Multiple use valving device

Claim 1

A multiple use valving device for use in an ophthalmic micro-surgery system between at least one fluid flow source and at least one ophthalmic microsurgery instrument utilizing the fluid flow, said fluid flow being selected from but not limited to the set of pressurized gas, liquid and vacuum, comprising: a valve housing having at least one inlet opening each connectable to a fluid flow source, an outlet opening connectable to each said ophtalmic microsurgery instrument utilizing the fluid flow, and a channel connecting each said inlet and each correponding said outlet opening; a deformable but resilient sealing member positioned within said valve housing, moveable between a first position outside of each said channel and a second position interposed into each said channel for sealingly blocking said channel from any fluid communication between each said inlet and the corresponding said outlet opening; a manual control member for each said channel, having an open position and a closed position, operably attached to said valve housing for selectively and manually controlling movement of said sealing member between said first and second positions for the corresponding said channel, said manual control member including an eccentric cam pivotable about an axle which is secured to the valve housing, said eccentric cam having a generally curved periphery except for a flattened portion terminating in a raised stop, said flattened portion and raised stop corresponding with the closed position of the manual control member; an actuator means being responsive to each said manual control member and positioned within said valve housing to abutt and deform said sealing member into said second position when said manual control member is placed in said closed position, and being responsive to the resiliency of said sealing member to be pushed away from said channel when said manual control member is in said open position so that said sealing member is in its said first position, said actuator means following the periphery of the manual control member until reaching the flattened portion and stop, the flattened portion causing the actuator means to be locked in a position whereby it deforms said sealing member into said second position, the stop disallowing any further movement of the manual control member towards the closed position; and the actuator means including a stem having a first end which abutts the manual control member, the stem extending through an aperature in the valve housing to a second end which abutts the sealing member, the second end having a head portion which is greater in diameter then the stem and which has an outermost rounded surface which contacts the sealing member and facilitates the sealing action of the sealing member into the channel.