Medical stopcock valve assembly

• US 4,566,480 A
• Filed: 06/14/1984
• Issued: 01/28/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Allan M. Parham
• Original Assignee: Allan M. Parham
• Inventors: Parham, Allan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohan, Alan
• Application Number:
  US06/648,238
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 137/271, 137/625.47, 220/380, 220/352, 604/256, 604/248, 604/249, 604/250, 604/32, 604/33, 604/34, 128/205.24
• US Class Current: 137/271
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/00 Tubes, tube connectors, tube couplings, valves, access sites or the like, specially adapted for medical use for respiratory devices, e.g. tracheal tubes A61M16/00; artificial heart valves A61F2/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/223 Multiway valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/085 with cylindrical plug
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5283 Units interchangeable between alternate locations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86871 Plug

Abstract

An improved medical stopcock valve assembly (10,40,60,80) of the type the valve body (11,111,62) of which has extending fluid-directing tubes (14,16,18,114,116,118,66,68,70,214,216,218) at least some of which have a female Luer lock fitting (30,130,72) adapted to receive a Luer lock cap (32) when not in use, is provided with a blind portion (34,42,44,46,48,52,88,90,92,188,190,192) for receiving and storing a cap (32,132,232) when it is out of use such as during a fluid sampling procedure In one form, the blind portion is formed as a female Luer lock fitting (34'"'"',130,54). Alternatively, recessed blind portions (188,190,192) may be provided for receiving and engaging the outer rim (233) of the cap (232) to sealably enclose the entire cap interior to maintain it sterile. In one embodiment, a blind fitting (34) is formed on the valve body (11). In another embodiment, a modified Luer cap (50) having a blind extension (52) thereon is mounted on a Luer fitting (70) of a valve (60) such that the blind extension (52 ) of the cap (50) can receive and store an out-of-use cap (32). In another embodiment, a cap storage member (84) having plural blind extensions (88,90,92) may be slidably attached to and detached from a valve (80).

Claims

1. In a medical stopcock valve assembly of the type including a valve body having formed therein a plurality of fluid ports, an operating member in said valve body for selectively controlling fluid communication through said valve body between said fluid ports, and at least one closure means having engagement means formed for selective engagement with said valve body at at least one of said fluid ports for closure thereof, the improvement comprising blind closure-receiving means formed integrally on said valve body closed to operative communication with said fluid ports and formed for engagement by a stored closure means having engagement means identical to said at least one closure means to receive and retain said stored closure means for storage thereof when not in portclosing use to prevent loss thereof and to provide ready access thereto for portclosing use when desired.

2. The improvement in a medical stopcock valve assembly according to claim 1 and characterized further in that said at least one closure means constitutes said stored closure means to be received and retained on said blind closure-receiving means.

3. The improvement in a medical stopcock valve assembly according to claim 1 and characterized further in that said stored closure means comprises a cap, said engagement means thereof including a projecting male engaging portion formed thereon for engagement in a mating female member, and said blind closure-receiving means is formed as a tubular female fitting formed integrally on said valve body and adapted for mating receiving engagement with said projecting portion of said stored closure means.

4. The improvement in a medical stopcock valve assembly according to claim 1 and characterized further by plural said blind closure-receiving means on said valve assembly for receiving and retaining plural said stored closure means for ready access to each thereof for use.

7. The improvement in a medical stopcock valve assembly according to claim 1 and characterized further in that said blind closure-receiving means is adapted for sealing said engagement means of said stored closure means for maintaining said engagement means sterile.

15. The improvement in a medical stopcock valve assembly according to claim 7 and characterized further in that said stored closure means comprises a cap having an outer rim and having said engagement means formed interiorly, said blind closure-receiving means including means for sealably engaging said rim.

16. The improvement in a medical stopcock valve assembly according to claim 15 and characterized further in that said sealably engaging means includes means for frictionally engaging snugly said rim.

17. The improvement in a medical stopcock valve assembly according to claim 16 and characterized further in that said rim and said frictionally engaging means respectively have mating tapered surfaces for engagement therebetween.

18. The improvement in a medical stopcock valve assembly according to claim 17 and characterized further in that said engagement means of said stored closure means includes screw thread means formed internally of said cap and a projecting male engaging portion extending interiorly within said cap, said blind closure-receiving means being adapted to sealably enclose the interior of said cap upon engagement therewith.

5. In a medical stopcock valve assembly of the type including a valve body having formed therein a plurality of fluid ports, an operating member in said valve body for selectively controlling fluid communication through said valve body between said fluid ports, and at least one closure means having engagement means formed for selctive engagement with said valve body at at least one of said fluid ports for closure thereof, the improvement comprising a unit having plural blind closure-receiving means each formed for engagement by plural stored closure means having engagement means identical to said at least one closure means to receive and retain said stored closure means for storage thereof when not in port closing use to prevent loss thereof and to provide ready access thereto for portclosing use when desired, and mated affixation means on said unit and said valve body for removable affixation of said unit to said valve body for ready removal following use of said plural stored closure means and replacement thereof with another unit of plural blind closure-receiving means carrying plural stored closure means for use thereof.

6. The improvement in a medical stopcock valve assembly according to claim 5 and characterized further in that said affixation means is adapted for slidable receipt of said unit on and removal of said unit from said valve body.

8. In a medical stopcock valve assembly including an at least three-way-type stopcock valve having a hollow valve body having at least three fluid-directing tubes communicating interiorly with and projecting from said valve body, each of at least one of said tubes having a tubular female fitting, a valve operating member movably disposed interiorly of said valve body for selective movement to control fluid communication through said valve body between said fluid directing tubes, and cap means having a projecting male engaging portion formed thereon for selective engagement in the tubular female fitting for closure of its said fluid-directing tube, the improvement comprising a blind accessory tube formed integrally on said valve body closed to operative communication interiorly with said valve body and said tubes and including a female fitting formed for mated receiving engagement of said projecting portion of said cap means for receiving and retaining it for storage thereof when not in tube-closing use to prevent loss thereof and to provide ready access thereto for tube-closing use when desired.

9. In a medical stopcock valve assembly including an at least three-way-type stopcock valve having a hollow valve body having at least three fluid-directing tubes communicating interiorly with and projecting from said valve body, each of at least one of said tubes having a tubular female fitting, a valve operating member movably disposed interiorly of said valve body for selective movement to control fluid communication through said valve body between said fluid directing tubes, and cap means having a projecting male engaging portion formed thereon for selective engagement in the tubular female fitting for closure of its said fluid-directing tube, the improvement comprising a cap storage member having formed thereon plural blind cap-receiving means formed for engagement by plural stored cap means having male engaging portions identical to said cap means for receiving and retaining them for storage thereof when not in tube-closing use to prevent loss thereof and mated affixation means on said cap storage member and exteriorly on one said tube for detachable receipt of said cap storage member on said one tube for ready access to said stored cap means for tube-closing use when desired and for ready removal of said cap storage member from said one tube following use of said stored cap means for replenishment with other cap means or replacement by another cap storage member with other cap means.

19. The improvement in a medical stopcock valve assembly according to claim 9 and characterized further in that each said stored cap means has an outer rim and has said male engaging portion formed interiorly, each said blind cap-receiving means including means for sealably engaging the rim of one said stored cap means.

20. The improvement in a medical stopcock valve assembly according to claim 19 and characterized further in that said sealably engaging means includes means for frictionally engaging snugly said rim.

21. The improvement in a medical stopcock valve assembly according to claim 20 and characterized further in that said rim and said frictionally engaging means respectively have mating tapered surfaces for engagement therebetween.

22. The improvement in a medical stopcock valve assembly according to claim 21 and characterized further in that said mated affixation means provides sliding receipt and removal of said cap storage member on and off said one tube.

10. A fluid conveying member for use in a medical fluid flow system or the like comprising a tubular portion having a fluid-conveying passageway therethrough, said tubular portion having connection means at the ends of its said fluid-conveying passageway for engagement with other fluid conveying members in fluid communication therewith, at least one closure means of the type having engagement means formed for selective port-closing engagement with a medical stopcock valve assembly, and at least one blind closure-receiving portion formed integrally on said tubular portion out of operative communication with said fluid passageway and having a portion formed for engagement by a stored closure means having engagement means identical to said at least one closure means to receive and retain said stored closure means for storage thereof when not in port-closing use to prevent loss thereof and to provide ready access thereto for tube-closing use when desired.

11. A fluid conveying member for use in a medical fluid flow system according to claim 10 and characterized further in that said stored closure means comprises a cap, said engagement means thereof including a projecting male engaging portion formed thereon for engagement in a mating female member, and said portion of said blind member is formed as a tubular female fitting adapted for mating receiving engagement with said projecting portion of said stored closure means.

13. A fluid conveying member for use in a medical fluid flow system according to claim 10 and characterized further in that said blind closure-receiving means is adapted for sealing said engagement means of said stored closure means for maintaining said engagement means sterile.

14. A fluid conveying member for use in a mdical fluid flow system according to claim 13 and characterized further in that said stored closure means comprises a cap, said engagement means thereof including screw thread means formed internally of said cap and a projecting male engaging portion extending interiorly within said cap, said blind closure-receiving means being adapted to sealably enclose the interior of said cap upon engagement therewith.

23. A fluid conveying member for use in a medical fluid flow system according to claim 10 and characterized further in that said stored closure means comprises a cap having an outer rim and having said engagement means formed interiorly, said blind closure-receiving member including means for sealably engaging said rim.

24. A fluid conveying member for use in a medical fluid flow system according to claim 23 and characterized further in that said sealably engaging means includes means for frictionally engaging snugly said rim.

25. A fluid conveying member for use in a medical fluid flow system according to claim 24 and characterized further in that said rim and said frictionally engaging means respectively have mating tapered surfaces for engagement therebetween.

12. A fluid conveying member for use in a medical fluid flow system or the like comprising a tubular portion having a fluid-conveying passageway therethrough, said tubular portion having connection means at the ends of its said fluid-conveying passageway for engagement with other fluid conveying members in fluid communication therewith, at least one closure means of the type having engagement means formed for selective port-closing engagement with a medical stopcock valve assembly, and a closure storage member on said tubular portion, said closure storage member having plural blind closure-receiving portions formed thereon out of operative communication with said fluid passageway and having respective portions formed for engagement by plural stored closure means having respective engagement means identical to said at least one closure means for receiving and retaining said plural stored closure means for storage thereof when not in port-closing use to prevent loss thereof and to provide ready access thereto for port-closing use when desired, said closure storage member and said tubular portion having mated affixation means formed thereon for sliding receipt of said closure storage member on said tubular portion for ready access to said plural stored closure means for port closing use and for ready sliding removal of said closure storage member from said tubular portion following use of said stored closure means for replenishment with other closure means or replacement by another closure storage member with other closure means stored thereon.

26. A fluid conveying member for use in a medical fluid flow system according to claim 12 and characterized further in that said stored closure means comprise plural caps, each said engagement means thereof including a projecting male engaging portion formed thereon for engagement in a mating female member, and said blind portions are formed as tubular female fittings adapted for mating receiving engagement with said projecting portions of said stored closure means.

27. A fluid conveying member for use in a medical fluid flow system according to claim 12 and characterized further in that said blind closure-receiving portions are adapted for sealing said engagement means of said stored closure means.

28. A fluid conveying member according to claim 27 and characterized further in that each said stored closure means comprises a cap having an outer rim and having said engagement means formed interiorly, each said blind closure-receiving portion including means for sealably engaging said rim.

29. A fluid conveying member according to claim 28 and characterized further in that said sealably engaging means includes means for frictionally engaging snugly said rim.

30. A fluid conveying member according to claim 29 and characterized further in that said rim and said frictionally engaging means respectively have mating tapered surfaces for engagement therebetween.

31. A fluid conveying member for use in a medical fluid flow system according to claim 27 and characterized further in that said stored closure means comprises a cap, said engagement means thereof including a screw thread means formed internally of said cap and a projecting male engaging portion extending interiorly within said cap, said blind closure-receiving means being adapted to sealably enclose the interior of said cap upon engagement therewith.

32. A fluid conveying member for use in a mdical fluid flow system or the like comprising a tubular portion having a fluid-conveying passageway therethrough, said tubular portion having connection means at the ends of its said fluid-conveying passageway for engagement with other fluid conveying members in fluid communication therewith, at least one closure means of the type having engagement means formed for selective port-closing engagement with a medical stopcock valve assembly, and a closure storage member on said tubular portion, said closure storage member having at least one blind closure-receiving portion formed thereon out of operative communication with said fluid passageway and having a portion formed for engagement by a stored closure means having engagement means identical to said at least one closure means to receive and retain said stored closure means for storage thereof when not in port-closing use to prevent loss thereof and to provide ready access thereto for tube-closing use when desired, said closure storage member and said tubular portion having mated affixation means formed thereon for detachable receipt of said closure storage member on said tubular portion for ready access to said stored closure means for port closing use and for ready removal of said closure storage member from said tubular portion following use of said stored closure means for replenishment with other closure means or replacement by another closure storage member with other closure means stored thereon.

33. A fluid conveying member for use in a medical fluid flow system according to claim 32 and characterized further in that said stored closure means comprises a cap, said engagement means thereof including a projecting male engaging portion formed thereon for engagement in a mating female member, and said portion of said blind member is formed as a tubular female fitting adapted for mating receiving engagement with said projecting portion of said stored closure means.

34. A fluid conveying member for use in a medical fluid flow system according to claim 32 and characterized further in that said blind closure-receiving means is adapted for sealing said engagement means of said stored closure means for maintaining said engagement means sterile.

35. A fluid conveying member for use in a medical fluid flow system according to claim 34 and characterized further in that said stored closure means comprises a cap having an outer rim and having said engagement means formed interiorly, said blind closure-receiving member including means for sealably engaging said rim.

36. A fluid conveying member for use in a medical fluid flow system according to claim 35 and characterized further in that said sealably engaging means includes means for frictionally engaging snugly said rim.

37. A fluid conveying member for use in a medical fluid flow system according to claim 34 and characterized further in that said stored closure means comprises a cap, said engagement means thereof including screw thread means formed internally of said cap and a projecting male engaging portion extending interiorly within said cap, said blind closure-receiving means being adapted to sealably enclose the interior of said cap upon engagement therewith.