Stopcocks and methods of manufacture thereof

• US 7,047,994 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2004
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ACIST Medical Systems Incorporated (Bracco SPA)
• Original Assignee: ACIST Medical Systems Incorporated (Bracco SPA)
• Inventors: McPeak, Thomas J., Moon, Jon K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fristoe, Jr., John K.
• Application Number:
  US10/933,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20050035324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 251/309, 251/310, 137/15.24, 264/488, 264/342.R
• US Class Current: 137/15.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/22 Valves or arrangement of valves A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/223 Multiway valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/06 of taps or cocks
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/065 with cylindrical plugs
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/00 Plug valves; Taps or cocks comprising only cut-off apparatus having at least one of the sealing faces shaped as a more or less complete surface of a solid of revolution, the opening and closing movement being predominantly rotary taps of the lift-valve type F16K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/025 Particular coverings or materials
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/045 Particular coverings and materials
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0657 Particular coverings or materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0519 Plug valve

Abstract

A medical stopcock is provided that is constructed and arranged to withstand high pressures and gamma irradiation. The stopcock generally includes a housing and a valve member. The valve member is trapped within the housing so that, when subjected to relatively high pressures, the valve member is unlikely to become separated from the housing. A handle member is attached to the valve member and allows the valve member to be rotated from open to closed positions. In some preferred embodiments, the handle member locks the valve member within the housing, when attached. All of the components are constructed of gamma-stable materials so that the stopcock may be sterilized, in its package, using gamma irradiation.

Claims

1. A method of making a stopcock, comprising:

placing a valve member inside a valve housing; and

gamma-irradiating the stopcock to form a seal between the valve member and the valve housing,

wherein said gamma-irradiating the stopcock causes the valve housing to shrink to form said seal with said valve member.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting a handle to the valve member.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein connecting the handle to the valve member comprises ultrasonically welding the handle to the valve member.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the valve member comprises a stop.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the stop is provided at the end of said valve member extending radially therefrom.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the valve housing has a greater susceptibility to gamma radiation relative to the valve member.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the valve member is gamma-stable.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the valve member has an integrated handle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the valve member comprises a stop.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the stop is provided at the end of said valve member extending radially therefrom.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said gamma-irradiating the stopcock causes said stop to be unable to pass through an interior cavity of said valve housing.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the valve housing has a greater susceptibility to gamma radiation relative to the valve member.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the valve member is gamma-stable.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein connecting the handle to the valve member comprises adhering the handle to the valve member.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the valve housing has a greater susceptibility to gamma radiation relative to the valve member.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the valve member is gamma-stable.

17. A method of making a stopcock, comprising:

providing a valve member of a gamma-stable material, said valve member defining a passage therethrough;

passing a pin through said passage;

over molding a gamma-susceptible material around said valve member with said pin to form a housing around said valve member;

preventing said housing from fusing with said valve member;

removing said pin once said housing has solidified.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said step of preventing said housing from fusing with said valve member comprises molding said housing with an interior dimension greater than a corresponding dimension of said valve member.

19. The method of claim 18 comprising exposing said stopcock to gamma radiation to shrink said interior dimension to be substantially equal to said exterior dimension of said valve member.

20. The method of claim 17 comprising exposing said stopcock to gamma radiation to shrink an interior dimension of said housing to be substantially equal to an exterior dimension of said valve member.

21. A method of making a stopcock, comprising:

placing a valve member inside a valve housing; and

gamma-irradiating the stopcock to form a seal between the valve member and the valve housing,

wherein the valve member comprises a stop, and wherein said gamma-irradiating the stopcock causes said stop to be unable to pass through an interior cavity of said valve housing.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising connecting a handle to the valve member.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein connecting the handle to the valve member comprises ultrasonically welding the handle to the valve member.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the valve member comprises a stop.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the stop is provided at the end of said valve member extending radially therefrom.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the valve housing has a greater susceptibility to gamma radiation relative to the valve member.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the valve member is gamma-stable.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the valve member has an integrated handle.

29. The method of claim 21 wherein connecting the handle to the valve member comprises adhering the handle to the valve member.

30. The method of claim 21 wherein said gamma-irradiating the stopcock causes the valve housing to shrink to form said seal with said valve member.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein the stop is provided at the end of said valve member extending radially therefrom.

32. The method of claim 21, wherein the valve housing has a greater susceptibility to gamma radiation relative to the valve member.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the valve member is gamma-stable.

34. The method of claim 21, wherein the valve housing has a greater susceptibility to gamma radiation relative to the valve member.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the valve member is gamma-stable.