Patent ID: 7610936
Filing Date: 2009-11-03
Classification: A61B,A61M,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A flow-based pressure isolation mechanism, comprising: a housing body defining an inlet port, an isolation port, an internal cavity disposed between the inlet port and the isolation port, a seal seat in the internal cavity between the inlet port and the isolation port, and a flow initiating port defining a branch lumen in fluid communication with the isolation port; a valve member disposed within and free floating in the internal cavity and comprising a disk-shaped body having top and bottom projections extending from top and bottom sides, respectively, of the disk-shaped body and adapted to center the valve member within the internal cavity, the valve member adapted to move between an open position permitting fluid communication between the inlet port and the isolation port and a closed position preventing fluid flow between the inlet port and the isolation port, wherein the valve member is fluid flow responsive to fluid flow in the inlet port to engage the seal seat and thereby attain the closed position preventing fluid flow between the inlet port and the isolation port; and a flow initiating mechanism associated with the flow initiating port and adapted to provide sufficient upstream capacitance to initiate fluid flow around the valve member such that the valve member moves to the closed position substantially upon flow initiation, the flow initiating mechanism comprising a flow initiating member disposed and retained within the branch lumen by a retainer and an air inlet prevention filter disposed in a bore defined in the retainer and adapted to prevent air from entering the internal cavity when the filter is wetted with fluid.