Medical valve with improved back-pressure sealing
Inventors
Siopes, William • Maseda, Luis • Kimball, Ian
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10744314-B2
Publication Date
2020-08-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
A medical valve transitions between an open mode that permits fluid flow, and a closed mode that prevents fluid flow. To that end, the medical valve has a housing with an inlet and an outlet, a rigid member movably mounted within the housing, and a resilient member with a sealing portion. The housing also has at least one relief zone that is in fluid communication with the outlet when the valve is in the closed mode. The rigid member may have a proximal end, a distal end, and a flow channel. The relief zone may be radially outward from the sealing portion. The sealing portion may seal the valve and prevent fluid from passing through the valve when in the closed mode.
Core Innovation
A medical valve is disclosed having an open mode that permits fluid flow and a closed mode that prevents fluid flow. The valve includes a housing with an inlet and an outlet, and a plug member movably mounted within the housing. The plug member has a proximal end, a distal end, and a first portion that includes a hole configured to allow fluid flow through the plug member.
A resilient member has a sealing portion with an outer surface and a first seal member. The first seal member seals the hole when the valve is in the closed mode. The outer surface of the sealing portion is coaxial with an outer surface of the first portion of the plug member, and proximally directed pressure within the valve directly acts upon the outer surface of the sealing portion to increase the seal at the hole when the valve is in the closed mode.
Relief zones are described in fluid communication with the outlet during the closed mode so that proximally directed pressure generates radially inward pressure that increases sealing at the hole. The relief zones can be formed by outlet ribs with a shelf portion and/or a support that deforms the resilient sealing member. Guide or centering structures, such as guide posts, are described to maintain plug alignment as the plug member moves.
Claims Coverage
One independent claim is provided. It is centered on an open/closed medical valve where proximally directed pressure directly increases sealing at a hole during the closed mode. Dependent claims refine the pressure-to-seal mechanics and add specific seal member and centering structures.
Open and closed medical valve with plug hole flow path
A medical valve having an open mode that permits fluid flow and a closed mode that prevents fluid flow, including a housing with an inlet and an outlet, and a plug member movably mounted within the housing with a hole in a first portion configured to allow fluid flow through the plug member.
Proximally directed pressure increases sealing at the hole
A resilient member having a sealing portion with a first seal member that seals the hole when the valve is in the closed mode, wherein the outer surface of the sealing portion is coaxial with an outer surface of the first portion of the plug member and proximally directed pressure within the valve directly acts upon the outer surface of the sealing portion thereby increasing the seal at the hole when the valve is in the closed mode.
Relief zone redirects proximally directed pressure into radially inward sealing force
At least one relief zone in fluid communication with the outlet during the closed mode, the at least one relief zone configured to redirect proximally directed pressure to apply a radially inward force on the outer surface of the sealing portion.
Radial inward force increases with proximally directed pressure
The medical valve configured so that the radial inward force applied to the outer surface of the sealing portion increases as proximally directed pressure increases.
Second seal member positioned relative to the hole
A medical valve further includes a second seal member positioned proximal to the hole when the valve is in its closed mode, with the first seal member positioned distal to the hole in the closed mode.
O-ring seals for first and second seal members
The medical valve is configured so that the first and second seal members are O-rings.
Guide posts center the plug member at the outlet
The medical valve further includes multiple guide posts at the valve outlet that center the plug member within the outlet as the plug member moves distally.
The claim set is primarily directed to a valve in which proximally directed pressure directly increases sealing at a hole in the plug member during the closed mode. Dependent claims further refine the pressure/sealing relationship using relief zones and specify additional sealing members and outlet centering via guide posts.
Stated Advantages
Increased sealing at the hole when the valve is in the closed mode due to proximally directed pressure acting on the sealing portion.
Radially inward sealing force generated from proximally directed pressure via relief zones in fluid communication with the outlet during the closed mode.
Documented Applications
Medical valve use in relation to a catheter, patient vein, saline flush, and delivery of heparin/antibiotic/pain medication.
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