Flow variation valve assembly
AssigneeCook Medical Technologies LLC
InventorsKurt J. Tekulve, Ram H. Paul, Jr., Julie E. Urbanski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A non-implantable valve assembly and a method for controlling flow rates in a medical device are provided. The valve assembly includes a valve member being dimensioned for reception at least partially within a lumen of the medical device. The valve member includes a flow regulator for controlling flow rates in a first direction having a first rate and a second direction having a second rate. The second rate is greater than the first rate.
Claims16
A non-implantable valve assembly for controlling flow rates in a medical device, the valve assembly comprising:
- a valve member positioned at least partially within a wall defining an inflation lumen of the medical device, the inflation lumen connected to an inflatable member, the valve member comprising:
- a flow regulator comprising at least one flexible member controlling flow through the inflation lumen to the inflatable member for inflation and deflation of the inflatable member, the flexible member having a closed configuration for controlling a first inflation flow rate in a first direction and an open configuration for controlling a second deflation flow rate in a second direction;
- the flow regulator comprising a first opening defined in the flow regulator for allowing flow therethrough in the first direction and a second opening defined in the flow regulator and spaced apart from the first opening, the second opening allowing flow therethrough in the second direction;
- wherein the second rate is greater than the first rate.
A method of controlling flow in a medical device in a first direction and a second direction;
- the method comprising:
- providing a non-implantable valve assembly, the valve assembly comprising:
- a valve member being sized and shaped for reception at least partially within a wall defining an inflation lumen of the medical device, the inflation lumen connected to an inflatable member, the valve member comprising:
- a flow regulator for controlling flow rates in the first direction having a first rate and the second direction having a second rate, wherein the second rate is greater than the first rate;
- providing a plurality of first openings in the flow regulator for controlling flow in the first direction;
- providing a second opening in the valve member for controlling flow in the second direction, the second opening spaced apart from the plurality of first openings;
- and
- positioning the valve assembly in the inflation lumen of the medical device so that the flow regulator is movable between an open configuration for deflating the inflatable member in the second direction and a closed configuration for inflating the inflatable member in the first direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.