Patent ID: 7028707
Filing Date: 2006-04-18
Classification: A61M,F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A valve for use in a chest drainage device including an upstream chamber and a downstream chamber, said upstream chamber and downstream chamber defining an air flow path, said valve disposed along the flow path, said chest drainage device comprising: an inlet to the chest drainage device adapted to receive liquid and air from a patient, a liquid collection chamber for collecting liquid, a valve element separating the upstream chamber from the downstream chamber secured to a wall defining the flowpath and having a first and a second sealing surface that are opposed so that, when the first and second sealing surfaces are in contact, air will be prevented from moving from the downstream chamber to the upstream chamber, and when the upstream chamber is at a higher pressure than the downstream chamber, the sealing surfaces will separate allowing air to move from the upstream chamber toward the downstream chamber, and, a pressure relief actuating element located adjacent the valve element such that, when the downstream chamber is at a higher pressure than the upstream chamber and a pressure difference between the two chambers is above predetermined differential value, the valve element deforms and contacts the pressure relief actuating element so that the pressure relief actuating element causes the first and second sealing surfaces to separate.