Automatic medical valve with a variable diameter seal
Inventors
Furnish, Greg • Appling, Anthony • Morris, Ben • Zeis, Timothy S.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11207512-B2
Publication Date
2021-12-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
A medical valve assembly includes a tube extending between proximal and distal tube ends. A plunger plate extends radially from the distal tube end, and a valve housing surrounds the tube and extends between proximal and distal valve housing ends. The valve housing includes a flange extending radially inwardly from the distal valve housing end and disposed in spaced relationship with the plunger plate to define a distance dimension D extending therebetween. An elastomeric seal is compressed between the plunger plate and the flange to establish a closed condition of the medical valve assembly. The elastomeric seal axially moves one of the valve housing and the tube relative to the other when a medical device is inserted into the medical valve assembly to automatically increase the distance dimension and establish an open and sealed condition of the medical valve assembly with the inserted medical valve.
Core Innovation
The invention is an automatic medical valve assembly for inserting a medical device into a body vessel of a patient. The assembly includes a tube defining a passageway, a plunger plate extending radially from the proximal tube end, and a valve housing surrounding the tube, with a flange extending radially inwards from the proximal valve housing end and disposed in spaced relationship with the plunger plate to define a distance dimension D.
An elastomeric seal having an inner diameter is compressed between the plunger plate and the flange to reduce the inner diameter and establish a closed condition of the medical valve assembly. The elastomeric seal includes an outer wall disposed in opposing relationship with the inner diameter and defining an annular cavity extending radially inwardly from the outer wall towards the inner diameter to decrease a requisite compression force for effectuating the reduction of the inner diameter.
The elastomeric seal is characterized by a tapered radially inward geometry forming an hour-glass cross-sectional shape, and includes an annular void together with a plurality of ribs encircling the axis A in concentric relationship. Additional seal structures described include an oval-shaped inner diameter, and annular shoulders and channels for attachment and reinforcement.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims directed to a medical valve assembly and an elastomeric seal for use with the medical valve assembly. Across these independents, the main inventive features are the structural spacing between a plunger plate and a valve housing flange (distance dimension D) that compresses an elastomeric seal into a closed condition, and an elastomeric seal geometry that uses an hour-glass/tapered profile and an annular void to reduce required compression force while enabling opening.
Spaced plunger plate and valve housing flange defining a distance dimension D
A tube having a proximal tube end and a distal tube end defining a passageway along axis A; a plunger plate extending radially from the proximal tube end; a valve housing surrounding the tube about the proximal tube end and extending from a proximal valve housing end to a distal valve housing end; the valve housing including a flange extending radially inwards from the proximal valve housing end and disposed in spaced relationship with the plunger plate to define a distance dimension D extending therebetween.
Elastomeric seal compressed between plunger plate and flange to establish a closed condition
An elastomeric seal having an inner diameter, the elastomeric seal compressed between the plunger plate and the flange to reduce said inner diameter of said elastomeric seal and establish a closed condition of the medical valve assembly; and said elastomeric seal having an outer wall disposed in opposing relationship with said inner diameter and defining an annular cavity extending radially inwardly from said outer wall towards said inner diameter to decrease a requisite compression force for effectuating said reduction of said inner diameter.
Hour-glass elastomeric seal geometry with radially inward taper to define inner diameter and annular void
An elastomeric seal having a seal body extending along axis A between a proximal seal end and a distal seal end; said body having a pair of end portions each disposed about one of said seal ends and a center portion extending therebetween; said center portion being tapered radially inwards from said end portions towards an inner diameter of said elastomeric seal to define an hour-glass cross-sectional shape; and said center portion having an outer wall disposed in opposing relationship with said inner diameter and defining an annular void extending radially inwardly from said outer wall towards said inner diameter.
Concentric ribs extending radially inward from the inner diameter
The elastomeric seal including a plurality of ribs extending radially inwardly from said inner diameter and encircling said axis A in concentric relationship with one another.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on compressing a uniquely shaped elastomeric seal using a spaced plunger plate and valve housing flange (distance dimension D) to form a closed condition while using an hour-glass/tapered seal profile with an annular void to decrease a requisite compression force, and on adding concentric radially inward ribs to the seal.
Stated Advantages
Decrease a requisite compression force for effectuating the reduction of the inner diameter of the elastomeric seal.
Automatically open by allowing the elastomeric seal inner diameter to expand when a medical device is inserted, and automatically re-compress to re-establish sealing upon device removal.
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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