists of a chamber part, a main upstream branch pipe, a downstream branch pipe, a supplementary upstream branch pipe, and a stopcock which can allow communication/block the area between the chamber part and main upstream branch pipe, and the area between the chamber part and downstream branch pipe, respectively. The portion of the liquid flow channel inside the chamber part which runs from the main upstream branch pipe towards the downstream branch pipe consists of a bypass flow channel which extends from the direction of advance of the liquid from the main upstream branch pipe towards the chamber part to one side which is substantially orthogonal to the direction of advance, after which it extends in the direction of advance of the liquid from the chamber part towards the downstream branch pipe.

Claims

1. Liquid coinfusion unit comprising:

a chamber part;

a main upstream branch pipe;

a downstream branch pipe; and

a supplementary upstream branch pipe;

wherein each pipe is respectively connected to the chamber part;

a liquid flow channel formed from the main upstream branch pipe as far as the downstream branch pipe via the chamber part wherein a specific liquid is configured to flow therein;

a supplementary liquid flow channel formed from the supplementary upstream branch pipe as far as the chamber part wherein a second liquid is configured to flow therein, wherein a portion of the liquid flow channel inside the chamber part includes a bypass flow channel which curves from the direction of advance of the liquid from the main upstream branch pipe towards the chamber part, extending towards the supplementary upstream branch pipe, after which it extends in the direction of advance from the chamber part towards the downstream branch pipe; and

an inclined surface formed in the bypass flow channel, whereof an upstream portion is positioned on the supplementary upstream branch pipe side and a downstream portion is positioned further towards the side in the direction of advance from the chamber part towards the downstream branch pipe than the supplementary upstream branch pipe side.

2. Liquid coinfusion unit according to claim 1, wherein the liquid flow channel curves from a direction of advance inside the chamber part and extends for a time to the supplementary upstream branch pipe, after which it once again curves and extends from the chamber part in the direction of advance towards at least one of the downstream branch pipe, in the direction of a line of extension of the original direction of advance, and in a direction other than the line of extension thereof.

3. Liquid coinfusion unit according to claim 1, wherein the liquid flow channel running from the main upstream branch pipe to the chamber part and the liquid flow channel running from the chamber part to the downstream branch pipe are positioned on a single straight line, and the supplementary liquid flow channel running from the supplementary upstream branch pipe to the chamber part is orthogonal to the liquid flow channel, the bypass flow channel separates from the straight line, and forms a liquid flow channel which returns to the original straight line at the downstream side.

4. Liquid coinfusion unit according to claim 1, wherein the inclined surface configures part of the inner peripheral surface of the bypass flow channel and may be at least one of a plane and curved surface.

5. Liquid coinfusion unit according to claim 1, wherein the upstream portion of the inclined surface projects towards an inner wall of the supplementary upstream branch pipe, thereby causing the space between the inner wall of the supplementary upstream branch pipe and the inclined surface to become smaller.

6. Liquid coinfusion unit according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the bypass flow channel on the main upstream branch pipe side extends from the connecting portion between the main upstream branch pipe and the chamber part to the upstream portion of the inclined surface.

7. Liquid coinfusion unit according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the bypass flow channel on the downstream branch pipe side extends from the downstream portion of the inclined surface to the connecting portion between the chamber part and the downstream branch pipe.

8. Liquid coinfusion unit according to claim 1, wherein another liquid flow channel which links the supplementary upstream branch pipe and the chamber part in communication is configured by the space between the supplementary upstream branch pipe and the inclined surface.

9. Liquid coinfusion unit according to claim 1, wherein the supplementary upstream branch pipe is configured by an annular part having a circular cross section.

10. Liquid coinfusion unit according to claim 1, wherein the supplementary upstream branch pipe is cylindrical and is provided with an annular part having an elliptical cross section.

11. Liquid coinfusion unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a valve body provided in the supplementary upstream branch part into which an injection part of a liquid injector for injecting the second liquid into the chamber part may be inserted.

12. Liquid coinfusion unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a stopcock inside the chamber part forming the bypass flow channel with the chamber part.

13. Liquid coinfusion unit according to claim 12, wherein rotation of the stopcock in a specific direction allows for blocking the area between the chamber part and the main upstream branch pipe, the area between the chamber part and the downstream branch pipe, and the area between the chamber part and the supplementary upstream branch pipe, respectively.

14. Liquid coinfusion unit according to claim 1, wherein the upstream portion of the inclined surface is projected towards an inner wall of the supplementary upstream branch pipe;

thereby causing a space between the inner wall of the supplementary upstream branch pipe and the inclined surface to become smaller.

15. Liquid coinfusion unit according to claim 1, wherein the liquid coinfusion unit is configured such that the supplementary upstream branch pipe side is above, wherein when liquid flows from the main upstream branch pipe to the downstream branch pipe via the chamber part from the main upstream branch pipe, the liquid flows upwards and down the inclined surface from an upper end of the inclined surface, and into the downstream branch pipe from the chamber part;

whereby the liquid flows through an upper part of a space inside the chamber part without air accumulating inside the chamber part.

16. Liquid coinfusion unit according to claim 1, wherein the liquid coinfusion unit is configured such that the supplementary upstream branch pipe side is below, wherein when liquid flows from the main upstream branch pipe to the downstream branch pipe via the chamber part and enters the chamber part from the main upstream branch pipe, the liquid flows downwards between a bottom part of the chamber part and the inclined surface, along the inclined surface to the downstream branch pipe from the chamber part, whereby the upstream portion of the inclined surface projects towards an inner wall at a lower end of the chamber part without accumulating air in the chamber part.

17. Liquid coinfusion unit according to claim 1, wherein the liquid coinfusion unit is configured such that the supplementary upstream branch pipe side is horizontal with respect to the main upstream branch pipe and the downstream branch pipe, wherein when the upstream side of the inclined surface is positioned above, a liquid flows down from the upstream side to the downstream side of the inclined surface, a gap between the upstream end of the inclined surface and the inner wall of the supplementary upstream branch pipe becomes narrow.

18. Liquid coinfusion unit according to claim 1, wherein the liquid coinfusion unit is configured such that the supplementary branch pipe side is horizontal with respect to the main upstream branch pipe and the downstream branch pipe, wherein when the upstream side of the inclined surface is positioned below, liquid flows from the upstream side to the downstream side, thereby causing the liquid to flow smoothly.

19. Liquid coinfusion unit according to claim 1, wherein the liquid coinfusion unit is configured such that the supplementary upstream branch pipe side is horizontal with respect to the main upstream branch pipe and the downstream branch pipe, wherein when the inclined surface is horizontally oriented, liquid flows from a lower part towards an upper part of the chamber part while filling a space inside the chamber part, thereby causing the liquid to flow smoothly.