APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A DISSOLVABLE VALVE MEMBER
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A valve assembly is provided which includes a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end and defining a fluid channel and a central chamber. A dissolvable valve member is positioned to obstruct flow through the channel within the chamber. The dissolvable valve member is formed of a material which is dissolvable at a predetermined rate upon contact with a preselected fluid. The preselected fluid is selected from the group consisting of blood, urine, saline and antimicrobial solutions. The dissolvable valve member can be formed from a fluid soluble glass or a starch based material.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. A valve assembly configured to employ with a urinary catheter, the valve assembly comprising:
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a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end and defining a fluid channel and a central chamber, the inlet end dimensioned to releasably receive an outlet end of the urinary catheter; and a dissolvable valve member positioned to prevent flow through the channel in its undissolved state, the dissolvable valve member being formed of a material and being configured with dimensions and in a shape to dissolve and automatically open the flow through the channel following a pre-determined time-period during which the dissolvable valve member is in contact with a preselected fluid. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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27-1. The valve assembly of claim 21, wherein the material is impregnated with a drug that is released into the urinary catheter as the material dissolves.
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30. A method of temporarily blocking a flow of fluid in a urinary catheter, the method comprising:
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locating a dissolvable valve member to block the flow of fluid in the urinary catheter; and selecting the dissolvable valve member with a geometry and a material of construction such that a dissolution of the valve member automatically occurs following a pre-determined time-period during which the dissolvable valve member is in contact with a preselected fluid to remove the blockage. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification