Flow Based Pressure Isolation and Fluid Delivery System Including Flow Based Pressure Isolation

Abstract

The fluid delivery system includes a pressurizing device for delivering a pressurized injection fluid, a low pressure fluid delivery system, and a pressure isolation mechanism adapted for fluid communication with the pressurizing device and low pressure fluid delivery system. The pressure isolation mechanism includes a housing defining an inlet port, an isolation port, and an internal cavity. The housing defines a seal seat in the internal cavity between the inlet port and isolation port. A valve member is disposed in the internal cavity. The valve member is free floating in the internal cavity and is adapted to engage the seal seat. The valve member has an open position permitting fluid communication between the inlet port and isolation port, and is fluid flow responsive to fluid flow in the inlet port to engage the seal seat and attain a closed position preventing fluid flow between the inlet port and isolation port.

1 . A flow-based pressure isolation mechanism, comprising:
 a housing body defining an inlet port, an isolation port, and an internal cavity, the housing body further defining a seal seat in the internal cavity between the inlet port and isolation port; and   a valve member disposed in the internal cavity and free floating in the internal cavity and adapted to engage the seal seat, the valve member comprising an open position permitting fluid communication between the inlet port and isolation port, and wherein the valve member is fluid flow responsive to fluid flow in the inlet port to engage the seal seat and attain a closed position preventing fluid flow between the inlet port and isolation port.   
   
   
       2 . A flow-based pressure isolation mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure transducer associated with the isolation port. 
   
   
       3 . A flow-based pressure isolation mechanism as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the valve member comprises a disk member. 
   
   
       4 . A flow-based pressure isolation mechanism as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the valve member comprises a stiffening element associated with the disk member. 
   
   
       5 . flow-based pressure isolation mechanism as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the stiffening element is cylindrical shaped. 
   
   
       6 . A flow-based pressure isolation mechanism as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the valve member comprises a ball member. 
   
   
       7 . A flow-based pressure isolation mechanism as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the disk member is formed of compliant material. 
   
   
       8 . A flow-based pressure isolation mechanism as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the compliant material is selected to transmit hemodynamic pressure signals through the disk member to a pressure transducer associated with the isolation port. 
   
   
       9 . A flow-based pressure isolation mechanism as claimed in  claim 1  wherein one or both of the valve member and internal cavity is shaped to permit fluid flow between the inlet port and isolation port in the open position and prevent fluid flow between the inlet port and isolation port in the closed position. 
   
   
       10 . A flow-based pressure isolation mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a volumetric capacitance element disposed in the internal cavity. 
   
   
       11 . A fluid delivery system with flow-based pressure isolation, comprising:
 a pressurizing device for delivering injection fluid under pressure;   a low pressure fluid delivery system; and   a pressure isolation mechanism adapted for fluid communication with the pressurizing device and low pressure fluid delivery system, and comprising:
 a housing body defining an inlet port, an isolation port, and an internal cavity, the housing body further defining a seal seat in the internal cavity between the inlet port and isolation port; and 
 a valve member disposed in the internal cavity and free floating in the internal cavity and adapted to engage the seal seat, the valve member comprising an open position permitting fluid communication between the inlet port and isolation port, and wherein the valve member is fluid flow responsive to fluid flow in the inlet port to engage the seal seat and attain a closed position preventing fluid flow between the inlet port and isolation port. 
   
   
   
       12 . A fluid delivery system as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the inlet port is in fluid communication with the pressurizing device and low pressure fluid delivery system via a fitting. 
   
   
       13 . A fluid delivery system as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the inlet port is in fluid communication with the pressurizing device and the housing body further defines a low pressure fluid port connected to the low pressure fluid delivery system, and wherein the low pressure fluid port is in fluid communication with the isolation port and is isolated from the inlet port in the closed position of the valve member. 
   
   
       14 . A fluid delivery system as claimed in  claim 13  further comprising a valve arrangement associated with the low pressure fluid port regulating fluid flow through the low pressure fluid port. 
   
   
       15 . A fluid delivery system as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the valve arrangement comprises a disk valve defining one or more passageways regulating fluid flow through the low pressure fluid port. 
   
   
       16 . A fluid delivery system as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising a pressure transducer associated with the isolation port. 
   
   
       17 . A fluid delivery system as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the valve member comprises a disk member. 
   
   
       18 . A fluid delivery system as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the valve member comprises a stiffening element associated with the disk member. 
   
   
       19 . A fluid delivery system as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the stiffening element is cylindrical shaped. 
   
   
       20 . A fluid delivery system as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the valve member comprises a ball member. 
   
   
       21 . A fluid delivery system as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the disk member is formed of compliant material. 
   
   
       22 . A fluid delivery system as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the compliant material is selected to transmit hemodynamic pressure signals through the valve member to a pressure transducer associated with the isolation port. 
   
   
       24 . A fluid delivery system as claimed in  claim 11  wherein one or both of the valve member and internal cavity is shaped to permit fluid flow between the inlet port and isolation port in the open position and prevent fluid flow between the inlet port and isolation port in the closed position. 
   
   
       25 . A fluid delivery system as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising a volumetric capacitance element disposed in the internal cavity. 
   
   
       26 . A method of protecting a pressure transducer from fluid pressure damage using a pressure isolation mechanism comprising an inlet port, an isolation port, and an internal cavity wherein a free floating, fluid flow responsive valve member is disposed and adapted to engage a seal seat in the internal cavity, the method comprising:
 associating the pressure transducer with the isolation port;   placing a pressurizing device for delivering fluid under pressure in fluid connection with the inlet port; and   actuating the pressurizing device to cause fluid flow in the inlet port such that the free floating, fluid flow responsive valve member engages the seal seat to attain a substantially closed position and prevent fluid flow between the inlet port and isolation port.   
   
   
       27 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , further comprising deactuating the pressurizing device and allowing the valve member to attain an open position disengaged from the seal seat permitting fluid communication between the inlet port and isolation port. 
   
   
       28 . A method as claimed in  claim 27 , further comprising reading hemodynamic pressure signals with the pressure transducer transmitted via the fluid communication between the inlet port and isolation port in the open position of the valve member. 
   
   
       29 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , further comprising reading hemodynamic pressure signals with the pressure transducer transmitted at least in part through the body of the valve member or a portion thereof in the closed position. 
   
   
       30 . A method as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the pressure isolation mechanism further comprises a low pressure fluid port connected to a low pressure fluid delivery system, the low pressure fluid port in fluid communication with the isolation port and isolated from the inlet port in the closed position of the valve member, the method further comprising isolating the low pressure fluid delivery system from hemodynamic blood pressure signals with a valve arrangement in the low pressure fluid delivery port.