Low pressure measurement devices in high pressure environments

• US 7,617,837 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2006
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• 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: Gabbard, Mark, McPeak, Thomas, Wilson, Robert F., Duchon, Douglas J., Mohiuddin, Khader
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Kevin L
• Application Number:
  US11/401,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20060180202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 137/112, 137/113, 137/843, 137/859, 137/512.15, 137/512.4, 137/605, 251/331
• 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 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.

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

3. The valve of claim 1, wherein any flow path from the one or more additional input ports to the output port is blocked due to a change in shape of the elastomeric portion of the valve.

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

5. The valve of claim 4, wherein the minimum 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 variation of the minimum pressure.

7. The valve of claim 4, wherein the minimum pressure is a function of at least one of shape, exterior dimensions and interior dimensions of the valve.

8. The valve of claim 7, wherein variation of at least one of the shape, exterior dimensions or interior dimensions allow for variation in the minimum pressure.

9. The valve of claim 1, further comprising:

a pocket proximate the first input port so as to receive fluid flow therefrom; and

a tapered region proximate the output port so as to provide fluid flow thereto,

wherein the elastomeric portion of the valve comprises an elastomeric disc portion between the pocket and the tapered region.

10. The valve of claim 9, wherein said elastomeric disc has an opening, which opens when a fluid within the pocket has a defined pressure.

11. The valve of claim 10, wherein said opening comprises one or more slits.

12. The valve of claim 9, wherein said one or more additional input ports open into a portion of the tapered region.

13. The valve of claim 1, wherein:

the first input port is aligned on a first axis; and

at least one of the additional input ports is aligned on a second axis, the second axis being substantially different than the first axis.

14. A fluid valve, comprising:

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.

15. The valve of claim 14, wherein the state of the valve disc is determined by a pressure applied to the first input port.

16. The valve of claim 14, wherein the defined pressure comprises a minimum pressure.

17. The valve of claim 16, wherein the minimum pressure is a function of at least one of physical properties of the elastomeric disc, interior dimensions of the disc holder, valve body and/or valve disc, and exterior dimensions of the disc holder, valve body and/or valve disc.

18. The valve of claim 14, wherein the first input port is provided in the valve body.

19. The valve of claim 14, wherein the set of one or more additional input ports is provided in the valve body.

20. The valve of claim 14, wherein:

the first input port is aligned on a first axis; and

at least one of the additional input ports is aligned on a second axis, the second axis being substantially different than the first axis.

21. A fluid valve comprising:

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.

22. The valve of claim 21, wherein the second flow path for fluid flow between the second input port and the output port becomes blocked due to movement of the elastomeric portion of the valve.

23. The valve of claim 22, wherein the predefined pressure comprises a minimum pressure necessary for the elastomeric portion to change its shape.

24. The valve of claim 21, wherein:

the first input port is aligned on a first axis; and

the second input port is aligned on a second axis, the second axis being substantially different than the first axis.

25. A fluid valve comprising:

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.

26. The valve of claim 25, wherein the second flow path for fluid flow between the second input port and the output port becomes blocked due to movement of the elastomeric portion of the valve.

27. The valve of claim 26, wherein the predefined pressure comprises a minimum pressure necessary for the elastomeric portion to change its shape.