Stopcock

• US 5,578,016 A
• Filed: 07/25/1995
• Issued: 11/26/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Elcam Plastic Kibbutz Bar-Am
• Inventors: Zinger, Freddi
• Primary Examiner(s): Rimell, Sam
• Application Number:
  US08/507,043
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 604/118, 604/167, 604/236, 604/246, 604/247, 604/248, 137/625.12, 137/625.13, 137/625.17, 137/625.18
• US Class Current: 604/248
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/223 Multiway valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/085 with cylindrical plug
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86509 Sequentially progressive opening or closing of plural ports

Abstract

A stopcock comprises a tubular outer body having at least two radial openings being on the same transverse cross-sectional plane of said body; and a hollow core member snugly fitting into said outer body and having a first open end and a second, closed end, said member being connected to or integral with a handle at said second end; said member having at least one radial bore; and being rotatable within said body between a first state in which said bore is in register with a first of said at least two openings and a second state in which said bore is in register with a second of said at least two openings.

Claims

1. A stopcock comprising

a tubular body having a first radial opening and a second radial opening, the radial openings being spaced apart circumferentially and being located in a common plane orthogonal to an axis of the tubular body, and the second radial opening having a diameter larger than the first radial opening;

a hollow core member snugly received within the tubular body for rotation about the axis of the tubular body, the core member defining a lumen having an open end and a closed end, the core member having at least one radial bore located in the common plane of the radial openings in the tubular body and in communication with the lumen, and the lumen and a first bore of the at least one radial bore of the core member having diameters not less than the diameter of the second radial opening of the body; and

handle means affixed to the core member adjacent the closed end of the lumen for rotating the core member between a first position in which a radial bore is in register with the first radial opening and a second position in which said first bore of the at least one radial bore is in register with the second radial opening.

2. A stopcock according to claim 1 wherein the first bore is the sole radial bore and is in register with the first radial opening when the core member is the first position.

3. A stopcock according to claim 1 wherein the first radial opening is associated with a luer connector affixed to the body and is adapted for introduction of a fluid into the lumen for delivery through the open end of the lumen when the core member is in the first position, and wherein the second radial opening is a discharge opening and is adapted for discharge of a fluid received through the open end of the lumen when the core member is in the second position.

4. A stopcock according to claim 1 wherein the at least one radial bore in the core member includes a second bore having a diameter that is not less than the diameter of the first radial opening in the body.