US 5,188,591 AGranted

Irrigation control valve for endoscopic instrument

OwnerJames H. Dorsey, IIIinventor

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Abstract

An improved irrigation control valve for endoscopic instruments is herein described wherein the valve body is bilaterally symmetrical and includes a housing, a plurality of valve chambers, pistons for reciprocal movement within each of said chambers, an inlet port for connection to a source of an irrigation fluid and a vacuum port for connection to a source of vacuum and symmetrical opposed fittings for mounting a probe in either one of two positions to accommodate both the right handed and left handed clinician. The design of both the pistons and valve body are unique, compatible with injection molding fabrication techniques and further provide for replacement and/or into change of the probe. Such interchange and/or replacement of the probe can be accomplished without clamping off of either the source of irrigation fluid or the source of suction because of the proximal location of the probe connection to the valve body relative to both the irrigation and suction valves. The valve body can be used in conjunction with a variety of probes and in various endoscopic procedures; one of the preferred applications of this invention being in the hydrodissection of gynecological tissue.

Claims4

Dependent claims

An improved irrigation control valve assembly comprising a bilaterally symmetrical housing defining a plurality of valve chambers, each such valve chamber comprising an elongate cylinder, a piston and means for reciprocating movement of said piston within said valve chamber,

each said valve chamber being further provided with an inlet orifice connected to a source of vacuum or irrigation fluid and a second orifice, axially offset from the inlet orifice, connected to a common conduit,
the piston for each chamber of the valve assembly being of a defined length relative to the length of such valve cylinder to allow for reciprocating movement of each said piston within said cylinder, each said piston being further provided with an elongate aperature, the size and shape of which being determined by the relative distance between the orifices within the valve cylinder wall and controlled flow of fluid, upon reciprocating movement of said piston, within said cylinder thereby allowing for communication between the orifices in said cylinder wall through the elongate aperature in said piston;
and
a common conduit formed at right angles relative to the cylinders of said valve body and communicating with each cylinder in said valve body through the second orifice in the cylinder wall, the common conduit being provided with a fitting adapted for connection to a probe,
said valve being further characterized as having at least one (1) pair of chambers within a housing that is symmetrical about a plane containing a wall that separates the valve chambers, said housing being adapted for attachment of a probe to the valve housing at either one of two positions to accommodate clinician preference.

2 more elements

each such valve chamber being further provided with an inlet orifice connected to a source of vacuum or irrigation fluid and a second orifice, axially offset from the inlet orifice, connected to a common conduit,
the piston for each valve chamber of the assembly being of a defined length relative to the length of such valve cylinder to allow for reciprocating movement of each said piston within said cylinder, each said piston being further provided with an elongate aperture, the size and shape of which being determined by the relative distance between the orifices within the valve cylinder wall and affecting the controlled flow of fluid upon reciprocating movement of said piston within said cylinder, allowing for the fluid communication between the orifices in said cylinder wall through the elongate aperture in said piston and the linear modulation of the rate of flow of fluid;
and
a common conduit formed at right angles relative to the cylinders of said valve body and communicating with each cylinder in said valve body through the second orifice in the cylinder wall, the common conduit being provided with a fitting adapted for connection to a probe,
said piston being further characterized as having a plurality of seals, one seal being positioned on said piston above the aperture to preclude fluid flow into the upper portion of the cylinder, a second seal positioned below the aperture to prevent the fluid communication between the inlet and outlet orifice of the cylinder prior to depression of the piston within the chamber and third seal positioned below said second seal to prevent fluid flow from the chamber upon depression of the cylinder upon the establishment of fluid communication between the inlet and outlet orifices of said chamber.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.