EP0337617A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressure actuated valve particularly for biological use
Assignee: HG Wallace Ltd
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Filing: 1989-03-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-03-21
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a single channel needle assembly particularly for the recovery of a biologically active component such as a human embryo, which assembly comprises a single channel transcutaneous needle (1), a three-way connector assembly (2) operatively associated with a remote end of said needle; wherein one channel (4) of said three-way assembly (2) is obturated by a valve assembly (5) comprising a resilient membrane (10) provided with at least one slit (6.7.) held under tension across said channel, said resilient membrane being arranged such that the slit remains closed during normal aspiration. The invention also provides a method for the recovery of a biologically active component utilising the single channel needle assembly as described.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry George Wallace
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 08:50
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B10/00; A61B10/02; A61B10/0291; A61B17/00; A61B17/42; A61B17/425; A61B17/435; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/71; A61M1/77; A61M1/772; A61M39/00; A61M39/02; A61M39/22; A61M39/24; F; F16; F16K; F16K15/00; F16K15/14; F16K15/144; F16K15/147; A61B2017/00535; A61M2039/242; A61M2039/2426
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A single channel needle assembly for the recovery of a biologically active component, which assembly comprises; a single channel transcutaneous needle (1), a three-way connector assembly (2) operatively associated with a remote end of said needle; characterised in that one channel (4) of said three-way assembly (2) is obturated by a valve assembly (5) comprising a resilient membrane (10) provided with at least one slit (6.7.) held under tension across said one channel, said resilient membrane being arranged such that the slit remains closed during normal aspiration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
A single channel needle assembly for the recovery of a biologically active component, which assembly comprises; a single channel transcutaneous needle (1), a three-way connector assembly (2) operatively associated with a remote end of said needle; characterised in that one channel (4) of said three-way assembly (2) is obturated by a valve assembly (5) comprising a resilient membrane (10) provided with at least one slit (6.7.) held under tension across said one channel, said resilient membrane being arranged such that the slit remains closed during normal aspiration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the membrane is formed with at least two layers with slits (7) out of register but in communication, thereby to form an overlap slit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
An assembly according to claim 2 wherein the slits overlap to provide different pressure thresholds at upstream and downstream sides of the membrane.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for the recovery of a biologically active component, which method comprises; inserting a single channel needle assembly into the body to a site juxtaposed said component, introducing a flushing solution into the body via said needle, and aspirating said component via said single channel; characterised in that the remote end of the needle (1) is operatively associated with a three-way valve assembly (2), said valve assembly being provided in one channel (4) with a resilient membrane (5) provided with at least one slit (6.7.) held under tension across said one channel, said resilient membrane being arranged such that said slit remains closed during normal aspiration, but opens under pressure from said flushing solution.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for the recovery of a biologically active component, which method comprises; inserting a single channel needle assembly into the body to a site juxtaposed said component, introducing a flushing solution into the body via said needle, and aspirating said component via said single channel; characterised in that the remote end of the needle (1) is operatively associated with a three-way valve assembly (2), said valve assembly being provided in one channel (4) with a resilient membrane (5) provided with at least one slit (6.7.) held under tension across said one channel, said resilient membrane being arranged such that said slit remains closed during normal aspiration, but opens under pressure from said flushing solution.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 4 characterised in that the component is a mammalian oocyte, and wherein the flushing solution is introduced by obturating the aspiration channel prior to introduction of the flushing solution under pressure.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of inducing pregnancy in an infertile mammalian female, which method comprises recovering an oocyte from the follicle by inserting a single channel needle assembly into the ovarian follicle, introducing a flushing solution into the follicle via said needle, aspirating said component via said single channel, causing said oocytes to be fertilised in vitro and implanting said fertilised oocytes into the uterine endometrium to establish pregnancy, characterised in that the recovery of the oocytes is effected by an arrangement wherein the remote end of the needle (1) is operatively associated with a three-way valve assembly (2), said valve assembly being provided in one channel (4) with a resilient membrane (5) provided with at least one slit (6.7.) held under tension across said one channel, said resilient membrane being arranged such that said slit remains closed during normal aspiration, but opens under pressure from said flushing solution in use.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of inducing pregnancy in an infertile mammalian female, which method comprises recovering an oocyte from the follicle by inserting a single channel needle assembly into the ovarian follicle, introducing a flushing solution into the follicle via said needle, aspirating said component via said single channel, causing said oocytes to be fertilised in vitro and implanting said fertilised oocytes into the uterine endometrium to establish pregnancy, characterised in that the recovery of the oocytes is effected by an arrangement wherein the remote end of the needle (1) is operatively associated with a three-way valve assembly (2), said valve assembly being provided in one channel (4) with a resilient membrane (5) provided with at least one slit (6.7.) held under tension across said one channel, said resilient membrane being arranged such that said slit remains closed during normal aspiration, but opens under pressure from said flushing solution in use.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 6 characterised in that the solution is a heparinized solution.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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