Stopcock valve

• US 5,755,683 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 05/26/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Houle, Philip R., Larkins, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): MENDEZ, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US08/478,065
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 604/30, 604/246, 604/32-34, 604/248
• US Class Current: 604/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1402 Priming
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/128 with incorporated valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/35 Communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14224 Diaphragm type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16809 by repeated filling and emptying of an intermediate volume pressure infusion using positive displacement pumps A61M5/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16831 Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16877 Adjusting flow; Devices for setting a flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/36 with means for eliminating or preventing injection or infusion of air into body dialysis systems, blood oxygenators A61M1/14; haemofiltration equipment A61M1/34; automatic tube cut-off A61M39/281
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/365 Air detectors A61M5/1684 takes precedence; in extracorporeal blood circuits A61M1/3626
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/043 Micropumps
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/005 Piezoelectric benders
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02433 Gases in liquids, e.g. bubbles, foams
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02836 Flow rate, liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/036 by measuring frequency or resonance of acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/12 by measuring frequency or resonance of acoustic waves measuring frequency or resonant frequency of mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in general G01H1/06, G01H3/04, G01H13/00; acoustic resonators G10K11/04; vibration or shock testing of structures G01M7/00

Abstract

A cassette for controlling the flow of IV fluid from a patient to a source. The cassette preferably includes, along the fluid passage through the cassette, first and second membrane-based valves on either side of a pressure-conduction chamber, and a stopcock-type valve. The stopcock valve is preferably located downstream of the second membrane-based valve, which is preferably located downstream of the pressure-conduction chamber. The stopcock control valve preferably has two rigid cylindrical members with complementary surfaces, wherein one member includes a tapered groove defined on its complementary surface. The two complementary surfaces define a space therebetween, instead of having an interference fit, and a resilient sealing member is disposed in this space. When the first and second rigid members are in an open position with respect to each other, the sealing member defines an aperture through which fluid communication is provided between the fluid-path portions defined respectively by the two rigid members. When the first and second rigid members are in the closed position with respect to each other, the sealing member provides a seal preventing flow between the fluid-path portions. The membrane defining the valving chamber of the second membrane-based valve is preferably large and resilient, so that the valving chamber may provide a supply of pressurized intravenous fluid to the patient, when the valve is closed and the stopcock valve provides a restriction downstream of the valve. The pressure-conduction chamber preferably has a membrane that is stable in the empty-chamber position but relatively unstable in the filled-chamber position.

Claims

1. A stopcock control valve comprising:

a first rigid member having a first surface, the first rigid member defining a first fluid-path portion with a first terminus at the first surface;

a second rigid member having a second surface, the second rigid member defining a second fluid-path portion with a second terminus at the second surface,

wherein the first terminus includes a groove defined on the first surface, the groove tapering from a large cross-sectional area to a small cross-sectional area,

wherein the first and second rigid members are rotatable mounted with respect to each other so as to provide alternately (i) a fully open position (ii) a partially open position and (iii) a closed position, and

wherein the first and second surfaces define a space therebetween;

a resilient sealing member disposed in the space between the first and second surfaces and extending from the second surface to the first surface,

the sealing member defining an aperture positioned to provide in the fully open position fluid communication between the first and second fluid-path portions,

the sealing member being sealingly mounted to the second surface so that in the closed position the sealing member provides a seal preventing flow between the first and second fluid-path portions,

the sealing member being located with respect to the groove to provide in the partially open position fluid communication between the first and second fluid-path portions through the groove as well as the sealing member'"'"'s aperture; and

seal means disposed with respect to the space defined by the first and second surfaces for preventing flow of fluid out of the space except through the first fluid-path portion.

2. A valve according to claim 1, wherein the groove in at least one partially open position extends beyond two sides of the sealing member.

3. A valve according to claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces are circumferential cylindrical surfaces which may be rotated with respect to each other.

4. A valve according to claim 3, wherein the first rigid member is a cylinder and the first surface is an outer circumferential surface of the cylinder, the second rigid member defines a cylindrical hollow area for receiving the first rigid member and the second surface is an inner circumferential surface of the second member.

5. A valve according to claim 4, wherein the seal means includes an O-ring made of resilient material disposed around the second rigid member'"'"'s circumference.

6. A valve according to claim 5, wherein the sealing member and the O-ring are formed from a single integral piece of resilient material.

7. A valve according to claim 6, wherein the first member is connected to a control knob for rotating the first rigid member.

8. A valve according to claim 7, wherein the groove in at least one partially open position extends beyond two sides of the sealing member.

9. A stopcock control valve comprising:

an inner rigid member having an outer circumferential surface, the member defining an inner fluid-path portion with an outer terminus at the outer circumferential surface,

an outer rigid member, which is hollow so as to receive the inner member, the outer member having an inner circumferential surface, the outer member defining an outer fluid-path portion with an inner terminus at the inner circumferential surface, wherein the inner and outer members are rotatable mounted with respect to each other so as to provide alternately (i) an open position and (ii) a closed position, and wherein at least one of the inner and outer termini includes a groove defined on the surface of the corresponding circumferential surface, the groove tapering from a large cross-sectional area to a small cross-sectional area; and

a resilient sealing member, disposed between the inner and outer circumferential surfaces, for preventing flow between the inner and outer fluid-path portions in the closed position, the resilient sealing member defining an aperture for permitting flow between the inner and outer fluid-path portions in the open position.

10. A stopcock control valve comprising:

an inner rigid member having an outer circumferential surface;

an inner fluid-path portion defined by the inner rigid member, the inner fluid-path portion having first terminus at the outer circumferential surface;

an outer rigid member having an inner circumferential surface, wherein the inner and outer rigid members are rotatably mounted with respect to each other and define a space therebetween;

an outer fluid-path portion defined by the outer rigid member, the outer fluid-path portion having a second terminus at the inner circumferential surface;

a groove defined on a first of the inner and outer circumferential surfaces and extending from the corresponding terminus, the groove tapering from a large cross-sectional area at the corresponding terminus to a small cross-sectional area;

a resilient sealing member disposed in the space between the inner and outer rigid members, the sealing member being sealingly mounted to a second of the inner and outer circumferential surfaces for preventing flow between the inner and out fluid-path portions in a closed position;

an aperture defined by the sealing member, the aperture being located to provide fluid communication between the inner and outer fluid-path portions in an open position, the aperture being located with respect to the groove to provide flow through the groove in a partially open position; and

seal means disposed with respect to the space defined by the inner and outer rigid members for preventing flow of fluid out of the space except through the inner and outer fluid-path portions.

11. A valve according to claim 10, wherein the seal means includes an O-ring made of resilient material disposed in the space between the inner and outer rigid members.

12. A valve according to claim 11, wherein the sealing member and the O-ring are formed from a single integral piece of resilient material.

13. A stopcock control valve comprising:

an inner rigid member having an outer circumferential surface;

first means for providing flow through the inner rigid member to a first terminus at the outer circumferential surface;

an outer rigid member having an inner circumferential surface, wherein the inner and outer rigid members are rotatably mounted with respect to each other and define a space therebetween;

second means for providing flow through the outer rigid member to a second terminus at the inner circumferential surface;

third means, defined on the outer circumferential surface and extending from the first terminus, for providing a flow path of varying resistance;

fourth means, located on the inner circumferential surface, for permitting flow between the first and second means in an open position and for permitting flow through the third means in a partially open position;

fifth means, disposed in the space between the inner and outer rigid members, for providing a seal about the fourth means and for preventing flow between the first and second means in an closed position; and

sixth means disposed with respect to the space defined by the inner and outer rigid members for preventing flow of fluid out of the space except through one of the first and second means.

14. A valve according to claim 13, wherein

the third means is a groove tapering from a large cross-sectional area at the first terminus to a small cross-sectional area;

the fourth means is an aperture; and

the fifth means is a resilient sealing member disposed in the space between the inner and outer rigid members and around the aperture.