Multi-position stop-cock valve for intravenous administration of multiple medications

Claim 2

A multi-position valve, comprising (a) a relatively fixed valve body formed with at least three angularly spaced body passages for feeding fluids to and from said valve, said body having a different distinctive color thereon adjacent each of said passages; (b) a valve core mounted for relative angular movement in said body and formed with at least three angular spaced core passages adapted to form different flow paths according to the angular position of said core with respect to said valve body; (c) a handle on said core having at least four radial portions at different angular locations, all but one of said portions corresponding to said core passages; (d) each of said portions being uniquely and differently colored with respect to the other of said portions whereby flow paths through said valve may be identified by the color relation between said handle portions and said body passages; (e) at least three of said handle portions being of the same colors as at least three of said body passages whereby flow paths through said valve may be identified by aligning a portion of said handle with a correspondingly colored portion on said body; (f) the number of radial portions on said handle being one greater than the number of body passages and representing an extra radial portion being distinctly colored with respect to all other portions on said handle and on said body.

Claim 3

A multi-position valve, according to claim 1, in combination with a plurality of intravenous injection sets, said sets being connected to different body passages for delivery of separate fluids separately to said valve and a single conduit connected to an outlet passage of said body for delivering at least one of said fluids separately or combined according to the position of said handle.

Claim 4

A multi-position valve, according to claim 1 including a check valve connected to said body along each of said body passages, each check valve including a tubular housing formed with a passage therethrough, said passage having a reduced circular portion and a loose ball mounted in said passage and having a diameter in excess of the diameter of said reduced portion and adapted to close said passage when seated against said reduced portion, said housing being formed with spaced protuberances extending into said passage in spaced proximity to said reduced portion and trapping said ball therebetween.

Claim 5

A multi-position valve, according to claim 1 including a check valve connected to said body along each of said body passages, each check valve including a tubular housing formed with a relatively large chamber therein and a pair of coaxial passages communicating with opposite ends thereof, and a disc mounted for limited axial movement transversely in said chamber, said disc being formed with flat face on one side for closing said check valve when said flat face is against one end of said chamber and formed with a plurality of spaced protusions to maintain a flow path through said check valve when said disc is at the opposite end of said chamber.

Claim 6

A multi-position valve, according to claim 1, wherein said valve body is formed with a tubular extension extending outwardly from said body at each body passage for connection with a flexible tubular conduit for delivery of fluids to and from said valve.

Claim 7

A multi-position valve, according to claim 5, wherein each of said extensions terminates in LUER-LOK fitting for coupling said extensions to said conduits.

Claim 8

A multi-position valve, according to claim 1, in combination with a second multi-position valve of a construction similar to that of the first multi-position valve, a tubular conduit connecting an outlet body passage of said first valve to an inlet body passage of said second valve, and a flexible diaphragm cap closing another body passage of said second valve and adapted to be punctured by the needle of a syringe for injecting a fluid into said valve or withdrawing a sample therefrom.

Claim 9

A multi-position valve, according to claim 7, including a cover of a material impervious to bacteria tightly sealed over said cap and removable therefrom.

Claim 10

A multi-position valve, according to claim 8, wherein said cover terminates in an edge along which is formed a tab and re-entrant notches on both sides thereof for tearing away said cover.

Claim 11

A valve for use with intravenous injection sets, or the like, comprising (a) a valve body formed with a chamber of circular cross-section and at least three angularly spaced inlet and outlet ports in said body communicating with said chamber and the exterior of said body; (b) said body being formed with angularly spaced connecting means each formed with a passage communicating with one of said ports and connectable to a tubular conduit for feeding fluids to and from said valve, each connecting means being distinctly colored; (c) a generally cylindrical valve core rotatably mounted in said chamber; (d) said core being formed with passages adapted to form different flow paths between said ports, according to the angular position of said core; (e) at least four outer arms on said core extending radially outwards therefrom in spaced angular relation to one another, and all but one extending in a direction corresponding to one of said flow paths; (f) each of said arms being uniquely colored with respect to each other and at least three being of the same colors as the connecting means to form a color code whereby flow paths through said valve are identified by the color relation between said arms and said connecting means; (g) the number of said arms being one greater than the number of said connecting means and representing an extra arm being distinctly colored with respect to all other arms and all of said connecting means.

Claim 12

A valve for use with intravenous injection sets, or the like, comprising (a) a valve body formed with a chamber of circular cross-section and at least three angularly spaced inlet and outlet ports in said body communicating with said chamber and the exterior of said body; (b) said body being formed with angularly spaced connecting means each formed with a passage communicating with one of said ports and connectable to a tubular conduit for feeding fluids to and from said valve, each connecting means being distinctly colored; (c) a generally cylindrical valve core rotatably mounted in said chamber; (d) said core being formed with passages adapted to form different flow paths between said ports, according to the angular position of said core; (e) at least four outer arms on said core extending radially outwards therefrom in spaced angular relation to one another, and all but one extending in a direction corresponding to one of said flow paths; (f) each of said arms being uniquely colored with respect to each other and at least three being of the same colors as the connecting means to form a color code whereby flow paths through said valve are identified by the color relation between said arms and said connecting means; (g) the number of said arms being one greater than the number of said connecting means and representing an extra arm being distinctly colored with respect to all other arms and all of said connecting means.