# US 2022/0032006 A1 · Valve Configurations for a Tunable Valve

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- Number: US 2022/0032006 A1
- Document ID: US20220032006A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/390,720
- Filed: 2021-07-30
- Published: 2022-02-03
- Earliest claimed: 2020-07-31
- Assignees: Bard Access Systems, Inc.
- Applicants: Bard Access Systems, Inc.
- Inventors: Daniel B. Blanchard
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220032006A1

## CPC

- A61M 25/0075: {Valve means}
- A61M 39/24: Check- or non-return valves
- A61F 2/2415: {Manufacturing methods}
- A61M 25/0014: {Connecting a tube to a hub}
- A61M 25/003: {characterized by features relating to least one lumen located at the distal part of the catheter, e.g. filters, plugs or valves (catheter tips A61M25/0067)}
- A61M 39/10: Tube connectors or tube couplings
- A61F 2230/006: Y-shaped
- A61F 2240/001: Designing or manufacturing processes
- A61M 2025/0037: {characterized by lumina being arranged side-by-side}
- A61M 2025/0076: {Unidirectional valves}
- A61M 2039/1072: {with a septum present in the connector}
- A61M 2039/242: {designed to open when a predetermined pressure or flow rate has been reached, e.g. check valve actuated by fluid}
- A61M 2039/2426: {Slit valve}
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

A valve connector for a tunable valve is disclosed, with tunable features to allow for optimization. The tunable valve can include slits, which may be preferentially placed, angled and sized to optimize the crack pressure, maintenance pressures, and clearance characteristics of the connector. The tunable valve may also include a recess in the area of an exemplary center slit, which may be sized further modify the characteristics of the connector valve. The valve may be preferentially curved along either a lateral axis or a transverse axis. The tunable valve may be a proximal valve that is capable of being secured between proximal housing and distal housing. The proximal housing opening may be preferentially shaped.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A valved connector, comprising:
a connector body defining a lumen; and
a valve configured to control a fluid flow through the lumen, the valve including a proximal face and a distal face, one of the proximal face or the distal face defining an oval shape, the valve defining a curved lateral axis and a linear transverse axis, the valve including a slit extending from the proximal face to the distal face.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The valved connector according to claim 1, further including a center slit and a side slit each extending parallel to the lateral axis, the side slit disposed in an off-set relationship along the transverse axis from the center slit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The valved connector according to claim 2, wherein the side slit extends through the valve from the proximal face to the distal face at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The valved connector according to claim 3, wherein a first side slit is angled in a first direction relative to the longitudinal axis and a second side slit is angled in a second direction opposite the first direction, relative to the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The valved connector according to claim 2, wherein the center slit opens during both infusion and aspiration and the side slit opens only during infusion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The valved connector according to claim 1, wherein a crack pressure of the slit is greater than a maintenance pressure of the slit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The valved connector according to claim 1, wherein one of the proximal face or the distal face of the valve includes a recess encircling a portion of the slit.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The valved connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector body includes a proximal housing piece defining a first lumen and a distal housing piece defining a second lumen, and wherein a portion of the valve is retained between the proximal housing piece and the second housing piece to control a fluid flow between the first lumen and the second lumen.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The valved connector according to claim 8, wherein a portion of the first lumen defines a reduced cross-sectional area to modify an aspiration crack pressure.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The valved connector according to claim 8, wherein a portion of the first lumen defines one of an oval shape, an oblong shape or a cross shape to direct a fluid flow towards the slit.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The valved connector according to claim 1, wherein a radius of curvature of the lateral axis can vary between d=0.5z and d=4z, where d is a midpoint distance from a linear axis and z is a longitudinal thickness of the valve.

### Claim 12

A method of manufacturing a valved connector, comprising:
forming a proximal housing piece including a first lumen and a distal engagement surface;
forming a distal housing piece including a second lumen and a proximal engagement surface;
forming a valve including a proximal face and a distal face and a slit extending therebetween, one of the proximal face or the distal face defining an oval shape, a lateral axis of the oval shape being wider than a transverse axis of the oval shape;
retaining the valve between the proximal housing piece and the distal housing piece to control a fluid flow between the first lumen and the second lumen;
constraining the lateral axis of the valve to a curved shape to provide a convex shape to the proximal face; and
attaching the distal engagement surface with the proximal engagement surface.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method according to claim 12, wherein a radius of curvature of the lateral axis can vary between d=0.5z and d=4z, where d is a midpoint distance from a linear axis and z is a longitudinal thickness of the valve between the proximal face and the distal face.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method according to claim 12, wherein the valve further includes a center slit and a side slit each extending parallel to the lateral axis and extending from the proximal face to the distal face, the side slit disposed in an off-set relationship along the transverse axis from the center slit.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method according to claim 14, wherein the side slit extends through the valve from a proximal face to a distal face at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method according to claim 15, wherein a first side slit is angled in a first direction relative to the longitudinal axis and a second side slit is angled in a second direction opposite the first direction, relative to longitudinal axis.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method according to claim 14, wherein the center slit opens during both infusion and aspiration and the side slit opens only during infusion.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The method according to claim 12, wherein a crack pressure of the slit is greater than a maintenance pressure thereof

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The method according to claim 12, wherein one of the proximal face or the distal face of the valve includes a recess encircling a portion of the slit.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The method according to claim 12, wherein a portion of the first lumen defines a reduced cross-sectional area to modify an aspiration crack pressure.