WO1988002639A1

WO1988002639A1 - Multipath valve

Info

Publication number: WO1988002639A1
Application number: PCT/EP1986/000594
Authority: WO
Inventors: Reinhard Bischof
Original assignee: Reinhard Bischof
Priority date: 1985-04-19
Filing date: 1986-10-17
Publication date: 1988-04-21
Also published as: AU6722187A; DE3518575A1

Abstract

A multipath valve, in particular for medical solutions, has a housing (10) with at least one first inlet (11), one second inlet (17) and one outlet (19), a first flow path being formed between both inlets (11 and 17) and a second flow path between the second inlet (17) and the outlet (19). A non-return valve (15) arranged in the second flow path allows the second flow path to open only in the direction of flow from the second inlet (17) to the outlet (19). To avoid in a reliable manner an incorrect connection between the first inlet (11) and the outlet (19) leading to the patient, an adjustable valve body (13, 13') is mounted in the housing (10) in such a way that it can be moved form a first position, where it opens the first flow path, into a second position, where it opens the second flow path, and vice-versa, at the same blocking the other flow path. The adjustment of the valve body (13, 13') is automatically effected by the instantaneous differential pressure in both inlets (11 and 12).

Description

M e h r w e v e n t i l

Description:

The invention relates to a multi-way valve, in particular for medical solutions, with a housing with at least a first inlet, a second inlet and an outlet, forming a first flow path between the two inlets and a second flow path between the second inlet and the outlet and with check valve associated with the second flow path, which only permits opening of the second flow path in the direction from the second inlet to the outlet.

Such multi-way valves are generally known, in particular for the administration of medicaments (US Pat. Nos. 3,572,375, 3,650,093 and 3,710,942), a bag with a solution mixture or a bag with solutions to be mixed being present at the first inlet the second Inlet an administration syringe or a so-called perfusor and a patient can be connected to the outlet. The known multi-way valves of this type have the disadvantage that if the administration syringe is not actuated or the perfusor is at a standstill, the solution or infusion from the first inlet can essentially "refill" to the outlet and thus to the patient, since the one or those at the first inlet connected solution bags are generally arranged higher than the multi-way valve and the administration syringe as well as the patient, namely hang above it. In order to prevent such "infusion afterflow", the connection between the first inlet and the solution bag (s) connected to it would have to be closed separately, for example by means of a hose clamp of a known type. Such an additional handling measure should, however, be prevented as far as possible in order to relieve the medical staff and to avoid errors in the administration of an infusion, if it should be forgotten to interrupt the connection mentioned between the first inlet and the solution bag. The patients would then be given an additional, non-predetermined infusion. This can sometimes lead to death in small children.

Furthermore, it is very often necessary to add a medication in a metered amount to the infusion solution. For this purpose, it makes sense to connect an injection nozzle for attaching an injection syringe directly to the first flow path mentioned at the outset, with the aim that the injected medication gets into the administration syringe or into the perfusor and mixes there with the aspirated infusion solution. Such a measure would be however, when using the known multi-way valves, it is extremely dangerous since it cannot be avoided that the check valve assigned to the second flow path or outlet to the patient opens when the medicament is injected into the first flow path, with the result that the medication reaches the patient in a highly concentrated manner and to the patient Can lead to death.

The present invention has for its object to provide a multi-way valve with which the disadvantages mentioned can be avoided, by which it is thus ensured that the first and second flow paths can be safely separated from one another, namely in an active manner, i.e. without additional external manipulation of the arrangement.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the characterizing features of patent claim 1.

The valve body according to the invention makes it possible to safely separate the two flow paths from one another, thereby avoiding an uncontrolled "infusion afterflow" from the first inlet to the outlet of the valve and direct injection of medication through the outlet to the patient. Hose clamps for shutting off the hose connection between the first inlet and solution bag or switching body in the multi-way valve for optional opening or closing of the two flow paths, e.g. according to the older German patent application P 35 03 320.7, are unnecessary.

The valve body in the housing of the multi-way valve is preferably biased into a preferred position in which the first flow path between the two inlets is interrupted. This monostable design of the multi-way valve ensures that operating position of the valve, in particular when the administration syringe is not actuated, the first flow path is always closed, that is to say that this flow path does not allow uncontrolled flow of solvent or the like from the bag and, if appropriate, into the patient.

The monostable position of the valve body can be obtained either by a tension or compression spring and / or an elastic deformation of the valve body. The first-mentioned embodiment is preferably used when the valve body is designed as a piston. An elastic recovery of the valve body can be obtained particularly well with umbrella valves.

In a preferred embodiment, the valve body is adjustably mounted within the housing in a valve body receiving space into which the two inlets and the outlet open, the second inlet having two inlet channels which are spaced apart from one another in the direction of adjustment of the valve body open into the valve body receiving space, and the outlet opening is arranged at the level between the openings of the two inlet ducts - preferably opposite this. This embodiment is of the ^'valve body useful in training both as a piston and as an umbrella valve.

The valve body is dimensioned such that when the first flow is released, it closes the outlet to the patient, while in the preferred monostable position it opens the outlet, interrupting the first flow path.

Claims 7 and 8 relate to further structural details of the multi-way valve according to the invention. It will in this regard, reference is made to the features described or claimed there.

Two embodiments of the multi-way valve according to the invention are described in more detail below with the aid of the attached schematic drawing. Show it:

1 to 5 a first embodiment of a multi-way valve with a piston-like valve body in a functionally schematic side view, FIG. 1 the preferred monostable position of the valve body in the rest position of the overall arrangement, FIG. 2 the position of the valve body when opened pull the administration or dosing syringe, FIG. 3 when injecting a medicament, FIG. 4 shows an intermediate position of the valve body after pulling on the administration or dosing syringe, and FIG. 5 the valve body when administering the infusion solution to a patient or when transferring the infusion solution to a mixing container; and

6 and 7 a second embodiment of a multi-way valve with a valve body designed as an umbrella valve, FIG. 6 showing the umbrella valve in a position which it assumes when the administration syringe is drawn up or when a medicament is injected, while FIG 7 shows the position of the umbrella valve when the infusion solution is administered to a patient or when the infusion solution is transferred to a mixing container. 1 The multi-way valve according to FIGS. 1 to 5 is used for the administration of medical solutions via a patient feed line 20, which can be connected to the outlet 19 of the multi-way valve by means of a Luer coupling known per se. The multi-way valve has a housing 10 with a first inlet 11, a second inlet 17 and the already mentioned outlet 19, with a first flow path between the two inlets 11 and 17 and between the second inlet 17 and the

10 outlet 19, a second flow path can be formed. The outlet 19 is assigned a check valve 15, which is only evident in the direction from the second inlet 17 to the outlet 19. A beak valve known per se preferably serves as the check valve 15. At the second entrance

15. let 17 an administration or perfusion syringe 18 can be connected, also by means of a Luer coupling. A mixing bag 31 with the infusion solution to be administered can be connected to the first inlet 11, preferably also by means of a per se

20 knew Luer coupling.

The hose line between the first inlet 11 and the mixing bag 31 is identified by the reference number 12. A 25 injection nozzle 23 of known type also opens into the first inlet 11, through which a medicament can be introduced into the first flow path by means of a syringe 25.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the housing 10 of the multi-way valve has a blind hole-like bore 22, in which a valve body 13 in the form of a cylindrical piston is mounted so that it can be fluid-sealed bears against the side walls of the bore 22. The bore 22 35 forms the valve body receiving space. This valve body receiving space is designed as a blind bore. Before the valve body 13 is inserted, a helical compression spring 14 made of stainless spring steel is inserted into the valve body receiving space or into the blind bore 22. This brings the valve body 13 into the rest position shown in FIG. 1, in which the valve body 13 interrupts the first flow path between the two inlets 11 and 17. The upper opening of the blind-hole-like valve body receiving space 22 is closed in a fluid-tight manner by a cover or plug comprising the first inlet 11. This plug also defines the preferred monostable position of the valve body 13, in which the first flow path between the two inlets 11 and 17 is interrupted and into which the valve body 13 is forced by the helical compression spring 14. The two inlets 11 and 17 and the outlet 19 open into the described valve body receiving space 22, the second inlet 17 having two inlet channels 16, 26 which, in the direction of adjustment of the valve body 13, are laterally spaced apart in the valve body. Receiving space 22 open, and wherein the mouth of the outlet 19 is arranged at the level between the mouths of the two inlet channels 16, 26, namely opposite this. The second inlet 17 is forked within the housing 10 to form the two inlet channels 16, 26 already mentioned.

If the administration syringe 8 is now drawn in the direction of the arrow 27 (FIG. 2), a vacuum is formed on the underside of the valve body 13. The valve body 13 then moves against the action of the helical compression spring 14 down until the first flow path between the two inlets 11 and 17 is opened, ie the mouth of the one in FIG. 2 upper inlet channel 16 comes free. The situation is similar when injecting a medicament by means of a syringe 25 through the injection nozzle 23 opening into the first inlet 11, as shown in FIG. 3. In both cases, the valve body 13 is dimensioned accordingly between the two inlet channels 16, 26 arranged outlet 19 closed. In both cases, therefore, no solution can reach the patient. The problems mentioned at the outset therefore do not occur in this embodiment.

After completion of the pulling up of the administration syringe 18, the helical compression spring 14 pushes the valve body 13 slightly upwards while simultaneously closing both the first flow path and the second flow path, as can be seen in FIG. 4. The helical compression spring 14 is thus dimensioned such that the valve body is brought into the position shown in FIG. 4 against the liquid column loading the valve body. For this purpose, the valve body 13 must be dimensioned longer than the maximum axial distance between the mouth of the upper inlet channel 6 and the mouth of the outlet 19 in the valve body receiving space 22. This axial distance is shown in FIG. 4 with "L" characterized, while the length of the valve body is 13 "V". "V" is therefore larger than "L".

When the infusion solution is administered to a patient through the outlet 19 and a patient line 20, that is to say when the plunger of the administration syringe 18 (not shown) moves in the direction of the arrow 28 in FIG. 5, the valve body 13 becomes in the direction of the arrow 29 in the valve body receiving space 22 pushed upwards, releasing the second flow path between the second inlet 17 and the outlet 19 and at the same time interrupting the first flow path between the two inlets 11 and 17. The one arranged in the outlet 19 Check valve 15 opens at these pressure conditions. After the administration has ended, the valve body 13 remains in the position shown in FIG. 5, which corresponds to the position according to FIG. 1.

The embodiment according to FIGS. 6 and 7 corresponds largely to that according to FIGS. 1 to 5 in terms of function and construction, only with the difference that instead of a cylindrical valve body, an umbrella valve 13 'is provided, which from the preferred position FIG. 7 can be brought into a position according to FIG. 6 thanks to the elastic recovery, in which the outlet 15 is closed by the circumferential edge by opening the first flow path between the first inlet 11 and the second inlet 17. 6 shows the position of the umbrella valve 13 'when the administration syringe is pulled out or when a medicament is injected into the first inlet 11. The first flow path between the two inlets

11 and 17 is open. At the same time, as stated above, the outlet 19 is closed. The maximum displacement of the umbrella valve 13 'from the preferred position according to FIG. 7 into the position clearing the first flow path according to FIG. 6 is limited by a projection in the form of an annular bead 24 arranged in the valve body receiving space 22.

Just as in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 5, the second inlet 17 comprises two inlet channels 16, 26 opening into the valve body receiving space 22, the lower inlet channel 26 being below the annular bead 24 mentioned, with the result that its mouth into the Valve body receiving space 22 is not closed by the screen valve 13 'in any position thereof. The 0 arranged below the annular bead 24 of the inlet channel 26 ensures that the screen valve 13 * moves over the mouth of the inlet channel 16 above when opening the administration syringe 18 or injecting a medication through the injection nozzle 23 downward, opening the first flow path becomes. The elastic reshaping of the umbrella valve 13 'must be so strong that the first flow path between the two inlets 11 and 17 is closed again after it has been drawn up after the administration syringe 18 has been drawn up or after a medication has been injected through the injection nozzle 22. This reshaping of the umbrella valve 13 'could be supported by a helical compression spring arranged below it and acting on the peripheral edge thereof.

The connecting hose 12 between the first inlet 11 and the mixing bag 31 is also assigned a hose clamp 30 which e.g. when injecting a medicament can be brought into the closed position by the injection nozzle 23, so that the medicament is prevented from rising into the hose 12 when injecting a medicament.

A very particularly advantageous and reliable construction is characterized in that in the inlet channel (16) closer to the first inlet (11) there is a check valve (14 ') which only opens in the direction from the first inlet (11) to the second inlet (17). is arranged.

By the check valve 14 ', which is indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 2, an elastic return element, for. B. the helical compression spring 14 is basically unnecessary, to reset the piston 13 is a closure

Mouth of the inlet channel 16 in the piston receiving space 22nd not necessary anymore. The piston 13 is only acted upon from below from below while opening the outlet 19. After opening the outlet 19, the resetting of the piston 13 has ended. The piston 13 thus moves between the release of the inlet channel 16 through its upper edge and the release of the outlet 19 through its lower edge. The inlet channel 26 opens into the receiving space 22 preferably on the lower bottom surface thereof. This also applies to solutions with an elastic return element.

In addition to FIGS. 6 and 7, it should also be stated: In order to ensure, when injecting a drug through the injection nozzle 22, that the injected drug, e.g. if the syringe is blocked, via the channel 26 to the outlet 19 or patient, there is preferably only one in the channel 26. Check valve 26 ', e.g., beak valve, arranged in the direction from the outlet 19 to the second inlet 17.

Furthermore, a particularly practical construction is characterized in that the outlet 19 is arranged below the annular bead 24, e.g. in the bottom of the valve housing .10. At the same time, the annular bead 24 is then preferably made somewhat wider in the radial direction. In this embodiment, the check valve 26 'is functionally necessary. Of course, also in this embodiment, the umbrella valve must separate the areas of the receiving space 22 below and above in all relative positions in a fluid-tight manner.

All features disclosed in the documents are claimed as essential to the invention, insofar as they are new compared to the prior art, individually or in combination.

Claims

P a t e n t a n s r u c e:

Multi-way valve, in particular for medical solutions, with a housing (10) with at least a first inlet (11), a second inlet (17) and an outlet (19), forming a first flow path between the two inlets (11 and 17) and one second flow path between the second inlet (17) and the outlet (19) and with a check valve (15) assigned to the second flow path, which only opens the second flow path in the direction from the second inlet (17) to the outlet ( 19), characterized by a valve body (13, 13 ') which is adjustably mounted in the housing (10) such that it moves from a first position opening the first flow path into a second position opening the second flow path and vice versa while simultaneously interrupting the respective other flow path can be brought, wherein the adjustment of the valve body (13, 13 ') can be controlled by the fluid pressure acting on the two inlets (11 and 17).

2. Multi-way valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve body (13, 13 ') is biased into a preferred starting position, in which the first Strαxungsweg between the two inlets (11, 17) is interrupted.

3. Multi-way valve according to claim 2, characterized in that the valve body (13, 13 ') can be brought by a tension or compression spring (14) in an intermediate position closing the first and second flow path simultaneously, in particular after opening one the second ^:. inlet (17) connected administration syringe (18) or after injection of a medication through an injection nozzle (23) opening into the first inlet (11).

4. Multi-way valve according to AnsDruch 2, characterized in that the valve body (13 ') is pressed and held in the preferred starting position by elastic Rückver¬ deformation, at least in an intermediate position closing the first and second flow path can be brought, especially after opening an administration syringe (18) connected to the second inlet (17) and / or after injecting a medicament through an injection nozzle (23) opening into the first inlet (11).

5. Multi-way valve according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the valve body is designed as a piston (13) or umbrella valve (13 ').

6. Multi-way valve according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the valve body (13, 13 ') within the housing (10) is adjustably mounted in a valve body receiving space (22) in which the two inlets (11, 17) and the outlet (19) open, the second inlet

(17) has two inlet channels (16, 26) which open in the adjustment direction of the valve body (13, 13 ') at a distance from one another into the valve body receiving space (22), and the mouth of the outlet (19) at a height between the mouths of the two inlet channels (16, 26) - preferably opposite this - is arranged.

7. Multi-way valve according to claim 6, characterized in that the design of the valve body (13) as a piston, the length (V) of the same is greater than the maximum axial distance between the mouth of the outlet (19) and the mouth of the first inlet (11) nearest inlet duct (1).

8. Multi-way valve according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the maximum displacement of the Ventilkδrpers (13, 13 ') from the preferred starting position while releasing the first flow path through a projection arranged in the valve body receiving space (22) (Ring bead 24) is limited.

9. Multi-way valve according to one of claims 1 to 8, in particular according to claims 1, 6 and 7, characterized ge indicates that in the closer to the first inlet (11) inlet channel (16) only in the direction of the first Inlet (11) to the second inlet (17) opening check valve (14 ') is arranged.

10. Multi-way valve, in particular according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the outlet (19) lies approximately at or below the mouth of the lower inlet channel (26) in the valve body receiving space (22) and that this lower inlet channel (26) a check valve (26 ') which can only be opened in the direction from the outlet (19) to the second inlet (17) is assigned.