Patent · US Expired

Medical valve with expandable member

US7396348B2 · kind B2 · utility

96Cited by
158References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 20, 2002
Grant dateJul 8, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 2, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61M2039/267
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A medical valve has a resilient member that is forcibly expanded to an expanded volume from a normal volume. Specifically, the valve operates in a closed mode that prevents fluid flow, and an open mode that permits fluid flow. To these ends, the valve has a housing having an inlet and an outlet, and the noted resilient member within the housing. The resilient member and housing form a fluid channel between the inlet and the outlet. The fluid channel at least in part extends through the resilient member. The fluid channel has a given portion formed by a variable volume portion of the resilient member. The variable volume portion has a normal volume when in the closed mode, and an expanded volume when the open mode. The expanded volume is greater than the normal volume.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.