Spool valve for body cavity irrigation devices
A spool valve for use in a hydraulic control circuit of a trans-anal irrigation device, with the spool valve including a valve body having an elongated bore and a plurality of ports spaced apart along and in fluid communication with the bore, and a spool that is movable within the bore. An actuator moves the spool relative to the bore to provide a hydraulic control circuit that directs fluid in a tubing set to provide at least fluid communication alternatively between a reservoir and a retention balloon, between and the reservoir and a main passage through a catheter, and between the retention balloon and the reservoir.
1 . A method of establishing fluid paths through a spool valve in a hydraulic control circuit of a trans-anal irrigation device, wherein the trans-anal irrigation device includes a pump with at least one pump inlet and at least one pump outlet, wherein the spool valve comprises a valve body having an elongated bore and a plurality of ports spaced apart along and in fluid communication with the bore, and a spool that is movable within the bore, and wherein the plurality of ports further comprises a first port associated with the at least one pump outlet, a second port associated with a reservoir, a third port associated with the at least one pump inlet, a fourth port associated with the at least one pump inlet, a fifth port associated with a retention balloon lumen, a sixth port associated with the at least one pump outlet, and a seventh port associated with an irrigant lumen; with the method comprising the steps of:
moving the spool to a first position within the bore of the valve body wherein the second port is in fluid communication with the third port and the fifth port is in fluid communication with the sixth port, so as to establish fluid paths through the spool valve from the reservoir to the at least one pump inlet and from the at least one pump outlet to the retention balloon lumen;
moving the spool to a second position within the bore of the valve body wherein the second port is in fluid communication with the third and fourth ports and the sixth port is in fluid communication with the seventh port, so as to establish fluid paths through the spool valve from the reservoir to the at least one pump inlet and from the at least one pump outlet to the irrigant lumen; and
moving the spool to a third position within the bore of the valve body wherein the first port is in fluid communication with the second port and the fourth port is in fluid communication with the fifth port, so as to establish fluid paths through the spool valve from the retention balloon lumen to the at least one pump inlet and from the at least one pump outlet to the reservoir.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator that moves the spool between the first, second, and third positions.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the actuator moves the spool linearly.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the spool valve further comprises a plurality of lands and a plurality of seals extending radially outward from the plurality of lands and sealingly engaging the spool and the bore of the valve body.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of ports and the plurality of seals are arranged to selectively direct flow through the spool valve based on the position of the spool.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of seals is constructed of polymer or rubber materials.
7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of seals are constructed as O-rings.
8 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of lands extend radially outward from a central stem of the spool.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of lands further comprise channels that receive the plurality of seals.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the retention balloon lumen is in fluid communication with a retention balloon.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the retention balloon is attached to a rectal catheter.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the retention balloon is attached to an exterior of the rectal catheter.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the spool and the valve body are constructed of polymer materials.