MEDICAL APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME
A hemostatic valve apparatus used in medical procedures that provides rapid activation of a sealing mechanism resulting in lower blood loss during use of the sealing device. The valve apparatus incorporates an actuator and two mechanisms that counter-rotate opposite ends of a sealing tube.
1 . A medical apparatus, comprising:
a flexible tube;
a first mechanism attached to the tube;
a second mechanism attached to the tube; and
an actuator coupled to the first and second mechanisms,
wherein the actuator is capable of counter rotating the first and second mechanism.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is coupled to the first and second rotation mechanisms with gears.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said gears are selected from the group consisting of a spur gear, helical gear, bevel gear, worm gear, and combinations thereof.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said medical apparatus prevents the loss of bodily fluids.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said medical apparatus is a vascular introducer sheath.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said medical apparatus further comprises a latch or means of holding said actuator in place once said tube is twisted.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein counter rotating the first and second rotation mechanisms twists said tube and forces said tube to collapse around at least one medical device inserted into said tube.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said medical device is selected from the group consisting of catheters, sheaths, and guidewires.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tube has a substantial circular cross section.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tube has a polygon cross-section.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tube has an inner diameter of at least 3 mm.
12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tube comprises a material selected from the group consisting of expanded polytetrafluoroethelene (ePTFE), silks, polyester weaves and porous filled materials.
13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wherein the tube comprises two or more different materials having different mechanical properties such as durometers or degrees of elasticity.
14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising another sealing mechanism.
15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein said additional sealing mechanism is selected from the group consisting of elastic diaphragm, compression fitting, cap, second tube, brushes, and an inflatable valve.
16 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tube has a length in the range from about 6 to about 25 mm.
17 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuator can be rotated about 180° or less.
18 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuator can be rotated to a maximum of about 360°.
19 . A valve for effecting selective closure of a catheter lumen to control fluid flow thorough said catheter lumen, comprising:
a flexible tube having a lumen extending from proximal end to a distal end;
a first rotation mechanism attached to the tube, wherein the first rotation mechanism comprises a first gear;
a second rotation mechanism attached to the tube, wherein the second rotation mechanism comprises a second gear; and
an actuator coupled to the first and second rotation mechanisms, wherein the actuator is capable of counter rotating the first and second rotation mechanisms.
20 . The valve of claim 19 , wherein the first and second gears are selected from the group consisting of a spur gear, helical gear, bevel gear, worm gear, and combinations thereof.
21 . The valve of claim 19 , wherein the tube comprises a material selected from the group consisting of expanded polytetrafluoroethelene (ePTFE), silks, polyester weaves and porous filled materials.
22 . The valve of claim 19 , wherein said counter rotating the first and second rotation mechanisms twists said tube to form a sealed tube.
23 . The valve of claim 19 , wherein counter rotating the first and second rotation mechanisms twists said tube and forces said tube to collapse around at least one medical device inserted into said tube.
24 . The valve of claim 19 , wherein said valve is a component in a vascular introducer sheath.