초록 ▼

A multiline check valve assembly has an elongated body which defines a fluid passageway and which is formed with a plurality of valve cavities that are in fluid communication with the fluid passageway. Each valve cavity has a resilient valve element disposed within the cavity and each valve element

A multiline check valve assembly has an elongated body which defines a fluid passageway and which is formed with a plurality of valve cavities that are in fluid communication with the fluid passageway. Each valve cavity has a resilient valve element disposed within the cavity and each valve element rests in the cavity with one end against a protrusion disposed in the cavity for centering the element within the cavity. The resilient valve element is biased to urge its other end against a valve seat that surrounds an opening to the valve cavity to create a fluid tight seal with the valve seat and close the opening. In addition, an access port is formed circumferentially around both the valve seat and opening to establish a fluid communication path through the access port to the fluid passageway in the body when the valve element is separated from the valve seat. Specifically, when an appropriate fluid line connector is inserted into the access port to urge against the resilient valve element, the valve element is deformed away from the valve seat to complete the fluid communication path between the access port and the fluid passageway. In an alternate embodiment, the body of the valve is substantially cube-shaped and has a plurality of valve cavities disposed transversely therein, each of the valve cavities being in fluid communication with the fluid passageway that is formed by the valve body.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for infusing fluid from a plurality of secondary sources into an IV line which is carrying fluid from a primary source, which comprises the steps of: (a) engaging said primary source in fluid communication with a device comprising: a valve base defining a central fluid passageway and having

A method for infusing fluid from a plurality of secondary sources into an IV line which is carrying fluid from a primary source, which comprises the steps of: (a) engaging said primary source in fluid communication with a device comprising: a valve base defining a central fluid passageway and having a plurality of valve cavities disposed in said base transverse to said passageway, said valve cavities each having a bottom and an opening spaced from said bottom, said openings having respective valve seats circumscribing said openings, each of said valve cavities being in fluid communication with said passageway intermediate respective said opening and said bottom each of said bottoms being distanced from said passageway; resilient valve elements disposed in respective said valve cavities between respective said bottoms and respective said openings, said valve elements being individually deformable between first configurations wherein said valve elements are in fluid sealable contact with respective said valve seats to occlude respective said openings and second configurations wherein said valve elements are distanced from respective said seats to establish respective fluid pathways through respective said openings into said passageway; and means projecting from respective said bottoms of said valve cavities and engageable with respective said valve elements for substantially centering respective said valve elements within said respective valve chambers; and (b) inserting a plurality of adaptors connected in fluid communication with respective said secondary sources into respective said openings to deform respective said valve elements into said second configurations to thereby establish a respective plurality of fluid pathways between respective said secondary sources and said fluid passageway.