Multiway valve

• US 7,469,716 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2003
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Original Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Parrino, Andrea, Bulgarelli, Cesare
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle; Stephen M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rost; Andrew J
• Application Number:
  US10/525,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20060005886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,974 Days
• Field of Search: 137/556, 137/553, 137/625.19, 137/625.46, 137/625.47, 137/559
• US Class Current: 137/556
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/28 Peritoneal dialysis ; Other peritoneal treatment, e.g. oxygenation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/223 Multiway valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8275 Indicator element rigidly carried by the movable element whose position is indicated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8359 Inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86863 Rotary valve unit

Abstract

What is provided is a flow shut-off element, particularly for use in the medical field of peritoneal dialysis, consisting of a valve body (2) having an inner cavity (3) and a plurality of accesses (4, 5, 6); a selector having a projecting portion inserted into the inner cavity of the valve body and movable relatively to the latter into a predetermined number of operating positions to create predetermined paths in which the fluid flow is permitted and/or shut off between the said accesses. Also provided is an auxiliary element interposed in a removable way between the valve body and the selector, this element having positioning means to enable an operator to determine when one of the said predetermined operating positions of the selector has been reached.

Claims

1. A flow shut-off element comprising:

a valve body having an inner cavity and a plurality of accesses communicating with said inner cavity configured to allow a flow of fluid, said valve body having an inner perimetric wall forming said inner cavity;

a selector movable relative to said valve body into a predetermined number of operating positions, said selector being active in said inner cavity to form, as a result of movements into said operating positions, predetermined paths in which the fluid flow is permitted or shut off between said accesses, said selector comprising a projecting portion configured to be inserted, in operating conditions, into the inner cavity of said valve body, relative movements of said selector with respect to said valve body causing different operating positions to be reached, said projecting portion being inserted in a fluid-tight way into the inner cavity of the valve body;

said selector having at least one aperture;

said selector having a circular ring essentially coaxial with said projecting portion;

an auxiliary element associated with said valve body and made in the form of an independent body, said auxiliary element being essentially discoid in shape and having a central through cavity, said inner perimetric wall passing through said central through cavity, said auxiliary element having a surface facing said selector, said surface having predetermined visual representations, said representations including at least one of graphic symbols, alphanumeric indications, or cobra relating to the paths in which the fluid flow is shut off or permitted between said accesses, wherein different relative positions of mid selector with respect to said valve body provide visual access through said aperture to corresponding visual representations of said surface; and

positioning means configured to enable an operator to determine when one of said predetermined operating positions of said selector has been reached, wherein reaching one of mid predetermined operating positions is indicated by a snap fitting of a catch into a corresponding notch, said positioning means being configured to permit a relative rotation of said selector with respect to said valve body in only one direction;

said positioning means being arranged in said central through cavity; and

said positioning means being operative between said auxiliary element and said circular ring.

2. The flow shut-off element of claim 1, wherein said positioning means includes a predetermined number of catches or notches located on said circular ring and at least one corresponding catch or notch located on said auxiliary element, said at least one corresponding catch or notch on the auxiliary element being configured to be engaged in at least one of said predetermined number of notches or catches of the circular ring, to perceive when said predetermined operating positions of said selector have been reached.

3. The flow shut-off element of claim 1, wherein said positioning means includes an elastic element having a locking catch, said elastic element being located on said auxiliary element, said locking catch being designed to interact with corresponding notches present in said circular ring.

4. The flow shut-off element of claim 3, wherein said locking catch is positioned at a free end of said elastic element.

5. The flow shut-off element of claim 3, wherein said elastic element has an essentially curved axis of extension.

6. The flow shut-off element of claim 1, wherein said circular ring and said projecting portion defines an engagement cavity for receiving said valve body.

7. The flow shut-off element of claim 6, wherein an upper portion of said perimetric wall is inserted and guided in its movement by said engagement cavity.

8. The flow shut-off element of claim 1, wherein said positioning means comprise a stop projection to form a mechanical stop to the movement of said selector.

9. The flow shut-off element of claim 1, wherein said positioning means comprise an elastic element having a locking catch, said elastic element being located on said auxiliary element, said locking catch being designed to interact with corresponding notches present in said circular ring;

said positioning means comprising a stop projection to form a mechanical stop to the movement of said selector;

said locking catch and said stop projection projecting radially towards a center of said central through cavity of said auxiliary element.

10. The flow shut-off element of claim 1, wherein said projecting portion of said selector has an essentially cylindrical shape and is at least partially shaped to be complementary to said inner cavity of said valve body.

11. The flow shut-off element of claim 1, wherein said selector is movable with respect to said valve body about an axis of rotation, said projecting portion having an axis of extension coinciding with the axis of rotation.

12. The flow shut-off element of claim 1, wherein said projecting portion includes predetermined channels configured to interact with said accesses formed in said valve body to create different fluid paths within said flow shut-off element according to the relative positions of said selector with respect to said valve body.

13. The flow shut-off element of claim 1, wherein said valve body includes at least a first, a second, and a third access for the fluid, said selector being capable of switching between a condition in which the flow of fluid is prevented, a condition in which fluid flows from the third access to the second access, a condition in which fluid flows from the first access to the second access, and a condition in which fluid flows from the first access to the third access.

14. The flow shut-off element of claim 1, wherein said selector has a grip portion to enable a user to rotate it with respect to said valve body.

15. The flow shut-off element of claim 14, wherein said grip portion is delimited by stiffening ribs extending transversely with respect to an axis of rotation.

16. The flow shut-off element of claim 1, wherein at least one of said selector or said valve body are essentially discoid in shape.

17. The flow shut-off element of claim 1, wherein said valve body has at least one locating block to enable the auxiliary element to be positioned correctly on said valve body.

18. The flow shut-off element of claim 17, wherein said auxiliary element has corresponding notches configured to receive said at least one locating block of the valve body.

19. The flow shut-off element of claim 1, wherein said auxiliary element is removably associated with said valve body.