US20040186444A1 — Pressure responsive slit valve assembly for a plu…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 186 words

1 . A pressure responsive slit valve assembly comprising: (a) a valve housing adapted to receive fluids from at least two sources comprising (i) a first aperture for receiving a first fluid and a second aperture for receiving a second fluid, wherein the first and second apertures do not communicate such that the fluids are maintained in an unmixed state, and (ii) a flow means comprising a first conduit longitudinally therethrough in communication with said first aperture and a second conduit longitudinally therethrough in communication with said second aperture, wherein the first and second conduits do not communicate such that the fluids are maintained in an unmixed state; and, (b) a slit valve means comprising (i) a first pressure responsive slit in communication with and disposed transversely between said first conduit and said first aperture wherein said first slit is responsive to a pressure differential associated with said first fluid, and (ii) a second pressure responsive slit in communication with and disposed transversely between said second conduit and said second aperture wherein said second slit is responsive to a pressure differential associated with said second fluid.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 186 words

1 . A pressure responsive slit valve assembly comprising: (a) a valve housing adapted to receive fluids from at least two sources comprising (i) a first aperture for receiving a first fluid and a second aperture for receiving a second fluid, wherein the first and second apertures do not communicate such that the fluids are maintained in an unmixed state, and (ii) a flow means comprising a first conduit longitudinally therethrough in communication with said first aperture and a second conduit longitudinally therethrough in communication with said second aperture, wherein the first and second conduits do not communicate such that the fluids are maintained in an unmixed state; and, (b) a slit valve means comprising (i) a first pressure responsive slit in communication with and disposed transversely between said first conduit and said first aperture wherein said first slit is responsive to a pressure differential associated with said first fluid, and (ii) a second pressure responsive slit in communication with and disposed transversely between said second conduit and said second aperture wherein said second slit is responsive to a pressure differential associated with said second fluid.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

2 . The pressure responsive slit valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the assembly is an interchangeable component of a medical device.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 65 words

3 . The pressure responsive slit valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the valve housing is further adapted to receive at least one additional fluid from an additional source, wherein said further adapted valve housing comprises at least one additional corresponding aperture and at least one additional corresponding conduit, and wherein said slit valve means further comprises at least one additional corresponding pressure responsive slit.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 67 words

4 . The pressure responsive slit valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the valve housing further comprises a first chamber for the first fluid, and a second chamber for the second fluid, wherein the first and second chambers communicate with the first and second apertures, respectively, and further wherein the first and second chambers do not communicate such that the fluids are maintained in an unmixed state.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 67 words

5 . The pressure responsive slit valve assembly of claim 1 further comprising a first connection port for receiving the first fluid and in communication with the first aperture, and a second connection port for receiving the second fluid and in communication with the second aperture, wherein the first and the second connection ports do not communicate such that the fluids are maintained in an unmixed state.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 39 words

6 . The pressure responsive slit valve assembly of claim 5 wherein the first and second connection ports further comprise alignment means on the exterior surface thereof for aligning the pressure responsive slit valve assembly with a medical device.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 52 words

7 . The pressure responsive slit valve assembly of claim 1 further comprising a first extrusion stem defining the first conduit, and a second extrusion stem defining the second conduit, wherein the first and the second extrusion stems are configured to be receivable individually inside each corresponding lumen of a medical device.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

8 . The pressure responsive slit valve assembly of claim 7 wherein the first and the second extrusion stems are substantially contiguous proximal to the valve housing.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

9 . The pressure responsive slit valve assembly of claim 7 further comprising securement means to secure the attachment of the medical device to the extrusion stems.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 20 words

10 . The pressure responsive slit valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the valve housing is made of a metal.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 19 words

11 . The pressure responsive slit valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the valve housing is made of plastic.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 16 words

12 . The pressure responsive slit valve assembly of claim 10 wherein the metal is titanium.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 29 words

13 . The pressure responsive slit valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the slit valve means further comprises an elastomeric diaphragm comprising the first and second pressure responsive slits.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 39 words

14 . The pressure responsive slit valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the slit valve means further comprises a first elastomeric diaphragm comprising the first pressure responsive slit, and a second elastomeric diaphragm comprising the second pressure responsive slit.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 19 words

15 . The pressure responsive slit valve assembly of claim 13 wherein the elastomeric diaphragm is disc-shaped or rectangular-shaped.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 19 words

16 . The pressure responsive slit valve assembly of claim 14 wherein the elastomeric diaphragms are disc-shaped or rectangular-shaped.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 23 words

17 . The pressure responsive slit valve assembly of claim 1 further comprising securement means adjacent the periphery of the slit valve means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 16 words

18 . A medical device comprising the pressure responsive slit valve assembly of claim 1 .

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 33 words

19 . The medical device of claim 18 wherein said device is selected from the group consisting of an implantable venous access device, an implantable venous catheter device and a dialysis catheter device.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 66 words

20 . A kit for adapting a medical device to accommodate a plurality of fluids, the kit comprising: a pressure responsive slit valve assembly adapted for connecting to the medical device to receive fluids from at least two sources, wherein the assembly comprises a slit valve means corresponding to each fluid source, and wherein the kit further comprises securement means for securely adapting the medical device.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 66 words

20 . A kit for adapting a medical device to accommodate a plurality of fluids, the kit comprising: a pressure responsive slit valve assembly adapted for connecting to the medical device to receive fluids from at least two sources, wherein the assembly comprises a slit valve means corresponding to each fluid source, and wherein the kit further comprises securement means for securely adapting the medical device.

Pressure responsive slit valve assembly for a plurality of fluids and uses thereof

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