Adjustable surgical vacuum valve

A unitary adjustable surgical suction device comprising:

• a surgical suction catheter of a size suitable for use in the removal of body fluids during surgery or other medical procedures;
• a surgical suction regulator valve connected to said suction catheter and being formed of a medically suitable plastic material;
• a hollow handle member connected to said suction regulator valve;
• and
• a surgical connector member connected to said handle member;
• wherein said valve comprises a hollow valve body having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface with an elongated opening therethrough extending generally transverse to said longitudinal axis , and a valve member slidably mounted on said valve body for generally transverse movement on said outer surface thereof adjacent to said elongated opening, said valve member being movable between an open position wherein said opening is uncovered and a closed position wherein said valve member covers and closes said opening;
• wherein said valve body and said valve member are constructed to enable the incremental movement of said valve member relative to said valve body and the retention of said valve member in a desired position.

A surgical suction regulator valve formed of a medically suitable plastic material and being of a size and constructed to be installed between a surgical suction pump and a surgical suction catheter used for the removal of body fluids during a medical procedure, said valve comprising:

• a hollow valve body having a longitudinal axis with an interior flow channel extending between the outer ends thereof, said valve body having connector members on the outer ends thereof constructed for attachment to the surgical suction catheter and the surgical suction pump, said valve body having an outer surface with an elongated opening therethrough extending generally transverse to said longitudinal axis, and
• a valve member slidably mounted on said valve body for generally transverse movement on said outer surface thereof adjacent to said elongated opening, said valve member being movable between an open position wherein said opening is uncovered and a closed position wherein said valve member covers and closes said opening;
• wherein said valve body comprises a stop for limiting the opening and closing movement of said valve member, and said stop has a recess near said outer surface of said valve body which is positioned to receive the adjacent end portion of said valve member as it is being moved to said closed position to urge it into sealing engagement with the adjacent outer surface of said valve body.