Reflux valve

Details Reflux valve Reflux valve

2000-03-10

2001-10-09

Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)

Valves and valve actuation

With correlated flow path

Valve operated by joining flow path sections

C251S149100, C604S249000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06299132

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND
The present invention relates generally to valves, and relates more specifically to a novel valve construction that provides many advantageous features, and is well adapted for medical usage, such as in ncedleless IV sets, and other medical applications where it is desirable to avoid use of needles in the transmission and delivery of fluid products to patients in a sterile environment.
Presently, there are many types of valves, such as check valves, which are designed to control the one-way flow of a fluid therethrough. One common type of check valve comprises a valve element, such as a ball or a spring biased valve stem, reciprocatingly positioned within a valve body providing a fluid passageway. The flow of fluid in one direction through the valve body is permitted upon displacement of the stem as it flows around the valve element to exit the valve body. However, in the opposite direction, the flow of fluid, along with the spring, forces the valve element against a valve seat, thereby inhibiting, or checking, the flow of fluid therethrough. In this manner, this type of check valve effectively provides that fluid can flow only in one direction through the check valve. An example of this type of valve can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,984.
It is advantageous to provide that IV sets are needleless. By providing that IV sets are needleless, doctors, nurses and other medical technicians who handle the IV sets are less likely to be punctured accidentally by the IV set. As a result of the AIDS epidemic, it is presently very important to reduce the likelihood that any unintended persons become accidentally punctured, such as by IV sets, in a medical environment.
It is also advantageous to provide that components of an IV set can be quickly and easily interconnected so that an IV set can be assembled and disassembled quickly and easily. It is also advantageous to provide that the components of an IV set, such as the valves thereof, are cost-effective to manufacture.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
A general object of the present invention is to provide a reflux valve which can be employed in a needleless IV set.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a reflux valve which can be quickly and easily installed, such as in a needleless IV set.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a reflux valve which is cost-effective to manufacture.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a reflux valve which restricts fluid flow therethrough without requiring fluid pressure in the opposite direction.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a reflux valve which allows fluid flow in both directions upon a stem being displaced within the valve.
Briefly, and in accordance with the above, the present invention envisions a reflux valve engageable with corresponding structure, such as with another corresponding valve or instrument. The reflux valve includes an actuator which is located in, and shiftable in, a valve body. When the corresponding structure, such as another valve or instrument, is engaged with the actuator, the actuator shifts in the valve body, and pushes a valve stem out of engagement with a valve seat. As a result, liquid is allowed to flow, in one direction, through the actuator, past the valve seat, along an area adjacent a periphery of the valve stem, and out the valve body. Preferably, when the valve stem is unseated from the valve seat, liquid can also flow in an opposite direction, i.e. along an area adjacent a periphery of the valve stem, past the valve seat, through the actuator, and out the valve body. Preferably, a spring or an extended end portion of the valve stem biases the valve stem into the valve seat. Regardless, preferably the valve stem unseats from the valve seat only upon the actuator being engaged by the corresponding structure.
Preferably, the actuator of the reflux valve provides a male component which inserts in a female member, causing structure in the female member to engage the actuator resulting in the actuator unseating the valve stem from the valve seat, thereby allowing fluid to flow in both directions through the reflux valve. Preferably, the valve body of the reflux valve is configured to receive the corresponding structure in a Luer lock arrangement.


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