Valve
OwnerJoseph E. Levasseurinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosure relates to a four-way valve, incorporating a fail-safe pivotal valve stem, a finger knob indicating simultaneously both closed and opened ports, and three connector fittings oriented in a Y configuration about the centrally located valve stem body for connection with various types of tubing or catheters. A number of channels bored into the valve stem are oriented to connect various ports within the valve housing in a number of combinations depending on the valve stem position. Detent means are provided to lock the valve stem in a selected position and prevent inadvertent opening or closing of a selected port or ports.
Claims18
A valve for clinical use in connecting tubing for administering fluids comprising:
- (a) a housing having three ports;
- a first port, a second port, and a third port;
- (b) said first port being spaced equi-distantly between said second and third ports, said second and third ports being spaced more closely than said first and second and said first and third ports;
- (c) selector means communicating with said ports and movable among four positions, a first position connecting said first and second ports for fluid flow while blocking flow to said third port, a second position connecting said first and third ports for fluid flow while blocking flow to said second port, a third position connecting said second and third ports and flow while blocking flow to said first port, and a fourth position blocking flow among all three ports;
- and
- (d) said selector means being movable among at least five open positions to communicate one or more housing ports with another housing port, each open position being equally spaced about said housing, and five off positions where none of the housing ports are communicated with each other, each off position being located between adjacent open positions and equally spaced about said housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.