SMART SYRINGE-OPERATED STOP VALVE.

Abstract

A medical stopcock includes a main body with an inlet port and an outlet port, and a valve body with a handle and a syringe port. The valve body is movable relative to the main body, defining a valve passage. The valve body includes three positions: a first position where the inlet and outlet ports are in fluid communication through the valve passage; a second position where the syringe port and outlet port are in fluid communication through the valve passage; and a third position where the syringe port and inlet port are in fluid communication through the valve passage. Rotation of the syringe port is configured to move the valve body relative to the main body.

Description

SMART SYRINGE-OPERATED STOP VALVE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority over U.S. provisional application serial number 62 / 966.086, entitled Syringe Actuated Stopcock Smart-Valve, filed on January 27, 2020, the full disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of dissemination This application refers, in general, to a medical shut-off valve. Description of the related technique Stopcocks, such as three-way stopcocks, include two inlet ports and one outlet port. In some configurations, a healthcare professional can operate a stopcock handle to place the stopcock in three positions, including where the first inlet port is in fluid communication with the outlet port, where the second inlet port is in fluid communication with the outlet port, and where the first inlet port is in fluid communication with the second inlet port. Stopcocks are used in a variety of situations, including with flow sensor systems that employ an ultrasonic flow meter with a flow tube subassembly containing two piezoelectric transducers coupled to a fluid flow tube. When a transducer is excited by an electrical pulse, ultrasonic waves are transmitted to the fluid and the flow tube.The flow sensor system analyzes the waves traveling through the fluid to determine a velocity, which is proportional to a change between the signals received from the upstream transducer and the downstream transducer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In one aspect or embodiment, a medical stopcock includes a main body with an inlet port and an outlet port, and a valve body with a handle and a syringe port. The valve body is movable relative to the main body and defines a valve passage. The valve body includes a first position where the inlet and outlet ports are in fluid communication through the valve passage, a second position where the syringe port and outlet port are in fluid communication through the valve passage, and a third position where the syringe port and inlet port are in fluid communication through the valve passage. Rotation of the syringe port is configured to move the valve body relative to the main body. znzAnn / zznz / E / YiAi The syringe port and valve body may be integrally formed. The syringe port, valve body, and handle may also be integrally formed. The main body may define a valve opening, with the valve body fitting within this opening. The syringe port may include a threaded connection, configured to rotate the valve body from the first to the second position when a syringe cylinder connected to the threaded connection is rotated. The syringe port may include a female Luer connector. The inlet port may include a female Luer connector, and the outlet port may include a male Luer connector.The syringe port may include a valve element that has a sealed position and an open position, with the syringe port valve element moving from the sealed position to the open position when a syringe cylinder is attached to the syringe port. The valve body may include a position structure configured to be detected by a sensor to determine whether the valve body is in the first position, second position, or third position. The positioning structure may be a recessed portion of the valve body handle. The valve body may include at least one indicator to provide an indication of whether the valve body is in the first, second, or third position. The valve body can be configured to rotate 180 degrees relative to the main body. The syringe port can be in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports when the valve body is in the first position. The valve passage may include a first part, a second part extending in a first direction perpendicular to the first part, and a third part extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first position. The third part of the valve passage may be in fluid communication with the syringe port when the valve body is in the first, second, and third positions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features and advantages mentioned above and others in this disclosure, as well as how to achieve them, will become more evident and the disclosure itself will be better understood with reference to the following descriptions of aspects of the disclosure interpreted together with the accompanying drawings, where: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stopcock according to an aspect or embodiment of the present application, showing the stopcock connected to a syringe. Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the stopcock in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view from below of the stopcock in Figure 1, which shows a first position of the stopcock. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along line 4-4 in Figure 3. Figure 5 is a perspective view from below of the stopcock in Figure 1, showing a second position of the stopcock. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view along line 6-6 in Figure 5. Figure 7 is a perspective view from below of the stopcock in Figure 1, showing a third position of the stopcock. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view along line 8-8 in Figure 7. Figure 9 is a perspective view from above of the stopcock in Figure 1. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 in Figure 9. Figure 11 is a perspective view of the right side of a valve body of the stopcock of Figure 1 with a portion of the valve body made transparent for clarity. Figure 12 is a perspective view of the left side of a valve body of the stopcock of Figure 1 with a portion of the valve body made transparent for clarity. The corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout various views. The examples set forth herein illustrate aspects of the disclosure by way of example and such examples should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the disclosure in any way. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following description is provided to enable those skilled in the art to perform and use the described aspects contemplated in carrying out the invention. Various modifications, equivalents, variations, and alternatives, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Any and all such modifications, variations, equivalents, and alternatives are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For the purposes of this description, hereinafter, the terms upper, lower, right, left, vertical, horizontal, above, below, lateral, longitudinal, and their derivatives shall refer to the orientation of the invention as shown in the drawings. However, it is understood that the invention may adopt various alternative variations, unless expressly specified otherwise. It is also understood that the specific devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification are merely illustrative aspects of the invention. Therefore, the specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the aspects disclosed herein shall not be considered limiting.All numbers and intervals used in the descriptive text and claims shall be understood to be modified in all cases by the term "approximately." "Approximately" means plus or minus twenty-five percent of the stated value, such as plus or minus ten percent of the stated value. However, this shall not be considered as limiting any analysis of values ​​under the doctrine of equivalents. Unless otherwise stated, all intervals or ratios disclosed herein shall be understood to encompass the initial and final values, and any and all subintervals or subratios contained therein. For example, an interval or ratio stated from 1 to 10 shall be deemed to include each and every subinterval or subratio between (and inclusive of) the minimum value of 1 and the maximum value of 10; that is, all subintervals or subratios that begin with a minimum value of 1 or greater and end with a maximum value of 10 or less. The intervals and / or ratios disclosed herein represent the average values ​​over the specified interval and / or ratio. The terms first, second, and similar terms are not intended to refer to any particular order or chronology, but rather to different conditions, properties, or elements. Referring to Figures 1-12, in one aspect or embodiment, a medical stopcock 10 includes a main body 12 having an inlet port 14 and an outlet port 16, and a valve body 18 having a handle 20 and a syringe port 22. The valve body 18 is movable relative to the main body 12 and defines a valve passage 24. The valve body 18 includes a first position (Figures 3 and 4) where the inlet port 14 and the outlet port 16 are in fluid communication through the valve passage 24, a second position (Figures 5 and 6) where the syringe port 22 and the outlet port 16 are in fluid communication through the valve passage 24, and a third position (Figures 7 and 8) where the syringe port 22 and the inlet port 14 are in fluid communication through the valve passage 24.The rotation of the syringe port 22 is configured to move the valve body 18 relative to the main body 12, which is discussed in more detail below. In one aspect or embodiment, the syringe port 22 is in fluid communication with the inlet port 14 and the outlet port 16 when the valve body 18 is in the first position. In Figures 1-8, the stopcock 10 is shown connected to a syringe 26 having a syringe barrel 28 with a male luer connector 30, although other suitable syringes may be used. The medical stopcock 10 may be used in connection with a flow-sensing system, such as the flow-sensing system disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 9,970,794, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. ζηζΑηη / ζζηζ / Ε / γίΛΐ Referring to Figures 3-8, the syringe port 22, valve body 18, and handle 20 are integrally formed. However, the syringe port 22, valve body 18, and handle 20 can be integrally formed, formed separately, or in combinations thereof. The main body 12 defines a valve opening 32, with the valve body 18 fitting within the valve opening 32. Referring again to Figures 1-12, syringe port 22 includes a threaded connection 34. Syringe port 22 is configured to rotate valve body 18 from the first position to the second position when syringe cylinder 28, connected to threaded connection 34 of syringe port 22, is rotated. Therefore, a healthcare professional can move valve body 18 from the first position to the second position via syringe 26. In other words, once threaded connection 34 of syringe port 22 is engaged with the luer connector 30 of syringe cylinder 28, further rotation of syringe cylinder 28, such as clockwise rotation, causes valve body 18 to rotate relative to the main body 12, moving it from the first position to the second position.In one embodiment, the threaded connection 34 of the syringe port 22 is a two-start thread, which can be aligned half a turn apart as a starting position such that the syringe barrel 28 can be secured to the threaded connection 34 by rotating the syringe 26 180 degrees clockwise until the connection is secured. A further 90-degree clockwise rotation of the syringe 26 moves the valve body 18 from the first position to the second position. A healthcare professional can move the valve body 18 to and from each of the first, second, and third positions using the handle 20 of the valve body 18. In one embodiment, the valve body 18 and the valve opening 32 of the main body 12 have a perfect fit, which may require a user to use the handle 20 to move the valve body 18.In one embodiment or aspect, the valve body 18 and the valve opening 32 of the main body 12 have a loose fit, facilitating the movement of the valve body 18 through the syringe 26 when the syringe 26 is connected to the syringe port 22. In one aspect or embodiment, the valve body 18 and / or the main body 12 include an indicator structure (not shown) to provide an audible and / or tactile indication when the valve body 18 is in the first position. An audible and / or tactile indication may also be provided when the valve body 18 reaches the second and third positions. In one aspect or embodiment, the valve body 18 and / or the main body 12 include one or more stops (not shown) to restrict the movement of the valve body 18 between the first, second, and third positions. In one aspect or embodiment, the valve body 18 is configured to rotate 180 degrees with respect to the main body 12. Referring to Figures 3-8, syringe port 22 includes a female luer connector 38, although other suitable connectors may be used. Inlet port 14 includes a female luer connector 40, and outlet port 16 includes a male luer connector 42 with a rotating luer lock, although other suitable connectors may be used. Syringe port 22 includes a valve element 44 that has a sealed position and an open position. The valve element 44 is configured to move from the sealed position to the open position when syringe 26 is attached to syringe port 22.Although not shown in Figures 1-8, when syringe 26 is connected to syringe port 22, the male luer connector 30 of syringe 26 engages with the valve element 44 of syringe port 22 to move or retract the valve element 44 from the sealed position to the open position, thereby placing syringe cylinder 28 in fluid communication with syringe port 22. Referring to Figures 3, 5, and 7, the valve body 18 includes a position structure 46 configured to be detected by a sensor to determine whether the valve body 18 is in the first, second, or third position. In one aspect or embodiment, the position structure 46 is a recessed portion of the handle 20 of the valve body 18. The position structure 46 may act as a signal or a plug that can be detected by an external sensor or mechanism to determine the position of the valve body 18. The valve body 18 includes at least one visual indicator 48 to provide an indication of whether the valve body 18 is in the first, second, or third position. The visual indicator 48 may be an arrow, text, a shape of the handle 20, or any other suitable indicating arrangement. Referring to Figures 9-12, the valve passage 24 includes a first part 52, a second part 54 extending in a first direction perpendicular to the first part 52, and a third part 56 extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first part 52. The third part 56 of the valve passage 24 is in fluid communication with the syringe port 22 when the valve body 18 is in the first position, the second position, and the third position. In another aspect or embodiment of the present application, a method for using the stopcock 10 includes: attaching the syringe 26 to the syringe port 22 and continuing to rotate the syringe 26 until the valve body 18 of the stopcock 10 moves from the first position to the second position; performing an injection by transferring fluid from the syringe 26 to the outlet port 16; and returning the valve body 18 to the first position using the handle 20 of the valve body 18. In one aspect or embodiment, the method further includes: moving the valve body 18 to the third position using the handle 20 of the valve body 18; retracting a plunger 58 of the syringe 26 to draw fluid from an IV line (not shown) connected to the inlet port 14 of the syringe cylinder 28; and injecting saline flushing fluid using the syringe 26 to force the fluid through the outlet port 16. The syringe 26 can be disconnected from the syringe port 22 by rotating the syringe 26 counterclockwise. Although the present disclosure is described as having illustrative designs, it may be further modified within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. To the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment or aspect may be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment or aspect. Furthermore, this application is intended to cover deviations from the present disclosure that fall within the known or customary practice of the art to which the present disclosure pertains and that are within the limits of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A medical stopcock comprising: a main body comprising an inlet port and an outlet port; and a valve body comprising a handle and a syringe port, the valve body being movable relative to the main body and defining a valve passage, the valve body including a first position where the inlet port and outlet port are in fluid communication through the valve passage, a second position where the syringe port and outlet port are in fluid communication through the valve passage, and a third position where the syringe port and inlet port are in fluid communication through the valve passage, wherein the rotation of the syringe port is configured to move the valve body relative to the main body,wherein the valve body comprises a positioning structure configured to be detected by a sensor to determine whether the valve body is in the first, second, or third position, and wherein the positioning structure comprises a portion of the valve body handle.

2. The medical stopcock of claim 1, wherein the syringe port and the valve body are integrally formed.

3. The medical stopcock of claim 2, wherein the syringe port, valve body, and handle are integrally formed.

4. The medical stopcock of any of claims 1-3, wherein the main body defines a valve opening, and wherein the valve body is received within the valve opening.

5. The medical stopcock of any of claims 1-4, wherein the syringe port comprises a threaded connection, and wherein the syringe port is configured to rotate the valve body from the first position to the second position when a syringe cylinder connected to the threaded connection of the syringe port is rotated.

6. The medical stopcock of any of claims 1-5, wherein the syringe port comprises a female luer connector.

7. The medical stopcock of any of claims 1-6, wherein the inlet port comprises a female luer connector and the outlet port comprises a male luer connector.

8. The medical stopcock of any of claims 1-7, wherein the syringe port comprises a valve element having a sealed position and an open position, the valve element of the syringe port being configured to move from the sealed position to the open position when the syringe cylinder is attached to the syringe port.

9. The medical stopcock of claims 1-8, wherein the positioning structure comprises a recessed portion of the valve body handle.

10. The medical stopcock of any of claims 1-9, wherein the valve body includes at least one indicator to provide an indication of whether the valve body is in the first position, the second position, or the third position.

11. The medical stopcock of any of claims 1-10, wherein the valve body is configured to rotate 180 degrees with respect to the main body.

12. The medical stopcock of any of claims 1-11, wherein the syringe port is in fluid communication with the inlet port and the outlet port when the valve body is in the first position.

13. The medical stopcock of any of claims 1-12, wherein the valve passage comprises a first part, a second part extending in a first direction perpendicular to the first part, and a third part extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first position.

14. The medical stopcock of claim 13, wherein the third part of the valve passage is in fluid communication with the syringe port when the valve body is in the first position, the second position, and the third position.

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