12627results about "Check valves" patented technology

An implantable flow control element is provided which prevents air from entering an isolated portion of a patient's lung. The element may permit air to escape from the isolated portion so that the element acts like a valve. Systems for implanting pulmonary devices are also provided.

A seal assembly adapted for use in conjunction with a trocar assembly includes a plurality of seal segments, each seal segment including a peripheral edge and a seam edge. Each seal segment further includes a first section and a second section with a vertical wall connecting the first section and the second section in such a way that the first section is displaced relative to the second section such that the first section of a first seal segment may be placed upon the second section of a second seal segment with the first sections of the first and second seal segments lying in the same plane and the second sections of the first and second seal segments lying in the same plane. The seal segments are assembled in an overlapping woven arrangement to provide a complete seal body without the need for a secondary seal.

A poppet valve assembly for a high-speed compressor, the poppet valve assembly including a cage that includes a plurality of counter bores disposed therein. The poppet valve assembly further includes a plurality of poppets, each poppet having a stem and a head. The head of each poppet has a maximum diameter that is less than approximately 0.75 inches. The stem of the poppet is disposed in each of said counter bores. The poppet valve assembly also includes a seat plate overlying said cage, said seat plate including a plurality of through bores axially aligned with the counter bores of the cage. Each through bore is sized to have a smaller diameter than the maximum diameter of the head. A lift spacer is disposed in each of the counter bores.

Methods and apparatus for calibrating a plurality of gas flows in a substrate processing system are provided herein. In some embodiments, a substrate processing system may include a cluster tool comprising a first process chamber and a second process chamber coupled to a central vacuum transfer chamber; a first flow controller to provide a process gas to the first process chamber; a second flow controller to provide the process gas to the second process chamber; a mass flow verifier to verify a flow rate from each of the first and second flow controllers; a first conduit to selectively couple the first flow controller to the mass flow verifier; and a second conduit to selectively couple the second flow controller to the mass flow verifier.

A prosthetic valve for implantation within a fluid conducting lumen within a body includes an elongate generally cylindrical radially collapsible valve body scaffold defining a fluid passageway therethrough for retentive positioning within the lumen. A radially collapsible leaf valve member is supported by the scaffold includes a number of valve leafs deflectable between a closed position restricting fluid flow through the passageway and an open position permitting fluid flow through the passageway. The leaf valve member includes an interior leaf valve frame defining a valve leaf aperture which is sealed by a fluid impermeable non-thrombogenic lining to prevent fluid flow therethrough.

A process-gas supply system 2 supplies a process gas diluted with a diluent gas to a gas using system 4. The process-gas supply system 2 includes a process gas tank 10, a diluent gas tank 12, a main gas duct 14 connecting the process gas tank 10 and the gas using system 4, and a diluent gas duct connecting the diluent gas tank 12 to the main gas duct. The respective main gas duct 14 and the diluent gas duct are provided with flow rate controllers FC1, FC2, and FC5. The diluent gas duct is connected to the main gas duct at a position on an immediately downstream side of one of a plurality of flow rate controllers other than the flow rate controller on the most downstream side. There is further provided a surplus-gas discharge duct 24 through which a surplus diluted process gas is discharged, the surplus-gas discharge duct 24 being connected to the main gas duct at a position on an immediately upstream side of one the flow rate controllers other than the flow rate controller on the most upstream side.

Systems, methods and devices for performing pulmonary procedures, and in particular treating lung disease. A flow control element includes a valve that prevents airflow in the inhalation direction but permits airflow in the exhalation direction. The flow control element is guided to and positioned at the site by a bronchoscope that is introduced into the patient's trachea and used to view the lungs during delivery of the flow control element. The valve may include one, two or more valve elements, and it may be collapsible for easier delivery. A source of vacuum or suction may be used to increase the amount of fluid withdrawn from the lung tissue. A device for measuring hollow structures, such as bronchioles, and a device for removing a previously-placed flow control element are disclosed as well.

A shut-off valve or connecting valve capable of connecting a fuel supply to a fuel cell is disclosed. The valve comprises a first valve component and a second valve component. Each valve component has an outer housing and a biased slidable member disposed inside the housing forming an internal seal. During the connection process, the two valve components establish an inter-component seal. Afterward, in one suitable embodiment the slidable member moves inward and opens the internal seal in the valve component to establish a flow path. In another embodiment, the slidable member moves inward and exposes a first filler and the first filler abuts a second filler in the other valve component to establish a flow path. In other embodiments, at least one valve component is sized and dimensioned to limit access to the internal seal.

A gas supply subsystem for providing a set of process gases to a substrate processing chamber, the set of process gases being a subset of a plurality of process gases available to the substrate processing chamber. The gas supply subsystem has fewer multi-gas mass flow controllers than the number of available process gases, wherein multiple process gases are multiplexed at the input of one or more of the multi-gas mass flow controllers. Pump-purge may be employed to improve gas switching speed for the multi-gas mass flow controllers

A cartridge connectable to a fuel cell is disclosed. The cartridge comprises an outer casing and an inner flexible liner containing fuel for the fuel cell. The inner flexible liner may have an insert disposed inside the inner liner to facilitate the transport of fuel from the cartridge to the fuel cell. The insert minimizes the fuel that is trapped within the cartridge. The inner flexible liner can be used without the outer casing. The outer casing can be substantially rigid or flexible. The cartridge is also adaptable to receive byproducts from the fuel cell. The cartridge can also be pressurized to push fuel to the fuel cell. Unidirectional relief valves are also disclosed to prevent internal pressure in the cartridge from becoming too high or too low.

A shut-off type diaphragm valve adapted for use in an atomic layer deposition system includes a valve seat having an annular seating surface that surrounds an inlet of the valve and extends radially therefrom. The seating surface contacts a substantial portion of the first side of a flexible diaphragm when the diaphragm is closed, to facilitate heat transfer and counteract dissipative cooling of the diaphragm, thereby inhibiting condensation of a medium flowing through the valve passage. The seating surface is preferably flat and smooth, to prevent shearing of an elastomeric diaphragm. For a plastic diaphragm, a ring-shaped seating ridge may extend from the seating surface to cause localized permanent deformation of the diaphragm and enhanced sealing, while still allowing a substantial portion of the diaphragm to contact the seating surface for enhanced heat transfer. Valve speed enhancements and other reliability enhancing features are also described.

A method and apparatus for an automated biological reaction system is provided. In the processing of a biological reaction system, there is a need for consistently placing an amount of fluid on a slide. In order to accomplish this, several methods are used including a consistency pulse and a volume adjust means. Moreover, in order to reliably operate an automated biological reaction system, the dispenser must be reliable, easy to assemble and accurate. Among other things, in order to accomplish this, the dispense chamber is substantially in line with the reservoir chamber, the reservoir chamber piston is removed, and the flow of fluid through the dispenser is simplified. Further, in order to operate the automated biological reaction system more reliably, the system is designed in modular pieces with higher functions performed by a host device and the execution of the staining operations performed by remote devices. Also, to reliably catalog data which is used by the automated biological reaction system, data is loaded to a memory device, which in turn is used by the operator to update the operator's databases. The generation of the sequence of steps for the automated biological reaction device based on data loaded by the operator, including checks to determine the ability to complete the run, is provided.

Disclosed are methods and devices for regulating fluid flow in one or more lung regions that are supplied fluid through one or more collateral pathways. An identified region of the lung is targeted for volume reduction or collapse. The targeted lung region is then bronchially isolated to inhibit air from flowing into the targeted lung region through bronchial pathways that directly feed air to the targeted lung region. If the targeted lung region does not collapse after bronchially isolating the targeted lung region, then it is possible that a collateral pathway is feeding air to the targeted lung region, thereby preventing the targeted lung region from collapsing. In such a case, the collateral pathway is identified and air flow into the targeted lung region via the collateral pathway is reduced or eliminated.

An apparatus, system and method for regulating fluid flow are disclosed. The apparatus includes a flow rate sensor and a valve. The flow rate sensor uses images to estimate flow through a drip chamber and then controls the valve based on the estimated flow rate. The valve comprises a rigid housing disposed around the tube in which fluid flow is being controlled. Increasing the pressure in the housing controls the size of the lumen within the tube by deforming the tube, therefore controlling flow through the tube.

A gas supply apparatus including a raw material gas supply system supplying a raw material gas inside a raw material storage tank into the processing container by the carrier gas, the gas supply apparatus includes: a carrier gas passage introducing the carrier gas into the raw material storage tank, a raw material gas passage connecting the raw material storage tank and the processing container to supply the carrier gas and the raw material gas; a pressure control gas passage being connected to the raw material gas passage to supply the pressure control gas; and a valve control unit controlling an opening / closing valve to perform for starting a supply of the pressure control gas into the processing container and simultaneously starting supply of the raw material gas into the processing container from the raw material storage tank, and stopping the supply of the pressure control gas.

An electronic cigarette particularly adaptable to vaporize liquid material also having exhale filter function is disclosed herein. The exhale function is useful to prevent second hand smoke in an enclosed environment, for example. An innovative diverter valve assembly comprises a unique duckbill valve configuration diverting air through a cooker chamber and into a mouthpiece in an inhale function and diverting exhaled air around the cooker chamber in the exhale function and through a filter assembly. A preferred embodiment further introduces a unique shape to the smoking instrument being elliptical in the cross-section and tapering to proximal and distal ends.

A drip irrigation line includes a plurality of emitter units secured within a water supply tube such that each emitter unit defines with the tube a flow-control passageway having an inlet port communicating with the interior of the water supply tube and an outlet port communicating with a water discharge opening in the water supply tube. Each emitter unit includes a one-way valve at one of the ports. Such port has an opening circumscribed by a cylindrical boss, and the one-way valve thereat includes a cap having a skirt of elastomeric material normally engaging the outer surface of the cylindrical boss to block reverse water flow into the flow-control passageway, but is deformable under water pressure to permit forward flow from the tube interior into the flow-control passageway.

This invention provides microfluidic devices that comprise a fluidics layer having microfluidic channels and one or more regulating layers that regulate the movement of fluid in the channels. The microfluidic devices can be used to mix one or more fluids. At least a portion of the fluidics layer can be isolated from the regulating layer, for example in the form of a shelf. Such isolated portions can be used as areas in which the temperature of liquids is controlled. Also provided are instruments including thermal control devices into which the microfluidic device is engaged so that the thermal control device controls temperature in the isolated portion, and a movable magnetic assembly including magnets with shields so that a focused magnetic field can be applied to or withdrawn from the isolated portion or any other portion of the microfluidic device. Also provided are methods of mixing fluids. The methods include stacking a plurality of alternating boluses of different liquids in a microfluidic channel, and moving the stacked boluses through the channel. In another method, the boluses are moved into a diaphragm valve having a volume able to accommodate several boluses, and then pumping the liquids out of the valve.

A pneumatic valve for use in laminated plastic microfluidic structures. This zero or low dead volume valve allows flow through microfluidic channels for use in mixing, dilution, particulate suspension and other techniques necessary for flow control in analytical devices.

A reed valve is disclosed for use with a pump having a casing. A check valve unit is provided within the casing for preventing counterflow of fluids to be carried. A suction port communicates with a suction line into which the fluids to be carried flow, and a discharge port communicates with discharge line from which the fluids to be carried out are discharged. Reed valves are mounted on the suction port and on the discharge port of the check valve, respectively, in such a manner that the reed valves cover the suction port and the discharge port so as to be able to open and close. Each reed valve includes a first reed valve and second reed valve. The first reed valve is made of pliable material, and is formed to have a size capable of covering the entire respective suction port and discharge port. The second reed valve is smaller than first reed valve and is superposed on the first reed valve to engage the first reed valve such that the first reed valve can open and close, while enhancing sealability thereof.

Valve guide and spring retainer assemblies are described for use in plunger pump housings that incorporate structural features for stress-relief. These pump housing structural features accommodate correspondingly-shaped valve guides and / or spring retainers that are internally fixed in place using one or more non-threaded spacers. Plunger pumps so constructed are relatively resistant to fatigue failure because of stress reductions, and they may incorporate a variety of valve styles, including top and lower stem-guided valves and crow-foot-guided valves, in easily-maintained configurations. Besides securing valve guides and / or spring retainers, non-threaded spacers may be shaped and dimensioned to aid in further reducing stress and to improve volumetric efficiency of the pumps in which they are used.

The present invention is directed to a fuel cell supply for a fuel cell having an outer casing, a liner member containing methanol, and a valve component comprising a valve body member and a slidable body member disposed inside the valve body member. The slidable body member is normally biased toward a valve seat surface to seal the valve component and the slidable body member can be moved away from the valve seat surface to open the valve component. The liner member, the valve body member and the slidable body member are made from at least two different materials and wherein at least one of the members compatible with methanol. Hence, each component can be selected from material(s) that is substantially optimal for its function in the fuel supply.

Disclosed is a fastener driving apparatus for driving fasteners into a substrate. The fastener driving apparatus is a combination of a motor driven linear motion converter; a compression cylinder; an expansion cylinder and a valve arrangement. The linear motion converter converts a rotational motion of a motor to a linear motion of a compression piston within the compression cylinder causing a gas within the compression cylinder to be compressed. The compressed gas is communicated to the expansion cylinder through the valve arrangement wherein the compressed gas expands causing an anvil coupled to an expansion piston within the expansion cylinder to move axially. The axial movement of the anvil causes a fastener to be driven into the substrate. The fastener driving apparatus is an ergonomically designed portable hand held tool providing comfort to a user, meeting safety standards and performance efficiency requirements.

A valved sheath introducer for venous cannulation, including a valve, sheath, handle and cap. The valve is configured to permit safe introduction and removal of medical instruments through the sheath introducer. The valve may have one or more anchoring members and a thickened central portion through which a slit is formed. The central portion may have one or more concave surfaces and the slit can be angled with respect to the top surface of the valve. The cap is attached to the handle, compressing a portion of the valve therebetween.