Apparatus for preventing over inflation of the retention balloon in medical catheters and airway devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9623201-B2
Application number	US-201414341647-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 25, 2014
Priority date	Nov 16, 2011
Publication date	Apr 18, 2017
Grant date	Apr 18, 2017

Abstract

The body has a fluid inlet port for receiving pressurized fluid and a fluid outlet port connected to the retention balloon. A first passage connects the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port. A second passage in the body is connected to the balloon fluid return path and is at the pressure of the retention balloon. A valve prevents fluid flow through the first passage when actuated. The valve includes a pressure-responsive member movable to a position to obstruct fluid flow in response to fluid pressure in the second passage exceeding the predetermined level. Flexible means such as a membrane defines a normally open portion of the first fluid passage, which is closed by the moveable means bearing on the membrane when pressure exceeding the predetermined level actuates the valve.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus for limiting fluid pressure in a medical catheter retention balloon designed for use with a source of pressurized fluid having a connector associated therewith, wherein the medical catheter retention balloon has a supply fluid path from the apparatus for filling the medical catheter retention balloon and a return fluid path communicating with the medical catheter retention balloon connected to the apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a body with a fluid inlet port for receiving the connector associated with the pressurized fluid source and a fluid outlet port; a first passage connecting said fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port of said body; a second passage comprising a first portion connected to said return fluid path and a second portion that is fluidically separated from the first portion, the first passage and the second passage being fluidically separated from each other; and a fluid flow preventer that prevents fluid flow through said first passage when the fluid pressure in said second passage exceeds a predetermined level.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid flow preventer comprises a movable part, said moveable part being movable between a first position, wherein the fluid flow through said first passage is not obstructed, and a second position, wherein the fluid flow through said first passage is obstructed, said moveable part being moved from said first position to said second position in response to fluid pressure in said first portion of said second passage exceeding said predetermined level, wherein said first portion and said second portion of the second passage are separated by the movable part.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a flexible part located in said second portion of said second passage, said flexible part defining a normally open portion of said first fluid passage, which normally open portion is closed by said moveable part bearing on said flexible part when said moveable part is in said second position.

4. The apparatus for claim 3 wherein said first passage comprises a first section connected to said supply fluid path, and a second section connected to said return fluid path, and wherein said normally open portion of said first fluid passage at least partially defines a connection between said first section of said first passage and said second section of said first passage.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprises a one-way valve situated in said first section of said first passage for preventing fluid flow between said first section and said second section of said first passage, except through said connection defined by said flexible part, when said pressurized fluid source is connected to said fluid inlet port of said body to inflate said medical catheter retention balloon.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said flexible part comprises a membrane.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a part situated in said second portion of said second passage for concentrating the effect of said moveable part on said flexible part.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said concentrating part comprises a disc.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said moveable part is situated either in said first position or in said second position.

10. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a part associated with said moveable part for urging said moveable part toward said first position.

11. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said moveable part comprises a dome-shaped member.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said dome-shaped member is formed of rigid or semi-rigid material.

13. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a part for venting said second portion of said second passage.

14. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprises a pressure indicating part associated with said first portion of said second passage.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pressure relief valve located in said second passage, and wherein said fluid flow preventer comprises a first valve and a second valve, said first valve being situated in said first passage between said fluid input port and said fluid outlet port, said second valve being situated in said second passage between said return fluid path from said medical catheter retention balloon fluid outlet and said pressure relief valve, and a connecting part means for connecting said first valve and said second valve to move together from a closed position to an open position in response to the connector associated with the pressurized fluid source being received in said fluid inlet port of said body.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising an urging part for urging said first valve and said second valve to move from said open position to said closed position.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a mechanical part connecting said first valve and said second valve, said mechanical part extending between said first passage and said second passage, and further comprising a sealing part for sealing said first passage from said second passage.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first passage comprises a flexible tube and wherein said fluid flow preventer comprises a second balloon in said second passage connected to said return fluid path from the medical catheter retention balloon, said second balloon in said second passage closing said flexible tube when inflated by pressurized fluid in said return fluid path from the medical catheter retention balloon exceeding said predetermined level, the apparatus further comprising a pressure plate interposed between said second balloon in said second passage and said flexible tube.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a pressure indicator associated with said pressure plate.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first passage comprises a flexible tube.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid flow preventer comprises a second balloon in said second passage connected to said return fluid path from the medical catheter retention balloon.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said second balloon in said second passage closes said first passage when inflated by pressurized fluid in said return fluid path when the medical catheter retention balloon exceeds said predetermined level.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a pressure plate interposed between said second balloon in said second passage and said first passage.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said first passage comprises a flexible tube.

Assignees

• Gregory Christopher
• Jin Yun
• Cline John B
• Convatec Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Gregory Christopher
• Jin Yun
• Cline John B

Classifications

• A61M16/0443

  Special cuff-wall materials (A61M16/0481, A61M16/0422 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61M25/10183

  Compressible bulbs · CPC title

• A61M25/10182

  Injector syringes · CPC title

• A61F5/445

  Colostomy, {ileostomy or urethrostomy} devices (A61F5/441, A61F5/442, A61F5/443 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61M3/0295

  with inflatable balloon · CPC title