Valve and valve components for an endoscope

1 . A valve stem for a medical device, the valve stem comprises:

an elongate body;

a first opening in the elongate body;

a second opening in the elongate body;

a lumen extending from the first opening to the second opening; and

a seal extending circumferentially around the elongate body and defining a sealing surface, and

wherein the sealing surface is non-perpendicular with a longitudinal axis of the elongate body and defines a wave extending circumferentially around the elongate body.

2 . The valve stem of claim 1 , further comprising:

a groove defining a surface of the elongate body and extending circumferentially around the elongate body, and

wherein the groove is non-perpendicular with the longitudinal axis of the elongate body and the seal is within the groove.

3 . The valve stem of claim 1 , wherein the wave comprise two peaks and two valleys.

4 . The valve stem of claim 1 , wherein the seal is a first seal and the sealing surface is a first sealing surface, the valve stem further comprises:

a second seal extending circumferentially around the elongate body and defining a second sealing surface; and

wherein the second sealing surface is non-perpendicular with the longitudinal axis of the elongate body.

5 . The valve stem of claim 4 , wherein the first sealing surface is parallel to the second sealing surface.

6 . The valve stem of claim 4 , wherein the first sealing surface is non-parallel to the second sealing surface.

7 . The valve stem of claim 4 , further comprising:

a third seal extending circumferentially around the elongate body and defining a third sealing surface; and

wherein the third sealing surface is non-perpendicular with the longitudinal axis of the elongate body.

8 . The valve stem of claim 1 , wherein the elongate body and the seal are monolithic.

9 . The valve stem of claim 1 , wherein the elongate body is formed from a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

10 . A valve stem for a medical device, the valve stem is configured to translate within a valve well of the medical device, the valve stem comprises:

an elongate body;

a first opening in the elongate body;

a second opening in the elongate body;

a lumen extending from the first opening to the second opening;

a first seal extending circumferentially around the elongate body and defining a first sealing surface, the first seal is proximal of the first opening; and

a second seal extending circumferentially around the elongate body and defining a second sealing surface, the first seal is distal of the first opening, and

wherein the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface are non-perpendicular with a longitudinal axis of the elongate body and one or both of the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface define a wave extending circumferentially around the elongate body.

11 . The valve stem of claim 10 , wherein one or both of the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface are planar.

12 . The valve stem of claim 10 , wherein one or both of the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface are non-planar.

13 . The valve stem of claim 10 , further comprising:

a third seal extending circumferentially around the elongate body and defining a third sealing surface, and

wherein one or more of the first sealing surface, the second sealing surface, and the third sealing surface are parallel to a least one other of the first sealing surface, the second sealing surface, and the third sealing surface.

14 . A medical device comprising:

a proximal handle;

a distal tip unit adapted to be inserted into a body cavity of a patient;

an elongate tube extending between the proximal handle and the distal tip unit; and

a valve in communication with a lumen of the elongate tube to adjust a fluid flow to the distal tip unit via the lumen, the valve comprises:

a valve well having an interior wall, a first opening, and a second opening; and

a valve stem configured to adjust within the valve well, the valve stem comprising an elongate body and a seal defining a sealing surface defining a wave extending circumferentially around the elongate body, and

wherein the sealing surface is configured to engage the interior wall at a first location proximal of the first opening and at a second location distal of the second opening, the second location is circumferentially spaced from the first location.

15 . The medical device of claim 14 , wherein:

the elongate body includes a groove defining an outer surface of the elongate body and extending circumferentially around the elongate body; and

the seal extends circumferentially around the elongate body within the groove.

16 . The medical of device claim 14 , wherein:

the seal is a first seal and the sealing surface is a first sealing surface,

the valve stem further comprises a second seal extending circumferentially around the elongate body and defining a second sealing surface; and

the second sealing surface is configured to engage the interior wall at a location distal of the first opening and the second opening.

17 . The medical device of claim 14 , wherein the elongate body includes a groove defining an outer surface of the elongate body and a wave extending circumferentially around the elongate body.

18 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the elongate body includes a groove defining an outer surface of the elongate body and a wave extending circumferentially around the elongate body.

19 . The medical device of claim 10 , wherein the elongate body includes a groove defining an outer surface of the elongate body and a wave extending circumferentially around the elongate body.