Low pressure measurement devices in high pressure environments
First Claim
1. A fluid valve comprising:
- a first input port;
one or more additional input ports;
an output port substantially axially aligned with the first input port;
a valve body, the valve body defining a solely unidirectional flow path from the first input port to the output port, and defining one or more flow paths from the one or more additional input ports to the output port; and
an elastomeric portion adapted to allow the one or more flow paths from the one or more additional input ports to the output port to be open when there is no fluid flow through the valve body,wherein, when a liquid applies a pressure to the first input port that equals or is greater than a defined pressure, the liquid flows in the solely unidirectional flow path from the first input port to the output port, and any flow path from the one or more additional input ports to the output port is blocked by the elastomeric portion of the valve, wherein the defined pressure is a function of at least one physical property of at least one valve component, and wherein the liquid is a contrast medium.
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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.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A fluid valve comprising:
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a first input port; one or more additional input ports; an output port substantially axially aligned with the first input port; a valve body, the valve body defining a solely unidirectional flow path from the first input port to the output port, and defining one or more flow paths from the one or more additional input ports to the output port; and an elastomeric portion adapted to allow the one or more flow paths from the one or more additional input ports to the output port to be open when there is no fluid flow through the valve body, wherein, when a liquid applies a pressure to the first input port that equals or is greater than a defined pressure, the liquid flows in the solely unidirectional flow path from the first input port to the output port, and any flow path from the one or more additional input ports to the output port is blocked by the elastomeric portion of the valve, wherein the defined pressure is a function of at least one physical property of at least one valve component, and wherein the liquid is a contrast medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A fluid valve, comprising:
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a disc holder; an elastomeric valve disc with a slit; a valve body; a first input port; a set of one or more additional input ports; and an output port substantially axially aligned with the first input port; wherein the valve body defines a flow path from the first input port to the output port and defines one or more flow paths from the one or more additional input ports to the output port, wherein, when the valve disc is in a closed state, the first input port is isolated from the output port and from the one or more additional input ports; and wherein, when the valve disc is in an open state, the one or more additional input ports are isolated from the output port and from the first input port, the valve disc being in the open state when a fluid pressure equaling or exceeding a defined pressure is applied to the first input port and causes the slit in the elastomeric valve disc to open, and wherein the defined pressure is a function of at least one physical property of at least one valve component. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A fluid valve comprising:
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a first input port; a second input port; an output port substantially axially aligned with the first input port; a valve body, the valve body defining a solely axial first flow path from the first input port to the output port, and defining a second flow path from the second input port to the output port; and an elastomeric portion adapted to allow the second flow path from the second input port to the output port to be open when there is no fluid flow through the valve body, wherein, when a fluid, flowing in the solely axial first flow path from the first input port to the output port, applies a pressure that equals or exceeds a predefined pressure, the second flow path for fluid flow from the second input port to the output port is blocked by the elastomeric portion of the valve. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A fluid valve comprising:
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a first input port aligned on a first axis; a second input port aligned on a second axis, the second axis being substantially different than the first axis; an output port; a valve body, the valve body defining a solely straight first flow path from the first input port to the output port, and defining a second flow path from the second input port to the output port; and an elastomeric portion adapted to allow the second flow path from the second input port to the output port to be open when there is no fluid flow through the valve body, wherein, when a fluid, flowing in the solely straight first flow path from the first input port to the output port, applies a pressure that equals or exceeds a predefined pressure, the second flow path for fluid flow from the second input port to the output port is blocked by the elastomeric portion of the valve. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification