Suction valve for endoscopes

Abstract

This disclosure relates to apparatus, systems, and methods for a suction valve assembly for a medical device. The suction valve assembly includes a valve body, a sliding rod, and a flap-type seal. The valve body has a central channel extending vertically between a vent opening at the top and a working opening at the bottom, and side openings extending from the central channel to a side surface. The sliding rod has an upper opening and a lower opening and moves within the central channel between an upper position and a lower position, wherein in the upper position, the upper opening of the sliding rod is positioned above the vent opening, and in the lower position, the sliding rod extends into the working opening and disengages the flap-type seal.

Description

Cross-references to related applications

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 602,162, filed November 22, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure relates generally to valve assemblies and methods, and more particularly to suction valve assemblies and methods for use with endoscopes. Background Technology

[0003] Various in-vivo medical devices and systems have been developed for medical applications, such as endoscopic surgery. Some of these devices and systems include guidewires, catheters, catheter systems, endoscopic instruments, etc. These devices and systems are manufactured using a variety of different methods and can be used according to any of these methods. Each of the known medical devices, systems, and methods has certain advantages and disadvantages. There is a persistent need to provide alternative medical devices and systems, as well as alternative methods for manufacturing and using them. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This disclosure provides alternatives for the design, materials, manufacturing methods, and use of medical devices and medical systems. In a first example, a suction valve assembly for a medical device includes a valve body, a flap seal, and a sliding rod. The valve body has a top, a bottom, side surfaces, a central channel extending vertically between a vent opening at the top and a working opening at the bottom, and a suction source opening in the side surface that opens into the central channel. The flap seal is located at the bottom of the valve body and is resiliently biased to seat against the valve body, thereby preventing fluid from flowing into the central channel through the working opening. The sliding rod has a side surface surrounding a hollow interior. This side surface has an upper opening and a lower opening, both opening into the hollow interior. The sliding rod moves between an upper position and a lower position within the central channel of the valve body. In the upper position, a first portion of the sliding rod side surface (including at least the upper portion of the upper opening) extends over the vent opening at the top of the valve body. In the lower position, a first portion of the sliding rod side surface (including at least the upper portion of the upper opening) is completely below the vent opening at the top of the valve body, and a second portion of the sliding rod extends below the working opening at the bottom of the valve body. The sliding rod disengages the flip-top seal to allow fluid to flow into the central channel through the working opening.

[0005] As an alternative to or supplement to any of the above examples, the lower opening in the sliding rod side surface may be adjacent to and open to the suction source opening in the valve body side surface in both the upper and lower positions.

[0006] As an alternative to or supplement to any of the above examples, the lower opening in the side surface of the sliding rod can extend the entire length of the side surface such that the lower edge of the lower opening is aligned with the lower edge of the suction source opening when in the upper position, and the upper edge of the lower opening is aligned with the upper edge of the suction source opening when in the lower position.

[0007] As an alternative to or supplement to any of the above examples, the suction valve assembly may also include a button cap attached to a sliding rod and moving with the sliding rod between an upper and lower position.

[0008] As an alternative to or supplement to any of the above examples, the suction valve assembly may also include a lid attached to and moving with the slide rod between an upper and lower position, the lid being seated against a vent opening in the valve body when in the lower position to prevent fluid from flowing into the central channel through the vent opening.

[0009] As an alternative to or supplement to any of the above examples, the suction valve assembly may also include a spring member that biases the valve to an upper position.

[0010] As an alternative to or supplement to any of the above examples, the flip-top seal may be made of a flexible material with a lower Shore hardness (durometer) than the sliding rod.

[0011] As an alternative to or supplement to any of the above examples, the suction valve assembly may also include an alignment pin inserted into the valve body.

[0012] As an alternative to or supplement to any of the above examples, the alignment pin is received by an alignment groove in the surface of the sliding rod.

[0013] As an alternative to or supplement to any of the above examples, the alignment pin is received by the upper opening of the sliding rod.

[0014] As an alternative to or supplement to any of the above examples, the upper opening of the sliding rod is the only opening in the first part of the sliding rod sidewall.

[0015] As an alternative to or supplement to any of the above examples, the lower opening in the sidewall of the sliding rod can be a slot extending to the bottom surface of the sliding rod.

[0016] As another example, an endoscopic surgical instrument includes: an endoscope probe having a working channel; a suction valve assembly of any of the above examples; and a suction source. The working opening of the valve body of the suction valve assembly is in fluid communication with the working channel of the endoscope probe. The suction source is in fluid communication with the suction source opening of the suction valve assembly, such that when the valve's sliding rod is in the lower position, it provides suction to the working channel of the endoscope probe from the suction source opening, through the valve body, and into the working channel opening.

[0017] As an alternative to or supplement to any of the above examples, the endoscopic surgical instrument also includes an endoscope handle having an aspiration valve position with an inner wall, wherein the valve body side surface of the aspiration valve assembly presses against the inner wall of the aspiration valve position of the endoscope handle.

[0018] As an alternative to or supplement to any of the above examples, when the valve's sliding rod is in the upper position, the suction source can be in fluid communication with the vent opening of the valve assembly, thereby opening the suction source to the indoor air.

[0019] These and other features and advantages of this disclosure will readily become apparent from the following detailed description, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate various embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this disclosure.

[0021] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram depicting the components of an exemplary endoscope;

[0022] Figure 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of the components of an exemplary endoscope system;

[0023] Figure 3A depicts a perspective view of an exemplary suction valve assembly;

[0024] Figure 3B depicts a perspective view of an exemplary valve body;

[0025] Figure 3C depicts a side sectional view of the exemplary valve body of Figure 3B;

[0026] Figure 3D depicts a perspective view of an exemplary sliding bar;

[0027] Figure 3E depicts a perspective view of the slider in Figure 3D viewed from opposite sides;

[0028] Figure 3F depicts a side cross-sectional view of the exemplary suction valve assembly of Figure 3A in a first position;

[0029] Figure 3G depicts a side cross-sectional view of the exemplary suction valve assembly of Figures 3A and 3F in a second position;

[0030] Figure 4A depicts a perspective view of an exemplary suction valve assembly;

[0031] Figure 4B depicts a perspective view of an exemplary sliding bar;

[0032] Figure 4C depicts a perspective view of the sliding rod of Figure 4B viewed from the opposite side;

[0033] Figure 4D depicts a side cross-sectional view of the exemplary suction valve assembly of Figure 4A in a first position; and

[0034] Figure 4E depicts a side cross-sectional view of the exemplary suction valve assembly of Figures 4A and 4B in a second position.

[0035] While this disclosure is open to various modifications and alternatives, its specific details have been illustrated by example in the accompanying drawings and will be described in detail. However, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments described. Rather, it is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0036] This disclosure is now described with reference to exemplary medical systems that can be used in endoscopic medical procedures. However, it should be noted that references to this particular procedure are provided for convenience only and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the concepts underlying the disclosed instruments and related methods of use can be applied to any suitable procedure, whether medical or otherwise. This disclosure can be understood with reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are referred to by like reference numerals.

[0037] This document assumes that all numerical values ​​are modified by the term "about," whether explicitly stated or not. In the context of numerical values, the term "about" generally refers to a series of numbers that a person skilled in the art would consider equivalent to the stated numerical value (e.g., having the same function or result). In many cases, the term "about" may include numbers rounded to the nearest significant figure. Other uses of the term "about" (e.g., in contexts other than numerical values) are assumed to have their common and customary definitions, as understood and consistent with the context of the specification, unless otherwise stated.

[0038] Numerical ranges expressed in terms of endpoints include all numbers within that range, including endpoints (e.g., 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, and 5). Although some suitable dimensions, ranges, and / or values ​​relating to various components, features, and / or specifications are disclosed, those skilled in the art inspired by this disclosure will understand that desired dimensions, ranges, and / or values ​​may deviate from those explicitly disclosed.

[0039] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "a," and "described" include plural referents unless expressly stated otherwise. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term "or" is generally used to mean "and / or" unless expressly stated otherwise. It should be noted that, for ease of understanding, certain features of this disclosure may be described in the singular form, even if such features may be plural or repeated in the disclosed embodiments. Unless expressly stated to the contrary, each instance of such features may be included in and / or covered by the singular disclosure. For simplicity and clarity, not all elements of this disclosure are necessarily shown in every figure or discussed in detail below. However, it should be understood that the following discussion is equally applicable to any and / or all components that exist in more than one form, unless expressly stated to the contrary. Furthermore, for clarity, not all instances of certain elements or features may be shown in every figure.

[0040] It should be noted that references to "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "other embodiments," etc., in this specification indicate that the described embodiments may include specific features, structures, or characteristics, but not every embodiment necessarily includes that specific feature, structure, or characteristic. Furthermore, these phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Further, when a specific feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, whether explicitly described or not, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, implementing that specific feature, structure, or characteristic in conjunction with other embodiments is within the knowledge of those skilled in the art. That is, as understood by those skilled in the art, the individual elements described below, even if not explicitly shown in a specific combination, are contemplated as being able to be combined or arranged with each other to form other additional embodiments, or to supplement and / or enrich the described embodiments.

[0041] For clarity, certain identifying numerical designations (e.g., first, second, third, fourth, etc.) may be used throughout the description and / or claims to name and / or distinguish the various described and / or claimed features. It should be understood that these numerical designations are not intended to be limiting but are merely illustrative. In some embodiments, for brevity and clarity, previously used numerical designations may be modified and deviated from. That is, a feature identified as a "first" element may later be referred to as a "second" element, a "third" element, etc., or may be omitted entirely, and / or a different feature may be referred to as a "first" element. The meaning and / or designation in each case will be obvious to a skilled practitioner.

[0042] The detailed description is intended to illustrate, and not limit, this disclosure. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the various elements described can be arranged in various combinations and configurations without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The detailed description illustrates exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

[0043] Referring to FIG1, an exemplary endoscope 100 is depicted, and FIG2 depicts an exemplary endoscope system 200. The endoscope 100 may include an elongated tube or shaft 100a configured for insertion into a subject (e.g., a patient).

[0044] The light source 205 of the endoscope system 200 can supply illumination light to the distal portion 100b of the endoscope 100. The distal portion 100b of the endoscope 100 can house an imager (e.g., a CCD or CMOS imager) (not shown). The light source 205 (e.g., a lamp) can be located in a video processing unit 210, which processes the signal input from the imager and outputs the processed video signal to a video monitor (not shown) for viewing. The video processing unit 210 can also be used as a component of an air / water supply circuit by housing a booster pump 215 (e.g., an air pump) in the unit 210.

[0045] The endoscope axis 100a may include a distal tip 100c (e.g., a distal tip unit) disposed at a distal portion 100b of the axis 100a and a flexible bend 105 located proximal to the distal tip 100c. The flexible bend 105 may include an articulated joint (not shown) to assist in manipulating the distal tip 100c. On the end face 100d of the distal tip 100c of the endoscope 100 are gas / lens cleaning nozzles 220 for supplying gas to fill the interior of the patient's treatment area and for supplying water to clean the lens covering the imager. A flushing opening 225 in the end face 100d supplies flushing fluid to the patient's treatment area. An illumination window (not shown) for transmitting illumination light to the treatment area and an opening 230 leading to a working channel 235 extending along the axis 100a to deliver tools to the treatment area may also be included on the end face 100d of the distal tip 100c. The working channel 235 may extend along axis 100a to a proximal channel opening 110 located distal to the operating handle 115 (e.g., proximal handle) of the endoscope 100. A biopsy valve 120 may be used to seal the channel opening 110 to prevent unwanted fluid leakage.

[0046] The operating handle 115 may be equipped with knobs 125 for providing remote four-way operation of the distal end via a wire connected to a joint in the flexible portion 105 (e.g., one knob controls up-and-down operation, and another knob controls left-and-right operation). A plurality of video switches 130 for remotely operating the video processing unit 210 may be arranged on the proximal side of the handle 115.

[0047] The handle 115 may be provided with dual valve positions 135. One of the valve positions 135 may receive an air / water valve 140 for performing inflation and lens water supply operations. The gas supply line 240a and the lens cleaning supply line 245a extend distally from the air / water valve 140 along the axis 100a and converge at the distal tip 100c near the air / cleaning nozzle 220 (Figure 2).

[0048] Another valve position 135 may receive a suction valve 145 for performing a suction operation. A suction supply line 250a may extend distally from the suction valve 145 along axis 100a to a junction in fluid communication with the working passage 235 of the endoscope 100.

[0049] The operating handle 115 is electrically and fluidly connected to the video processing unit 210 via a flexible umbilical cord 260 extending therebetween and a connector portion 265. The flexible umbilical cord 260 has a gas (e.g., air or CO2) supply line 240b, a lens cleaning supply line 245b, a suction supply line 250b, a flushing supply line 255b, a light guide (not shown), and an electrical signal cable (not shown). The connector portion 265 connects a light source 205 in the video processing unit to the light guide when the video processing unit 210 is inserted. The light guide extends along the length of the umbilical cord 260 and the endoscope axis 100a to transmit light to the distal tip 100c of the endoscope 100. The connector portion 265 also connects an air pump 215 to the gas supply line 240b in the umbilical cord 260 when the video processing unit 210 is inserted.

[0050] A water reservoir or container 270 (e.g., a water bottle) is fluidly connected to the endoscope 100 via a connector portion 265 and an umbilical cord 260. A gas supply line 240c extends from one end in an air gap 275 located between the top 280 of the reservoir 270 (e.g., a bottle cap) and the remaining water 285 in the reservoir to a removable gas / lens cleaning connector 290 outside the connector portion 265. A gas supply line 240b from the umbilical cord 260 branches in the connector portion 265 to be in fluid communication with the gas supply line 240c at the removable gas / lens cleaning connector 290 and with an air pump 215. A lens cleaning line 245c, one end of which is located at the bottom of the reservoir 270, extends through the top 280 of the reservoir 270 to the same removable connector 290 on the connector portion 265 as the gas supply line 240c. In other embodiments, these connectors may be separate and / or isolated from each other. Connector portion 265 may also have a detachable flushing connector 293 for a flushing supply line (not shown) extending from a flushing water source (not shown) to a flushing supply line 255b in the umbilical cord 260. In some embodiments, flushing water is supplied via a pump (e.g., a peristaltic pump) from a water source (not shown) independent of the water reservoir 270. In other embodiments, the flushing supply line and the lens cleaning line 245c may draw water from the same reservoir. Connector portion 265 may also include a detachable suction connector 295 for suction supply lines 250b and 250a, fluidly connecting a vacuum source (e.g., hospital aspiration) (not shown) to the umbilical cord 260 and endoscope 100.

[0051] Gas supply line 240b and lens cleaning supply line 245b are fluidly connected to valve position 135 for gas / water valve 140 and configured such that operation of the gas / water valve in the well controls the supply of gas or lens cleaning to the distal tip 100c of endoscope 100. Suction supply line 250b is fluidly connected to valve position 135 for suction valve 145 and configured such that operation of suction valve 145 in the well controls suction at the working channel 235 of endoscope 100.

[0052] The suction valve 145 may be configured to allow or prevent suction and / or suction effects in the working passage 235. When the suction valve 145 is in the valve closed position (e.g., the first configuration), the suction fluid flow through the working passage 235 may be blocked by the suction valve 145. When suction is desired in the working passage 235, an operator or user may actuate the suction valve 145 (e.g., by pressing a button on the valve and / or actuating the suction valve 145 in one or more other suitable ways) to bring the suction valve 145 into the valve open position (e.g., the second configuration). When the suction valve 145 is in the valve open position, the flow passage inside the suction valve connects the working passage 235 to a suction device coupled to the suction connection 295, and the suction device may generate a negative pressure to draw fluid in through an outlet provided in the suction valve and then draw it out of the working passage 235. When the operator or user releases the suction valve 145, the valve 145 can return to its closed position and reduce or block the suction fluid flow from the working channel 235.

[0053] In some cases, the suction valve 145 may rely on the path of least resistance to guide the flow of aspirated fluid through the endoscope system 200. In some cases, when the suction pump is turned on for a procedure, the pump remains on throughout the procedure and continuously draws air from the flexible umbilical cord (connecting cable) 260, which in turn draws fluid from the tubing side of the endoscope 100 that extends upward along the umbilical cord 260 and connects to the port of the suction valve 145. When the suction valve 145 is in a first position and / or configuration (e.g., the closed position), the suction force or negative pressure from the suction pump is blocked outside the working channel 235, and fluid can be drawn from the atmosphere through the suction valve 145. When the suction valve 145 is actuated to a second position and / or configuration (e.g., the open position) (e.g., when a button or cap associated with the suction valve 145 is pressed and / or actuated in one or more other suitable ways), the opening from the atmosphere through the suction valve 145 to the suction pump can be effectively closed or blocked by the suction valve 145, while the fluid path between the operating passage 235 and the suction pump through the suction valve 145 can be opened. Therefore, fluid moving toward the suction pump can follow a path of least resistance, which can vary depending on whether the suction valve 145 is in a first position (e.g., the closed position) or a second position (e.g., the open position).

[0054] In some cases, the valve stem of the suction valve 145 may be configured to fit tightly with a valve well in the endoscope 100 that is configured to receive the valve stem. In such a suction valve 145, when the valve stem is in a first position, this tight fit obstructs the flow path between the working passage 235 and the suction pump or increases the flow resistance between the working passage 235 and the suction pump, and reduces the flow resistance between the atmosphere and the suction pump. Similarly, when the valve stem is in a second position, this tight fit obstructs the flow path between the atmosphere and the suction pump or increases the flow resistance between the atmosphere and the suction pump, and reduces the flow resistance between the working passage 235 and the suction pump.

[0055] The suction valve 145, which is constructed to block flow by a tight fit between the valve stem and the valve seat, requires a precision-manufactured valve stem. The precision required to produce a suction valve with a tight fit necessitates expensive materials (such as metals), highly precise machinery, and is time-consuming to achieve.

[0056] Furthermore, the suction valve 145, with its tightly fitted stem and seat, is manufactured with at least some clearance to allow the stem to adjust its position within the seat. This clearance can lead to leakage during use, potentially causing two problems that are perceptible to a physician. First, even when the suction valve 145 is in a position designed to block suction from the working channel 235, some suction flow still passes through the working channel 235 and the suction valve 145 towards the suction pump. The smaller the clearance between the stem and seat, the less unwanted flow occurs through the working channel 235; the larger the clearance, the more unwanted flow occurs through the working channel 235. However, clearance is necessary to allow the stem to move within the seat. In this configuration of the suction valve 145, when fluid actively moves upward along the working channel 235, the user may perceive the suction as "poor insufflation" because the suction pump draws volume from the body cavity in which the user is operating, even if the suction valve 145 is positioned to block the suction flow from the working channel 235. Secondly, when the valve stem of the suction valve 145 is positioned within the valve seat to allow suction flow through the suction valve 145 between the working channel 235 and the suction pump, the flow from the atmosphere to the suction pump may not be completely blocked. Any such leakage from the atmosphere can reduce the pressure differential between the suction valve and the distal end of the working channel 235, resulting in reduced suction force or negative pressure, reduced flow rate, and gas mixing into the flow through the fluid path to the suction pump.

[0057] A suction valve 145, configured to operate with a tightly fitting stem and seat, can perform well enough for repeated use in multiple surgeries because its price point can be high enough to justify manufacturing it with materials and the necessary precision to achieve and maintain the desired tolerances over the life of a reusable suction valve 145. However, the price point of a single-use suction valve may not allow for the use of the necessary materials, tooling, and / or precision manufacturing required to achieve and / or maintain tolerances over the life of a single-use suction valve.

[0058] The suction valve configuration for endoscope 100 and / or other suitable endoscopes discussed herein addresses the aforementioned concerns regarding existing suction valves and is configured to mitigate and / or eliminate leakage along the unintended flow path through suction valve 145. These figures depict exemplary suction valve components capable of addressing these concerns.

[0059] As shown in Figure 3A, the suction valve 300 includes a button cap 302, a spring member 304, a sliding rod 310, a valve body 320, an alignment pin 340, and a flip-type seal 342.

[0060] The valve body 320 includes a central channel 322 extending vertically between a vent opening 324 and a working opening 326, as shown in Figures 3B and 3C. A suction source opening 328 connects to the central channel 322, which accommodates a sliding rod 310. A pin opening 330 receives an alignment pin 340. A spring groove 332 seats a spring member 304, while a fastener recess 334 in the bottom surface can be used for fastening (not shown) of the flap-type seal 342.

[0061] Those skilled in the art will recognize variations of many of these features. For example, the pin opening 330 may be replaced by another alignment feature, such as a flange or protrusion within the channel 322, to constrain the alignment of the shaft 310. The flap seal 342 may be attached using adhesive, elastomeric fit, or other methods instead of fasteners. Similarly, the spring member 304 may be anchored without using the spring groove 332. Other variations in the relative dimensions and shape of the illustrated components are also possible within the scope of this disclosure.

[0062] As shown in Figures 3D and 3E, the sliding rod 310 includes an alignment groove 312, which is sized to receive an alignment pin 340. The shaft 310 is hollow between the upper opening 314 and the bottom opening 316, and also has a side opening 318 leading to the hollow interior of the sliding rod 310.

[0063] The sliding rod 310 is located within the central channel 322 of the valve body 320, as shown in Figures 3F and 3G. Figure 3F In the closed position, the sliding rod 310 is in the upper position corresponding to the closed position of the suction valve 300. The spring member 304 is biased to return the cap 302 and shaft 310 to this position when the user does not press down. In this upper position, the portion of the sliding rod 310 including the upper opening 314 is located above the top of the valve body 320 and extends from the vent opening 324. The side opening 318 is adjacent to the suction source opening 328, while the bottom opening 316 is covered by the flip-top seal 342. Therefore, in the closed position, the endoscope working channel is cut off, and the suction source draws in room air.

[0064] When the user presses down on the button cap 302, this action compresses the spring member 304 and lowers the sliding rod 310 into the valve body 320, thus placing it in the lower position as shown in FIG. 3G. The upper opening 314 is no longer exposed to the room air but is concealed within the passage 322. In some embodiments, the button cap 302 may be seated completely against the vent opening 324 to further close the passage. As shown, the side opening 318 of the sliding rod 310 has sufficient height so that it remains adjacent to the suction source opening 328 in this lower position. Furthermore, the downward movement of the sliding rod 310 deforms and opens the flip-top seal 342, allowing the bottom portion of the sliding rod (including the bottom opening 316) to protrude from the working opening 326. This connects the suction source to the working passage of the endoscope, allowing fluid to be drawn as needed during endoscopic surgery.

[0065] The flip-top seal 342 can be made of a resilient, elastic material with a lower Shore hardness than typical rigid materials, particularly a lower Shore hardness than the materials used in the sliding rod 310 or other components of the valve 300. The Shore hardness and thickness of the flip-top seal 342 can be selected, at least in part, based on the force required to disengage the flip-top seal from its seat. This force, combined with the biasing force of the spring member 304, should be low enough that the user can press and hold the button cap 302 down effortlessly.

[0066] Figures 4A to 4E show a suction valve 400 with a sliding rod 410 different from that described above with respect to suction valve 300. It is noteworthy that the suction valve 400 is shown with the same valve body 320 described above; for details, please refer to the descriptions of Figures 3B and 3C. The button cap 302, spring member 304, alignment pin 340, and flip-top seal 342 are also identical. A cover member 406 is positioned on the bottom surface of the button cap 302 and surrounds the upper portion of the sliding rod 410.

[0067] As shown in Figures 4B and 4C, the sliding rod 410 is different. The shaft 410 is a thin cylindrical body that is open at both the top and bottom. The alignment opening 412 also opens into the shaft. Instead of separate side openings, a bottom opening 416 extends asymmetrically to the side of the shaft 410.

[0068] As shown in Figures 4D and 4E, the suction valve 400 is opened and closed by the movement of the button cap 302 and the sliding rod 410. In the upper position shown in Figure 4D, the alignment opening 412 extends beyond the vent opening 324 and opens into the interior space. The bottom opening 416 communicates with the suction source opening 328, while the flip-top seal 342 blocks the working opening 326. Thus, the suction source is open to the interior air through the alignment opening 412. Since the alignment opening 412 opens into the hollow interior of the shaft 410 and extends upward along the side surface of the shaft far enough to open the interior to the interior when in the upper position, the alignment opening 412 can be the only opening required for the upper part of the shaft 410. This reduces the time and cost of tooling the shaft 410.

[0069] In the lower position shown in Figure 4E, the alignment opening 412 is located within the channel 322. The vent opening 324 is further blocked by the cover member 406 seated against the top surface of the valve body 320. The flip-top seal 342 is again deformed by the downward movement of the shaft 410. The bottom opening 416 extending from the working opening 326 allows the suction source to communicate with the working channel of the endoscope.

[0070] The suction valve assembly can be manufactured from relatively inexpensive materials suitable for single-use disposal. The sliding rod can be manufactured continuously from a single piece of polyethylene plastic; each component can be manufactured from a separate piece of plastic and then attached together. In some embodiments, each component of the valve assembly can be made of the same or similar material, with the thickness and size of each piece chosen to provide the necessary flexibility and rigidity.

[0071] In some embodiments, the valve shaft and / or valve body may be injection molded or extruded before one or more openings and / or slits are present, and then machining, cutting, or another suitable technique may be used to remove portions of the shaft to form the openings and / or slits. In some embodiments, ribs, flanges, wedges, and other smaller features may be cut from the same original material as the surrounding components, or may be formed separately (in the same or different materials) and then attached as shown.

[0072] It should be understood that this disclosure is illustrative in many respects. Changes may be made in detail, particularly in terms of shape, size, and arrangement of steps, without departing from the scope of this disclosure. To the extent appropriate, this may include using any feature of one example embodiment in other embodiments. Of course, the scope of the invention is defined by the language expressed in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A suction valve assembly for a medical device, comprising: A valve body having a top, a bottom, and a side surface, the valve body having a central channel extending vertically between a vent opening in the top and a working opening in the bottom, and the valve body also having a suction source opening in the side surface that opens into the central channel; A flip-top seal is located at the bottom of the valve body and is resiliently biased to sit against the valve body, thereby preventing fluid from flowing into the central channel through the working opening. as well as A sliding rod having a side surface surrounding a hollow interior, the side surface having an upper opening and a lower opening both opening into the hollow interior, the sliding rod moving within the central channel of the valve body between the following positions: In the upper position, a first portion of the side surface of the sliding rod, including at least the upper portion of the upper opening, extends over the vent opening in the top of the valve body; as well as In the lower position, the first portion of the side surface of the sliding rod, including at least the upper portion of the upper opening, is completely below the vent opening in the top of the valve body, and in the lower position, the second portion of the sliding rod extends below the working opening in the bottom of the valve body, the sliding rod disengaging the flip-top seal to allow fluid to flow into the central channel through the working opening.

2. The suction valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the lower opening in the side surface of the sliding rod is adjacent to and opens thereto in both the upper and lower positions of the valve body.

3. The suction valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the lower opening in the side surface of the sliding rod extends the entire length of the side surface such that, in the upper position, the lower edge of the lower opening is aligned with the lower edge of the suction source opening, and in the lower position, the upper edge of the lower opening is aligned with the upper edge of the suction source opening.

4. The suction valve assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a button cap attached to the sliding rod and moving with the sliding rod between the upper position and the lower position.

5. The suction valve assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a cover attached to and moving with the sliding rod between the upper and lower positions, the cover being seated against the vent opening of the valve body in the lower position to prevent fluid from flowing into the central channel through the vent opening.

6. The suction valve assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a spring member biasing the valve to the upper position.

7. The suction valve assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the flip-top seal is made of a flexible material having a lower Shore hardness than the sliding rod.

8. The suction valve assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising an alignment pin inserted into the valve body.

9. The suction valve assembly of claim 8, wherein the alignment pin is received by an alignment groove in the surface of the sliding rod.

10. The suction valve assembly of claim 8, wherein the alignment pin is received by the upper opening of the sliding rod.

11. The suction valve assembly of claim 10, wherein the upper opening of the sliding rod is the only opening in the first portion of the sidewall of the sliding rod.

12. The suction valve assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the lower opening in the sidewall of the sliding rod is a groove extending to the bottom surface of the sliding rod.

13. An endoscopic surgical instrument, comprising: An endoscope probe has a working channel; The suction valve assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the working opening of the valve body is in fluid communication with the working channel of the endoscope probe; as well as A suction source is fluidly connected to the suction source opening of the suction valve assembly, such that when the sliding rod of the suction valve assembly is in the lower position, it provides suction from the suction source opening, through the valve body, and into the working channel opening to the working channel of the endoscope probe.

14. The endoscopic surgical instrument of claim 13, further comprising an endoscope handle having an aspiration valve position with an inner wall, the side surface of the valve body of the aspiration valve assembly abutting the inner wall of the aspiration valve position of the endoscope handle.

15. The endoscopic surgical instrument of claim 13 or 14, wherein when the sliding rod of the aspiration valve assembly is in the upper position, the aspiration source is in fluid communication with the vent opening of the aspiration valve assembly, such that the aspiration source is open to the room air.

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