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US4634434A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for regulating the flow of fluid in medical apparatus

Assignee: BIOMEDICAL DYNAMICS CORP
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Filing: 1985-02-19
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Granted: 1987-01-06
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Expires: 2005-02-19
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Abstract

Abstract A flow regulator for use in medical apparatus for adjusting the flow of fluid in which there is a valve body with a valve member having a helical flow passage through which the fluid must flow. In order to facilitate quick adjustment of the fluid, the pitch and depth of the groove both progressively change from one end of the flow regulating device to the other, the depth of the groove becoming less as the pitch of the groove becomes finer. The valve member is longitudinally movable with respect to the valve body, and provision is made for adjusting the longitudinal position either by rotation of a threaded valve stem or by longitudinal movement of the valve stem to quickly adjust the flow rate. The helical groove may be either rectangular in cross-section, or V-shaped in cross-section. Suitable means are provided for sealing against leakage through the valve adjusting means.

Inventors

  • 👤 Joseph A. Marino, Jr.
  • 👤 Matthew E. Bellin

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 15:57
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/14; A61M5/168; A61M5/16877; A61M5/16881; F; F16; F16K; F16K47/00; F16K47/04; F16K47/06; A61M25/00; A61M25/0067; A61M25/0068; A61M2025/0073

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 140 words
For use in regulating the flow of a fluid in medical apparatus, a valve body having inlet and outlet openings and having a cylindrical passage therebetween defined by a cylindrical wall; a flow regulating member extending into the cylindrical passage and having an outer cylindrical surface closely engaging the wall of the cylindrical passage, the flow regulating member having a helical grooved portion on the outer cylindrical surface thereof to form a helical fluid passage through the outer body between said inlet and outlet openings, the pitch of the helical groove progressively varying over the extent of the groove; and actuating means for shifting the flow regulating member axially to vary the amount of the helically grooved portion that is disposed between the inlet and outlet openings to vary the length of the helical passage through which fluid must flow.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 140 words
For use in regulating the flow of a fluid in medical apparatus, a valve body having inlet and outlet openings and having a cylindrical passage therebetween defined by a cylindrical wall; a flow regulating member extending into the cylindrical passage and having an outer cylindrical surface closely engaging the wall of the cylindrical passage, the flow regulating member having a helical grooved portion on the outer cylindrical surface thereof to form a helical fluid passage through the outer body between said inlet and outlet openings, the pitch of the helical groove progressively varying over the extent of the groove; and actuating means for shifting the flow regulating member axially to vary the amount of the helically grooved portion that is disposed between the inlet and outlet openings to vary the length of the helical passage through which fluid must flow.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 47 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the depth of the helical groove decreases as the pitch becomes finer so that the cross-sectional area of the helical passage decreases as the length of the helical passage per unit of linear length of the flow regulating member increases.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 63 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which there is means for enabling the outer cylindrical surface of said flow regulating member to be longitudinally slidable with respect to the wall of the cylindrical passage so that the flow regulating member can be axially moved by the actuating means for quick adjustment of the length of the helical passage through which fluid must flow.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which sealing means is disposed between the actuating means and the flow regulating member to prevent fluid from said flow regulating member passing out through said actuating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 54 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the flow regulating member has a stem projecting outwardly from the valve body and in which the actuating means includes coacting threaded portions on the valve body and the stem to cause change in the longitudinal position of the flow regulating member upon rotation of the stem.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 42 words
The apparatus of claim 5 in which the threaded portion of the valve body has a plurality of parts, one of which is yieldable to permit quick change in the longitudinal position of the flow regulating member without rotation of the stem.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 69 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which the valve body has a valve seat therein between the inlet and outlet passages and the flow regulating portion has a valve portion adapted to engage the valve seat to shut off flow completely and in which the portion of the flow regulating member having the smallest depth and the finest pitch is adjacent the valve portion of the flow regulating member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 189 words
In combination with a container for intravenous fluid for delivering the fluid at a controlled rate to a patient, a flexible conduit extending from said container for delivery of said fluid, a valve in said conduit for adjusting the rate at which fluid is delivered, said valve comprising: a valve body having inlet and outlet openings and having a cylindrical passage therebetween defined by a cylindrical wall; a flow regulating member extending into the cylindrical passage and having an outer cylindrical surface closely engaging the wall of the cylindrical passage, the flow regulating member having a helical grooved portion on the outer cylindrical surface thereof to form a helical fluid passage through the valve body between said inlet and outlet openings, the pitch of the helical groove progressively varying from one end of the helical groove to the other; and actuating means for shifting the flow regulating member axially to vary the amount of the helically grooved portion that is disposed between the inlet and outlet openings to vary the length of the helical passage through which fluid must flow to adjust the flow of fluid from said container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 189 words
In combination with a container for intravenous fluid for delivering the fluid at a controlled rate to a patient, a flexible conduit extending from said container for delivery of said fluid, a valve in said conduit for adjusting the rate at which fluid is delivered, said valve comprising: a valve body having inlet and outlet openings and having a cylindrical passage therebetween defined by a cylindrical wall; a flow regulating member extending into the cylindrical passage and having an outer cylindrical surface closely engaging the wall of the cylindrical passage, the flow regulating member having a helical grooved portion on the outer cylindrical surface thereof to form a helical fluid passage through the valve body between said inlet and outlet openings, the pitch of the helical groove progressively varying from one end of the helical groove to the other; and actuating means for shifting the flow regulating member axially to vary the amount of the helically grooved portion that is disposed between the inlet and outlet openings to vary the length of the helical passage through which fluid must flow to adjust the flow of fluid from said container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 82 words
The apparatus of claim 8 in which the flow regulating member has a stem projecting outwardly from the valve body through an opening therein, in which the actuating means includes coacting threaded portions on the valve body and the stem to cause longitudinal shifting of the flow regulating member upon rotation of the stem, and in which there is a manually operable knob secured to the stem for rotation of the stem by the person administering the delivery of the intravenous fluid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 51 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which the threaded portion of the valve body has a plurality of parts, one of which is yieldable to permit quick change in the longitudinal position of the flow regulating member without rotation of the stem to quickly adjust the delivery of the intravenous fluid.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-01-05 1990-07-07 1991-01-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-01-05 1994-07-07 1995-01-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-01-05 1998-07-07 1999-01-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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