Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~1--
Bac~ground of the Invention
This invention relates to a one-way disc valve
which is buoyant in the liquid material in which it is
to be used. More particularly, this invention relates
S to a disc-type check valve for use in a parenteral solu-
tion or blood administration apparatus wherein the disc
valve is constructed of a porous material so as to be
sensitive to fluid flow and to be operable without ex-
tensive back pressure.
Check valves of the type concerned with in
this invention are described in U. S. Patents 2,879,784;
2,989,052; 4,005,710 and 4,046,011. The problems with
many of these prior art check valves is that they are
designed to operate in a valving system wherein some
back pressures are required in order to force the check
valve against an inlet orifice or while they are de-
signed to float, they depend upon the force of gravity
to close an outlet orifice. Examples of the floating-
ball-type valve are described in U. S. Patents 2,~79,784
and 2,989,052. Check valves of the disc or flat type
are described in U. S. 4,005,710 and 4,046,011. In none
of these prior art patents is there described a check
valve body which is formed of a porous material so that
it can respond quickly and precisely to fluid flow with-
out requiring extensive back pressure.
It is an advantage of the present invention to
provide a novel one-way valve which is extremely sensitive
to fluid flow so that it can close off an orifice without
appreciable back pressures. Other advantages are a valv-
ing structure which can be composed of readily made
material; can be mass produced and assembled in a fast
and efficient manner; can be easily sterilized and can be
made from an inexpensive material so that it is dispos-
able.
Summary of the Invention
The foregoing advantages are accomplished and
the shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by the
--2--
valving device of this invention which is comprised of a
valve body defining opposing end walls and a lateral side
wall surface with an intake orifice and an outlet orifice
in the end walls. ~ freely movable valve member pre-
sents a substantially flat, flexible and smooth surface
for contact with the intake orifice when the valve body
is filled with fluid. The valve ~ lS porous and has a
specific gravity less than that of the fluid which prefer-
ably is a parenteral solution or blood. In a preferred man-
ner, the intake orifice also includes an annular member
extending from the orifice for contact with the movable
valve member with the annular member being composed of
a pliable material. Also preferably, the porous material
forming the valve ~ ~ lS an elastomeric plastic composed
of a cross-linked polyethylene foam having a density in
the range of 2 - 6 pounds per cubic foot. The valve body
is preferably formed from two telescoping tubular members
with the outlet surface defined by one of the tubular mem-
bers which is of a smaller diameter. Preferably, the
tubular member defining the outlet orifice forms a Y-type
tubular junction to which is attached a needle assembly at
one end and a solution containerj drip chamber and entry
site for a fluid. at the opposite end.
Brief Description of the Drawings
A better understanding of the one-way disc
valve of this invention will be accomplished by reference
to the drawing wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a parenteral
solution administration device with the one-way disc valve
forming a part thereof;
FIGURE 2 is a view in partial vertical section
of the valving device showing the disc valve in the open
position;
FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 except
showing the valving device in a closed position;
FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view in vertical section
showing the valve member of this invention.
--3--
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Proceeding to a detailed description of a pre-
ferred embodiment of the present invention, the one-way
valve device 10 is shown in FIGURE 1 in conjunction with
a flexible parenteral solution container 11 such as des-
cribed in U. S. Patent 3,915,212. An air vented drip
chamber 12 is interconnected thereto and a length of tub-
ing 14 interconnects the drip chamber 12 with the tubular
intake portion 16 of valve device 10. Similarly, a length
of tubing 18 is interconnected to the outlet tubular por-
tion 20 and ultimately to a hypodermic needle 21 by means
of a Y-type injection site 22 with a length of tubing 23
connecting the needle and the injection site. A flow
control clamp 15 is secured to tubing 18.
` 15 As best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, tubular por-
tions 16 and 20 are telescoped and spaced apart to form
a valve body 24 with valve member 25 placed in the valve
cavity 26. Vnder normal circumstances, tubular portion
16 will be the intake portlon of the valve device 10 and
will define an intake orifice 27, with tubular portion
20 providing an outlet orifice 28. An annular sealing
ring 30 extends from intake orifice 27 in end wall 29.
A laterial wall surface 32 is provided by tubular por-
tion 16 to complete the valve cavity 26. Seated in
valve cavity 26, and as will be more particularly des-
cribed in FIGURE 4, is a valve member 25 which is of a
disc-type configuration having a projection 35 extend-
ing in the direction of outlet orifice 28. An end wall
31 is disposed at the end of tubular portion 20 with
passageways 38 extending therefrom.
It will be noted in conjunction with FIGURES
2 and 3 that a standard entry site or reseal device 40
is provided on the upper arm portion 42 which is adja-
cent tubular portion 20 and with tubular portion 43
forms a standard Y-type junction 44. Tubular portion 16
with large diameter section 17, is, in effect, an adap-
tor for fitting over the standard Y-type junction 44. It
is aided in its retention therein in a telescoping manner
--4--
by means of annular flange 37. It will be seen regarding
tubular portions 20 and 43 that there are numerous tapered
cavities in the body sections such as shown at 46 and 47.
These are not essential and can be eliminated. However,
in the instance of cavity 47 in arm portion 43, it can be
used to accommodate a length of tubing such as 18.
As indicated earlier, and as best seen in FIG-
URE 4, valve member 25 is of a disc-type con~iguration. In
order to have the valve member extremely sensitive to flow
conditions, it is constructed so as to be buoyant and
lightweight. In this instance, valve member 25 is composed
of a porous material 49 with the pores completely sealed by
a closed surface 50 which surrounds the entire valve body.
Projection 35 extends from valve member 25 and is utilized
for the purpose of maintaining the valve body in a level
condition when in operation. The projection also serves
the function of aiding assembly by preventing sticking to
each other to promote automated handling. While it is
preferred to have such a projection, it is not essential
and could be eliminated.
Operation
A better understanding of the advantages of the
valve device of this invention will be had by a descrip-
tion of its operation. As shown in FIGURE 1, valve device
10 will be interconnected to a solution container 11 by
means of a drip chamber 12 and tubing 14. Parenteral solu-
tion will be allowed to flow from the container into hypo-
dermic needle 21 when clamp 15 is open. The position of
valve member 25 will be as shown in FIGURE 2 with the valve
25 resting against projections 36 of tubular member 20.
In this position, fluid will flow around the lateral sur-
face 39 of valve member 25 as it is spaced from side wall
32 of tubular portion 16. Fluid will continue to flow be-
tween valve body 25 and passageways 38, through outlet
orifice 28 into tubular portion 20 and ultimately to hypo-
dermic needle 21. Should it be desired to administer a
second solution, and not simultaneously with the solution
--5--
in container 11, this is afforded by means of reseal de-
vice 40 where a second solution can be injected there-
through. When this takes place, fluid will flow in
through tubular portion 42 and attempt to back up into
tubular portion 20. This will effect an upward movement
of the buoyant valve member 25 which will cause the flat
surface 33 to seat against sealing ring 30, and thereby
seal off intake orifice 27. The valve member will remain
in this position as long as fluid is introduced into tubu-
lar portion 42 at a force greater than that of the fluid
passing in through tubular portion 16. When fluid is dis-
continued being introduced into ~ubular portion 42 and
upwardly into portion 20, valve member 25 will move to the
open position due to the greater flow of fluid in tubular
portion 16, onto projections 36 of tubular portion 20 to
thereby attain the position as shown in FIGURE 2. This is
the open position with fluid flowing into intake orifice
27 and out through outlet orifice 28 and around valve mem-
ber 25.
It will be seen in the foregoing description
that valve 25 is free to move in valve cavity 26. How~
ever, no exact positioning of the valve member is neces-
sary as any portion of the flat surface 33 coming in con-
tact with sealing ring 30 will seal off intake orifice 27.
Projection 35 serves the function of having the valve
body maintain a level condition when it floats upwardly
to close off intake orifice 27.
An important feature of this invention is the
fact that the valve body 25 is formed of a porous mater-
ial so as to be buoyant. In this instance it is composed
of a plastic material of the crosslinked polyethylene
type with pores as shown at 51. A sealing surface 50
composed of a flexible skin completely encloses the pores
49. This effect of the porous material and the flexible
sealing skin offers the added advantage of a valve member
which is not only buoyant but can readily adapt to a
rigid or semirigid orifice surface in order to close it.
Accordingly, while a sealing ring 30 is composed of a
18~3
--6--
pliable material as shown in conjunction with an intake
orifice 27, this component could be eliminated and sat-
isfactory results still obtained by utilizing the porous
bodied valve member with the flexible surface thereover.
The preferred material for composing valve mem-
ber 25 is a foamed plastic material sold under the trade-
Volara by Voltek, Inc. of Lawrence, Massachusetts.
Preferably, the material is a modified cross-linked poly-
ethylene foam material and is sold as type E. The density
of the particular polyethylene foam materials ranges from
2 - 6 lbs. per cubic foot under normal conditions.
It will thus be seen that through the present
invention there is now provided a one-way valve which is
highly sensitive to fluid flow yet is easily fabricated.
The valve cavity for the one-way valve can be simply
formed from two telescoping tubular members and the disc
type valve member 25 placed therein such that any type of
orientation with the orifice surfaces is obviated. Ac-
cordingly, any jamming or misalignment during fabrication
or operation is substantially eliminated. Further, a
minimum amount of material is utilized in forming the
valve member so that it is very sensitive to minimum fluid
flow, and fabricated without a high cost factor.
The foregoing invention can now be practiced by
those skilled in the art. Such skilled persons will know
that the invention is not necessarily restricted to the
particular embodiments presented herein. The scope of
the invention is to be defined by the terms of the follow-
ing claims as given meaning by the preceding description.
