Press-down valve for medical instruments for suction and irrigation

• US 7,484,709 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2006
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Original Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Inventors: Efinger, Andreas, Riedmuller, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Bastianelli; John
• Application Number:
  US11/471,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20070007479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 251/149.9, 251/89.5, 251/95, 604/164.01, 604/167.01, 604/167.03, 604245-250
• US Class Current: 251/89.5
• 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 1/772 operating alternately
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/774 Handpieces specially adapted for providing suction as well as irrigation, either simultaneously or independently
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/85 with gas or fluid supply means, e.g. for supplying rinsing fluids or anticoagulants for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92, A61M1/94; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463; dental instruments with combined rinsing and aspirating A61C17/0208
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/225 Flush valves, i.e. bypass valves for flushing line

Abstract

A press-down valve is provided for medical instruments for suction and irrigation and a medical instrument having installed such a press-down valve. A valve stem is pressed permanently into a closure position via a pretensioned spring. For actuation, the valve stem is moved counter to the force of the spring via an actuation element, and, after release, the spring presses the valve stem back into the closure position. A catch mechanism is provided by means of which the valve stem can be locked in the open position only when the press-down valve has been removed from the medical instrument, and that, when it is installed in the medical instrument, the catch mechanism is automatically released and remains released.

Claims

1. A press-down valve for mounting in a medical instrument for suction and irrigation, comprising

a valve stem;

a pretensioned spring permanently pressing said valve stem into a closure position closing a flow through said valve;

an actuation element which can be activated by one hand and by means of which said valve stem can be moved counter to a force of said spring into an open position, and, after release of said actuation element, said valve stem is moved into said closure position; and

wherein a catch mechanism is provided by means of which said valve stem can be locked in said open position only when said press-down valve has been removed from said medical instrument, and, when said press-down valve is installed in said medical instrument, said catch mechanism is automatically released and remains released.

2. The press-down valve of claim 1, wherein said catch mechanism comprises at least one catch operatively connected to a blocking element by means of which said catch being blocked against locking engagement with that valve stem, if said press-down valve is mounted in said medical instrument.

3. The press-down valve of claim 2, wherein said catch of said catch mechanism, in a state said press-down valve is removed from said medical instrument, can be brought into a catch position by a single activation of said actuation element.

4. The press-down valve of claim 3, wherein said catch is operatively connected to a release element by means of which said catch can be released.

5. The press-down valve of claim 4, wherein said release element is designed in such a way that, upon installation of said press-down valve into said medical instrument, it releases said catch and leaves it permanently in said released position.

6. The press-down valve of claim 5, wherein said release element and said blocking element are formed by one component part.

7. The press-down valve of claim 2, wherein said blocking element is acted on by a spring force in a direction of a non-blocking position.

8. The press-down valve of claim 7, wherein said catch is designed as an elastically resilient element which comes into a blocking engagement with an engagement part of said valve stem, as long as said catch is freed from said blocking element and said valve stem is moved into said open position.

9. The press-down valve of claim 8, wherein said blocking element is designed as an axially extending, spring-loaded pin.

10. The press-down valve of claim 9, wherein said catch is designed as a radially resilient element.

11. The press-down valve of claim 10, wherein a pin has, at an end directed towards to said resilient element, a bevel which comes into engagement with said radially resilient element upon release of said catch.

12. The press-down valve of claim 11, wherein said pin is designed as a pin arranged on an outer face of said valve body.

13. The press-down valve of claim 10, wherein said resilient element is designed as a radially inwardly pretensioned bar spring.

14. The press-down valve of claim 13, wherein a groove is formed in said valve stem, said radially pretensioned bar spring being able to be moved into blocking engagement into said groove.

15. The press-down valve of claim 1, wherein said valve stem is received in a valve screw-on piece which has at least two finger molds.

16. The press-down valve of claim 15, wherein an intended contour of said finger molds is designed in such a way that one mold flank is strongly pronounced in a direction of turning out.

17. The press-down valve of claim 16, wherein said mold flank rises further in a radial direction in a direction of turning out than a opposite mold flank does in a direction of turning in.

18. The press-down valve of claim 17, wherein said mold flank merges into a peripheral rounding in a direction of turning in.

19. A medical instrument for suction and irrigation, having a press-down valve comprising

a valve stem;

a pretensioned spring permanently pressing said valve stem into a closure position closing a flow through said valve;

an actuation element which can be activated by one hand and by means of which said valve stem can be moved counter to a force of said spring into an open position, and, after release of said actuation element, said valve stem is moved into said closure position; and

wherein a catch mechanism is provided by means of which said valve stem can be locked in said open position only when said press-down valve has been removed from said medical instrument, and, when said press-down valve is installed in said medical instrument, said catch mechanism is automatically released and remains released.

20. The medical instrument of claim 19, wherein said catch mechanism comprises at least one catch operatively connected to a blocking element by means of which said catch being blocked against locking engagement with that valve stem, if said press-down valve is mounted in said medical instrument.

21. The medical instrument of claim 20, wherein said catch of said catch mechanism, in a state said press-down valve is removed from said medical instrument, can be brought into a catch position by a single activation of said actuation element.

22. The medical instrument of claim 21, wherein said catch is operatively connected to a release element by means of which said catch can be released.

23. The medical instrument of claim 22, wherein said release element is designed in such a way that, upon installation of said press-down valve into said medical instrument, it releases said catch and leaves it permanently in said released position.

24. The medical instrument of claim 23, wherein said release element and said blocking element are formed by one component part.

25. The medical instrument of claim 20, wherein said blocking element is acted on by a spring force in a direction of a non-blocking position.

26. The medical instrument of claim 25, wherein said catch is designed as an elastically resilient element which comes into a blocking engagement with an engagement part of said valve stem, as long as said catch is freed from said blocking element and said valve stem is moved into said open position.

27. The medical instrument of claim 26, wherein said blocking element is designed as an axially extending, spring-loaded pin.

28. The medical instrument of claim 27, wherein said catch is designed as a radially resilient element.

29. The medical instrument of claim 28, wherein a pin has, at an end directed towards to said resilient element, a bevel which comes into engagement with said radially resilient element upon release of said catch.

30. The medical instrument of claim 29, wherein said pin is designed as a pin arranged on an outer face of said valve body.

31. The medical instrument of claim 28, wherein said resilient element is designed as a radially inwardly pretensioned bar spring.

32. The medical instrument of claim 31, wherein a groove is formed in said valve stem, said radially pretensioned bar spring being able to be moved into blocking engagement into said groove.

33. The medical instrument of claim 19, wherein said valve stem is received in a valve screw-on piece which has at least two finger molds.

34. The medical instrument of claim 33, wherein an intended contour of said finger molds is designed in such a way that one mold flank is strongly pronounced in a direction of turning out.

35. The medical instrument of claim 34, wherein said mold flank rises further in a radial direction in a direction of turning out than a opposite mold flank does in a direction of turning in.

36. The medical instrument of claim 35, wherein said mold flank merges into a peripheral rounding in a direction of turning in.