Selector valve for medical fluid delivery device

Abstract

A selector valve for a medical fluid delivery device is disclosed. The valve includes a valve bore in fluid communication with an outlet channel, first and second outlet ports, and a selector valve body which includes a valve stem located within the valve bore and having a flow passage. The selector valve body is adapted to place the flow passage in fluid communication with one of the first outlet port, the second outlet port, and a shut-off position.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A selector valve for a medical fluid delivery device comprising:
 a valve bore in fluid communication with an outlet channel:   a first outlet port;   a second outlet port; and   a selector valve body comprising a valve stem located within the valve bore and having a flow passage, wherein the selector valve body is adapted to place the flow passage in fluid communication with one of the first outlet port, the second outlet port, and a shut-off position,   wherein the flow passage comprises a sealing arrangement selected from the group consisting of a lip seal arrangement, a plurality of O-ring seals, a segmented valve stem having a plurality of finger elements disposed between radial ridges of a cooperating sleeve, a valve stem having a lower portion of a compliant material and a an upper portion of a stiff material, an inner liner of a compliant sealing material seated within the valve bore between an outer valve cylinder wall and the valve stem, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The selector valve of  claim 1 , wherein the first outlet port is a patient outlet port in fluid communication with a patient fluid supply set and the second outlet port is a waste outlet port in fluid connection with a waste receptacle. 
     
     
         3 . The selector valve of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator interface head adapted to interface with a valve actuator associated with a drive and actuating system. 
     
     
         4 . The selector valve of  claim 3 , wherein the valve actuator controls operation of the selector valve body. 
     
     
         5 . The selector valve of  claim 1 , further comprising a proximal pressure sensing port comprising a pressure sensing diaphragm. 
     
     
         6 . The selector valve of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing arrangement comprises a lip seal arrangement comprising compliant overmolded lip seals having a geometry configured to provide a higher level of sealing force when high pressure fluid contacts the lip seals. 
     
     
         7 . The selector valve of  claim 6 , wherein the lip seal arrangement comprises: a lower lip seal between a lower portion of the valve stem and the valve bore; an upper lip seal between an upper portion of the valve stem and the valve bore; and a port lip seal between a sidewall of the valve stem and the valve bore and surrounding an outlet port defined by the flow passage. 
     
     
         8 . The selector valve of  claim 7 , wherein the lip seals have a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the valve bore, such that hydraulic pressure presses the lip seals more firmly against the inner walls of the valve bore. 
     
     
         9 . The selector valve of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing arrangement comprises a plurality of O-rings in grooves molded in a rigid valve stem, wherein a first O-ring provides a fluid seal between a lower portion of the valve stem and the valve bore, a second O-ring provides a fluid seal between an upper portion of the valve stem and the valve bore, and a third O-ring surrounds an outlet port in a sidewall of the valve stem and provides a fluid seal between the valve stem and the valve bore. 
     
     
         10 . The selector valve of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing arrangement comprises a segmented valve stem having a plurality of finger elements disposed between radial ridges of a cooperating sleeve, wherein the finger elements are biased to expand outward against an inner wall of the valve bore. 
     
     
         11 . The selector valve of  claim 10 , wherein under low fluid pressure, spring action of the plurality of finger elements presses the sleeve radially outward to form the fluid seal within the inner wall of the valve bore and under high fluid pressure, fluid pressure and the spring action of the plurality of finger elements provide an increased fluid sealing force against the inner wall of the valve bore compared to under low fluid pressure. 
     
     
         12 . The selector valve of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing arrangement comprises a valve stem having a lower portion of a compliant material and a an upper portion of a stiff material and wherein the lower portion forms the valve stem and comprises integral upper and lower sealing beads to seal against an inner wall of the valve bore and an outlet sealing bead to seal around the outlet port of the flow passage. 
     
     
         13 . The selector valve of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing arrangement comprises an inner liner of a compliant sealing material seated within the valve bore between an outer valve cylinder wall and the valve stem, wherein the inner liner comprises an upper recessed area to receive an upper ridge, ledge or sealing bead on the valve stem below a valve actuator interface head and the valve body comprises an exterior raised bead around a side aperture defining an outlet port of the flow passage. 
     
     
         14 . The selector valve of  claim 13 , wherein the liner further comprises one or more axial recessed areas configured to prevent contact between the liner and the exterior raised bead of the valve body. 
     
     
         15 . A fluid delivery system comprising:
 a fluid delivery device; and   an outlet selector valve comprising:
 a valve bore in fluid communication with the fluid delivery device; 
 a first outlet port; 
 a second outlet port; and 
 a selector valve body comprising a valve stem located within the valve bore and having a flow passage, wherein the selector valve body is adapted to place the flow passage in fluid communication with one of the first outlet port, the second outlet port, and a shut-off position, 
 wherein the flow passage comprises a sealing arrangement selected from the group consisting of a lip seal arrangement, a plurality of O-ring seals, a segmented valve stem having a plurality of finger elements disposed between radial ridges of a cooperating sleeve, a valve stem having a lower portion of a compliant material and a an upper portion of a stiff material, an inner liner of a compliant sealing material seated within the valve bore between an outer valve cylinder wall and the valve stem, and combinations thereof. 
   
     
     
         16 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 15 , wherein the first outlet port is a patient outlet port in fluid communication with a patient fluid supply set and the second outlet port is a waste outlet port in fluid connection with a waste receptacle. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 15 , further comprising a valve actuator that controls operation of the selector valve body. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 15 , wherein the system is configured to deliver one or more medical diagnostic or therapeutic fluid to a patient. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more medical diagnostic or therapeutic fluid is delivered to the patient under high pressure.