Low pressure measurement devices in high pressure environments

• US 7,389,788 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2002
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ACIST Medical Systems Incorporated (Bracco SPA)
• Original Assignee: ACIST Medical Systems Incorporated (Bracco SPA)
• Inventors: McPeak, Thomas, Wilson, Robert F., Gabbard, Mark, Duchon, Douglas J., Mohiuddin, Khader
• Primary Examiner(s): Krishnamurthy; Ramesh
• Application Number:
  US10/316,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20030122095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,024 Days
• Field of Search: 137/112, 137/113, 137/843, 137/849, 137/845, 137/846, 137/859, 137/625.4, 604/247, 222/490, 251/331, 251/368
• US Class Current: 137/112
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• 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 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/1402 having an integral flexible member cooperating with a plurality of seating surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/144 the closure elements being fixed along all or a part of their periphery
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/147 the closure elements having specially formed slits or being of an elongated easily collapsible form
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2567 Alternate or successive inflows
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/784 Integral resilient member forms plural valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7843 Integral resilient member forms plural valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7879 Resilient material valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7881 Apertured plate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87676 With flow control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49405 Valve or choke making

Abstract

The present invention presents various novel approaches to solving the problems inherent in measuring biological pressures in high pressure systems. Thus, to protect a pressure transducer exposed to fluid flows at higher pressures than its overpressure rating, a novel valve is used that closes a protected leg in which the transducer is located. The various exemplary embodiments of such valves each have a high pressure input, one or more low pressure inputs, and an output. In operation, when a high pressure fluid flow occurs at a high pressure input, such valves automatically close the low pressure inputs. Alternatively, a novel transducer system is presented, which automatically limits the effective pressure sensed by a transducer to a certain maximum.

Claims

1. A fluid valve comprising:

a first input port;

one or more second input ports;

an output port; and

an elastomeric valve member biased, when there is no liquid flow through the valve, to occlude the first input port from the output port and allow an open path from the one or more second input ports to the output port,

wherein when a liquid at a pressure sufficient to overcome the bias is applied to the first input port, a path from the first input port to the output port opens and any path from a second input port to the output port becomes blocked by at least a portion of the elastomeric valve member, and wherein the liquid comprises a contrast medium.

2. The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve is injection molded in one piece.

3. The valve of claim 1 wherein the bias of the elastomeric valve member is overcome by inducing a change in its shape.

4. The valve of claim 3, wherein there is a minimum cracking pressure necessary for the elastomeric portion to change its shape.

5. The valve of claim 4, wherein the cracking pressure is a function of a durometer and/or an elasticity of the elastomeric portion.

6. The valve of claim 5, wherein variation of the durometer and/or the elasticity allow for specification of the cracking pressure.

7. The valve of claim 1, further comprising:

a first tapered cavity provided in front of the first input port so as to receive fluid flow therefrom; and

a second tapered cavity provided behind the output port so as to provide fluid flow thereto;

wherein the elastomeric valve member comprises an elastomeric disc provided between the first and second tapered cavities.

8. The valve of claim 7, wherein said elastomeric disc has an opening, which opens when a fluid in the first tapered cavity has a certain cracking pressure.

9. The valve of claim 8, wherein said opening comprises one or more slits.

10. The valve of claim 9, wherein said one or more second input ports open into said second tapered cavity.

11. The valve of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric valve member remains biased to occlude the first input port when a liquid applied to the first input port has insufficient pressure to overcome the bias.

12. The valve of claim 4, wherein the minimum cracking pressure is the minimum pressure sufficient to overcome the bias of the elastomeric valve member.

13. A fluid valve, comprising:

a disc bolder;

an elastomeric valve disc with a slit, said elastomeric valve disc being biased to a closed state when there is no liquid flow through the valve;

a valve body;

a first input port;

a set of one or more second input ports; and

an output port;

wherein when the valve disc is in the closed state the first input port is isolated from the output port and the set of second input ports, but at least one of the second input ports has an open path to the output port; and

wherein when a pressure of a liquid that is sufficient to overcome the bias is applied to the first input port, the valve disc changes to an open state to allow an open path from the first input port to the output port, and at least a portion of the valve disc isolates the set of second input ports from the output port and the first input port, wherein the liquid comprises a contrast medium.

14. The valve of claim 13, wherein the elastomeric valve disc with the slit remains biased to the closed state when a pressure insufficient to overcome the bias is applied to the first input port.