Continuous flushing device
OwnerMichael I. Bastainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flow regulating assembly and components are provided for a catheter system. The assembly provides a regulated flow of medical fluid with an intermittent operator-controlled large-volume flushing flow. The assembly includes a flow-occluding piston reciprocal within a housing to move from the regulated flow position to a position completely out of the path of fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet. Actuation of the piston is from the exterior of the housing, and adjustment of the regulated flow volume is also effected from the housing exterior. The assembly components may be sterilized and fitted together in a clean room without welding or gluing being necessary.
Claims18
A flow regulating assembly for providing a continuous regulated small-volume flow of medical fluid to a catheter system for monitoring hemodynamic functions and for providing an intermittent operator-controlled large-volume flushing flow of the fluid to the catheter system, said assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- means defining a fluid inlet passage to said housing;
- means defining a fluid outlet passage from said housing directly intersecting with said fluid inlet passage;
- a fluid flow-occluding member;
- means for mounting said fluid flow-occluding member in said housing for movement from a first position wherein said flow-occluding member is generally at the intersection of said inlet and outlet passages and wherein fluid flow between said fluid inlet and fluid outlet passages is occluded, to a second position wherein said flow-occluding member is moved out of the path of fluid flow from said inlet passage to said outlet passage so that intersecting imaginary straight lines extending in said inlet passage and said outlet passage do not intersect any portion of said flow-occluding member so that said flow-occluding member introduces substantially no turbulence in a flushing flow of fluid from said inlet passage to said outlet passage which tkakes place with said flow-occluding member in said second position;
- and
- means defining a restricting passage in said flow-occluding member so that when said member is in said first position in a small-volume continuous regulated flow of fluid from said inlet passage through said occluding member to said outlet passage takes place even when said flow-occluding member is in said first position.
A flow regulating assembly for providing a continuous regulated small-volume flow of a medical fluid to a catheter system for monitoring hemodynamic functions and for providing an intermittent operator-controlled large-volume flushing flow of the fluid to the catheter system, said assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- means defining a fluid inlet passage to said housing;
- means defining a fluid outlet passage from said housing;
- a fluid flow-occluding member;
- means for mounting said flow-occluding member in said housing for movement from a first position wherein said flow-occluding member occludes flow between said inlet and outlet, and a second position wherein said occluding member allows flow between said inlet and said outlet;
- actuating means for effecting operator-controlled movement of said flow-occluding member from said first to said second positions thereof;
- means for mounting said flow-occluding member actuating means exteriorly of said housing;
- and
- means for defining a restricting passageway in said flow-occluding member so that when said member is in said first position a small-volume continuous regulated flow of fluid from said inlet passage through said flow-occluding member to said outlet passage takes place;
- said means comprising a small inlet passageway to said flow-occluding member and a small outlet passageway from said flow-occluding member, said inlet and outlet passageways intersecting in said flow-occluding member and said passageways distinct from said inlet and outlet passages;
- and a flow restrictor distinct from said flow-occluding member disposed at the intersection between said small inlet and outlet passageways for providing a restriction between said small inlet and outlet passageways.
A flow regulating assembly for providing a continuous regulated small-volume flow of medical fluid to a catheter system for monitoring hemodynamic functions and for providing an intermittent operator-controlled large-volume flushing flow of the fluid to the catheter system, said assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- means defining a fluid inlet passage to said housing;
- means defining a fluid outlet passage from said housing directly intersecting with said fluid inlet;
- a fluid flow-occluding member;
- means for mounting said fluid flow-occluding member in said housing for movement from a first position wherein said flow-occluding member is generally at the intersection of said inlet and outlet and wherein fluid flow between said fluid inlet and fluid outlet is occluded, to a second position wherein said flow-occluding member is moved generally out of the path of fluid flow from said inlet to said outlet so that a flushing flow of fluid from said inlet to said outlet takes place;
- means defining a restricting passage in said flow-occluding member so that when said member is in said first position a small-volume continuous regulated flow of fluid from said inlet through said occluding member to said outlet takes place;
- and
- actuator means for effecting operator-controlled movement of said flow-occluding member from said first to said second positions thereof, and means for mounting said actuator means exteriorly of said housing, said actuator means comprising:
- a lever having first and second ends;
- spring biasing means mounted exteriorly of said housing;
- and means for pivotally mounting said lever intermediate said first and second ends thereof and exteriorly of said housing so that said first end is in operative engagement with said flow-occluding member and so that said second end is in operative engagement with said spring biasing means.
A flow regulating assembly for providing a continuous regulated small-volume flow of a medical fluid to a catheter system for monitoring hemodynamic functions and for providing an intermittent operator-controlled large-volume flushing flow of the fluid to the catheter system, said assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- means defining a fluid inlet passage to said housing;
- means defining a fluid outlet passage from said housing;
- a fluid flow-occluding member;
- means for mounting said flow-occluding member in said housing for movement from a first position wherein said flow-occluding member occludes flow between said inlet and outlet, and a second position wherein said occluding member allows flow between said inlet and said outlet;
- actuator means for effecting operator-controlled movement of said flow-occluding member from said first to said second positions thereof;
- means for mounting said flow-occluding member actuating means exteriorly of said housing;
- and
- means for defining a restricting passageway in said flow-occluding member so that when said member is in said first position a small-volume continuous regulated flow of fluid from said inlet through said flow-occluding member to said outlet takes place;
- said means comprising a small inlet passageway to said flow-occluding member and a small outlet passageway from said flow-occluding member, said inlet and outlet passageways intersecting in said flow-occluding member;
- and a flow restrictor distinct from said flow-occluding member disposed at the intersection between said small inlet and outlet passageways for providing a restriction between said small inlet and outlet passageways;
- said actuator means comprising:
- a lever having first and second ends;
- spring biasing means mounted exteriorly of said housing;
- and means for pivotally mounting said lever intermediate said first and second ends thereof and exteriorly of said housing so that said first end is in operative engagement with said flow-occluding member and so that said second end is in operative engagement with said spring biasing means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.