Medical suction valve

• US 7,318,814 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2002
• Issued: 01/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Levine, Andy H., Tremaglio, Anthony R., May, Eric E.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAM, ANN Y
• Application Number:
  US10/216,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20020188175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,982 Days
• Field of Search: 604 33- 36, 604/30, 604/93.01, 604/95.04, 604/95.05, 604/164.01, 604/167.01, 604/167.02, 604/167.03, 604/264, 604/523, 604/38, 604/27, 604/95.01, 604/95.02, 604/164.11, 604/164.13, 604/167.05, 604/533, 604/534, 604/535, 604/537, 604/284, 604/167.04, 137/109, 137/111, 137/142, 137/246, 137/246.11, 137/246.21, 137/246.22, 137/247.11, 137/247.13, 137/247.27, 137/247.29, 137/494, 137/495, 137/625, 137/625.25, 137/629.26, 137/625.67, 137/625.68, 137/625.69
• US Class Current: 604/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00135 Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00195 with eyepieces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/12 with cooling or rinsing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3445 used as instrument channel for multiple instruments catheters A61B2017/22072
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/7413 by changing the cross-section of the line
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/743 by changing the cross-section of the line, e.g. flow regulating valves A61M1/7413 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/774 Handpieces specially adapted for providing suction as well as irrigation, either simultaneously or independently
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/262 with a transverse bore in the valve member

Abstract

A valve assembly includes a housing defining an aperture, a passageway, and a branch passage. The branch passage extends from the aperture and intersects and communicates with the passageway. The branch passage is disposed at an angle greater than 90 degrees with respect to the passageway. A piston is disposed at least partially within the branch passage and is movable from a first position to a second position. The piston allows communication between the passageway and the aperture when the piston is in the first position, and the piston blocks communication between the passageway and the aperture when the piston is in the second position. An angled seal may be positioned around the piston.

Claims

1. A sheath assembly for use with an endoscopic medical device, comprising:

a valve assembly comprising;

a housing defining;

an aperture,

a passageway that extends substantially linearly from a first opening to a second opening that opposes the first opening, and

a branch passage extending from the aperture and being in fluid communication and intersecting with the passageway at a location between the first and second openings and at an angle greater than 90 degrees with respect to the passageway;

a component defining an opening therethrough and disposed at least partially within the branch passage, the component interrupting the branch passage such that the branch passage includes at least two sections, the opening of the component and the at least two sections forming a substantially straight-through and continuous pathway and allowing communication between the aperture and the pathway; and

a seal around the component; and

a flexible sheath extending from the passageway and for passing over at least a portion of the endoscopic medical device.

2. The sheath assembly of claim 1 wherein the component is movable from an open position to a closed position to open and close the branch passageway.

3. The sheath assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a connector to allow coupling of the endoscopic medical device to the second opening.

4. The sheath assembly of claim 1 wherein the sheath is translucent or transparent.

5. The sheath assembly of claim 1 wherein the sheath comprises an outer wall defining a channel through the sheath for receiving at least a portion of the endoscopic medical device, the outer wall capable of conducting light.

6. The sheath assembly of claim 1, further comprising a pull wire for producing a curvature of the flexible sheath when actuated.

7. The sheath assembly of claim 1, wherein the sheath includes at least one internal divider defining at least two channels within the sheath.

8. The sheath assembly of claim 1 wherein the sheath further includes at least one internal divider defining at least two channels within the sheath.

9. The sheath assembly of claim 8 further comprising a pull wire for producing a curvature of the sheath when actuated.

10. The sheath assembly of claim 9 wherein the pull wire extends through at least one of the channels.

11. The sheath assembly of claim 1 wherein the sheath defines an irrigation channel.

12. A medical assembly, comprising:

a valve housing for use in a medical procedure, the valve housing having a first, substantially linear, passageway in communication with at least first and second opposing openings in the housing, the housing also having a second passageway that is in fluid communication with and intersects the first passageway at a location between the first and second openings and at an oblique angle with respect to the first, substantially linear passageway, the second passageway being in communication with a third opening in the housing, the valve housing also including a user operated component for opening and closing the second passageway, the user operated component being located at least partially within the second passageway and being configured to close the second passageway when the component is located at a first position, the component defining an opening that forms part of a pathway from the first opening to the third opening when the component is at a second position, the component being biased toward the first position, the component including a piston; and

a sheath extending from the first opening, the sheath being in communication with the first passageway and having at least one internal divider defining at least two channels within the sheath.

13. The medical assembly of claim 12, wherein the housing includes at least one port in communication with the first passageway.

14. The medical assembly of claim 12, wherein the valve housing includes a connector configured for coupling of an endoscopic medical device to the second opening.

15. The medical assembly of claim 12, wherein the sheath is translucent or transparent.

16. The medical assembly of claim 12, further comprising a pull wire for producing a curvature of the sheath.

17. The medical assembly of claim 12, wherein the sheath defines an irrigation channel.

18. A medical assembly, comprising:

valve housing for use in a medical procedure, the valve housing having a first, substantially linear, passageway in communication with at least first and second opposing openings in the housing, the housing also having a second passageway that is in fluid communication with and intersects the first passageway at an oblique angle with respect to the first, substantially linear passageway, the second passageway being in communication with a third opening in the housing, the valve housing also including user actuated means for opening and closing the second passageway at a location at least partially within the second passageway, the user actuated means defining an opening that forms part of a substantially linear pathway from the first opening to the third opening when the second passageway is opened by the user actuated means; and

a flexible sheath extending from the first opening in and being in communication with the first passageway.

19. The medical assembly of claim 18, wherein the sheath is translucent or transparent.

20. The medical assembly of claim 18, further comprising a pull wire for producing a curvature of the sheath.

21. The medical assembly of claim 18, wherein the sheath includes at least one internal divider defining at least two channels within the sheath.

22. The medical assembly of claim 18, wherein the sheath defines an irrigation channel.

23. The medical assembly of claim 18, further comprising means for coupling an elongated medical device to the second opening of the valve housing such that the housing receives the elongated medical device.

24. The medical assembly of claim 18, wherein the elongated medical device includes an endoscope.