Fluid-management system and method

Inventors: Martin Mayse (Wayzata, MN); John Streeter (Colorado Springs, CO)

Assignee: Pleural Dynamics, Inc.

A61M39/22 A61M2039/2433 A61M2205/3331

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12667709
App. No.: 18/350,412
Granted: Jun 30, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

An example valve assembly includes (i) an inlet, (ii) an outlet, (iii) a plurality of one-way valves positioned between the inlet and outlet, and (iv) an adjustable outlet lock positioned downstream of the plurality of one-way valves and configured to selectively prevent fluid movement through the outlet, wherein the valve assembly is configured to (a) be positioned external to a body of a person and (b) attach to a tube for carrying fluid from a body cavity of the person to the valve assembly.

Claims (37)

1 . A valve assembly comprising:

an inlet;

an outlet;

a plurality of one-way valves positioned between the inlet and outlet; and

an adjustable outlet lock positioned downstream of the plurality of one-way valves and configured to selectively prevent fluid movement through the outlet, wherein the valve assembly is configured to (i) be positioned external to a body of a person and (ii) attach to a tube for carrying fluid from a body cavity of the person to the valve assembly.

2 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inlet is configured to attach to the tube, and wherein the tube is configured to extend from the inlet to the person's body cavity.

3 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly comprises a pumping chamber that houses the plurality of one-way valves, wherein the plurality of one-way valves comprise a first one-way valve positioned on a first side of the pumping chamber and a second one-way valve positioned on a second side of the pumping chamber, and wherein the pumping chamber is configured to be compressed and decompressed to pump fluid.

4 . The valve assembly of claim 3 , wherein each one-way valve of the plurality of one-way valves is configured to open and close based on compression and decompression of the pumping chamber.

5 . The valve assembly of claim 4 , wherein each one-way valve of the plurality of one-way valves is further configured to open and close based on fluctuations in pressure between the person's body cavity and the one-way valve that occur based on respiratory action of a breathing cycle of the person.

6 . The valve assembly of claim 5 , wherein each one-way valve of the plurality of one-way valves is configured to (i) open due to positive pressure between the person's body cavity and the one-way valve during an expiration phase of the breathing cycle and (ii) close due to negative pressure between the person's body cavity and the one-way valve during an inspiration phase of the breathing cycle.

7 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable outlet lock of the valve assembly is non-removably attached to the valve assembly.

8 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable outlet lock is positioned at the outlet.

9 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein each one-way valve of the plurality of one-way valves is configured to open with a cracking pressure of less than about 25 cmH 2 O.

10 . The valve assembly of claim 9 , wherein the cracking pressure is less than about 5 cmH 2 O.

11 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein each one-way valve of the plurality of one-way valves is configured to prevent retrograde flow.

12 . The valve assembly of claim 11 , wherein each one-way valve of the plurality of one-way valves is configured to reseal with a differential back pressure of less than about 15 cmH 2 O.

13 . The valve assembly of claim 12 , wherein the differential back pressure is less than about 2 cmH 2 O.

14 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein each one-way valve of the plurality of one-way valves comprises a plurality of lips defining a slit that is movable from a closed position to an open position, and wherein the lips are configured to have a surface area of interaction of less than 6 millimeters 2 when the slit is in the closed position.

15 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable outlet lock is located at the outlet, and wherein the adjustable outlet lock is configured to move between a locked position in which the adjustable outlet lock seals the outlet and an unlocked position in which the adjustable outlet lock allows fluid movement through the outlet.

16 . The valve assembly of claim 15 , wherein the adjustable outlet lock comprises at least one of a cap, a pinch lever, a twist pinch, or an offset device.

17 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly comprises a body that houses the plurality of one-way valves, and wherein the body is coated with at least one of anticoagulation factors or fibrinolytic factors.

18 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body cavity comprises one of a pleural cavity, a peritoneal cavity, a cerebrospinal cavity, a pericardial cavity, a breast cavity, or a cavity of a cystic lesion.

19 . A valve assembly comprising:

an inlet;

an outlet;

one or more one-way valves positioned between the inlet and outlet, wherein each of the one or more one-way valves is configured to allow fluid movement in one direction during a fluid draining process and prevent retrograde flow during the fluid draining process; and

an adjustable outlet lock positioned downstream of the one or more one-way valves and configured to selectively prevent fluid movement through the outlet, wherein the valve assembly is configured to (i) be positioned external to a body of a person and (ii) attach to a tube for carrying fluid from a body cavity of the person to the valve assembly.

20 . The valve assembly of claim 19 , wherein the valve assembly is non-removably attached to the tube for carrying fluid from the body cavity of the person to the valve assembly.

21 . The valve assembly of claim 19 , wherein the adjustable outlet lock of the valve assembly is non-removably attached to the valve assembly.

22 . The valve assembly of claim 19 , wherein the adjustable outlet lock of the valve assembly is removable.

23 . The valve assembly of claim 19 , wherein the inlet is configured to attach to the tube, and wherein the tube is configured to extend from the inlet to the person's body cavity.

24 . A valve assembly comprising:

an inlet;

an outlet;

an adjustable outlet lock configured to selectively prevent fluid movement through the outlet, wherein the valve assembly is configured to be positioned external to a body of a person, wherein the valve assembly is non-removably attached to a tube for carrying fluid from a body cavity of the person to the valve assembly, and wherein the adjustable outlet lock of the valve assembly is non-removably attached to the valve assembly.

25 . The valve assembly of claim 24 , wherein the adjustable outlet lock is positioned downstream of the one or more one-way valves.