Patent US3916948A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3916948A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control valve for medicinal fluids
Assignee: Medical Environment Devices Inc
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Filing: 1973-12-03
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Granted: 1975-11-04
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Expires: 1993-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A valve for use in controlling the flow of medicinal fluids includes at least three flexible tubes of equal interior diameter made of a material which is at least partially transparent connected together and forming an inter-communicating central crossover. At least one rigid ball of a diameter greater than the interior diameter of the tubes is positioned therein. The ball is capable of being firmly lodged within any of the tubes and is capable of being switched between tubes by external squeezing forces applied to a tube, forcing the ball out of one tube, through the central crossover, and into another desired tube.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas A Benjamin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:58
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M39/00; A61M39/22; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8158; Y10T137/8359; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86493; Y10T137/86879; Y10T137/877
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A valve for use in controlling the flow of medicinal fluids including: at least three flexible tubes of equal interior diameter made of a material which is at least partially transparent, said tubes being connected together at one of their ends and forming an inter-communicating central crossover; at least one rigid ball formed of a material readily visible through said at least partially transparent tubes, said ball having a continuous outer spherical surface and a diameter greater than the interior diameter of said tubes wherein the rigid ball is capable of being firmly lodged within any of said tubes and is capable of bein switched between any of said tubes by external squeezing forces being applied to the tube, forcing the ball out of one tube, through said central crossover, and into another desired tube, a ball positioned in any one tube permitting communication between other tubes, with movement of the ball between different tubes changing the pattern of intertube flow.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A valve for use in controlling the flow of medicinal fluids including: at least three flexible tubes of equal interior diameter made of a material which is at least partially transparent, said tubes being connected together at one of their ends and forming an inter-communicating central crossover; at least one rigid ball formed of a material readily visible through said at least partially transparent tubes, said ball having a continuous outer spherical surface and a diameter greater than the interior diameter of said tubes wherein the rigid ball is capable of being firmly lodged within any of said tubes and is capable of bein switched between any of said tubes by external squeezing forces being applied to the tube, forcing the ball out of one tube, through said central crossover, and into another desired tube, a ball positioned in any one tube permitting communication between other tubes, with movement of the ball between different tubes changing the pattern of intertube flow.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A valve as in claim 1 wherein the number of rigid balls is two less than the Number of flexible tubes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A valve as in claim 1 wherein there are three flexible tubes and one rigid ball.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A valve as in claim 1 where there are four flexible tubes and two rigid balls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
A valve as in claim 1 wherein said rigid ball is opaque.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A valve as in claim 1 wherein the ends of said tubes opposite the connection of said inter-communicating central crossover are capable of receiving connectors which are adapted to receive other conduits.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A valve as in claim 1 wherein said tubes and said crossover are molded from a flexible plastic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A flow control device as in claim 1 wherein said flexible, at least partially transparent material is additionally self-sealing whenever punctured by a needle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2706134A
Cited
US2711740A
Cited
US2964292A
Cited
US2769442A
Cited
US2862497A
Cited
US3599637A
Cited
US3800799A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-03 | 1979-05-05 | 1979-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-03 | 1983-05-05 | 1983-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-03 | 1987-05-05 | 1987-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |