Limited backflow reflux valve and method

• US 5,743,872 A
• Filed: 04/29/1997
• Issued: 04/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Liebel-Flarsheim Company (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Liebel-Flarsheim Company (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Kelly, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, CRIS LOIREN
• Application Number:
  US08/841,287
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 604/30, 604/31, 604/37, 604/246, 604/247, 604/249, 604/183, 604/19, 604/27, 604/28, 604/93, 604/118, 137/512, 137/512.3
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7838 Plural

Abstract

A limited backflow reflux valve for connection between a syringe, catheter, and bulk container of injection fluid. The reflux valve permits injection of fluid from the syringe through the catheter into the patient, and also permits refilling of the syringe from the bulk container, without disconnection of any tubing. The reflux valve also permits a limited volume of fluid to backflow from the catheter into the syringe, so that the catheter may be checked for patency, but prevents any further backflow along this path after this limited volume. Therefore, the limited backflow reflux valve not only permits injection through the catheter, but also permits both withdrawal of blood from the patient and refilling of the syringe from the bulk contrast media container, without requiring disconnection of the catheter or other tubing and without risk of contamination of the syringe or introduction of air, increasing the efficiency of the injection process, enhancing safety, and reducing waste of injection fluid.

Claims

1. A method of injecting fluid into a patient, comprising the steps of:

providing a limited backflow reflux valve comprising

a housing,

an inlet port in said housing,

an outlet port in said housing,

a bi-directional port in said housing,

a first check valve permitting fluid flow only into said limited backflow reflux valve housing through said inlet port, and

a second check valve permitting fluid flow from said limited backflow reflux valve housing through said outlet port, and permitting only a predetermined limited volume of fluid to backflow through said outlet port and into said limited backflow reflux valve housing, and preventing any further backflow through said outlet port into said limited backflow reflux valve housing beyond said limited volume,

inserting a catheter into a patient and coupling said catheter to said outlet port,

coupling a bulk container of said fluid to said inlet port,

coupling a syringe to said bi-directional port,

driving a piston in said syringe forwardly to force said fluid from said syringe and into said catheter through said limited backflow reflux valve housing, and

driving said piston in reverse in said syringe to initially extravasate said predetermined limited volume of fluid from said catheter into said limited backflow reflux valve housing, and thereafter draw fluid from said bulk container into said syringe,

said driving steps being performed alternately without disconnection or reconnection of said syringe, catheter or bulk container from said limited backflow reflux valve.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein

said limited backflow reflux valve is provided with a cylindrical housing,

a piston having a circular periphery fitted in said cylindrical housing for translation through said cylindrical housing during forward and reverse flow of fluid through said outlet port to form said second check valve, and

a plunger attached to said piston and extending externally of said cylindrical housing to permit manual translation of said piston through said cylindrical housing to manually inject fluid out of said outlet port, and

said method further comprises the step of manually translating said piston using said plunger to manually inject quantities of fluid out of said outlet port and into said patient.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein

said limited backflow reflux valve is provided with a lock mounted externally to said housing and movable to a first position to permit motion of said plunger within said housing and to a second position to prevent motion of said plunger within said housing,

said method further comprises the step of moving said lock to said first position prior to manually injecting fluid into said patient, and the step of moving said lock to said second position prior to driving said piston in said syringe.

4. A contrast media supply system for use with a powered contrast media injector comprising:

a bulk container of said contrast media,

a limited backflow reflux valve comprising;

a housing, an inlet port in said housing attached to said bulk container of fluid, an outlet port in said housing for attachment to a catheter, a bi-directional port in said housing for attachment to a syringe, a first check valve permitting fluid flow only from said bulk container into said limited backflow reflux valve housing through said inlet port, and a second check valve permitting fluid flow from said limited backflow reflux valve housing through said outlet port into said catheter, and permitting only a predetermined limited volume of fluid to backflow from said syringe through said outlet port and into said limited backflow reflux valve housing, and preventing any further backflow through said outlet port into said limited backflow reflux valve housing beyond said limited volume,

whereby said powered injector may be operated forwardly to drive fluid from said syringe and into said catheter through said limited backflow reflux valve, and said power injector may be operated in reverse to initially extravasate fluid from said catheter into said limited backflow reflux valve housing and thereafter draw fluid from said bulk container into said syringe, such that fluid may be injected into said patient and said syringe may be subsequently refilled without disconnection or reconnection of said syringe, catheter or bulk container.

5. A fluid injection system for injecting fluid comprising:

a power injector having mounted thereon a syringe for holding and pressurizing said fluid,

a catheter for insertion into said patient for delivery of said fluid to said patient,

a bulk container of said fluid,

a limited backflow reflux valve comprising;

a housing, an inlet port in said housing attached to said bulk container of fluid, an outlet port in said housing attached to said catheter, a bi-directional port in said housing coupled to said syringe, a first check valve permitting fluid flow only from said bulk container into said limited backflow reflux valve housing through said inlet port, and a second check valve permitting fluid flow from said limited backflow reflux valve housing through said outlet port into said catheter, and permitting only a predetermined limited volume of fluid to backflow from said syringe through said outlet port and into said limited backflow valve housing, and preventing any further backflow through said outlet port into said limited backflow reflux valve housing beyond said limited volume,

whereby said power injector may be operated forwardly to drive fluid from said syringe and into said catheter through said limited backflow reflux valve, and said power injector may be operated in reverse to initially extravasate fluid from said catheter into said limited backflow reflux valve and thereafter draw fluid from said bulk container into said syringe, such that fluid may be injected into said patient and said syringe may be subsequently refilled without disconnection or reconnection of said syringe, catheter or bulk container.