Abstract:
A valve for controlling fluid flow is provided. The valve may be used in a medical instrument, such as a liposuction device. The valve includes a valve stem, a handle, and a valve bore. The valve bore is located in the instrument body, and is tapered inwardly from the stem insertion end to a body closed end. The valve bore has a similar taper. A flange is attached to the body and includes a boss having a tapered surface which contacts the handle as the valve is moved from the closed position to the open position, for use in holding the valve with the body. As the valve is opened, a user can apply a force that causes the stem to move more inwardly in order to maintain the desired fit between the stem and the valve bore.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention is directed to a medical instrument and in particular to a medical instrument for moving liquids, semisolids, air or vacuum.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Present day suction devices typically include a suction tube, a body, a handle, and a suction or vacuum source. A valve may be included in these devices to control the application of vacuum to the suction tube. It is often useful to have the valve in or near the handle, so a user may control application of vacuum to the suction tube by hand at the handle. However, present valves used in such applications have drawbacks which prevent ease of use, reliability, and low cost manufacture.  
         [0003]     One drawback of present day valves is that the valve members in the valve must be tightly held in place to prevent any vacuum leakage. In order to accomplish this, valves have separate parts, such as a spring, cap and screw, or “O” rings of various types. These multiple parts are often quite complex, having a multiplicity of complex angles, such as in screws and springs. The large number of parts results in difficulty in properly cleaning the device. Furthermore, the number of parts results in difficulty assembling and disassembling the instrument. Also, such devices are often secured to the body, such as by a screw, in order to prevent the parts from falling out. When assembling and disassembling the instruments, it is common to lose parts. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to have a valve with fewer parts, provided for more efficient cleaning, and relatively easy to assemble and disassemble.  
         [0004]     Additionally, having many parts, while providing the required seals to prevent leakage, presents another set of problems. For example, if close tolerances are not met, the parts do not maintain a seal. Present day valves thus often not manufactured with parts having close tolerances, and require additional parts to complete the seal. Often, the parts are not able to be assembled and tightened enough to provide such a seal, resulting in loss of seal and leakage. In such cases, high viscosity grease is required to complete the seal. Assembling the parts to achieve a seal can take additional time and testing to verify the instrument has a proper seal. Furthermore, the addition of grease further complicates the cleaning process, as the grease must be removed with each cleaning and re-applied during the re-assembly of the valve. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to have a valve which provides a proper seal, without requiring adjustment of separate parts or the addition of grease.  
         [0005]     Another problem often encountered in present valves is wear of the valve parts. Wear in such valves is often uneven, and as the contact areas wear the valve loses seal and must be tightened, or grease is used to complete the seal. Wear is also often encountered during the use of two different materials as the opposing sealing surfaces, with the softer material wearing at a much higher rate. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to have a valve which self adjusts for wear or parts, providing a seal without independent adjustment of parts within the valve.  
         [0006]     Another problem with present day valves is in the use of “spring retention” type valves. These valves use a spring in the tightener which helps to provide a seal. Many valves have this type of construction because it is easy to tighten the seal using conventional tools. However, the multiple parts result in difficulty in properly cleaning the instrument, and inconvenient loss of parts. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide a valve which does not require a spring retention tightener, while maintaining a proper seal.  
         [0007]     A further problem with many present day valves is that the valves have a uniformly cylindrical hole in the cross-shaft for material passage. To be fully open, the valve channel and the cross shaft channel must match up exactly. This creates additional difficulties in the assembly of the valve following any cleaning, as care must be taken to ensure the channels match up in the open position. Furthermore, if the handle used to open and close the valve travels more or less than the fully opened position, the valve will not be fully open, losing flow. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to have a valve which is fully open while not requiring the exact matching of the channels.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     The present invention addresses the aforementioned problems and meets the aforementioned needs. The present invention provides a valve which has relatively few parts having simple assembly and operation, and which also work to prevent leakage from the valve.  
         [0009]     In one embodiment, a medical suction device is provided which includes a body and a valve. The body includes a conduit and a valve bore. The valve includes a stem having a valve opening, a handle, and a flange. The flange is joined to the body, and at least a portion of the stem is positioned in the valve bore. The handle contacts the flange when the valve is in an open state in which fluid can move through the valve opening for passage through the conduit. The flange, in an embodiment, includes a boss and a channel, and the handle moves in the channel when the valve is changed from a closed state to the open state. The boss may have a tapered guide surface that tapers inwardly towards the body. The flange may be integral with the body. In an embodiment, at least one of the valve bore and the stem tapers inwardly from the handle, and the stem is held in the valve bore independently of any fastener. The body, in an embodiment, has a head with an inlet adjacent one end thereof and an outlet adjacent an opposite end thereof and in which the valve is located closer to the inlet than the outlet.  
         [0010]     Another embodiment of the invention provides a valve as part of a medical suction device having a body and a valve bore formed in the body. The valve includes a flange joined to the body, a stem having an open state to allow passage of fluid through the valve and a closed state to substantially prevent passage of fluid through the valve, and a handle joined to the stem. The stem is held in said open state in the valve bore independently of any fastener. The flange may include a boss with a tapered guide surface and a channel adjacent to the tapered guide surface for receiving the handle. In an embodiment, the stem tapers inwardly away from the handle. In one embodiment, the flange is integral with the body. The stem, in an embodiment, is held in the valve bore substantially only by frictional force and contact between the flange and the handle.  
         [0011]     In another embodiment, a method using a medical suction device for opening and closing a valve is provided. The valve includes a flange, a stem and a handle connected to the stem. The method comprises opening the valve, including engaging the handle and the flange while the handle is being moved. The opening of the valve includes causing inward movement of the stem. In an embodiment, the flange has a tapered guide surface that is contacted by the handle. In one embodiment, the valve is fully opened by moving the handle a first distance and further including, at a later time, opening again the valve to be fully opened while moving the handle a second distance greater than the first distance. The medical suction device may include a body and a valve bore and the stem is held with the body substantially only by engagement between the handle and the flange and friction between the stem and the valve bore. The medical suction device may also include a body, and the stem is held with the body independently of any fastener.  
         [0012]     The above described features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from a review of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a medical device of one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the medical device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the medical device of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the handle of the device in the open and closed positions;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of the medical device of the medical device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a partial cross-section view of the valve portion of the medical device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6A  is a side elevation view of the valve portion of the medical device of FIG. I illustrating the valve in a closed position;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6B  is a front elevation view corresponding to  FIG. 6A ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 7A  is a side elevation view of the valve portion of the medical device of FIG. I illustrating the valve in a partially open position;  
         [0021]      FIG. 7B  is a front elevation view corresponding to  FIG. 7A ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 8A  is a side elevation view of the valve portion of the medical device of  FIG. 1  illustrating the valve in an open position; and  
         [0023]      FIG. 8B  is a front elevation view corresponding to  FIG. 8A . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0024]     One embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment, a valve of the present invention is incorporated into a medical device  100  which may be used in a liposuction procedure. It will be understood that the present invention may have additional uses, other than in medical devices, and that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein. The device of  FIG. 1  includes a body  104 , which has a outlet  108  for an external vacuum source, a valve  112  and an inlet  116  to which various probe attachments or tubes (not shown) may be coupled. The body  104 , outlet  108 , and inlet  116 , are formed from an integral piece of material, such as stainless steel, in one embodiment. In an embodiment, portions of the valve  112  are also formed integrally with the body  104 , as will be described in more detail below. In other embodiments, the various portions of the device  100  are fabricated as separate pieces and assembled to form the device  100 . The outlet  108 , in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , is tapered and includes several barbs  120  which help secure a vacuum tube or hose (not shown) to the outlet  108 . The outlet  108 , may also include a threaded fitting which may be connected to an associated fitting on a vacuum tube or hose. As will be understood, numerous other connections may be used to connect a vacuum or suction source to the device  100 . The inlet  116 , in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , is a socket into which a probe attachment may be inserted. Similarly as described with the connection  108 , the inlet  116  may be one of numerous coupling structures which couples the body  104  to a working portion of the device which requires suction. Also, the device may include an integral probe attachment. Furthermore, the inlet  116  may be a fitting to which a hose or tube may be attached.  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the device  100 , as indicated by the dashed lines, includes a conduit  124 , and a valve bore  128 . Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the valve  112 , may be used in turning on and off suction between the connection  108  and the inlet  116 . The valve  112  is made up of the valve bore  128  within the body, a stem  132  that can include a knob  144  which is inserted into the valve bore  128 , a flange  136  attached to the body  104 , and a handle  140  which can be turned to rotate the valve stem  132  within the valve bore  128 . The valve stem  132  includes a valve opening  146 , which, when the handle  140  is turned, is rotated into and out of alignment with the conduit  124  within the body  104 , thus applying and removing vacuum from the inlet  116 . Movement of the handle is illustrated in  FIG. 3 , with the solid lines indicating the position of the handle  140  in the closed position, where no vacuum or suction is applied to the inlet  116 , and the dashed lines indicating the position of the handle  140  in the open position, where suction or vacuum is applied to the inlet  116 .  FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of the device  100 , with the valve bore  128  illustrated in dashed lines.  
         [0026]     The flange  136 , in an embodiment, includes a boss  148  which has a tapered configuration and contacts the handle  140  as the handle is turned. The boss  148  and the body  104  create a channel  156  between the boss  148  and body  104 . In the embodiment illustrated, the handle  140  can include an extension  152  which extends beyond the knob  144 , into the channel  156 , and contacts the boss  148  as the handle  140  is moved from the closed position to the open position. Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a partial cross-section view of the valve is illustrated, including the conduit  124 , valve bore  128 , flange  136  and boss  148 . As can be observed from the illustration of  FIG. 5 , the valve bore  128  is tapered inwardly from the flange  136 . The taper results in the valve bore  128  having a diameter A at the end adjacent to the flange  136 , and a diameter B at the end within the body  104 , with B being smaller than A. The valve stem  132  is tapered to correspond to the taper of the valve bore. The boss has a tapered guide surface  160  that tapers inwardly towards the body  104 . In an embodiment, the handle  140  contacts the tapered guide surface  160  as the valve is moved from the closed to the open position. As the handle  140  contacts the tapered guide surface  160 , the valve stem  132  is forced further into the valve bore  128 . Accordingly, as the valve is moved farther into the open position, the valve stem  132  makes tighter contact with the valve bore  128 , which helps prevent any leakage from the valve  112 .  
         [0027]     Referring now to  FIGS. 6-8 , the operation of the valve  112  as it is moved from the closed position to the open position is described in more detail. Initially, as illustrated in the side view of  FIG. 6A  and the front view of  FIG. 6B , the valve  112  is in the closed position. While in the closed position, the valve opening  146 , illustrated in dashed lines within the valve stem  132  is oriented substantially perpendicular to the conduit  124  within the body  104 . The handle  104  is generally oriented in a position where it is relatively closer to the connection  108  side of the body  104 . In this position, the extension  152  is not in contact with the flange  136 . In one embodiment, when in the closed position, the valve stem  132  may be removed from the valve bore  128  simply by pulling on the knob  144  of the valve stem  132 . As the handle  140  is moved away from the body  104 , the valve  112  begins to open.  FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate the valve  112  as it is moved from the closed position to the open position. At the position illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the extension  152  of the handle  140  is initially coming into contact with the flange, and the valve opening  146  is beginning to become aligned with the conduit  124 . Finally, as illustrated in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the valve  112  is in the open position, with the valve opening  146  substantially aligned with the conduit  124 , thus allowing vacuum to be applied to the inlet  116 . As the handle  140  is moved away from the body, the handle extension  152  contacts the tapered guide surface  160  of the boss  148  on the flange  136 , forcing the valve stem  132  into the valve bore  128 . As mentioned above, the valve stem  132  being forced into the valve bore  128  results in substantially no leakage of suction or vacuum through the valve  112 . A user, while operating the valve  112 , may observe some leakage, and simply apply more pressure to the handle  140 , thus forcing the valve stem  132  into tighter connection with the valve bore  128 , thereby reducing the leakage.  
         [0028]     During repeated use of the valve  112 , parts of the valve  112  may wear. For example, the valve stem  132  may wear to result in a smaller physical diameter over time. Similarly, the valve bore  128  may become enlarged. A seal may be maintained in the valve  112  by moving the handle  140  a farther distance into the channel  156 , thus forcing the stem  132  farther into the valve bore  128  and maintaining a seal. Thus, the valve  112  can be operated repeatedly without having to make separate adjustments to the valve in order to maintain a seal. Furthermore, the stem  132  and handle  140  may be removed from the body  104  by moving the handle  140  into the farthest closed position possible, resulting in no portions of the handle extending into the channel  156 . The handle  140  and stem  132  may then be pulled from the body  104 , thus disassembling the valve  112 . The valve  112  may be assembled simply by inserting the stem  132  into the valve bore  128 . Accordingly, assembly and disassembly may be accomplished with relative ease and the device may be properly cleaned with relative ease.  
         [0029]     In another embodiment, the stem  132  includes a valve opening  146  which has a larger diameter than the conduit  124 . Accordingly, the device may achieve maximum suction without requiring the valve opening  146  to be precisely aligned with the conduit  124 . Also, as the valve  112  wears over time, the handle  140  is moved different distances to achieve a fully opened configuration while maintaining a seal. Having a valve opening  146  which has a larger diameter than the conduit  124  allows the valve  112  to be fully opened even as the valve wears. In another embodiment, the valve opening  146  has an oval shape, allowing the valve  112  to achieve maximum suction when the handle  140  is moved a distance other than the optimum distance for fully opening the valve while maintaining a seal. The handle and body, in a further embodiment, include a surface allowing for an enhanced gripping for a user of the device, such as a knurled surface or a rubberized surface.  
         [0030]     As mentioned above, the body  104 , outlet  108 , inlet  116 , and flange may be formed from an integral piece of material, such as stainless steel. However, other materials may be used, such as, for example, plastic, brass, or a composite material. The flange  136 , outlet  108 , or inlet  116  may be manufactured separately from the body and fastened thereto during manufacturing. The valve  112  may also include additional parts, such as an insert which may be inserted into the body  104  and which acts as the valve bore  128 . In this embodiment, the body  104  may be made of a first material, such as plastic, and the insert may be made of a second material, such as a metal. The metal of the insert in such a case may provide for enhanced durability of the device, as the metal wears more slowly than plastic during repeated use of the device. Furthermore, the stem  132  material may be selected from a softer material than the valve bore  128 , resulting in the stem  132  wearing more quickly than the valve bore  128 . Thus, the stem  132  may be easily replaced upon wearing out, while the valve bore  128  and the body  104  may continue to be used.  
         [0031]     While the embodiments described above are directed to a hand operated medical suction device, many other devices may incorporate the valve herein described. For example, the valve may be incorporated into a foot operated device which applies and removes suction from a working head based on the foot action of a user, thus leaving both hands of the user free to perform other tasks. The valve may be incorporated into a device which has an electronic actuation, with the valve stem turned relative to the valve bore by an electric and/or mechanical device attached to the valve stem, which is actuated by an electronic signal which may be generated automatically or manually.  
         [0032]     The foregoing discussion of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Further, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings, within the skill and knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the present invention. The embodiments described hereinabove are further intended to explain the best modes presently known of practicing the inventions and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the inventions in such, or in other embodiments, and with the various modifications required by their particular application or uses of the invention. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.