Pressure Activated Valve with High Flow Slit

• US 20110313368A1
• Filed: 08/31/2011
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Navilyst Medical Incorporated (AngioDynamics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Weaver, Karla, DiCarlo, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,377,011 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/247
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/242 designed to open when a predetermined pressure or flow rate has been reached, e.g. check valve actuated by fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/2426 Slit valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0097 characterised by the hub connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0606 "Over-the-needle" catheter assemblies, e.g. I.V. catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0637 Butterfly or winged devices, e.g. for facilitating handling or for attachment to the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/22 Valves or arrangement of valves A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/24 Check- or non-return valves

Abstract

A pressure actuated valve for controlling the flow of fluid through a medical device, the valve comprises a housing including a lumen extending therethrough and a flow control membrane extending across the lumen to control the flow of fluid through the lumen. The membrane includes a plurality of slits extending therethrough so that, when the membrane is acted upon by a pressure of at least a threshold magnitude, the slits open to permit flow through the lumen and, when not acted upon by a pressure of at least the predetermined magnitude, the slits are maintained closed by a biasing force applied thereto by the membrane to prevent flow through the lumen. Each of the slits extends between end portions thereof along a curve wherein a distance between a first end portion of a first one of the slits and a first end portion of a second one of the slits is a minimum distance between the first and second slits.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A system for exchanging fluid between an external reservoir and a patient, comprising:

a catheter including at least one lumen, the catheter having a distal end insertable into a patient and a proximal end connected to at least one valve, comprising;

a housing including a lumen extending therethrough and capable of fluid communication with a lumen of the catheter; and

a membrane extending across the lumen, the membrane including a plurality of slits disposed within the membrane about an axis of symmetry and at least one additional slit disposed along a first axis which passes through a centerline of the membrane and connects at least two of said plurality of slits.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein each slit among the plurality of slits is located near a periphery of the membrane and each slit among said plurality of slits extends along a line or arc that approximates a line or arc defined by the periphery of the membrane.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein at least one slit opens when acted upon by a pressure of at least a predetermined threshold.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the membrane is elliptical, the axis of symmetry is a major axis of the membrane, and the first axis is perpendicular thereto.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein each lumen of the catheter is capable of fluid communication with a lumen of a valve.

25. A flow control element for a catheter valve, comprising:

a membrane having a plurality of slits disposed therewithin, the slits being disposed substantially symmetrically about a midline of the membrane, and at least one additional slit disposed along a first axis which passes through the midline of the membrane and connects at least two of said plurality of slits.

26. The flow control element of claim 25, wherein each slit among the plurality of slits is located near a periphery of the membrane and each slit among said plurality of slits extends along a line or arc that approximates a line or arc defined by the periphery of the membrane.

27. The flow control element of claim 25, wherein at least one slit opens when acted upon by a pressure of at least a predetermined threshold.

28. The flow control element of claim 25, wherein the membrane is elliptical, the axis of symmetry is a major axis of the membrane, and the first axis is perpendicular thereto.