Leakproof hemostasis valve with single valve member

Claim 2

In a hemostasis valve which defines a housing, said housing having a first bore extending through said housing, the housing bore defining an enlarged chamber portion which has an open, outer end and which carries and retains a tubular, resilient gasket having a second bore in generally coaxial relation with said first bore, rotatable handle means for rotating in one direction to pressurize the gasket to cause constriction of the second bore and for rotating in the opposite direction to release said pressure on the gasket to permit expansion of said second bore, whereby an elongate member passing through said bore may be subjected to a variable pressure seal, the improvement comprising, in combination: the bore of said tubular gasket defining at least one resilient, annular rib, whereby said elongated member passing through said tubular gasket bore may be subjected at all times to at least a relatively low pressure seal from said resilient, annular rib, irrespective of the pressure applied by said variable pressure seal.

Claim 3

The hemostasis valve of claim 1 in which said tubular, resilient gasket defines a generally conical inner end, the inner end of said enlarged chamber portion being of correspondingly generally conical shape, the bores of said gasket and housing extending respectively through the apexes of the conical shapes of their inner ends, to facilitate registration of said bores as the gasket is compressed.

Claim 4

The hemostasis valve of claim 2 in which said resilient, annular rib is located adjacent to the generally conical end of said gasket.

Claim 5

The hemostasis valve of claim 2 which defines a branch tube for fluid flow in said housing, said branch tube being spaced for one tubular housing end by said gasket.

Claim 6

The hemostasis valve of claim 4 in which the other tubular housing end defines threaded connector means.

Claim 7

The hemostasis valve of claim 1 in which a pressure member is also carried in said enlarged chamber portion of the housing bore at an outward position from said gasket, said pressure member defining a third bore positioned in generally coaxial relation with said first and second bores, means permitting longitudinal motion but preventing rotational motion by said pressure member; a rotatable cap closing the open, outer end of the enlarged chamber portion, said cap defining an aperture for access to said bores; and facing, mating spiral track means carried on the inner face of said rotatable cap and outer face of said pressure member, to cause pressurizing advancement of said pressure member against the tubular gasket by rotation of the cap in one direction, and release of said pressurizing advancement by rotation of the cap in the other direction.

Claim 8

The valve of claim 6 in which said pressure member defines a polygonal periphery, which engages a corresponding mating, polygonal section of said chamber portion, to permit said longitudinal motion and to prevent said rotational motion.

Claim 9

In a hemostasis valve, a housing defining a first bore extending therethrough, said housing bore defining an enlarged chamber portion of said bore which has an open, outer end and which carries and retains a tubular, resilient gasket having a second bore in generally coaxial relation with said first bore; rotatable handle means provided for rotating in one direction to pressurize said gasket to cause constriction of said second bore and for rotating in the opposite direction to release said pressure on the gasket to permit expansion of said second bore, whereby an elongated member passing through said bore may be subjected to a variable pressure seal, the improvement comprising, in combination: the bore of said tubular, resilient gasket defining at least one resilient, annular rib, whereby the elongated member passing through the tubular gasket bore may be subject at all times to at least a relatively low pressure seal from said resilient, annular rib irrespective of the pressure applied by the variable pressure seal; said tubular, resilient gasket defining a generally conical inner end, the corresponding inner end of the enlarged chamber portion being also of a similar, generally conical shape, the bores of said gasket and housing passing respectively through the apexes of the conical shapes of their inner ends, to facilitate registration of the bores as the gasket as axially compressed; said enlarged chamber portion of the first bore also carrying a pressure member at an axially outward position from said gasket, said pressure member defining a third bore positioned in a generally coaxial relation with said first and second bores; means permitting longitudinal motion but preventing rotational motion by said pressure member; said rotatable handle means closing the open, outer end of the enlarged chamber portion, said handle means defining an aperture for access to said bores; and facing, mating spiral track means carried on the inner face of said rotatable handle means and outer face of said pressure member, to cause pressurizing advancement of said pressure member against the tubular gasket by rotation of the handle means in one direction, and release of said pressurizing advancement by rotation of the handle means in the other direction.

Claim 10

In a hemostasis valve, a housing defining a first bore extending therethrough, said housing bore defining an enlarged chamber portion of said bore which has an open, outer end and which carries and retains a tubular, resilient gasket having a second bore in generally coaxial relation with said first bore; rotatable handle means provided for rotating in one direction to pressurize said gasket to cause constriction of said second bore and for rotating in the opposite direction to release said pressure on the gasket to permit expansion of said second bore, whereby an elongated member passing through said bore may be subjected to a variable pressure seal, the improvement comprising, in combination: the bore of said tubular, resilient gasket defining at least one resilient, annular rib, whereby the elongated member passing through the tubular gasket bore may be subject at all times to at least a relatively low pressure seal from said resilient, annular rib irrespective of the pressure applied by the variable pressure seal; said tubular, resilient gasket defining a generally conical inner end, the corresponding inner end of the enlarged chamber portion being also of a similar, generally conical shape, the bores of said gasket and housing passing respectively through the apexes of the conical shapes of their inner ends, to facilitate registration of the bores as the gasket as axially compressed; said enlarged chamber portion of the first bore also carrying a pressure member at an axially outward position from said gasket, said pressure member defining a third bore positioned in a generally coaxial relation with said first and second bores; means permitting longitudinal motion but preventing rotational motion by said pressure member; said rotatable handle means closing the open, outer end of the enlarged chamber portion, said handle means defining an aperture for access to said bores; and facing, mating spiral track means carried on the inner face of said rotatable handle means and outer face of said pressure member, to cause pressurizing advancement of said pressure member against the tubular gasket by rotation of the handle means in one direction, and release of said pressurizing advancement by rotation of the handle means in the other direction.

Claim 11

The hemostasis valve of claim 8 in which said pressure member defines a polygonal periphery, which engages a corresponding, mating, polygonal section of said chamber portion, to permit said longitudinal motion and prevent said rotational motion.

Claim 12

The valve of claim 9 in which said resilient, annular rib is located adjacent the generally conical inner end of said gasket.

Claim 13

The valve of claim 10 which defines a branch tube for fluid flow in said housing, said branch tube being spaced from one tubular housing end by said gasket.

Claim 14

The valve of claim 11 in which the other tubular housing end defines threaded connector means.

Claim 15

In a hemostasis valve, a housing defining a first bore extending therethrough, said housing bore defining an enlarged chamber portion of said bore which has an open, outer end and which carries and retains a tubular, resilient gasket having a second bore in generally coaxial relation with said first bore; a pressure member also carried in said enlarged chamber portion at an outward position from said gasket, said pressure member defining a third bore positioned in generally coaxial relation with said first and second bore; means permitting longitudinal motion but preventing rotational motion by said pressure member; a rotatable cap closing the open, outer end of the enlarged chamber portion, said cap defining an aperture for access to said bores; and facing, mating spiral track means carried on the inner face of said rotatable cap and outer face of said pressure member, to cause pressurizing advancement of said pressure member against the tubular gasket by rotation of the cap in one direction, and release of said pressurizing advancement by rotation of the cap in the other direction.

Claim 16

In a hemostasis valve, a housing defining a first bore extending therethrough, said housing bore defining an enlarged chamber portion of said bore which has an open, outer end and which carries and retains a tubular, resilient gasket having a second bore in generally coaxial relation with said first bore; a pressure member also carried in said enlarged chamber portion at an outward position from said gasket, said pressure member defining a third bore positioned in generally coaxial relation with said first and second bore; means permitting longitudinal motion but preventing rotational motion by said pressure member; a rotatable cap closing the open, outer end of the enlarged chamber portion, said cap defining an aperture for access to said bores; and facing, mating spiral track means carried on the inner face of said rotatable cap and outer face of said pressure member, to cause pressurizing advancement of said pressure member against the tubular gasket by rotation of the cap in one direction, and release of said pressurizing advancement by rotation of the cap in the other direction.

Claim 17

The valve of claim 13 in which said pressure member defines a polygonal periphery, which engages a corresponding, mating, polygonal section of said chamber portion, to permit said longitudinal motion and prevent said rotational motion.