Title: Irrigation and suction valve and method therefor
Abstract: The in-line hand operated valve controls the flow of at least the irrigation fluid or suction to a surgical site. First and second sources provide fluid and suction to the valve. Valve body source ports communicate with the source lines and a delivery port communicates with a delivery line. The valve includes collapsible internal fluid carrying channels linking these ports. Each valve mechanism includes an operator control surface, a stem, and a compressor member acting on and closing and opening the collapsible channels. A biasing element keeps the stem and compressor either open or closed. A two position interlocking mechanical switch, coupled to the stem, is extended in the ON valve position and withdrawn in the OFF position. The method of providing a valve control utilizes these shape and click open and click close systems.
Patent Number: 6,918,902 Issued on 07/19/2005 to French, et al.
| Inventors:
|
French; C. Kenneth (Cranfills, TX);
Barker; Garrett L. (Meridian, TX);
Chakoff; Stephen (Miami, FL);
Levinson; Melvin E. (Miami, FL)
|
| Assignee:
|
ConMed Corp. (Utica, NY)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
104219 |
| Filed:
|
March 22, 2002 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
604/500; 604/35; 604/118; 604/250; 137/596.2; 251/9 |
| Intern'l Class: |
A61M 031/00 |
| Field of Search: |
604/33- 35,537,118,902,250,249,246,500,28,27,43,506
137/596.2
251/9,263,322,323
200/520-563
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
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| 3632083 | Jan., 1972 | Meeks.
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| 3934215 | Jan., 1976 | Rich et al.
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| 4106508 | Aug., 1978 | Berlin.
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| 4221236 | Sep., 1980 | Rosenberg.
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| 4221238 | Sep., 1980 | Madsen.
| |
| 4383477 | May., 1983 | Nilsson et al.
| |
| 4484042 | Nov., 1984 | Matsui.
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| 4680026 | Jul., 1987 | Weightman et al.
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| 4708717 | Nov., 1987 | Deane et al.
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| 4771985 | Sep., 1988 | Gross et al.
| |
| 4803316 | Feb., 1989 | Hayashi et al.
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| 4883472 | Nov., 1989 | Michel.
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| 4956755 | Sep., 1990 | Maglica et al.
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| 4991957 | Feb., 1991 | Sakamoto et al.
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| 5188591 | Feb., 1993 | Dorsey, III.
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| 5195959 | Mar., 1993 | Smith.
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| 5199555 | Apr., 1993 | Hirano.
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| 5228646 | Jul., 1993 | Raines.
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| 5279549 | Jan., 1994 | Ranford.
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| 5345051 | Sep., 1994 | Miike.
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| 5391145 | Feb., 1995 | Dorsey, III.
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| 5421552 | Jun., 1995 | Wang et al.
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| 5447494 | Sep., 1995 | Dorsey, III.
| |
| 5456448 | Oct., 1995 | Chou.
| |
| 5487649 | Jan., 1996 | Dorsey, III et al.
| |
| 5522796 | Jun., 1996 | Dorsey, III.
| |
| 5546983 | Aug., 1996 | Clare.
| |
| 5573504 | Nov., 1996 | Dorsey, III.
| |
| 5586977 | Dec., 1996 | Dorsey, III.
| |
| 5588634 | Dec., 1996 | Nettekoven.
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| 5599314 | Feb., 1997 | Neill.
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| 5674204 | Oct., 1997 | Chanoch.
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| 5679111 | Oct., 1997 | Hjertman et al.
| |
| 5692729 | Dec., 1997 | Harhen.
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| 5693044 | Dec., 1997 | Cosmescu.
| |
| 5707351 | Jan., 1998 | Dorsey, III.
| |
| 5803510 | Sep., 1998 | Dorsey, III.
| |
| 5806404 | Sep., 1998 | Sher.
| |
| 5830214 | Nov., 1998 | Flom et al.
| |
| 5836909 | Nov., 1998 | Cosmescu.
| |
| 5852551 | Dec., 1998 | Lee.
| |
| 5951284 | Sep., 1999 | Lake.
| |
| 5986229 | Nov., 1999 | Raffoux.
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| 6139571 | Oct., 2000 | Fuller et al.
| |
| 6162194 | Dec., 2000 | Shipp.
| |
| 6428510 | Aug., 2002 | Kadan.
| |
Primary Examiner: Rodriguez; Cris L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kain, Jr.; Robert C, Fleit Kain
Parent Case Text
The present case is a divisional patent application based upon and claiming priority
from application Ser. No. 09/659,739, filed Sep. 11, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,853.
The present invention relates to a hand operated valve for controlling the flow
of least one, and preferably both, irrigation fluid and suction to and from a surgical
site and a valving method therefor.
Claims
1. A hand controlled valving method for controlling the flow of medical irrigation
fluid or suction respectively to and from a surgical site via a source line and
a delivery line comprising the steps of:
providing a shaped valve body easily grasped within an operator's hand;
providing a click-open, click-close mechanical switch in said valve body;
substantially blocking flow of said medical irrigation fluid or suction through
said valve body by collapsing an internal fluid carrier in said valve body and
hence to said delivery line while substantially maintaining said shape of said
valve body;
clicking open said mechanical switch and releasing said flow of medical irrigation
fluid or suction through said internal carrier in said valve body and hence to
said delivery line and surgical site while creating a tactile depression in said
shaped valve body; and,
clicking close said mechanical switch, blocking said flow.
2. A valving method as claimed in claim 1 including the step of providing an
audible sound during the action of said mechanical switch.
3. A valving method as claimed in claim 1 including the step of providing a tactile
response to the operator during the click open step and the click close step.
4. A valving method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the method controls flow of
both said irrigation fluid and said suction via a pair of source lines respectively
carrying said irrigation fluid and said suction, said method including the steps of:
providing a second independently actuatable click-open, click-close mechanical
switch; and
independently blocking and releasing irrigation fluid and suction flow through
corresponding internal fluid carriers in said valve body.
5. A valving method as claimed in claim 4 including the step of creating a confluence
of fluid and suction between said delivery line and said blockage of irrigation
fluid flow and suction flow.
6. A hand controlled valving method for controlling the flow of medical irrigation
fluid or suction respectively to and from a surgical site via a source line and
a delivery line comprising the steps of:
providing a substantially cylindrically shaped valve body sized to fit within
an operator's hand;
providing a click-open, click-close mechanical switch in said valve body;
substantially blocking or releasing flow of said medical irrigation fluid or
suction through said valve body with said mechanical switch by collapsing or opening
an internal fluid carrier in said valve body and hence to said delivery line while
substantially maintaining said cylindrically shaped of said valve body;
changing said flow from either blocking or releasing to the other of said blocking
or releasing of said flow by clicking open said mechanical switch while creating
a depression in said cylindrically shaped valve body; and,
returning said flow to said blocking or releasing flow by clicking close said
mechanical switch and returning said valve body to said cylindrical shape.
7. A valving method as claimed in claim 6 including the step of providing an
audible sound during the click action of said mechanical switch.
8. A valving method as claimed in claim 6 including the step of providing a tactile
response to the operator during the click open step and the click close step.
9. A valving method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the method controls flow of
both said irrigation fluid and said suction via a pair of source lines respectively
carrying said irrigation fluid and said suction, said method including the steps of:
providing a second independently actuatable click-open, click-close mechanical
switches; and
independently changing the flow and returning the flow of said irrigation fluid
and suction through corresponding internal fluid carriers in said valve body.
10. A valving method as claimed in claim 9 including the step of creating a confluence
of fluid and suction between said delivery line and said blockage of irrigation
fluid flow and suction flow.
Description
During medical procedures, it is common to irrigate or wash a wound with sterilized
fluid (herein "irrigation fluid"). Further, during laproscopic surgical procedures,
the physician or other health professional (sometimes herein identified as "an
operator") may utilize the irrigation fluid for hydrodissection. In both procedures,
the irrigation fluid is provided via a source line from a source or reservoir of
fluid. Many times, the irrigation fluid is provided under pressure (for example,
5-15 psi) to the surgical site.
Physicians and other health professionals also utilize suction to remove
spent irrigation fluid, other bodily fluids and debris which may accumulate at
the wound site or surgical site. In certain medical procedures, the physician utilizes
suction to remove gas. Gas is sometimes used to create an operable cavity at a
laproscopic surgical site. Suction, or negative air pressure (some pressure below
the ambient pressure), is created in a suction source line via a vacuum source
and a sump. As used herein, the term "suction source" or "source of suction" refers
to a supply of negative air pressure. Although from a strictly scientific view
point, suction is not created from "a suction source," the negative pressure developed
by the vacuum pump is a resource used by the physician or other health professional.
If the vacuum pump fails to operate properly, the resource or source of suction
is no longer available to the physician. In a similar manner, if the reservoir
of the irrigation fluid dissipates, the source of irrigation fluid is no longer
available for use by the physician. In this sense, the present invention utilizes
a source of suction.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,796 to Dorsey discloses a metered and gauged trumpet valve
utilized to control irrigation fluid to a surgical site and suction applied to
a suction line leading to the surgical site. As disclosed in Dorsey '796, the output
of the metering valve is a single delivery line leading to the surgical site. Irrigation
fluid is turned ON and OFF via the valve control and suction is turned ON and OFF
based the controllable positions of valve stems in the metering valve. The Dorsey
'796 metering valve includes a rotatable operator control surface which has a normally
disposed plate with a slope control or a cam surface. A generally cylindrical valve
stem has a shoulder about its periphery upon which rests a gear having sloped control
shapes or a sloped cam surface. The gear is keyed to the cylindrical valve stem.
When the operator rotates the operator control surface, the cam shaped valve control
surface affixed to the operator control rotates thereby changing the contact point
on the sloping cam surface. The control sloping cam surface moves on the sloped
cam surface of the valve stem gear thereby changing the vertical limit or stop
position of the valve stem. By rotating the operator control surface, the valve
opens to one of several gauge positions. At the other end of the valve stem, flow
control is achieved between the stem and a valve body. The valve stem is biased
in a direction to either fully open or fully close the irrigation and/or suction
flow through the valve body. Preferably, the valve is biased closed. The physician
can provide variable flow control by depressing the valve stem against the biasing
enforce of the spring thereby opening or closing the valving aperture and the valve
body. By rotating the control surface, the physician can establish preset flow
control points or limits for the throw of the valve stem. An example of the use
of a preset flow control is providing a low level of irrigation fluid at the surgical
site. At the same time, the physician may operate the suction control valve from
a fully OFF position to a fully ON position by depressing the valve stem vertically
thereby opening the valving aperture between the valve stem and the valve body.
In a preferred embodiment, the initial valve positions are in a blocking or OFF
position thereby blocking irrigation fluid flow to the surgical site and blocking
suction from the surgical site. The metered valve in Dorsey '796 is generally rectangular
in shape with the irrigation source line and suction source line affixed to the
valve at a position normal to the delivery line. As stated earlier, the delivery
line carries irrigation fluid to the surgical site and, at a different valve setting,
provides suction and vacuum from the surgical site.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,391,145 to Dorsey discloses an irrigation control for endoscopic
unit. U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,504 to Dorsey discloses a composite irrigation suction
probe and valve. U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,111 to Hjertman discloses a device for dosing
a liquid preparation. This '111 patent discloses an injection device provided for
continuously variable metering and administration of a liquid prepar ation. The
device has a holder for a multi-dose injection cartridge. U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,204
to Chanoch discloses a medication delivery pen cap with an actuated dose delivery
clutch. U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,314 to Neill discloses a syringe with an incrementally
actuated plunger. U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,472 to Michel discloses an injection device
with utilizes an exchangeable pre-filled syringe.
The following patents disclose valving systems that are not utilized in surgical
procedures. U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,448 to Chou (discloses a touch button controlled
water stop mounted in a fixed pipe line carrying water, e.g. water to a shower);
U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,552 to Wang et al. (discloses a foot operated valve); U.S.
Pat. No. 4,956,755 to Maglice et al. (discloses a two position mechanical switch
to control a flashlight); U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,477 to Nilsson et al. (discloses
a ventilator valve control); U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,508 to Berlin (discloses a clamp
used for occlusion of blood vessels); U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,985 to Gross et al. (discloses
a hand controlled faucet); U.S. Pat. No. 3,220,695 to Downey et al. (discloses
a push button drain valve); U.S. Pat. No. 3,046,802 to Cupedo (discloses a stop
valve); U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,236 to Rosenberg (a step valve); U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,238
to Madsen (an intermittent valve); U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,983 to Clare (a shut off
valve); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,404 to Sher (a rotary piston valve).
There is a need for an in-line hand operated valve that is simple to use and
that easily fits within the hand of an operator.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an in-line, hand operated
valve for controlling one, and preferably both, medical irrigation fluid and suction
to and from a surgical site.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cylindrical or a torpedo
shaped hand held valve for controlling irrigation fluid and suction to and from
a surgical site.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a valve and a valving
method whereby the operator control surfaces are on opposing sides, the mechanical
valving switch systems in the valve provide audible, tactile and preferably both
audible and tactile responses to the operator.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a variable flow control
by permitting the operator to depress the operator control surface and hence the
valve stem through a throw distance between a click open and a click close position.
It is a further object of the present invention to utilize a click open and click
close mechanism similar to that used in connection with ball point pen cartridge
controls which, during a click open operation, causes the point of the ink cartridge
to protrude beyond the pen body and, during a click close operation, causes the
ink pen cartridge tip to retract within the pen body.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide click open and click
close operator control surfaces at opposing sides of the cylindrical or torpedo
shaped valve body.
It is another object of the present invention to provide the operator control
surfaces at a positions substantially maintaining the cylindrical shape or the
torpedo shape of the valve body when the valve blocks or closes OFF irrigation
flow and suction flow through the valve body.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an irrigation and suction
flow control valve which is simple to manufacture, inexpensive and easy to operate.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an irrigation and
suction
control valve which is disposable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The in-line hand operated valve controls the flow of at least one, and preferably
both, medical irrigation fluid and suction respectively to and from a surgical
site via a delivery line. In one working embodiment, irrigation fluid is supplied
to the valve via a first source line and suction is supplied to the valve via a
second source line. The valve body defines, in a working embodiment, source ports
in fluid communication with the irrigation source fluid line and the suction source
line. At the other end of the valve body, a delivery port is defined and is in
fluid communication with the delivery line. The valve body includes at least one,
and preferably two, internal fluid carrying channels. The internal channel is in
fluid communication with the respective source port and the delivery port. At least
a portion of the internal fluid carrying channel is substantially collapsible.
The valve includes an operator actuated stem (in a working embodiment two stems,
one for each of the irrigation valve switch and the suction valve switch) having
a compressor member acting on and closing and opening the collapsible segment of
the fluid carrying channel or fluid carrying body. A biasing element (such as a
spring or other resilient body) keeps the valve stem and the compressor element
in either an open or a closed state. A two position interlocking mechanical switch
is coupled to the valve stem. In one position, the compressor element is extended
and in a second position, the compressor element is withdrawn to achieve the open
and closed state of the fluid carrying channel or body. In a working embodiment,
two valve stems are used, each with a compressor member, two independent biasing
elements are utilized and two mechanical two position switches are utilized. Further
enhancements include operator control surfaces that are on opposing side wall surfaces
of the generally cylindrical or torpedo shaped valve body. In a preferred embodiment,
the valve is normally closed and the operator control surfaces are substantially
co-extensive with the cylindrical or torpedo shaped valve body. To open the valves,
the control surfaces are depressed thereby enabling the operator to quickly detect
the state of valve position without visual confirmation (a tactile response system).
Another enhancement of the present invention includes utilization of audible clicks
to notify the operator when the open or closed state is achieved by each mechanical
switch system controlling the position of the valve stem and the compressor member.
The method of providing a valve control utilizes these shape and click open and
click close switch systems.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further objects and advantages of the present invention can be found in the
detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the suction and irrigation control valve in
accordance with the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates the irrigation and suction valve used in
an a surgical suite;
FIG. 3 diagrammatically illustrates a partial, cross-sectional view of the irrigation
and suction valve;
FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates the schematic view of the internally disposed
collapsible tube or fluid carrying body in the valve, the compressor member and
stationary wall opposite the compressor member;
FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates a detailed view of the valve control and
the click open and click close mechanism in accordance with the principles of the
present invention;
FIG. 6 diagrammatically illustrates an exploded view of the valve body and one
of the click open and click close mechanical two position switches used in conjunction
with the present invention;
FIG. 7 diagrammatically illustrates an exploded, partial view of the partially
assembled valve in accordance with the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 8 diagrammatically illustrates a perspective view of the nose cone of the valve;
FIGS. 9A and 9B diagrammatically illustrate perspective views of the fluid
joint defining the confluence of the two internal fluid tubes and an internal view
of that fluid joint;
FIG. 10 diagrammatically illustrates a perspective view of one type of valve
stem, compressive member and a stem portion of the click open click close mechanical switch;
FIG. 11 diagrammatically illustrates the stem which is part of the two position
mechanical switch;
FIG. 12 diagrammatically illustrates another mechanical element of the two position
mechanical switch; and
FIGS. 13A and 13B diagrammatically illustrate the valve stem, compressive member,
and another element of the two position mechanical switch and FIG. 13B diagrammatically
illustrates a different type of control surface which is mounted on the exterior
side of the valve stem shown in FIG. 13A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention relates to a hand operated irrigation and/or suction valve
(and preferably a valve that controls both irrigation fluid and suction) to and
from a surgical site and a valving method.
FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates in-line, hand operated valve
10 having
a generally cylindrically shaped valve body
12. The term "in-line" is used
herein as a reference to a valve that controls fluid or suction between a supply
and a delivery tube or hose. In a preferred embodiment, valve body
12 is
torpedo shaped with a blunt or truncated rear end
14 and a substantially
cone shaped fore end
16. Valve body
12 is sized to fit within the
hand of an operator. An operator control surface
17 is co-extensive with
generally cylindrical section
18 of the generally conical nose portion
16
of valve body
12. In a preferred working embodiment, the co-extensive position
of operator control surface
17 provides both a tactile and a visual confirmation
to the operator that this portion of valve
10 has closed the fluid channel
or collapsible fluid carrying body inside valve
10. This valve system is
in an OFF state. In contrast when operator control surface
17 is depressed
and is not co-extensive with surface section
18, in a preferred embodiment,
the mechanical switch (discussed in detail below) opens the fluid carrying channel
or fluid carrying body in valve
10 and permits either irrigation fluid to
flow from the source line to the delivery line or delivers suction from the source
line to the delivery line which permits evacuation of fluid, debris and sometimes
gas from the surgical site (a valve ON state). Variable control is provided by
depressing control surface
17 through the throw of the valve switch. The
total valve stem throw may exceed the click on, click off stem throw.
FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates in-line hand operated valve
10 coupled
to source lines
6,
8 which respectively carry irrigation fluid and
suction to and from valve
10. Nose section
16 of valve
10
is coupled to delivery line
4 which leads, in the illustrated embodiment,
to a handle
3 and a nozzle leading to surgical site
1. Valve
10
is called "an in-line" valve because the valve is hand operated and blocks or controls
the flow of either irrigation fluid or suction to and from surgical site
1.
It should be appreciated that although the preferred embodiment shows a two valve
system, valve
10 can be reconfigured to contain only a single irrigation
fluid or suction fluid valving mechanism. However in a working embodiment, valve
10 controls the flow of irrigation fluid from source line
6 to delivery
line
4 and ultimately to surgical site
1 as well as controls suction
and removal of fluid, debris and gas from surgical site
1 via delivery line
4 to suction source line
8 (i.e., a two valve system).
FIG. 3 diagrammatically illustrates a partial, cross-sectional view of valve
10. Similar numerals designate similar items throughout the drawings. Valve
10, in a working embodiment, includes a generally hollow body
20
defining a generally planar end cap at terminal end
14. At forward end
22,
a hose coupler member
24 is adapted to closely fit and fluidly seal the
proximal end of delivery tube
4 (FIG.
2). Source tubes
6,
8 (not shown in FIG. 3 but shown in FIG. 2) fluidly seal to rear end tube
couplers
26,
28. Tube couplers
26,
28 are maintained
in a stationary position by plate
30. Opposite tube coupler ends
26,
28, rigid internal tube couplers
32,
34 are established. In
the illustrated embodiment, two internally disposed, substantially collapsible
fluid carrying bodies or fluid channels
36,
38 extend between internal
tube coupler members
32,
34 and forwardly disposed internal tube
couplers
40,
42. In a preferred embodiment, these channels or fluid
carrying bodies
36,
38 are made of soft silicone tubing.
In the working embodiment, valve
10 defines two pinch valves or click
on-click
off mechanical switch mechanisms. One of these click on-click off mechanical switch
mechanisms include operator actuated control surface
17. As diagrammatically
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, collapsible fluid carrying tube
38 is pinched between
movable valve stem compression member
51 and stationary wall
53.
Double headed arrow
55 signifies the extension and withdrawal of compression
member
51 and stationary symbol
57 signifies that wall
53
remains stationary with respect to movable compressor member
51. Internal
collapsible hose
38 is compressible at least over the segment spanning compressor
member
51 and stationary member
53. Internal fluid tube
38
is coupled to fore end internal hose coupler
42 and rear end hose coupler
34. In a working embodiment, the entire tube
38 is soft and compressible.
It should be noted that FIG. 4 shows compressor member
51 being withdrawn
to compress or pinch internal tube
38 against stationary element
53.
The term "withdrawn" is used in a manner similar to the term "retract" in that
both terms reference nearby outer portions of the valve body. However, the mechanical
switch and valve can be modified such that the extension of compressor member
51
pinches tube
38 against a stationary support wall. In another words, support
wall
53 can be mounted on the opposite side of collapsible tube
38
than the tube side illustrated in FIG.
4. Basically, the valve stem and
mechanically coupled compressor member can close the valve by retraction (see FIG.
4) or extension dependent upon the internal construction of the valve
10.
FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates a detailed perspective view of the front
end of the interior of valve
10. In this view, internal tubes
36,
38 are not illustrated. Compressor member
51 is biased or forced
in the direction shown by arrow
55a by spring
59. This is
the valve OFF, compressor withdrawn position. With respect to the other mechanical
switch and valve, operator control interface
17 is coupled or connected
to compressor member
52. Compressor member
52 is biased in the direction
opposite arrow
55a by spring
60. Compressor member
51
pinches and closes the internal tube against stationary wall
53. The other
stationary wall for member
52 is not shown.
FIG. 6 diagrammatically illustrates a partial, exploded perspective view of
valve
10. In a preferred embodiment, valve
10 has two semi-circular,
generally cylindrically shaped valve bodies
20a and
20b.
Plate
30 provides support for valve bodies
20a,
20b
at the rear end of the body. At the front end, nose cone
70 (described
later) is part of the generally cylindrical and preferably torpedo shaped valve
10.
User control surface
17 is coupled to compressor member
52. Compressor
member
52 squeezes or pinches the internal, highly flexible and collapsible
tube
36 (FIG. 3) between it and stationary wall
54. Spring
60
biases or forces compressor element
52 to a position closing the compressor
element and pinching tube
36 against stationary wall
54. Other types
of biasing systems may be utilized including springs, coils, and solid compressible
and resilient elements. Rather than utilizing a spring in compression, a spring
in extension pulling compressor bar
52 radially outward away from the axial
centerline of valve
10 may be utilized.
Valve
10 includes a two position interlocking mechanical switch or a
click on-click off switch. As used herein, the mechanical switch or the click on,
click off switch is similar to the extension and retraction control for a ball
point pen. This click on-click off two position mechanical switch utilizes a stem
62 having a plurality of sloped control ridges or control surfaces
64.
A rotating member
66 has matching and mating sloped control surfaces
68
which mate with control surfaces
64 of stem
62. In addition, rotating
member
66 includes radially outward ridges
72 that cooperate with
radially inboard channels in cage
74. In this manner, when the user or operator
first depresses control surface
17, the control surface creates a depression
beneath the cylindrical or torpedo shaped valve body
20b. This radially
inward mechanical action causes rotating member
66 to rotate by action of
control surface
68 riding on control surface
64. Rotation stem
66
turns in accordance with radially inward channels in cage
74 and stem
62
falls within deep groove channels in either cage
64 or stem
66. This
causes a large opening between compressive member
52 and stationary wall
54 thereby opening fluid to pass through collapsible hose or tube
36
(a valve ON position). Suction works in a similar manner. Upon the second depression
of operator control surface
17, rotating member
66 again rotates
in accordance with the radial channels in cage
74, and control surfaces
64,
68 are moved with respect to each other such that compressive
member
52 is fully withdrawn from the click on position of the mechanical
switch. Further mechanical details of the click on-click off, two position mechanical
switch are well documented in other publications. However, the utilization of such
a click on, click off switch in an in-line, hand operated irrigation and suction
control valve for medical application purposes is new and different.
FIG. 7 diagrammatically shows semi-hemispherical valve body
20b separated
from complementary valve body
20a. Confluence chamber
80 is
placed in the inside of the fore end of valve bodies
20a,
20b.
In order to quickly and securely lock confluence body
80 and valve bodies
20a,
20b together, ring
82 and supplemental
ring
84 is placed on proximal nose segment
86 and distal nose segment
88 of the valve bodies. The sequence of assembly of this general portion
of valve
10 includes placing confluence chamber
80 in the forward
portion of valve body
20a, placing valve body
20b on
body
20a per the direction shown by arrow a in FIG. 7, moving large
ring
82 in the direction shown by arrow b onto proximal nose section
86
of bodies
20a,
20b and then moving small ring
84
as shown by arrow c onto distal nose section
88. Towards the end of the
process, nozzle member
70 is moved in direction d onto the front end of
assembled valve bodies
20a,
20b. Rings
82,
84
are preferable metal (e.g. steel).
FIG. 8 diagrammatically shows nozzle
70 having internal support ridges
110. Internal support ridges
110 stabilize nose cone
70 on
the valve body.
FIGS. 9A and 9B diagrammatically show confluence chamber
80. FIG. 9A
shows a perspective view of confluence chamber. FIG. 9B shows in dashed lines the
internal chambers of confluence or fluid joint chamber
80. One internal
collapsible tube is mounted onto coupling
40 and the other internal collapsible
tube is mounted onto coupling
42. As shown in FIG. 5, these are positions
near the front end of the valve which is the location for delivery tube
4.
See FIG.
2. Hence, delivery tube
4 (FIG. 2) fits within tube coupling
84 opposite the dual tube couplings
40,
42. Coupling
84
defines a delivery port for fluid and suction. In FIG. 3, couplers
26,
28
define two source ports for the valve
10. Chamber
112 of fluid joint
80 provides fluid communication between delivery port, essentially defined
by tube coupler
24, and the internal fluid carrying tubes attached to internal
tube couplers
40,
42.
FIG. 10 diagrammatically illustrates a perspective view of valve stem
130
which includes operator interface
17 and compressor member
52 and
part of the click on-click off mechanical switch. This switch part is stem
62.
It should be noted that the switch parts may be placed at reversed or opposite
locations than those locations shown herein.
FIG. 11 shows a detailed view of rotating member
68, slope control surfaces
68 and radially extensive members
72.
FIG. 12 shows a detailed view of cage
74, radially inboard extending
guides
120 and positioning stem
122. Positioning stem
122
fits within an aperture
123 and rotating stem
66.
FIGS. 13A and 13B diagrammatically show valve stem
160 wherein operator
control
17 (FIG. 13B) is removably mounted via a complementary tab and locking
hole system
128,
131. Tab or locking hole
131 is formed as
part of valve stem
130 in FIG.
13A. FIG. 13A also shows slope control
surfaces
64 and radial depression
124 on the stem for the related
two position mechanical switch. The throw of the two position mechanical switch
or click on, click off switch is distance th shown in FIG.
13A. This is
the distance between the lower part of control slope
64 and the lower part
of radial channels
124. The term "lower" used with respect to stem
62
refers to items radially outboard from the axial centerline of the valve
10.
As stated earlier, the present invention can be figured to operate and control
irrigation fluid singularly or irrigation fluid and suction (a dual operation valve).
The following table provides some exemplary data for a working embodiment of
the invention. For example, it takes about 7 pounds of force to close and turn
OFF fluid at 15 psi. This may be decreased to 10 pounds during further development.
Exemplary Dimension and Parameter Table
- overall valve length about 7 in.
- supply line inside diameter (I.D.) about 0.3 in.
- delivery line I.D. about 0.5 in.
- internal tube I.D. about 0.25 in.
- internal tube material: silicone, 30-40 durometer (softness)
- throw of valving bar about 0.2 in.
The claims appended hereto are meant to cover modifications and changes within
the scope and spirit of the present invention.
*
