Disposable smoke return prevention valve
By designing an anti-smoke backflow valve suitable for electrosurgical equipment, the problem of existing anti-smoke backflow valves being unable to effectively prevent smoke backflow has been solved. This achieves safe use with low-pressure start-up, no blockage, prevention of misinstallation, and transparent visibility, and is suitable for single-use.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202610518205.1
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-04-20
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-05
- Estimated Expiration
- Not applicable · inactive patent
AI Technical Summary
Existing anti-backflow valves cannot effectively prevent backflow of smoke generated by electrosurgical equipment. They have problems such as unreasonable opening pressure, mismatched interface size, poor pressure relief, and improper anti-misinstallation design, which lead to environmental pollution and safety hazards in the operating room.
A smoke backflow prevention valve was designed, comprising a valve body, valve seat, resilient valve plate, valve cover, and connection interface. It uses low-hardness elastic material and a conical sealing surface to ensure low-pressure opening and unobstructed pressure relief groove. The interface conforms to standards to prevent misinstallation, and the transparent and visible design ensures safe use.
It enables smooth smoke discharge under low pressure, avoids blockage and misinstallation, ensures safe and reliable smoke protection, is suitable for single use, and reduces the risk of cross-infection.
Smart Images
Figure CN122141088A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical anesthesia breathing circuit consumables technology, specifically to a disposable anti-smoke backflow valve, which is particularly suitable for smoke protection scenarios generated by electrosurgical equipment (electrosurgical knife, ultrasonic knife, laser knife) during surgery. It can effectively prevent surgical smoke from flowing back into the anesthesia machine or ventilator tubing, while maintaining normal ventilation for the patient. Background Technology
[0002] With the widespread use of electrosurgical techniques, surgical fumes generated by electrosurgical units, ultrasonic scalpels, and laser devices have become one of the main sources of pollution in operating rooms. Studies have shown that surgical fumes contain tissue protein degradation products, fat particles, viruses (such as HPV DNA, which has been confirmed), bacteria, and PM2.5-level fine particulate matter. Long-term inhalation can lead to respiratory damage to medical staff in operating rooms.
[0003] Currently, surgical smoke extraction and purification systems are mainly used in clinical practice to handle surgical smoke. However, during general anesthesia or laryngeal mask airway surgery, smoke may still enter the anesthesia / breathing circuit through open airway gaps. Existing respiratory filters (artificial noses) are mainly used for heat preservation and filtration of bacteria / viruses, and do not have the ability to intercept and unidirectionally discharge high-pressure, high-temperature particles from electrosurgical smoke.
[0004] In addition, the existing anti-backflow valve has the following problems: (1) The opening pressure design is unreasonable and cannot be matched with the low-pressure environment of electrosurgical smoke; (2) The interface size does not match the standard Luer pipeline, which is prone to local resistance and blockage; (3) The pressure relief groove design is lacking, and the smoke discharge is not smooth; (4) The anti-misinstallation design is lacking, and there are safety hazards in clinical operation.
[0005] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a disposable anti-smoke backflow valve that is simple in structure, has low opening pressure, standard interface, and reliable protection against misinstallation. Summary of the Invention
[0006] 4.1 Technical Solution A disposable smoke backflow prevention valve, characterized in that it includes a valve body, a valve seat, a resilient valve plate, a valve cover, and a connection interface; The valve body is a tubular shell with one open end. The valve seat is disposed inside the open end of the valve body and is interference-fitted with the valve body. The valve seat has a conical sealing surface extending toward the closed end of the valve body. The elastic valve plate is disposed between the valve seat and the closed end of the valve body, the periphery of the elastic valve plate abuts against the conical sealing surface, and a pressure relief groove is provided in the central area; The valve cover is located at the open end of the valve body, and the valve cover has a gas passage hole in the center and is ultrasonically welded or snap-fitted to the valve body around its periphery. The connection interfaces are located at both ends of the valve body, namely a male Luer connector and a female Luer connector, forming a unidirectional flow structure with one end connected to the patient and the other end connected to the equipment.
[0007] Core design concept: The elastic valve plate relies on its own elastic force to achieve low-pressure opening and automatic reset, the pressure relief groove ensures unobstructed smoke emission, and the overall structure has no moving or jamming parts, making it suitable for single use.
[0008] 4.2 Further Technical Features The elastic valve plate is a low-hardness, thin elastomer with a thickness that meets the low-pressure opening requirements, and its Shore hardness falls within the range of low-hardness elastic materials.
[0009] The elastic valve plate is made of medical-grade silicone or thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer.
[0010] The conical sealing surface has a moderate cone angle, and the surface roughness of the conical sealing surface is that of a smooth sealing surface.
[0011] The valve body diameter is compatible with standard Luer interfaces and commonly used suction pipe diameters.
[0012] The valve cover and the valve body are connected by ultrasonic welding or snap-fit, and the airtightness of the weld meets the clinical air pressure sealing requirements.
[0013] The valve body is made of medical-grade polycarbonate, which is transparent and allows direct observation of the valve plate's status.
[0014] The connection interface has an external tapered Luer male connector at one end and an internal tapered Luer female connector at the other end.
[0015] The valve body has a molded arrow marking on its outer wall to indicate the airflow direction.
[0016] The disposable anti-smoke backflow valve is sterilized with ethylene oxide and its biocompatibility meets relevant medical material standards.
[0017] 4.3 Beneficial Effects (1) Reliable low-pressure start-up: The start-up pressure is lower than the electric knife smoke pressure, ensuring that the smoke can be smoothly pushed open by the valve plate and discharged; (2) No risk of blockage: The valve body diameter is consistent with the standard Luer interface and suction pipe diameter, and there is no sudden expansion or contraction structure to avoid smoke condensate deposition and blockage; (3) Safety against misconnection: One end is a male Luer connector and the other end is a female Luer connector, which is physically foolproof. In addition, there is an arrow mark on the outer wall of the valve body to prevent reverse connection. (4) Pressure relief groove optimization: The end of the pressure relief groove adopts an arc transition to prevent stress concentration and improve fatigue life; (5) Transparent and visible: The valve body is transparent, and the valve plate status can be directly observed during the operation without the need for an additional observation window; (6) Single-use safety: Eliminates the risk of cross-infection, sterilization complies with regulations, and biocompatibility meets standards. Attached Figure Description
[0018] Figure 1 A schematic diagram (sectional view) of the overall structure of a disposable smoke backflow prevention valve. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram (sectional view) of the mating structure of the valve seat and the resilient valve plate. Detailed Implementation Example 1 (Standard Luer Interface Version) The valve body is injection molded from medical-grade transparent polycarbonate granules. The inner diameter of the valve body is adapted to a standard Luer interface, and the wall thickness meets structural strength requirements. One end is an externally tapered Luer male connector, and the other end is an internally tapered Luer female connector. An arrow molded on the outer wall of the valve body indicates the airflow direction. Use low-hardness Shore A type medical silicone to mold the valve seat. The conical sealing surface has a moderate cone angle, and the surface is polished to a smooth sealing surface roughness level. Press the valve seat into the open end of the valve body with an interference fit. Low-hardness Shore A type medical silicone is used to mold an elastic valve disc. The thickness meets the low-pressure opening requirements, and the diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the valve seat's conical sealing surface. A non-through pressure relief groove is made on the valve disc, with the groove depth being a suitable mid-range proportion of the valve disc thickness. The groove end has an arc transition. The elastic valve disc is then placed on the valve seat's conical sealing surface. A valve cover made of polycarbonate material is injection molded, with a gas passage hole of appropriate diameter opened in the center. The valve cover is then ultrasonically welded to the open end of the valve body, and the airtightness of the weld meets the clinical pneumatic sealing requirements. A medical-grade silicone ring is placed between the valve cover and the elastic valve plate to provide an auxiliary seal. The finished product is sterilized with ethylene oxide and its biocompatibility meets relevant medical material standards. During use, connect the male end of the Luer to the patient's tubing and the female end to the anesthesia machine / ventilator's tubing. When the electrosurgical unit generates smoke, the positive pressure of the smoke pushes open the elastic valve plate, which is then discharged through the pressure relief groove and the vent hole on the valve cover. When the smoke disappears, the elastic valve plate resets and seals due to the elastic force of the silicone. Example 2 (Large Diameter Connector Version) The valve body is injection molded from medical-grade ABS material. One end of the valve body is a large-diameter connector (specifically for smoke suction tubing), and the other end is a Luer female connector (for connecting to the anesthesia circuit). The valve body is entirely transparent, and the wall thickness meets the structural strength requirements. The elastic valve plate is made of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, which is low-hardness and thin. The valve plate has a non-through pressure relief groove with a groove depth that is a suitable intermediate value ratio of the valve plate thickness, and the end has an arc transition. The conical sealing surface has a moderate cone angle and a surface roughness of a smooth sealing surface. The valve cover uses a snap-fit connection instead of ultrasonic welding, and a silicone O-ring is added at the snap-fit point for auxiliary sealing. This embodiment is specifically designed for connecting surgical smoke suction tubing with a larger inner diameter. The larger diameter prevents smoke condensation from clogging the tubing, making it suitable for surgical scenarios where electrosurgical units are frequently used. Example 3 (Laser Surgery Specific Scenario) The valve body is injection molded from medical-grade transparent polycarbonate material. The inner diameter of the valve body is adapted to a standard Luer interface, and the wall thickness meets structural strength requirements. One end is an externally tapered Luer male connector, and the other end is an internally tapered Luer female connector. An arrow molded on the outer wall of the valve body indicates the airflow direction. Use low-hardness Shore A type medical silicone to mold the valve seat. The conical sealing surface has a moderate cone angle, and the surface is polished to a smooth sealing surface roughness level. Press the valve seat into the open end of the valve body with an interference fit. Low-hardness Shore A type medical silicone is used to mold an elastic valve disc. The thickness meets the low-pressure opening requirements, and the diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the valve seat's conical sealing surface. A non-through pressure relief groove is cut into the valve disc, with the groove depth being a suitable mid-range proportion of the valve disc's thickness. The groove end uses an arc transition. The elastic valve disc is then placed on the valve seat's conical sealing surface. A valve cover made of polycarbonate is injection molded. The cover is made of transparent material with a centrally located gas passage hole of appropriate diameter, and an auxiliary sealing flange is provided on the outer periphery. The valve cover is ultrasonically welded to the open end of the valve body, and the airtightness of the weld meets the clinical pneumatic sealing requirements. A medical-grade silicone ring is placed between the valve cover and the elastic valve plate to provide an auxiliary seal. The finished product is sterilized with ethylene oxide, and its biocompatibility meets relevant medical material standards. During use, connect the male Luer connector to the patient's tubing and the female Luer connector to the anesthesia machine / ventilator's tubing. During laser surgery, the high-concentration smoke generated by the laser pushes open the elastic valve plate with positive pressure, allowing it to be quickly discharged through the pressure relief groove and the valve cover vent. When the laser is paused, the elastic valve plate resets and seals due to the elastic force of the silicone. The valve body is entirely transparent, allowing medical staff to observe the valve plate's status at any time and confirm that the smoke exhaust channel is unobstructed. This embodiment is designed for laser surgery scenarios. The transparent valve cover allows for real-time observation of the smoke exhaust status, ensuring that laser smoke is removed in a timely manner. It is suitable for laser surgery applications in ENT, dermatology, gynecology, and other fields.
Claims
1. A disposable smoke backflow prevention valve, characterized in that, include: The valve body (1) is a tubular shell with one end open; A valve seat (2) is disposed inside the open end of the valve body (1) and is press-fitted with the valve body (1). The valve seat (2) has a conical sealing surface (21) extending toward the closed end of the valve body (1). The elastic valve plate (3) is disposed between the valve seat (2) and the closed end of the valve body (1). The periphery of the elastic valve plate (3) abuts against the conical sealing surface (21). The elastic valve plate (3) is provided with a pressure relief groove (31). A valve cover (4) is provided at the open end of the valve body (1). The valve cover (4) has a gas passage hole (41) in the center and is connected to the valve body (1) around its periphery. The connection interface (5) is located at both ends of the valve body (1), namely the male Luer connector (51) and the female Luer connector (52), forming a unidirectional flow structure with one end connected to the patient and the other end connected to the equipment.
2. The disposable smoke backflow prevention valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressure relief groove (31) is a non-through groove, the groove depth is a suitable intermediate value ratio of the thickness of the elastic valve plate (3), and the end of the groove is provided with an arc-shaped transition structure.
3. The disposable smoke backflow prevention valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The elastic valve plate (3) is a low-hardness thin elastomer, and its Shore hardness is within the range of low-hardness elastic materials.
4. The disposable smoke backflow prevention valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic valve plate (3) is made of medical silicone or thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer.
5. The disposable smoke backflow prevention valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conical sealing surface (21) has a moderate cone angle and a surface roughness of a smooth sealing surface.
6. The disposable smoke backflow prevention valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner diameter of the valve body (1) is adapted to the diameter of the Luer interface.
7. The disposable smoke backflow prevention valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The valve cover (4) and the valve body (1) are connected by ultrasonic welding or snap fastening, and the airtightness of the connection meets the clinical air pressure sealing requirements.
8. The disposable smoke backflow prevention valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The valve body (1) is made of polycarbonate, medical grade, and transparent.
9. The disposable smoke backflow prevention valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The male Luer connector (51) and female Luer connector (52) are medical conical connectors.
10. The application of a disposable anti-smoke backflow valve according to any one of claims 1 to 9 in surgical smoke protection, characterized in that: The anti-smoke backflow valve is connected in series in the anesthesia circuit or ventilator tubing and is configured to automatically open and discharge smoke when surgical smoke is generated by the electrosurgical equipment, preventing smoke from flowing back into the anesthesia circuit or ventilator tubing.