DISPOSABLE SUCTION VALVE FOR AN ENDOSCOPE

• US 20130338442A1
• Filed: 11/30/2011
• Published: 12/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medivators, Inc. (Steris PLC)
• Original Assignee: Medivators, Inc. (Steris PLC)
• Inventors: Adams, Christopher Steven, Byrne, Don, Anderson, Bob
• Granted Patent: US 9,585,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/154
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00068 Valve switch arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00094 Suction openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0011 Manufacturing of endoscope parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49412 with assembly, disassembly or composite article making

Abstract

A disposable suction valve is provided. In some embodiments, the disposable suction valve may include a stem providing an air passage through the stem, a spring, a spring stanchion cup, and a boot. A method for manufacturing a disposable suction valve may include several steps. A stem and spring stanchion cup are molded, and a bottom end of the stem is placed through the center of a spring. The bottom end of the stem is placed through a stem opening in the spring stanchion cup, and the tabs or the spring stanchion cup are placed into recessed apertures of the stem. The boot may be over-molded on the spring stanchion cup or molded and placed onto the spring stanchion cup.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a disposable suction valve comprising:

molding a stem;

molding a spring stanchion;

placing a bottom end of the stem through the center of a spring;

placing the bottom end of the stem through a stem opening in the spring stanchion; and

placing tabs of the spring stanchion into recessed apertures of the stem.

2. A method of claim 1 further comprising:

molding a spring stanchion, and over-molding the boot on the spring stanchion or over-molding a boot onto the spring stanchion.

3. A method of claim 2, wherein (i) the stem is color coded or (ii) a sealing ledge on the boot creates a seal against a button head of the stem.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein (i) the stem provides an O-ring or an alternate sealing device to assure an air-tight seal within a suction port or (ii) the stem provides a sealing means to assure an air-tight seal within a suction port or the stem.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein (i) the stem has a diameter that assures an air-tight seal within a suction port or (ii) a length of the stem is reduced.

6. A suction valve assembly comprising:

a stem comprising a first opening disposed along a longitudinal axis of the stem, and a second opening disposed transverse to the first opening, the first and second openings for allowing passage of air and/or fluid;

a spring stanchion comprising at least one recess and/or projection configured to attach to the stem;

the spring stanchion comprising an opening configured to receive the stem and allow movement of the stem in an upward and downward position relative to the spring stanchion; and

a spring configured to contact the spring stanchion and the stem.

7. A suction valve assembly according to claim 6, further comprising a boot configured to be attached to the spring stanchion and stem and configured to be contacted by the stem when the stem is moved in a downward position.

8. A suction valve assembly according to claim 6, further comprising a boot configured to be attached to the spring stanchion and to be contacted by the stem when the stem is moved in a downward position.

9. A suction valve assembly according to claim 6, wherein the spring stanchion further comprising a boot configured to be attached to the spring stanchion and to be contacted by the stem when the stem is moved in a downward position.

10. A suction valve assembly according to claim 6, wherein the at least one recess and/or projection of the spring stanchion comprises a tab and the stem is configured to slidably receive the tab and the stem being movable in a downward position on application of downward pressing force.

11. A suction valve assembly according to claim 6, wherein the opening in the spring stanchion is disposed in a center of the spring stanchion and the spring stanchion comprises a ledge to receive a first end of the spring and the stem comprises a ledge to receive the second end of the spring.

12. A suction valve assembly according to claim 6, wherein (i) the at least one recess and/or projection comprises a cutout configured to lock the stem to the spring stanchion;

and (ii) the suction valve assembly comprises a stem insert disposed in the first opening of the stem, the stem insert configured to prevent air passage out of the first opening.

13. A suction valve assembly according to claim 8, wherein the boot comprises a ledge configured to receive a button head portion of the stem to provide an air tight seal when the top portion of the stem contacts the ledge of the boot.

14. A suction valve assembly according to claim 6, wherein (i) the stem comprises a plurality of points at one end, and a top portion or a button head at an opposite end configured to be contacted by a finger;

(ii) the stem comprises a projection comprising a sealing member to assure a proper seal within a suction port of a medical device; and

(iii) the stem comprises an O-ring attached thereto to assure a proper seal within a suction port of a medical device.

15. A suction valve assembly according to claim 6, wherein the stem, and spring stanchion comprise disposable thermoplastic material.

16. A suction valve assembly according to claim 8, wherein the stem has a diameter that is concentric to the diameter of the boot to assure an airtight seal within a suction port of a medical device.

17. A suction valve assembly according to claim 6, wherein the first opening contacts the second opening, and when the stem is pressed in a downward direction, the second opening aligns with a suction channel of a medical instrument and allows passage of air and/or fluid to a suction connection.

18. A suction valve assembly according to claim 16, wherein the medical instrument comprises an endoscope.

19. A suction valve assembly according to claim 6, wherein the suction valve assembly is disposable.

20. A suction valve assembly according to claim 6, wherein the suction valve assembly is used in an endoscopic procedure.