Luer-activated valve
First Claim
1. A normally closed valve that may be opened upon insertion of a nozzle, the valve comprising:
- a housing including;
an inlet housing portion defining an inlet section of a fluid passageway, andan outlet housing portion defining an outlet section of the fluid passageway, the inlet and outlet housing portions being connected so as to permit fluid communication between the inlet and outlet sections of the fluid passageway,the housing further defining a valving chamber, the valving chamber forming a middle section of the fluid passageway between the inlet section and the outlet section;
an actuateable valve element, located in the valving chamber, that in a first position blocks flow through the passageway, and that in a second position permits flow through the passageway; and
an actuator, disposed adjacent the actuateable valve element and the inlet section, for urging the actuateable valve element into the second position when the nozzle is inserted into the inlet section, the actuator including;
a perimeter wall, the perimeter wall having an inlet end disposed away from the valve element and an outlet end disposed towards the valve element, the perimeter wall defining an interior actuator path, and the perimeter wall and the housing defining an exterior actuator path,means for permitting flow from the nozzle to the exterior actuator path, wherein the means includes means for maintaining a space between the perimeter wall'"'"'s interior surface and the nozzle'"'"'s exterior surface, andmeans, disposed on the perimeter wall'"'"'s outlet end, for permitting flow from the interior actuator path to the valving chamber.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A normally closed valve that may be opened upon insertion of a nozzle, wherein an actuator that engages the nozzle is shaped to enhance the ability to flush thoroughly the interior volume of the valve, which includes a valving chamber. Located in the valving chamber is an actuateable valve element that, in a first position, blocks flow through the passageway passing through the housing and that, in a second position, permits flow through the passageway. The actuator, which has a perimeter wall, is disposed adjacent the actuateable valve element. The inlet end of the actuator engages the nozzle when the nozzle is inserted into the valve, and the actuator urges the actuateable valve element into the second position when the nozzle pushes on the actuator. The perimeter wall may define an interior actuator path passing through the inside of the actuator. An exterior actuator path passes between the perimeter wall and the housing. The actuator includes structures for permitting flow from the nozzle to the exterior actuator path, and in a preferred embodiment, structures disposed on the perimeter wall'"'"'s outlet end permit flow from the interior actuator path to the valving chamber. The actuator preferably further includes a structure, disposed within the perimeter wall, for restricting flow through the interior actuator path. This structure for restricting flow preferably includes a transverse wall mounted to and within the perimeter wall. Protrusions on the exterior of the perimeter wall may be used to keep the actuator centered in the valve.
150 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A normally closed valve that may be opened upon insertion of a nozzle, the valve comprising:
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a housing including; an inlet housing portion defining an inlet section of a fluid passageway, and an outlet housing portion defining an outlet section of the fluid passageway, the inlet and outlet housing portions being connected so as to permit fluid communication between the inlet and outlet sections of the fluid passageway, the housing further defining a valving chamber, the valving chamber forming a middle section of the fluid passageway between the inlet section and the outlet section; an actuateable valve element, located in the valving chamber, that in a first position blocks flow through the passageway, and that in a second position permits flow through the passageway; and an actuator, disposed adjacent the actuateable valve element and the inlet section, for urging the actuateable valve element into the second position when the nozzle is inserted into the inlet section, the actuator including; a perimeter wall, the perimeter wall having an inlet end disposed away from the valve element and an outlet end disposed towards the valve element, the perimeter wall defining an interior actuator path, and the perimeter wall and the housing defining an exterior actuator path, means for permitting flow from the nozzle to the exterior actuator path, wherein the means includes means for maintaining a space between the perimeter wall'"'"'s interior surface and the nozzle'"'"'s exterior surface, and means, disposed on the perimeter wall'"'"'s outlet end, for permitting flow from the interior actuator path to the valving chamber.
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2. A normally closed valve that may be opened upon insertion of a nozzle, the valve comprising:
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a housing including; an inlet housing portion defining an inlet section of a fluid passageway, wherein the inlet section is shaped to receive the nozzle, and an outlet housing portion defining an outlet section of the fluid passageway, the inlet and outlet housing portions being connected so as to permit fluid communication between the inlet and outlet sections of the fluid passageway, the housing further defining a valving chamber, the valving chamber forming a middle section of the fluid passageway between the inlet section and the outlet section; an actuateable valve element, located in the valving chamber, that in a first position blocks flow through the passageway, and that in a second position permits flow through the passageway; and an actuator, disposed adjacent the actuateable valve element and the inlet section, for urging the actuateable valve element into the second position when the nozzle is inserted into the inlet section, the actuator including; a perimeter wall, the perimeter wall having an inlet end disposed away from the valve element and an outlet end disposed towards the valve element, the perimeter wall defining an interior actuator path, and the perimeter wall and the housing defining an exterior actuator path, means for permitting flow from the nozzle to the exterior actuator path, means, disposed within the perimeter wall, for restricting flow through the interior actuator path, and means, disposed on the perimeter wall'"'"'s outlet end, for permitting flow from the interior actuator path to the valving chamber. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An actuator for opening a valve element in a normally closed valve upon insertion of a nozzle into a valve input, the actuator comprising:
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a perimeter wall, the perimeter wall having an inlet end disposed away from the valve element and an outlet end disposed towards the valve element, the perimeter wall forming a barrier between an interior actuator path, located within the perimeter wall, and an exterior actuator path, located outside of the perimeter wall; means for permitting flow from the nozzle to the exterior actuator path, wherein the means includes means for maintaining a space between the perimeter wall'"'"'s interior surface and the nozzle'"'"'s exterior surface; and means, disposed on the perimeter wall'"'"'s outlet end, for permitting flow from the interior actuator path past the valve element.
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24. An actuator for opening a valve element in a normally closed valve upon insertion of a nozzle into the valve'"'"'s input, the actuator comprising:
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a perimeter wall, the perimeter wall having an inlet end disposed away from the valve element and an outlet end disposed towards the valve element, the perimeter wall forming a barrier between an interior actuator path, located within the perimeter wall, and an exterior actuator path, located outside of the perimeter wall; means for permitting flow from the nozzle to the exterior actuator path; means, disposed within the perimeter wall, for restricting flow through the interior actuator path; and means, disposed on the perimeter wall'"'"'s outlet end, for permitting flow from the interior actuator path past the valve element. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A normally closed valve that may be opened upon insertion of a nozzle, the valve comprising:
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a housing including; an inlet housing portion defining an inlet section of a fluid passageway, and an outlet housing portion defining an outlet section of the fluid passageway, the inlet and outlet housing portions being connected so as to permit fluid communication between the inlet and outlet sections of the fluid passageway, the housing further defining a valving chamber, the valving chamber forming a middle section of the fluid passageway between the inlet section and the outlet section; an actuateable valve element, located in the valving chamber, that in a first position blocks flow through the passageway, and that in a second position permits flow through the passageway; and an actuator, separably moveable with respect to the actuateable valve element and disposed adjacent the actuateable valve element and the inlet section, for urging the actuateable valve element into the second position, when the nozzle is inserted into the inlet section, the actuator including; a perimeter wall, the perimeter wall having an inlet end disposed away from the valve element and an outlet end disposed towards the valve element, the perimeter wall and the housing defining an exterior actuator path, means for permitting flow from the nozzle to the exterior actuator path, and means, located within and attached to the perimeter wall, for urging flow from the nozzle to the exterior path. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A normally closed valve that may be opened upon insertion of a nozzle, the valve comprising:
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a housing including an inlet housing portion defining an inlet section of a fluid passageway, wherein the inlet section is shaped to receive the nozzle, and an outlet housing portion defining an outlet section of the fluid passageway, the inlet and outlet housing portions being connected so as to permit fluid communication between the inlet and outlet sections of the fluid passageway, the housing further defining a valving chamber, the valving chamber forming a middle section of the fluid passageway between the inlet section and the outlet section, an actuateable valve element, located in the valving chamber, that in a first position blocks flow through the passageway, and that in a second position permits flow through the passageway; and an actuator, separably moveable with respect to the actuateable valve element and disposed adjacent the actuateable valve element and the inlet section, for urging the actuateable valve element into the second position, when the nozzle is inserted into the inlet section, the actuator including; a perimeter wall, the perimeter wall having an inlet end disposed away from the valve element and an outlet end disposed towards the valve element, the perimeter wall and the housing defining an exterior actuator path, means for permitting flow from the nozzle to the exterior actuator path, and means, located within the perimeter wall, for urging flow from the nozzle to the exterior path, wherein the means includes a transverse wall mounted to and within the perimeter wall. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. An actuator for opening a valve element in a normally closed valve upon engagement by a nozzle into a valve input, the actuator comprising:
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a perimeter wall, the perimeter wall having an inlet end disposed away from the valve element and an outlet end disposed towards the valve element, the perimeter wall having an interior and an exterior; a transverse wall, mounted to and within the perimeter wall, for urging flow from the nozzle past the interior of the perimeter wall around the inlet end of the perimeter wall; and means for maintaining a space between the nozzle and the transverse wall so as to permit flow from the nozzle to the inlet end of the perimeter wall. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
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43. A normally closed valve that may be opened upon insertion of a nozzle, the valve comprising:
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a housing including; an inlet housing portion defining an inlet section of a fluid passageway, and an outlet housing portion defining an outlet section of the fluid passageway, the inlet and outlet housing portions being connected so as to permit fluid communication between the inlet and outlet sections of the fluid passageway, the housing further defining a valving chamber, the valving chamber forming a middle section of the fluid passageway between the inlet section and the outlet section; an actuateable valve element, located in the valving chamber, that in a first position blocks flow through the passageway, and that in a second position permits flow through the passageway; an actuator for urging the actuateable valve element into the second position, when the nozzle is inserted into the inlet section, the actuator including a perimeter wall, the perimeter wall and the housing defining an exterior actuator path; means for permitting flow from the nozzle to the exterior actuator path, wherein the means includes means for maintaining a space between perimeter wall'"'"'s interior surface and the nozzle'"'"'s exterior surface; and means, located in the exterior actuator path, for centering the actuator in the inlet section. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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Specification