Fluid flow control valve and flow control devices and methods employing same

A medical fluid injection device comprising:

• an injection device housing;
• a resilient expandable reservoir within the housing for receiving medical fluid;
• an injection needle carried by the housing;
• an injection flow path for communication between the injection needle and reservoir;
• an port in the housing for receiving medical fluid under pressure from a source;
• an inlet fluid flow path in the housing communicating between the inlet port and reservoir for introducing medical fluid into the reservoir;
• the inlet fluid flow path including a one-way valve for allowing fluid flow from the inlet port into the reservoir and preventing fluid flow from the reservoir to the inlet port, the one-way valve including:
• a valve body including a substantially resilient sleeve portion through which inlet flow path extends, a valve inlet for fluid flow into one end of the inlet flow path and a valve outlet for fluid flow from the other end of the inlet flow path;
• a substantially rigid valve member located within the inlet flow path of the resilient sleeve portion between the valve inlet and valve outlet;
• and
• the valve member being sized such that it has a cross-sectional size larger than the inlet flow path in the unbiased condition such that the sleeve normally contacts the valve member and blocks fluid flow through the valve body from the reservoir to the inlet port, the sleeve being resiliently expandable under fluid pressure from the inlet port to allow fluid flow between the valve body and valve member;
• and
• a fluid flow manifold defining a valve body cavity receiving the valve body and the valve member is defined by a portion of the manifold that extends into the sleeve.

A method of controlling fluid flow employing a flow control valve comprising a resilient valve body including a fluid flow lumen therein and a rigid valve member located within the fluid flow lumen, the rigid valve member being sized larger than the valve lumen to contact the surface of the valve lumen and block flow therethrough when the valve body is in a relaxed condition, the method including:

• applying sufficient upstream pressure in the fluid flow lumen to flex the resilient valve body to a position in which the surface of the fluid flow lumen is spaced from the valve member to allow fluid flow through the lumen;
• reducing the upstream pressure to allow the resilient valve body to contact the valve member;
• and
• contacting an exterior surface of the resilient valve body with downstream fluid under pressure, to assist in providing sealing contact between the surface of the fluid flow lumen and the valve member.