초록 ▼

A flow control valve (22) such as for a catheter ( 10) allows discharge of urine from a bladder (12) by manual actuation. The valve (22) may be a double-duckbill valve (22 ) with a single slit (62) at one apex (60a) thereof. An elastomeric band (66) is positioned in a groove (68) of the valve membe

A flow control valve (22) such as for a catheter ( 10) allows discharge of urine from a bladder (12) by manual actuation. The valve (22) may be a double-duckbill valve (22 ) with a single slit (62) at one apex (60a) thereof. An elastomeric band (66) is positioned in a groove (68) of the valve member (22). An isolation member such as a stem ( 72) spaces the valve (22) from the walls (34, 36) of the valve housing (32). Crush limiting structure, such as a tube (76) or blade (82), is provided within valve member ( 22), or stop elements (86 or 92) are positioned external to valve member (22).

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A urinary flow control valve comprising: a double-duckbill valve adapted to fluidly communicate with a urine discharge passageway, said double-duckbill valve having: an orifice operable to control urine flow therethrough; a first duckbill structure having a first pair of inc

What is claimed is: 1. A urinary flow control valve comprising: a double-duckbill valve adapted to fluidly communicate with a urine discharge passageway, said double-duckbill valve having: an orifice operable to control urine flow therethrough; a first duckbill structure having a first pair of inclined walls terminating at a first apex; and a second duckbill structure oriented perpendicular to said first duckbill structure and having a second pair of inclined walls terminating at a second apex; each of said first and second duckbill structures being generally hollow; said orifice comprising a single slit formed in, and extending generally in the direction of, only one of said first and second apexes. 2. The urinary flow control valve of claim 1 further comprising an elastomeric band disposed about said double-duckbill valve and operable to urge said orifice to a closed position. 3. The urinary flow control valve of claim 1 further comprising: a valve housing defined by at least one wall; and an isolation member extending from said wall to said double-duckbill valve, said double-duckbill valve being supported in said valve housing in spaced relationship with said wall by said isolation member. 4. The urinary flow control valve of claim 3, said isolation member being a stem. 5. The urinary flow control valve of claim 4, said stem being flexible. 6. The urinary flow control valve of claim 3, said isolation member being a tubular stem. 7. The urinary flow control valve of claim 6, said tubular stem being coupled with said double-duckbill valve so as to allow urine to flow through said stem. 8. The urinary flow control valve of claim 7, said valve housing having a discharge outlet, the tubular stem being coupled between said discharge outlet and said double-duckbill valve. 9. The urinary flow control valve of claim 6, said tubular stem being flexible. 10. The urinary flow control valve of claim 1 further comprising: a valve housing containing said double-duckbill valve; said valve housing having a discharge outlet operatively coupled with said double-duckbill valve. 11. The urinary flow control valve of claim 1 further comprising a crush limiting member associated with said double-duckbill valve. 12. The urinary flow control valve of claim 11, said crush limiting member including a blade member disposed within said double-duckbill valve. 13. The urinary flow control valve of claim 3 wherein said valve housing is flexible and is defined by at least one flexible wall. 14. A flow control valve comprising: a valve member having a normally closed orifice; an elastomeric band disposed about said valve member and operable to urge said orifice to a closed position; a flexible valve housing defined by at least one flexible wall; and an isolation member extending from said wall to said valve member, said valve member being supported in said valve housing in spaced relationship with said wall by said isolation member so as to be actuatable. 15. The flow control valve of claim 14 wherein said valve member has a groove associate therewith, the elastomeric band being a separate component and situated in said groove. 16. The flow control valve of claim 14 wherein said valve member has a base and at least a pair of inclined walls extending from said base at respective junctures of said inclined walls with said base, said band being positioned inwardly of said junctures of said inclined walls with said base. 17. The flow control valve of claim 14, said isolation member being a stem. 18. The flow control valve of claim 17, said stem being flexible. 19. The flow control valve of claim 14, said isolation member being a tubular stem. 20. The flow control valve of claim 19, said tubular stem being coupled with said valve member so as to allow fluid to flow through said stem. 21. The flow control valve of claim 19, said tubular stem being flexible. 22. The flow control valve of claim 14 further comprising a crush limiting member associated with said valve member. 23. The flow control valve of claim 22, said crush limiting member including a blade member disposed within said valve member. 24. The flow control valve of claim 14, said orifice being defined by a single slit. 25. The flow control valve of claim 14, said valve member being a double-duckbill valve. 26. A flow control valve comprising: a valve member having a normally closed orifice; a valve housing; and an isolation member extending between said valve housing and said valve member whereby to support said valve member in spaced relationship to said valve housing, said isolation member supporting said valve member so as to resist accidental actuation of said valve member; said isolation member being a stem. 27. The flow control valve of claim 26, said stem being flexible. 28. The flow control valve of claim 26, said stem being tubular. 29. The flow control valve of claim 28, said tubular stem being coupled with said valve member so as to allow fluid to flow through said stem. 30. The flow control valve of claim 28, said tubular stem being flexible. 31. The flow control valve of claim 26 further comprising a crush limiting member associated with said valve member. 32. The flow control valve of claim 31, said crush limiting member including a blade member disposed within said valve member. 33. The flow control valve of claim 26, said orifice being defined by a single slit. 34. The flow control valve of claim 26, said valve member being a double-duckbill valve. 35. The flow control valve of claim 26 wherein said valve member is contained within said valve housing. 36. A urinary catheter comprising: a urine discharge passageway; a urinary flow control valve associated with said urine discharge passageway; said urinary flow control valve being a double-duckbill valve; said double-duckbill valve having: an orifice operable to control urine flow therethrough; a first duckbill structure having a first pair of inclined walls terminating at a first apex; and a second duckbill structure oriented perpendicular to said first duckbill structure and having a second pair of inclined walls terminating at a second apex; each of said first and second duckbill structures being generally hollow; said orifice comprising a single slit formed in, and extending generally in the direction of, only one of said first and second apexes. 37. The urinary catheter of claim 36 further comprising an elastomeric band disposed about said double-duckbill valve and operable to urge said orifice to a closed position. 38. The urinary catheter of claim 36 further comprising: a valve housing defined by at least one wall; and an isolation member extending from said wall to said double-duckbill valve, said double-duckbill valve being supported in said valve housing in spaced relationship with said wall by said isolation member. 39. The urinary catheter of claim 30, further comprising a crush limiting member associated with said double-duckbill valve. 40. A urinary flow control valve comprising: a double-duckbill valve adapted to fluidly communicate with a urine discharge passageway, said double-duckbill valve having: an orifice operable to control urine flow therethrough; a first duckbill structure terminating at a first apex; and a second duckbill structure oriented perpendicular to said first duckbill structure and terminating at a second apex; said orifice comprising a single slit formed in, and extending generally in the direction of, only one of said first and second apexes; and an elastomeric band disposed about said double-duckbill valve and operable to urge said orifice to a closed position. 41. The urinary flow control valve of claim 40 further comprising: a valve housing defined by at least one wall; and an isolation member extending from said wall to said double-duckbill valve, said double-duckbill valve being supported in said valve housing in spaced relationship with said wall by said isolation member. 42. The urinary flow control valve of claim 41, said isolation member being a stem. 43. The urinary flow control valve of claim 42, said stem being flexible. 44. The urinary flow control valve of claim 41, said isolation member being a tubular stem. 45. The urinary flow control valve of claim 44, said tubular stem being coupled with said double-duckbill valve so as to allow urine to flow through said stem. 46. The urinary flow control valve of claim 45, said valve housing having a discharge outlet, the tubular stem being coupled between said discharge outlet and said double-duckbill valve. 47. The urinary flow control valve of claim 44, said tubular stem being flexible. 48. The urinary flow control valve of claim 40 further comprising: a valve housing containing said double-duckbill valve; said valve housing having a discharge outlet operatively coupled with said double-duckbill valve. 49. The urinary flow control valve of claim 40 further comprising a crush limiting member associated with said double-duckbill valve. 50. The urinary flow control valve of claim 49, said crush limiting member including a blade member disposed within said double-duckbill valve. 51. The urinary flow control valve of claim 41 wherein said valve housing is flexible and is defined by at least one flexible wall. 52. A urinary catheter comprising: a urine discharge passageway; a urinary flow control valve associated with said urine discharge passageway; said urinal flow control valve being a double-duckbill valve; said double-duckbill valve having: an orifice operable to control urine flow therethrough; a first duckbill structure having a first pair of inclined walls terminating at a first apex; a second duckbill structure oriented perpendicular to said first duckbill structure and having a second pair of inclined walls terminating at a second apex; said orifice comprising a single slit formed in, and extending generally in the direction of, only one of said first and second apexes; and an elastomeric band disposed about said double-duckbill valve and operable to urge said orifice to a closed position. 53. The urinary catheter of claim 52 further comprising: a valve housing defined by at least one wall; and an isolating member extending from said wall to said double-duckbill valve, said double-duckbill valve being supported in said valve housing in spaced relationship with said wall by said isolating member. 54. The urinary catheter of claim 53, said isolation member being a stem. 55. The urinary catheter of claim 54, said stem being flexible. 56. The urinary catheter of claim 53, said isolation member being a tubular stem. 57. The urinary catheter of claim 56, said tubular stem being coupled with said double-duckbill valve so as to allow urine to flow through said stem. 58. The urinary catheter of claim 57, said valve housing having a discharge outlet, the tubular stem being coupled between said discharge outlet and said double-duckbill valve. 59. The urinary catheter of claim 56, said tubular stem being flexible. 60. The urinary catheter of claim 52 further comprising: a valve housing containing said double-duckbill valve; said valve housing having a discharge outlet operatively coupled with said double-duckbill valve. 61. The urinary catheter of claim 52 further comprising a crush limiting member associated with said double-duckbill valve. 62. The urinary catheter of claim 61, said crush limiting member including a blade member disposed within said double-duckbill valve. 63. The urinary catheter of claim 53 wherein said valve housing is flexible and is defined by at least one flexible wall. 64. A urinary catheter comprising: a urine discharge passageway; a urinary flow control valve associated with said urine discharge passageway; said urinary flow control valve being a double-duckbill valve; said double-duckbill valve having an orifice operable to control urine flow therethrough; a valve housing defined by at least one wall; and an isolation member extending from said wall to said double-duckbill valve, said double-duckbill valve being supported in said valve housing in spaced relationship with said wall by said isolation member, said isolation member supporting said double-duckbill valve so as to resist accidental actuation of said double-duckbill valve. 65. The urinary catheter of claim 64, the double-duckbill valve having: a first duckbill structure having a first pair of inclined walls terminating at a first apex; and a second duckbill structure oriented perpendicular to said first duckbill structure and having a second pair of inclined walls terminating at a second apex; said orifice comprising a single slit formed in, and extending generally in the direction of, only one of said first and second apexes. 66. The urinary catheter of claim 64, said isolation member being a stem. 67. The urinary catheter of claim 66, said stem being flexible. 68. The urinary catheter of claim 64, said isolation member being a tubular stem. 69. The urinary catheter of claim 68, said tubular stem being coupled with said double-duckbill valve so as to allow urine to flow through said stem. 70. The urinary catheter of claim 69, said valve housing having a discharge outlet, the tubular stem being coupled between said discharge outlet and said double-duckbill valve. 71. The urinary catheter of claim 68, said tubular stem being flexible. 72. The urinary catheter of claim 64 further comprising a crush limiting member associated with said double-duckbill valve. 73. The urinary catheter of claim 72, said crush limiting member including a blade member disposed within said double-duckbill valve. 74. A urinary catheter, comprising: a urine discharge passageway; a valve member associated with said urine discharge passageway and having a normally closed orifice operable to control urine flow therethrough; a valve housing defined by at least one wall; and an isolation member extending from said wall to said valve member, said valve member being supported in said valve housing in spaced relationship with said wall by said isolation member, said isolation member supporting said valve member so as to resist accidental actuation of said valve member. 75. The urinary catheter of claim 74, said isolation member being a stem. 76. The urinary catheter of claim 75, said stem being flexible. 77. The urinary catheter of claim 74, said isolation member being a tubular stem. 78. The urinary catheter of claim 77, said tubular stem being coupled with said valve member so as to allow urine to flow through said stem. 79. The urinary catheter of claim 78, said valve housing having a discharge outlet, the tubular stem being coupled between said discharge outlet and said valve member. 80. The urinary catheter of claim 77, said tubular stem being flexible. 81. The urinary catheter of claim 74 further comprising a crush limiting member associated with said valve member. 82. The urinary catheter of claim 81, said crush limiting member including a blade member disposed within said valve member. 83. The urinary catheter of claim 74 wherein said valve housing is flexible and is defined by at least one flexible wall. 84. A urinary flow control valve comprising: a valve member adapted to fluidly communicate with a urine discharge passageway and having an orifice operable to control urine flow therethrough; a flexible valve housing defined by at least one flexible wall; and an isolation member extending from said wall to said valve member, said valve member being supported in said valve housing in spaced relationship with said wail by said isolation member so as to be actuatable. 85. The urinary flow control valve of claim 84, said isolation member being a stem. 86. The urinary flow control valve of claim 85, said stem being flexible. 87. The urinary flow control valve of claim 84, said isolation member being a tubular stem. 88. The urinary flow control valve of claim 87, said tubular stem being coupled with said valve member so as to allow urine to flow through said stem. 89. The urinary flow control valve of claim 88, said valve housing having a discharge outlet, the tubular stem being coupled between said discharge outlet and said valve member. 90. The urinary flow control valve of claim 87, said tubular stem being flexible. 91. The urinary flow control valve of claim 84 further comprising a crush limiting member associated with said valve member. 92. The urinary flow control valve of claim 91, said crush limiting member including a blade member disposed within said valve member.