Manifold hub for patient fluid administration

• US 7,563,243 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2005
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Biometrix, Ltd. (Q Holding Company)
• Original Assignee: Biometrix, Ltd. (Q Holding Company)
• Inventors: Mendels, Yair
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERDICHEVSKY, AARTI
• Application Number:
  US11/132,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20050267445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 604/80, 604/82
• US Class Current: 604/80
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1077 Adapters, e.g. couplings adapting a connector to one or several other connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1083 having a plurality of female connectors, e.g. Luer connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1088 having a plurality of male connectors, e.g. Luer connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1094 at least partly incompatible with standard connectors, e.g. to prevent fatal mistakes in connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/229 Stopcocks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/105 Multi-channel connectors or couplings, e.g. for connecting multi-lumen tubes multi-channel connectors in general F16L37/56
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/26 Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof check valves A61M39/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1408 in parallel, e.g. manifolds, sequencing valves access sites A61M39/02; tube connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

The present invention concerns a housing for supporting the proximal inlet ports of at least two isolated lumens, for use in a patient fluid administration system, wherein each of the lumens further comprises a distal outlet for connecting to at least one patient fluid administration member, and wherein the housing further comprises an integral unit, wherein the unit comprises a distal frame layer, a female connector layer, for connecting to at least one of the fluid peripheral elements and at least one intermediate gasket layer for providing sealing between each of the isolated lumens.

Claims

1. A manifold hub for use in a fluid administration system comprising:

A. an integrated housing providing a plurality of mutually distinct flow channels through the housing and being composed of at least three components;

i. a first component comprised of an elongated first member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced first openings each associated with a distinct flow channel and a plurality of longitudinally spaced upward, tubular first projections surrounding and aligned with said first openings and open at their upper and lower extremities each associated with a distinct flow channel, said first projections formed as one part of a two-part connector;

ii. a second component comprised of an elongated second member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced second openings each associated with a distinct flow channel and defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced separate outlets each associated with a distinct flow channel;

iii. an intermediate component comprised of an elongated third member being resilient and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced third openings each associated with a distinct flow channel and a plurality of longitudinally spaced upward annular second projections each associated with a distinct flow channel, each second projection surrounding a respective third opening, said projections having closures at their upper extremities with normally closed slits defined in said closures and being open at their lower extremities;

B. said first, second and third components being stacked together with the intermediate component between the first and second components and integrated together to form said housing (a) with said second projections received in the first projections with the closures at the upper extremities of the second projections exposed at the upper extremities of the first projections, (b) the second openings and the third openings being in fluid communication, (c) the integrated components establishing the plurality of mutually distinct flow channels through the housing, and (d) the intermediate component serving to seal the mutually distinct flow channels one from the other;

D. whereby each said first projection can be connected to a fluid administration set via a terminal complementary part to said one part of the two-part connector such that when the connector is complete, the resilient second projection received in said first projection is depressed downwardly forcing the normally closed slit defined in the closure at the upper extremity thereof to open; and

E. whereby the separate outlets of the second component can be connected to separate lumens each terminated with its own element for infusing fluid into a patient.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the connectors are of the two part luer activated type.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the first projections are the female part of the two part luer activated type.

4. The invention of claim 1 further including a plurality of valves mounted in the housing upstream of the plurality of longitudinally spaced separate outlets for controlling fluid flow through the plurality of mutually distinct flow channels, with each said valve associated with a distinct flow channel.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the valves for controlling fluid flow include controlling each fluid flow channel by shutting off said channel, or enabling flow through said channel.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein the second component includes a reservoir, and the housing includes a fluid channel for introducing fluid to said reservoir, and a plurality of passageways placing said reservoir in fluid communication with said plurality of separate outlets.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein check valves are interposed in the plurality of passageways.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein the check valves are partially formed by the intermediate component.

9. The invention of claim 6 wherein the reservoir is an elongated groove that extends laterally offset from the plurality of longitudinally spaced second openings.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein valves are mounted in the housing upstream of the separate outlets and in communication with the plurality of passageways for controlling fluid flow in each channel by priming said channel, flushing said channel, shutting off said channel, and enabling flow through said channel.

11. The invention of claim 9 wherein one of the mutually distinct flow channels is in direct fluid communication with said elongated groove.

12. The invention of claim 1 wherein at least one of the mutually distinct flow channels has a higher flow capacity than the other flow channels and wherein the first projection associated with the at least one flow channel is provided with a fitting mounted on said first component for controlling flow through said at least one flow channel.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein two adjacent flow channels are high flow capacity and two fittings are provided mountable on said first component, one for enabling flow through both channels and one for shutting off flow through both channels and protecting against contamination.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein each fitting is detachably mountable on said first component by a screw that is received in a threaded hole in the first component.

15. The invention of claim 1 wherein the housing includes separate lumens connected to the separate outlets of the second component, which separate lumens are connectable to proximal inputs to separate fluid infusion devices.

16. The invention of claim 1 wherein a second intermediate component is provided between the first intermediate component and the second component, said second intermediate component is resilient and has a plurality of longitudinally spaced fourth openings aligned with the second openings of the second component and constitute part of the mutually distinct flow channels.

17. The invention of claim 16 wherein said fourth openings of said second intermediate component are in the form of normally closed slits surrounded by open upstanding tubular third projections into which are received the lower open extremities of said annular second projections, and wherein when an annular second projection is depressed upon connection of the connector in its associated flow channel, the lower extremity of the depressed second projection moves downwardly opening the normally closed slit of the fourth opening in said flow channel.

18. The invention of claim 17 wherein the connectors are of the two part luer activated type.

19. The invention of claim 18 wherein the first projections are the female part of the two part luer activated type.

20. The invention of claim 19 wherein the first projections are the female part of the two part luer activated type.

21. The invention of claim 16 further including a plurality of valves mounted in the housing upstream of the plurality of longitudinally spaced separate outlets for controlling fluid flow through the plurality of mutually distinct flow channels, with each said valve associated with a distinct flow channel.

22. The invention of claim 21 wherein the valves for controlling fluid flow include controlling each fluid flow channel by shutting off said channel, or enabling flow through said channel.

23. The invention of claim 16 wherein the second component includes a reservoir, and the housing includes a fluid channel for introducing fluid to said reservoir, and a plurality of passageways placing said reservoir in fluid communication with said plurality of separate outlets.

24. The invention of claim 23 wherein check valves are interposed in the plurality of passageways.

25. The invention of claim 24 wherein the check valves are partially formed by the second intermediate component.

26. The invention of claim 23 wherein the reservoir is an elongated groove that extends laterally offset from the plurality of longitudinally spaced second openings.

27. The invention of claim 23 wherein valves are mounted in the housing upstream of the separate outlets and in communication with the plurality of passageways for controlling fluid flow in each channel by priming said channel, flushing said channel, shutting off said channel, and enabling flow through said channel.

28. The invention of claim 26 wherein one of the mutually distinct flow channels is in direct fluid communication with said elongated groove.

29. The invention of claim 16 wherein at least one of the mutually distinct flow channels has a higher flow capacity than the other flow channels and wherein the first projection associated with the at least one flow channel is provided with a fitting mounted on said first component for controlling flow through said at least one flow channel.

30. The invention of claim 29 wherein two adjacent flow channels are high flow capacity and two fittings are provided mountable on said first component, one for enabling flow through both channels and one for shutting off flow through both channels and protecting against contamination.

31. The invention of claim 30 wherein each fitting is detachably mountable on said first component by a screw that is received in a threaded hole in the first component.

32. The invention of claim 16 wherein the housing includes separate lumens connected to the separate outlets of the second component, which separate lumens are connectable to proximal inputs to separate fluid infusion devices.

33. A manifold hub for use in a fluid administration system comprising:

A. an integrated housing providing a plurality of mutually distinct flow channels through the housing and being composed of at least three components;

i. a first component comprised of an elongated first member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced first openings each associated with a distinct flow channel and a plurality of longitudinally spaced upward, tubular first projections surrounding and aligned with said first openings and open at their upper and lower extremities each associated with a distinct flow channel, said first projections formed as one part of a two-part connector;

ii. a second component comprised of an elongated second member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced second openings each associated with a distinct flow channel and defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced separate outlets each associated with a distinct flow channel, said second component having upward third projections adjacent each second opening;

iii. an intermediate component comprised of an elongated third member being resilient and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced third openings each associated with a distinct flow channel and a plurality of longitudinally spaced upward annular second projections each associated with a distinct flow channel, each second projection surrounding a respective third opening and defining an outer recess, said projections having closures at their upper extremities with normally closed slits defined in said closures and being open at their lower extremities;

B. said first, second and third components being stacked together with the intermediate component between the first and second components and integrated together to form said housing (a) with said second projections received in the first projections with the closures at the upper extremities of the second projections exposed at the upper extremities of the first projections, (b) the third projections received in the outer recesses of the second projections, (c) the second openings and the third openings being in fluid communication, (d) the integrated components establishing the plurality of mutually distinct flow channels through the housing, and (e) the intermediate component serving to seal the mutually distinct flow channels one from the other;

D. whereby each said first projection can be connected to a fluid administration set via a terminal complementary part to said one part of the two-part connector such that when the connector is complete, the resilient second projection received in said first projection is depressed downwardly against the third projections coacting with said outer recesses to force open the normally closed slit defined in the closure at the upper extremity thereof; and

E. whereby the separate outlets of the second component can be connected to separate lumens each terminated with its own element for infusing fluid into a patient.

34. The invention of claim 33 wherein the third projections are in the form of spikes and the outer recesses are formed by depending skirts.

35. The invention of claim 33 wherein the connectors are of the two part luer activated type.

36. The invention of claim 35 wherein the first projections are the female part of the two part luer activated type.

37. The invention of claim 33 further including a plurality of valves mounted in the housing upstream of the plurality of longitudinally spaced separate outlets for controlling fluid flow through the plurality of mutually distinct flow channels, with each said valve associated with a distinct flow channel.

38. The invention of claim 37 wherein the valves for controlling fluid flow include controlling each fluid flow channel by shutting off said channel, or enabling flow through said channel.

39. The invention of claim 33 wherein the second component includes a reservoir, and the housing includes a fluid channel for introducing fluid to said reservoir, and a plurality of passageways placing said reservoir in fluid communication with said plurality of separate outlets.

40. The invention of claim 39 wherein check valves are interposed in the plurality of passageways.

41. The invention of claim 40 wherein the check valves are partially formed by the intermediate component.

42. The invention of claim 39 wherein the reservoir is an elongated groove that extends laterally offset from the plurality of longitudinally spaced second openings.

43. The invention of claim 42 wherein valves are mounted in the housing upstream of the separate outlets and in communication with the plurality of passageways for controlling fluid flow in each channel by priming said channel, flushing said channel, shutting off said channel, and enabling flow through said channel.

44. The invention of claim 42 wherein one of the mutually distinct flow channels is in direct fluid communication with said elongated groove.

45. The invention of claim 33 wherein at least one of the mutually distinct flow channels has a higher flow capacity than the other flow channels and wherein the first projection associated with the at least one flow channel is provided with a fitting mounted on said first component for controlling flow through said at least one flow channel.

46. The invention of claim 33 wherein two adjacent flow channels are high flow capacity and two fittings are provided mountable on said first component, one for enabling flow through both channels and one for shutting off flow through both channels and protecting against contamination.

47. The invention of claim 46 wherein each fitting is detachably mountable on said first component by a screw that is received in a threaded hole in the first component.

48. The invention of claim 33 wherein the housing includes separate lumens connected to the separate outlets of the second component, which separate lumens are connectable to proximal inputs to separate fluid infusion devices.

49. The invention of claim 33 wherein a second intermediate component is provided between the first intermediate component and the second component, said second intermediate component is resilient and has a plurality of longitudinally spaced fourth openings aligned with the second openings of the second component and constitute part of the mutually distinct flow channels.

50. The invention of claim 49 wherein said fourth openings of said second intermediate component are in the form of normally closed slits surrounded by open upstanding tubular third projections into which are received the lower open extremities of said annular second projections, and wherein when an annular second projection is depressed upon connection of the connector in its associated flow channel, the lower extremity of the depressed second projection moves downwardly opening the normally closed slit of the fourth opening in said flow channel.

51. The invention of claim 50 wherein the connectors are of the two part luer activated type.

52. The invention of claim 51 wherein the first projections are the female part of the two part luer activated type.

53. The invention of claim 52 wherein the first projections are the female part of the two part luer activated type.

54. The invention of claim 49 further including a plurality of valves mounted in the housing upstream of the plurality of longitudinally spaced separate outlets for controlling fluid flow through the plurality of mutually distinct flow channels, with each said valve associated with a distinct flow channel.

55. The invention of claim 54 wherein the valves for controlling fluid flow include controlling each fluid flow channel by shutting off said channel, or enabling flow through said channel.

56. The invention of claim 49 wherein the second component includes a reservoir, and the housing includes a fluid channel for introducing fluid to said reservoir, and a plurality of passageways placing said reservoir in fluid communication with said plurality of separate outlets.

57. The invention of claim 56 wherein check valves are interposed in the plurality of passageways.

58. The invention of claim 57 wherein the check valves are partially formed by the second intermediate component.

59. The invention of claim 56 wherein the reservoir is an elongated groove that extends laterally offset from the plurality of longitudinally spaced second openings.

60. The invention of claim 56 wherein valves are mounted in the housing upstream of the separate outlets and in communication with the plurality of passageways for controlling fluid flow in each channel by priming said channel, flushing said channel, shutting off said channel, and enabling flow through said channel.

61. The invention of claim 59 wherein one of the mutually distinct flow channels is in direct fluid communication with said elongated groove.

62. The invention of claim 33 wherein at least one of the mutually distinct flow channels has a higher flow capacity than the other flow channels and wherein the first projection associated with the at least one flow channel is provided with a fitting mounted on said first component for controlling flow through said at least one flow channel.

63. The invention of claim 62 wherein two adjacent flow channels are high flow capacity and two fittings are provided mountable on said first component, one for enabling flow through both channels and one for shutting off flow through both channels and protecting against contamination.

64. The invention of claim 63 wherein each fitting is detachably mountable on said first component by a screw that is received in a threaded hole in the first component.

65. The invention of claim 33 wherein the housing includes separate lumens connected to the separate outlets of the second component, which separate lumens are connectable to proximal inputs to separate fluid infusion devices.

66. A manifold hub for use in a fluid administration system comprising:

A. an integrated rigid housing providing a plurality of mutually distinct flow channels through the housing and being composed of four components;

i. a first component comprised of a rigid elongated first member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced first openings each associated with a flow channel and a plurality of longitudinally spaced, upward, tubular first projections open at their upper and lower extremities surrounding and aligned with said first openings each said first projection formed as one part of a two-part connector, and each associated with a flow channel;

ii. a second component comprised of a rigid elongated second member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced second openings each associated with a flow channel, and defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced separate outlets each associated with a flow channel, said second component further defining a longitudinally extending groove laterally offset from the plurality of longitudinally spaced second openings;

iii. a first resilient intermediate component comprised of an elongated third member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced third openings each associated with a flow channel and a plurality of longitudinally spaced upward annular second projections each associated with a flow channel, each second projection surrounding a respective third opening, and having a closure at its upper extremity with a normally closed slit defined in said closure and being open at its lower extremity;

iv. a second resilient intermediate component comprised of an elongated member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced fourth openings in the form of normally closed slits, each associated with a flow channel, surrounded by open upstanding tubular third projections;

v. a plurality of control valves mounted in said housing downstream of said groove;

vi. said second component defining passageways extending from said groove to said control valves with check valves interposed in said passageways;

B. said first, second, third and fourth components being stacked together in the order of first component, first intermediate component, second intermediate component and second component and integrated together to form said rigid housing (a) with said second projections received in the first projections with the closures at the upper extremities of the second projections exposed at the upper extremities of the first projections, (b) the lower open extremities of said annular second projections being received in said third projections, (c) said fourth openings being aligned with the second openings of the second component, (d) the integrated components establishing the plurality of mutually distinct flow channels through the housing, and (e) the intermediate components serving to seal the mutually distinct flow channels one from the other;

C. said plurality of control valves being mounted in the housing upstream of the plurality of longitudinally spaced separate outlets for controlling fluid flow through the plurality of mutually distinct flow channels, with each said valve associated with a different distinct flow channel;

D. whereby each said first projection can be connected to a fluid administration set via a terminal complementary part to said one part of the two-part connector such that when the connector is complete, the resilient second projection received in said first projection is depressed downwardly forcing the normally closed slit defined in the closure at the upper extremity thereof to open;

E. whereby when an annular second projection is depressed upon connection of the connector in its flow channel, the lower extremity of the depressed second projection moves downwardly opening the normally closed slit of the fourth opening in said flow channel; and

F. whereby the separate outlets of the second component can be connected to separate lumens each terminated with its own element for infusing fluid into a patient.

67. The invention of claim 66 wherein the connectors are of the two part luer activated type.

68. The invention of claim 67 wherein the first projections are the female part of the two part luer activated type.

69. The invention of claim 66 wherein the valves for controlling fluid flow include controlling each fluid flow channel by at least one of priming said channel, flushing said channel, shutting off said channel, and enabling flow through said channel.

70. The invention of claim 66 wherein the valves for controlling fluid flow each have four operative positions for controlling each fluid flow channel to prime said channel, flush said channel, shut off said channel, and enable flow through said channel.

71. The invention of claim 66 wherein the housing includes a fluid channel for introducing fluid to said groove.

72. The invention of claim 66 wherein one of the mutually distinct flow channels is in fluid communication with said elongated groove.

73. The invention of claim 66 wherein at least one of the mutually distinct flow channels has a higher flow capacity than the other flow channels and wherein the first projection associated with the at least one flow channel is provided with a fitting mounted on said first component for controlling flow through said at least one flow channel.

74. The invention of claim 73 wherein two adjacent flow channels are high flow capacity and two fittings are provided mountable on said first component, one for enabling flow through both channels and one for shutting off flow through both channels and protecting against contamination.

75. The invention of claim 66 wherein the housing includes separate lumens connected to the separate outlets of the second component, which separate lumens are connectable to proximal inputs to separate fluid infusion devices.

76. The invention of claim 66 wherein check valves are positioned in the plurality of passageways placing said groove in fluid communication with said valves.

77. A method for manufacturing an integrated housing for supporting proximal inlet ports of a plurality of isolated flow channels, for use in a patient fluid administration system, wherein each of said flow channel further comprises a distal outlet for connecting to a patient fluid administration member comprising the steps of:

a. providing a first component comprised of an elongated first member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced first openings each associated with a distinct flow channel and a plurality of longitudinally spaced upward, tubular first projections surrounding and aligned with said first openings and open at their upper and lower extremities each associated with a distinct flow channel, said first projections formed as one part of a two-part connector;

b. providing a second component comprised of an elongated second member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced second openings each associated with a distinct flow channel and defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced separate outlets each associated with a distinct flow channel;

c. providing an intermediate component comprised of an elongated third member being resilient and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced third openings each associated with a distinct flow channel and a plurality of longitudinally spaced upward annular second projections each associated with a distinct flow channel, each second projection surrounding a respective third opening, said projections having closures at their upper extremities with normally closed slits defined in said closures and being open at their lower extremities;

d. stacking said first, second and third components together with the intermediate component between the first and second components and integrated together to form said housing;

e. positioning said second projections in the first projections with the closures at the upper extremities of the second projections exposed at the upper extremities of the first projections;

f. placing the second openings and the third openings in fluid communication;

g. establishing the integrated components as a plurality of mutually distinct flow channels through the housing;

h. sealing the mutually distinct flow channels one from the other by the intermediate component;

j. whereby each said first projection can be connected to a fluid administration set via a terminal complementary part to said one part of the two-part connector such that when the connector is complete, the resilient second projection received in said first projection is depressed downwardly forcing the normally closed slit defined in the closure at the upper extremity thereof to open; and

k. whereby the separate outlets of the second component can be connected to separate lumens each terminated with its own element for infusing fluid into a patient.

78. The method of claim 77 including the further step of mounting a plurality of valves in the housing upstream of the plurality of longitudinally spaced separate outlets for controlling fluid flow through the plurality of mutually distinct flow channels, and associating each said valve with a distinct flow channel.

79. The method of claim 77 including the further steps of defining in the second component a longitudinally extending groove laterally offset from the plurality of longitudinally spaced second openings, and defining in said second component passageways extending from said groove to said valves.

80. The method of claim 77 including the further step of defining in the second component a longitudinally extending groove laterally offset from the plurality of longitudinally spaced second openings, and defining in said second component passageways extending from said groove to said separate outlets.

81. A method for manufacturing an integrated rigid housing for supporting proximal inlet ports of a plurality of isolated flow channels, for use in a patient fluid administration system, wherein each of said flow channel further comprises a distal outlet for connecting to a patient fluid administration member comprising the steps of:

A. providing an integrated housing that establishes a plurality of mutually distinct flow channels through the housing composed of at least three components;

i. a first component comprised of an elongated first member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced first openings each associated with a distinct flow channel and a plurality of longitudinally spaced upward, tubular first projections surrounding and aligned with said first openings and open at their upper and lower extremities each associated with a distinct flow channel, said first projections formed as one part of a two-part connector;

ii. a second component comprised of an elongated second member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced second openings each associated with a distinct flow channel and defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced separate outlets each associated with a distinct flow channel, said second component having upward third projections adjacent each second opening;

iii. an intermediate component comprised of an elongated third member being resilient and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced third openings each associated with a distinct flow channel and a plurality of longitudinally spaced upward annular second projections each associated with a distinct flow channel, each second projection surrounding a respective third opening and defining an outer recess, said projections having closures at their upper extremities with normally closed slits defined in said closures and being open at their lower extremities;

B. stacking said first, second and third components together with the intermediate component positioned between the first and second components;

C. integrating the stacked components together to form said housing (a) with said second projections received in the first projections with the closures at the upper extremities of the second projections exposed at the upper extremities of the first projections, (b) the third projections received in the outer recesses of the second projections, (c) the second openings and the third openings being in fluid communication, (d) the integrated components establishing the plurality of mutually distinct flow channels through the housing, and (e) the intermediate component serving to seal the mutually distinct flow channels one from the other;

D. whereby each said first projection can be connected to a fluid administration set via a terminal complementary part to said one part of the two-part connector such that when the connector is complete, the resilient second projection received in said first projection is depressed downwardly against the third projections coacting with said outer recesses to force open the normally closed slit defined in the closure at the upper extremity thereof; and

E. whereby the separate outlets of the second component can be connected to separate lumens each terminated with its own element for infusing fluid into a patient.

82. The method of claim 81 including the further step of mounting a plurality of valves in the housing upstream of the plurality of longitudinally spaced separate outlets for controlling fluid flow through the plurality of mutually distinct flow channels, and associating each said valve with a distinct flow channel.

83. The method of claim 81 including the further steps of defining in the second component a longitudinally extending groove laterally offset from the plurality of longitudinally spaced second openings, and defining in said second component passageways extending from said groove to said valves.

84. The method of claim 81 including the further step of defining in the second component a longitudinally extending groove laterally offset from the plurality of longitudinally spaced second openings, and defining in said second component passageways extending from said groove to said separate outlets.