Fluid handling – Convertible – Units interchangeable between alternate locations
Patent
1984-06-14
1986-01-28
Cohan, Alan
Fluid handling
Convertible
Units interchangeable between alternate locations
13762547, 12820524, 604 32, 604256, A61M 500
Patent
active
045664803
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to fluid valves and, in particular, to medical stopcock valves.
Small plastic stopcock valve assemblies have long been used routinely in a variety of medical procedures and operations such as, for example, metering the infusion of fluids into the bodies of persons under medical care. Typically, such stopcock valve assemblies include at least a three-way type valve wherein the valve body has three or more radially-arranged ports, and an interior directional control member is rotatably arranged within the valve body for selectively closing one or more ports while opening communication between at least two other ports. Examples of this type of valve are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,185,179; 3,834,372 and 4,207,923.
As will of course be understood, the maintenance of sterile conditions in such uses of these valves is exceedingly important. Accordingly, when one of the valve ports is closed and out of use, a cap or other similar closure device is ordinarily fitted in the valve port to prevent possible entrance therethrough of bacteria, germs or the like into the valve body. In the typical use of such valves, it is often desirable or necessary to alter the operational disposition of the valve to bring into operation the out-of-use port which of course requires the removal of the cap therefrom. For example, in infusion usage of such a valve, it is routine procedure to periodically sample and test the infusion fluid flowing through the valve and/or the body fluid to maintain close control thereof, this being readily accomplished by removing the cap from the out-of-use port and rotating the directional control member to divert a small quantity of the infusion fluid or to withdraw a small quantity of the body fluid through the out-of-use port. Ordinarily any such procedure requires the attendant performing it to use both hands necessitating the cap be placed aside and, in practice, the cap, which is normally very small, is sometimes lost or temporarily misplaced, all of which can create particular problems when the valve is to be returned to its original operational disposition and the cap is to be replaced. As will be understood, the mere setting aside of the cap in itself can jeopardize the sterility thereof and of the valve upon replacement of the cap and, if the procedure requires any significant amount of time to complete, it is ordinary practice to discard the removed caps and to replace it with a new cap when the valve is returned to its original operating state. However, additionally, the loss or misplacement of the cap neessitates that the valve, upon return to its original operating state, be operated at least temporarily without a cap on the out-of-use port until the lost or misplaced cap is located or a replacement cap is obtained, which poses a more significant problem in maintaining the desired sterile condition of the valve.
The present invention provides a significant improvement over the above-described conventional stopcocks by providing a blind accessory member on the valve adapted to receive and store one or more caps when out of use to prevent loss thereof and provide ready access thereto for use when desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improvement in medical stopcock valve assemblies of the type including a valve body having formed therein a plurality of fluid ports, an operating member in the valve body for selectively controlling fluid communication through the valve body between the fluid ports, and at least one closure member having an engagement arrangement formed for selective engagement with the valve body at at least one of the fluid ports for closure thereof. Briefly described, the improvement includes a blind portion on the valve assembly out of operative communication with the fluid ports and formed for engagement by a closure device to receive and retain it for storage when not in port-closing use.
Preferably, the valve is of the type the ports of which are formed as tubes projecting from
REFERENCES:
patent: 3774604 (1973-11-01), Danielson
patent: 3987930 (1976-10-01), Funson
patent: 4207923 (1980-06-01), Giurtino
patent: 4219021 (1980-08-01), Fink
LandOfFree
Medical stopcock valve assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Medical stopcock valve assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Medical stopcock valve assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1301134