Patent ID: 7713246

Claim:
A valve adapted for use with a nasogastric tube having a fluid lumen and a vent lumen, said valve comprising: a housing including therein a first passageway and a second passageway that includes a relief port, said first passageway being adapted for communication with the fluid lumen of said nasogastric tube and the relief port being adapted for communication with the vent lumen of the nasogastric tube, the housing further including a fluid introduction port and a fluid suction port; a valve member disposed within the housing and movable relative thereto, the valve member defining a portion of the first passageway that includes a first opening configured for alignment and sealed fluid communication with the fluid introduction port and the fluid suction port, the portion of the first passageway further including a second opening having a greater relative dimension than the first opening, wherein the valve member is manipulable to establish sealed fluid communication between the first opening and either the fluid introduction port or the fluid suction port while maintaining continuous sealed fluid communication between the second opening and the first passageway adjacent to the second end of the housing; an anti-reflux valve in the housing in fluid communication with the relief port, said anti-reflux valve being adapted to open to permit air to flow through the relief port when the first passageway and relief port are in communication with respective lumens of said nasogastric tube and suction is applied to the suction port; and wherein said second passageway is separate from the first passageway such that said valve member is not movable to any position establishing fluid communication between said first and second passageways.