Stopcock

• US 20110308651A1
• Filed: 06/24/2011
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elcam Medical Agricultural Cooperative Association Ltd
• Original Assignee: Elcam Medical Agricultural Cooperative Association Ltd
• Inventors: Ziv, David, Gil, Tomer
• Granted Patent: US 8,534,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/625.46
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/229 Stopcocks
• 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: F16K 11/0833 having all the connecting conduits situated in a single plane perpendicular to the axis of the plug
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/0853 having all the connecting conduits situated in a single plane perpendicular to the axis of the plug
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/062 with conical plugs
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/065 with cylindrical plugs
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/602 Pivoting levers, e.g. single-sided F16K31/605 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0407 with particular plug arrangements, e.g. particular shape or built-in means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4252 Reverse fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86863 Rotary valve unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86871 Plug
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87676 With flow control

Abstract

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a stopcock including a housing element defining at least first, second and third ports, a handle element which is selectably positionable relative to the housing element, at least one fluid passageway communicating between at least two of the at least first, second and third ports, the at least one fluid passageway being selectably defined by at least one of the housing element and the handle element, the at least one fluid passageway being configured for enabling flushing an internal volume of at least one of the first, second and third ports by a fluid flow which does not flow entirely through the port whose internal volume is being flushed.

Claims

1-31. -31. (canceled)

32. A stopcock comprising:

a housing element defining a central bore and at least first, second and third ports;

a handle element which is selectably positionable relative to said housing element;

at least one fluid passageway communicating between at least two of said at least first, second and third ports, said at least one fluid passageway being selectably defined by rotational positioning of said handle element relative to said housing element;

a fluid flow guide associated with said at least one fluid flow passageway, said fluid flow guide extending radially and sealingly engaging an inner facing wall of said central bore when said fluid flow guide is not located opposite at least one of said first, second and third ports.

33. A stopcock according to claim 32 and also comprising a valve located within one of the at least one of first, second and third ports.

34. A stopcock according to claim 33 and wherein said valve has an open first end and a normally closed second end.

35. A stopcock according to claim 33 and wherein said fluid passageway is configured for enabling flushing an internal volume of said valve.

36. A stopcock according to claim 32 and wherein said at least one fluid passageway is configured for enabling flushing an internal volume of at least one of said first, second and third ports by a fluid flow which does not flow entirely through said port whose internal volume is being flushed.

37. A stopcock according to claim 32 and wherein said at least one fluid passageway is defined by at least one recess formed on a peripheral surface of said handle element.

38. A stopcock according to claim 37 and wherein said at least one recess is partially bifurcated by said fluid flow guide.

39. A stopcock according to claim 32 and wherein said fluid flow guide comprises an outward facing edge adapted to prevent a flow of liquid when said fluid flow guide is not located opposite said at least one of said ports.

40. A stopcock according to claim 32 and wherein said handle element and said housing element are arrangeable in multiple mutual positions.

41. A stopcock according to claim 40 and wherein said fluid flow guide and said at least one fluid passageway are configured for enabling flushing an internal volume of at least one of said first, second and third ports by a fluid flow which does not flow entirely through said port whose internal volume is being flushed, when said housing element and said handle element are in at least one of said multiple mutual positions.

42. A stopcock comprising:

a housing element defining a central bore and at least first, second and third ports;

a handle element which is selectably positionable relative to said housing element;

at least one fluid passageway communicating between at least two of said at least first, second and third ports, said at least one fluid passageway being selectably defined by rotational positioning of said handle element relative to said housing element;

a first fluid flow guide extending radially to an inner facing wall of said central bore, said first fluid flow guide associated with said at least one fluid flow passageway, and

a second fluid flow guide extending radially and partially bifurcating one of said at least one of the first, second and third ports, said second fluid flow guide associated with said at least one fluid flow passageway.

43. A stopcock according to claim 42 and also comprising a valve located within the at least one of first, second and third ports.

44. A stopcock according to claim 43 and wherein said valve has an open first end and a normally closed second end.

45. A stopcock according to claim 43 and wherein said fluid passageway is configured for enabling flushing an internal volume of the valve.

46. A stopcock according to claim 42 and wherein said at least one fluid passageway is configured for enabling flushing an internal volume of at least one of said first, second and third ports by a fluid flow which does not flow entirely through said port whose internal volume is being flushed.

47. A stopcock according to claim 42 and wherein said at least one fluid passageway is defined by at least one recess formed on a peripheral surface of said handle element.

48. A stopcock according to claim 47 and wherein said at least one recess is partially bifurcated by said first fluid flow guide.

49. A stopcock according to claim 42 and wherein said first fluid flow guide comprises an outward facing edge adapted to prevent a flow of liquid when said fluid flow guide is not located opposite said at least one of said ports.

50. A stopcock according to claim 42 and wherein said handle element and said housing element are arrangeable in multiple mutual positions.

51. A stopcock according to claim 50 and wherein said first fluid flow guide, said second fluid flow guide and said at least one fluid passageway are configured for enabling flushing an internal volume of at least one of said first, second and third ports by a fluid flow which does not flow entirely through said port whose internal volume is being flushed when said housing element and said handle element are in at least one of said multiple mutual positions.

52. A stopcock according to claim 42 and wherein said first fluid flow guide and said second fluid flow guide are configured to be selectively arranged along a single axis for enabling flushing an internal volume of at least one of said first, second and third ports by a fluid flow.