Fluid-communicating device with valve function

A fluid-communicating device with valve function comprising a tubular body having an inlet and an outlet, and a blocking body inserted in the tubular body is disclosed. The blocking body comprises a plug portion, and a supporting portion on which a diameter-enlarging portion for enlarging an inner wall of the tubular body is provided. The plug portion of the blocking body is placed in a seal portion of the tubular body to close the tubular body and to prevent the passage of fluid. In use, a tip of a syringe and the like is inserted into the tubular body, so that there is formed a clearance between the outer wall of the plug portion and the inner wall of the seal portion. Fluid passes through the clearance and a fluid passage formed longitudinally on the supporting portion or on an inner wall of the tubular body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a fluid-communicating device with valve 
function, and more particularly to a fluid-communicating device with valve 
function which, in use, receives the insertion of a tip of a syringe and 
the like into an inlet of the device and communicates the inlet with an 
outlet, whereby enabling the fluid passage from the inlet to the outlet, 
or from the outlet to the inlet. Such communication is impossible before 
the insertion of the tip. 
In medical devices such as balloon catheters or endotracheal tubes having a 
balloon, there has been used a tube shown in FIG. 6 having a plug at an 
injection/discharge port of the tube, or a tube shown in FIG. 7 having a 
valve which opens only on injecting or discharging fluid, when injecting 
or discharging fluid such as gas or liquid into or from the balloon. When 
injecting or discharging fluid with the use of the former tube with the 
plug, the plug 22 is removed from the injection/discharge port while, for 
example, pinching the tube 21 with fingers to prevent the leakage of fluid 
in the balloon due to energizing force of the balloon. Then, a tip of a 
syringe and the like is inserted into the injection port of the tube. The 
latter tube with the valve comprises a casing 31, a valve disc 32, a 
spring 33 and a rubber packing 34. On injecting or discharging fluid, the 
communication from an inlet to an outlet of the tube is made possible only 
by inserting a tip of a syringe into the inlet 35 of the tube. 
However, these conventional techniques have the following problems. That 
is, in the case of the former tube with the plug, it requires a 
troublesome operation of pinching the tube with fingers, and there is a 
risk of fluid leakage when removing the plug. The latter tube solves the 
above-mentioned problems inherent in the former tube. But, the assembly of 
the valve is time-consuming and cost for the valve becomes large, because 
many parts are necessary for assembly of the valve. Further, since a metal 
spring is employed in the valve, there is a danger that the spring rusts 
away and fails to function. 
The present invention was made to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, and 
it is an object of the present invention to provide a fluid-communicating 
device with valve function of which assembly is easy and which can prevent 
leakage of fluid when injecting or discharging fluid. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a 
fluid-communicating device with valve function comprising: 
(A) a tubular body made of soft material both ends thereof being open, the 
tubular body having an inlet and an outlet, and comprising 
a tip-receiving portion of which diameter is tapered down from the inlet to 
the outlet, 
a seal portion extending from the tip-receiving portion to the outlet of 
the tubular body and having an inner diameter which is approximately the 
same as an inner diameter of an end of the tip-receiving portion on the 
side of the outlet, and 
a fixing portion extending from the seal portion to the outlet of the 
tubular body, and 
(B) a blocking body made of hard material and being inserted and supported 
in the tubular body, the blocking body comprising 
a column-like plug portion placed in the tubular body in the way which the 
plug portion closely contacts with the seal portion of the tubular body, 
and having an outer diameter which is slightly larger than an inner 
diameter of the seal portion, and 
a column-like supporting portion engaging with an inner surface of the 
fixing portion and being held in the fixing portion wherein a 
diameter-enlarging means for enlarging an end of an inner wall of the 
fixing portion and a part of an inner wall of the seal portion adjoining 
the end of the fixing portion is provided adjacent or near an end of the 
fixing portion on the side of the seal portion; and a fluid passage for 
communicating the inlet with the outlet during the use of the device is 
formed longitudinally on the fixing portion or on the supporting portion. 
According to the device having the above-mentioned structure, fluid can 
easily pass from an inlet of the fluid-communicating device to an outlet 
of the same by using a syringe with a tip having an outer diameter 
sufficiently larger than the outer diameter of a plug portion of a closing 
body. That is, when the tip of the syringe is inserted into the inlet of 
the device, the diameter of a tip-receiving portion of a tubular body is 
enlarged because the device is made of soft materials such as, for 
example, soft polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene. Then, the seal portion 
having the same inner diameter as that of a diameter-reduced end of the 
tip-receiving portion is also enlarged so that a clearance, i.e. a fluid 
passage, is formed between the plug portion of the closing body and the 
seal portion of the tubular body. Fluid is injected into or discharged 
from the device through such fluid passage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Next, a fluid-communicating device with valve function of the present 
invention is explained based on the attached drawings. 
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a fluid-communicating device with valve function 
(hereafter referred to as fluid-communicating device) of the present 
invention comprises a tubular body T made of soft materials and a blocking 
body C made of hard materials. The blocking body C is inserted into a 
hollow portion of the tubular body T to close the hollow portion. In the 
tubular body T, a diameter-enlarging means for enlarging an end of an 
inner wall of a fixing portion 3 and a part of an inner wall of a seal 
portion 2 adjoining the end of the fixing portion 3 is provided adjacent 
or near the end of the fixing portion 3 on the side of the seal portion 2. 
Further, a fluid passage P for communicating an inlet 5 with an outlet 6 
during the use of the fluid-communicating device is longitudinally formed 
on the fixing portion 3 or a supporting portion 9 mentioned later. The 
tubular body T, both ends thereof are made open, is a tubular member made 
of soft materials such as polyethylene, soft polyvinyl chloride, ethylene 
vinyl acetate copolymer, rubber, and elastomer. The tubular body T has an 
inlet 5 and an outlet 6. A tip-receiving portion 1, the seal portion 2, 
and the fixing portion 3 are formed in this order from the inlet 5 to the 
outlet 6. 
The tip-receiving portion 1 serves to receive a nozzle portion of a syringe 
and the like, so-called a tip, inserted into the tubular body T. The 
tip-receiving portion 1 has a hollow portion of which inner diameter is 
tapered down from the inlet 5 to the outlet 6. The tip-receiving portion 1 
is radially outwardly enlarged when the tip is inserted into the tubular 
body T since the tubular body T is made of soft materials. 
The seal portion 2 serves to closely contact with a plug portion 8 of a 
blocking body C mentioned later in order to block the hollow portion of 
the tubular body T, and to prevent passage of fluid from the inlet 5 to 
the outlet 6, or from the outlet 6 to the inlet 5. Inner diameter of the 
seal portion 2 is designed to be the same as an inner diameter of an end 
of the tip-receiving portion 1 on the side of the outlet 6. 
The fixing portion 3 extending from the seal portion 2 to the outlet 6 of 
the tubular body T engages with a supporting portion 9 of the blocking 
body C and serves to fix the blocking body C to the hollow portion of the 
tubular body T. The engagement (including close contact) is mainly carried 
out by the inner wall of the fixing portion 3 and the outer wall of the 
supporting portion 9. It is desirable to provide an annular projection 7 
(see FIG. 1) or a stepped portion 20 (see FIG. 4) as occasion demands on 
the outlet side of the fixing portion 3, since the lower end of the 
supporting portion 9 can be engaged with the annular projection 7 or 
stepped portion 20 whereby the blocking body C can be surely fixed to a 
predetermined position. Medical devices such as balloon catheters are 
connected to an end 4 of the fixing portion 3 on the side of the outlet 6 
using a connector if need be. In the device shown in FIG. 1, inner 
diameter of the outlet 6 is slightly enlarged toward its end for the sake 
of forming (i.e. centering). 
The blocking body C comprises a plug portion 8 and a supporting portion 9, 
and is made of hard materials such as polypropylene, polyamide, 
polystyrene, polycarbonate, and acrylonitrile-butadien-styrene copolymer. 
The blocking body C is so arranged in the tubular body T that the plug 
portion 8 closely contacts with the seal portion 2 and that the supporting 
portion 9 engages with the fixing portion 3. 
The plug portion 8 serves to closely contact with the seal portion 2 and to 
close a hollow portion of the tubular body T, i.e. a fluid passage P. The 
plug portion 8 is a short column-like part having an outer diameter 
slightly larger than the inner diameter of the seal portion 2 in order to 
surely block the fluid passage P. 
The supporting portion 9 supports the plug portion 8, and prevents the 
movement of the blocking body C toward the outlet 6 by engaging with the 
inner wall of the fixing portion 3 of the tubular body T. It is desirable 
to provide an annular projection 7 or a stepped portion 20 on the outlet 
side of the fixing portion 3 in order to surely prevent the movement of 
the blocking body C and surely fix the blocking body C to a predetermined 
position. In the fluid-communicating device of FIG. 1, an end of the 
supporting portion 9 on the side of the outlet 6 closely contacts with the 
annular projection 7. The shape and size of the supporting portion 9 are 
not particularly limited in the present invention as long as the inlet 5 
surely communicates with the outlet 6 when the fluid-communicating device 
is in use, that is, a nozzle of a syringe and the like (hereafter referred 
to as tip) is inserted into the tip-receiving portion 1. However, they are 
limited by the shape and size of the diameter-enlarging means, fluid 
passage P, and fixing portion 3. 
The diameter-enlarging means is compulsorily inserted into such a position 
as is adjacent an end of the fixing portion on the side of the seal 
portion 2, and serves to enlarge an end of an inner wall of the fixing 
portion 3 and a part of an inner wall of the seal portion 2 adjoining the 
end of the fixing portion 3. By enlarging a part of an inner wall of the 
seal portion 2, the plug portion 8 having a large height or thickness h 
(see FIG. 1) can be inserted into the seal portion 2. In result, the seal 
performance becomes stable since the seal length can be increased. 
Concrete examples of the diameter-enlarging means are, for instance, ribs 
11 formed longitudinally on the supporting portion 9, a substantially 
column-like bulged portion 12 formed on at least an end of the supporting 
portion on the side of the plug portion 8, and a ring (not shown) put on 
the fixing portion 3 close to the seal portion 2. At least an end of the 
rib 11 on the side of the plug portion 8 projects radially outwardly from 
an outer wall of the plug portion 8 and an inner wall of the fixing 
portion 3. The projecting portion enlarges the inner wall of the fixing 
portion 3 and a part of an inner wall of the seal portion 2. The number of 
ribs 11 is not limited in the present invention, and might be one or more. 
In general, two to five ribs are provided symmetrically with respect to a 
longitudinal axis of the tubular body T. FIGS. 3a and 3b show a supporting 
portion 9 having four ribs 11. 
At least an end of the bulged portion 12 adjoining the plug portion 8 or 
the whole bulged portion 12 projects radially outwardly from an outer wall 
of the plug portion 8 and an inner wall of the fixing portion 3. The 
projecting portion enlarges an inner wall of the tubular body T with which 
the projecting portion contacts and an inner wall near such contacting 
portions. The number of projecting portion is not limited in the present 
invention, and might be one or more. In general, however, the number of 
the projecting portions is two to five. In the case of a bulged portion 12 
having such a shape as to hardly form a fluid passage P between the bulged 
portion 12 and the fixing portion 3, it is necessary to form a groove 
longitudinally on the outer wall of the bulged portion 12 or on the inner 
wall of the fixing portion 3 contacting with the bulged portion 12. 
The outer diameter of a ring is so designed as to be larger than the outer 
diameter of a plug portion 8 and the inner diameter of a fixing portion 3. 
When a ring is employed as a diameter-enlarging means, it is necessary to 
form ribs or grooves on a supporting portion 9 longitudinally in order to 
secure a fluid passage P. The fluid passage P is defined by the inner wall 
of the fixing portion 3 and the groove 10, by the inner wall of the fixing 
portion 3, ribs 11 and outer wall of the supporting portion 9, or by the 
inner wall of the fixing portion 3 and outer wall of the bulged portion 12 
near the projecting portion. When the outer diameter of the supporting 
portion 9 is smaller than the inner diameter of the fixing portion 3, the 
fluid passage P is such a space as is defined by the inner wall of the 
fixing portion 3 and the outer wall of the supporting portion 9. 
When the annular projection 7 or stepped portion 20 is provided on the 
outlet side of the fixing portion 3, the depth of the grooves 10 or the 
height of the ribs 11 should be suitably determined in order to prevent 
the fluid passage from being closed by the annular projection 6 and the 
like. That is, in the case of a groove 10, the depth of the groove 10 
should be designed that a bottom of the groove 10 is inside the inner wall 
of the annular projection 7 or stepped portion 20. In the case of a rib 
11, the height of the rib 1 should be so designed that a root of the rib 
11 is inside the inner wall of the annular projection 7 and the like. 
Next, method of using a fluid-communicating device of the present invention 
is explained based on FIG. 5. 
Firstly, a tip 13 of a syringe S is inserted into a tip-receiving portion 1 
of a fluid-communicating device till an end of the tip 13 contacts with a 
seal portion 2. Then, the inner diameter of the tip-receiving portion 1 is 
enlarged. Simultaneously, the inner diameter of the seal portion 2 
adjoining the tip-receiving portion 1 and having the same inner diameter 
as that of the tip-receiving portion 1 is also enlarged, so that a 
clearance 14 is formed between the seal portion 2 and the plug portion 8. 
When fluid is injected from the syringe 5 in this condition, the fluid 
passes through the clearance 14, and a fluid passage P, i.e. a space 
defined by the fixing portion 3 and the supporting portion 9. The fluid is 
then injected into a balloon if, for example, a tube communicating with a 
balloon of a balloon catheter is connected to an outlet of the 
fluid-communicating device. As a fluid passage P, there can be employed 
various kinds of modifications such as grooves formed on the whole fixing 
portion 3 including an annular projection 7 or a stepped portion besides 
grooves 10 or ribs 11 formed on the supporting portion 9. 
As is clear from the above-mentioned explanation, the fluid-communicating 
device of the present invention has the following advantages. 
(1) The fluid-communicating device of the present invention is easy to 
produce and is economical since the number of parts is small. 
(2) Fluid does not leak on the injection or discharge thereof. 
(3) The structure of the fluid-communicating device is simple and the 
rusting and the like does not occur, so that the performance of the device 
is stable.