High hysteresis valve

• US 6,712,796 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2000
• Issued: 03/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Fentis
• Original Assignee: Kirk Buhler
• Inventors: Buhler, Kirk, Fentis, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bogart, Michael G.
• Application Number:
  US09/737,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20020077605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 604/65, 604/66, 604/67, 604/93, 604/245-251, 604/253, 604/256, 604/544, 604/323, 251/4-10
• US Class Current: 604/247
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1085 Bladder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16881 Regulating valves on-off valves, e.g. clamps A61M39/28

Abstract

A valve has a flow restrictor positioned outside of a lumen of a tube, which transitions between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The valve further contains a closing mechanism that automatically positions the flow restrictor to the closed configuration when a pressure in a fluid within the lumen is below a low threshold pressure, and an opening mechanism that automatically positions the first flow restrictor to the open configuration when the pressure in the fluid within the lumen is above a high threshold pressure that is higher than the low threshold pressure. The flow restrictor is preferably positioned outside the tube, although it may be positioned inside the wall of the tube, or even within the lumen of the tube. There may also be a second, downstream flow restrictor. The opening and closing mechanisms advantageously comprise a magnet or solenoid. The tube may comprise a catheter, and especially a urinary catheter. In such instances the valve stays shut long enough to provide sufficient pressure to expand the bladder, then stays open long enough to substantially drain the bladder. The process may be entirely automatic, and not dependent upon any external power source.

Claims

1. A valve operable upon a flexible tube defining a lumen, comprising:

a first flow restrictor positioned outside of the lumen, which transitions between an open configuration and a closed configuration;

a closing mechanism that automatically positions the first flow restrictor to the closed configuration when a pressure in a fluid within the lumen is below a low threshold pressure; and

an opening mechanism that automatically positions the first flow restrictor to the open configuration when the pressure in the fluid within the lumen is above a high threshold pressure that is higher than the low threshold pressure.

2. The valve of claim 1 wherein the first flow restrictor is positioned outside the tube.

3. The valve of claim 1 wherein the fluid flows within the lumen to define an upstream and a downstream, and further comprising a second flow restrictor downstream of the first flow restrictor.

4. The valve of claim 3 wherein the first flow restrictor and the second flow restrictor are contained within a single housing.

5. The valve of claim 1 wherein the closing mechanism comprises a magnet.

6. The valve of claim 1 wherein the closing mechanism comprises a solenoid.

7. The valve of claim 6 wherein the solenoid closes the valve in a time-dependent manner.

8. The valve of claim 6 wherein the solenoid closes the valve in a flow-dependent manner.

9. The valve of claim 6 wherein the solenoid closes the valve in a pressure dependent manner.

10. A drainage system comprising the valve of claim 1, wherein the tube is a catheter.

11. The drainage system of claim 10 wherein the catheter comprises a urinary catheter.