Patent ID: 7320322
Filing Date: 2008-01-22
Classification: A61M,F16K

Abstract:
1. A valve assembly for conducting hyperpolarized gas, comprising: a valve cover defining first, second, and third cover control gas ports; a valve body defining first, second, and third stepped piston bores opening on one major surface of said valve body, each said stepped piston bore defining a stem bore portion and a head bore portion; first, second, and third body gas control ports in fluid communication with the head bore portion of said first, second, and third stepped piston bores, respectively, first, second, and third air breathing ports in fluid communication with the stem bore portion of said first, second, and third stepped piston bores, respectively, and an elongate fluid passageway opening on said valve body and in fluid communication with the stem bore portion of said first, second, and third stepped piston bores; and a first, second, and third piston slideably supported in said first, second, and third stepped piston bore, respectively, each said piston including a piston head received in the head bore portion of one of said first, second, and third stepped piston bores, said piston head sealing each said cover control gas port from its corresponding said body control gas port; and an elongate piston stem received in the stem bore portion of said one of said stepped piston bores, said piston stem sealing each said body control gas port from its corresponding said breathing air port.