Regulating valve for adjusting the flow in an infusion or transfusion procedure

• US 6,916,010 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2003
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smiths Medical Deutschland GmbH (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smiths Medical Deutschland GmbH (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Beck, Bernd, Weber, Jörg
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fristoe, Jr., John K.
• Application Number:
  US10/696,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20040140444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 251/209, 251/286, 251/288, 137/553, 137/556.6
• US Class Current: 251/209
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16877 Adjusting flow; Devices for setting a flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8309 Pointer integral with handle

Abstract

The medical regulating valve for adjusting the flow in an infusion or transfusion procedure has a housing (2), and a valve chamber (21) into which an inlet connecting piece and an outlet connecting piece (22, 23) open. A rotating piece has a cylindrical valve plug (41) which can be inserted in the valve chamber (21) to form a seal between the plug and the chamber. The valve plug, has, on its outer periphery, at least one groove (42, 43) opposite the connecting pieces (22, 23) connecting the connecting pieces with one another in terms of flow and having a cross-section changing in the peripheral direction. An insert (3) having the shape of an annular disc overlaps the valve chamber (21) and has, on its side facing the rotating piece (4), a number of markings (35, 36, 37) lying on concentric circles. Provided on the rotating piece (4) are a number of windows (45, 46, 47) which are offset with respect to each other in the peripheral and radial directions, each being opposite one of the markings (35, 36, 37).

Claims

1. A regulating valve for adjusting the flow in an infusion or transfusion procedure, said regulating valve comprising:

a housing;

connecting pieces essentially consisting of an inlet connecting piece and an outlet connecting piece opening into a hollow cylindrical valve chamber;

a rotating piece that has a cup-shaped foundation and a cylindrical valve plug extending therefrom, wherein said cylindrical valve plug is inserted into the valve chamber sealing the radial outside periphery of the valve plug and the radial inside periphery of the valve chamber;

where said rotating piece has, on a periphery, at least one groove that is opposite the connecting pieces and which constrictingly connects the connecting pieces in terms of flow, where said rotating piece has a changing cross-section in the peripheral direction, characterized by an annular disc which overlaps the valve chamber and has, on a side facing the rotating piece, a number of markings lying on concentric circles; and

wherein the rotating piece has a number of windows that are in an offset arrangement with respect to each other in the peripheral and radial directions, where each window is lying opposite a marking.

2. The regulating valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that the annular disk has, at an axial distance, an annular centering collar which engages the housing.

3. The regulating valve as described in claim 2, characterized in that the annular disk has a cylindrical projection which has, on its face, opposing recesses which overlap the connecting pieces of the housing.

4. The regulating valve as described in claim 3, characterized by the provision on the outside of the valve chamber of a rotation limiting stop cooperating with a rotation limiting stop on the rotating piece.

5. The regulating valve as described in claim 4, characterized in that the valve chamber has, on its outside, a catch recess and in that the rotating piece has, concentric to the valve plug a cylindrical projection with at least one detent which engages the catch recess.

6. The regulating valve as described in claim 3, characterized in that the valve chamber has, on its outside, a catch recess and in that the rotating piece has, concentric to the valve plug a cylindrical projection with at least one detent which engages the catch recess.

7. The regulating valve as described in claim 2, characterized by the provision on the outside of the valve chamber of a rotation limiting stop cooperating with a rotation limiting stop on the rotating piece.

8. The regulating valve as described in claim 7, characterized in that the valve chamber has, on its outside, a catch recess and in that the rotating piece has, concentric to the valve plug a cylindrical projection with at least one detent which engages the catch recess.

9. The regulating valve as described in claim 2, characterized in that the valve chamber has, on its outside, a catch recess and in that the rotating piece has, concentric to the valve plug a cylindrical projection with at least one detent which engages the catch recess.

10. The regulating valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that the annular disk has a cylindrical projection which has, on its face, opposing recesses which overlap the connecting pieces of the housing.

11. The regulating valve as described in claim 10, characterized by the provision on the outside of the valve chamber of a rotation limiting stop cooperating with a rotation limiting stop on the rotating piece.

12. The regulating valve as described in claim 11, characterized in that the valve chamber has, on its outside, a catch recess and in that the rotating piece has, concentric to the valve plug a cylindrical projection with at least one detent which engages the catch recess.

13. The regulating valve as described in claim 10, characterized in that the valve chamber has, on its outside, a catch recess and in that the rotating piece has, concentric to the valve plug a cylindrical projection with at least one detent which engages the catch recess.

14. The regulating valve as described in claim 1, characterized by the provision on the outside of the valve chamber of a rotation limiting stop cooperating with a rotation limiting stop on the rotating piece.

15. The regulating valve as described in claim 14, charcterized in that the valve chamber has, on its outside, a catch recess and in that the rotating piece has, concentric to the valve plug a cylindrical projection with at least one detent which engages the catch recess.

16. The regulating valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that the valve chamber has, on its outside, a catch recess and in that the rotating piece has, concentric to the valve plug a cylindrical projection with at least one detent which engages the catch recess.

17. The regulating valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal axes of the connecting pieces are, in relation to the axis of rotation of the regulating valve, axially offset from one another.

18. Regulating valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that the valve plug has, on its outer periphery, two grooves, one of which is assigned to the inlet connecting piece and the other to the outlet connecting piece, the at least one groove being connected to each other in terms of flow by an axial channel.

19. Regulating valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that the interior of the valve chamber has a step after which a sealing engagement takes place between the valve chamber and the valve plug.

20. Regulating valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that the annular disc, the valve chamber and the connecting pieces are designed as an insert part which can be inserted into the housing.

21. Regulating valve as described in claim 20, characterized by the provision at the upper outer edge of the housing of a rotating stop and of a counter-stop at the base of the rotating piece.

22. Regulating valve as described in claim 21, characterized in that the insert with detents can be locked in the openings of the housing.

23. Regulating valve as described in claim 22, characterized in that the rotating piece with integrated valve plug can be locked on the valve chamber by means of at least one detent projection.