PRESSURE ACTUATED VALVE WITH IMPROVED SLIT CONFIGURATION
A valve apparatus for medical applications, comprises a flexible member extending across a lumen through which a flow of materials is to be controlled. The flexible member includes a plurality of movable elements formed on opposite sides of a slit extending through the flexible member. The moveable members are biased so that when a pressure less than a predetermined threshold value is applied to the flexible member, the moveable elements are maintained in a closed position in which no flow is permitted past the flexible member and, when a pressure at least as great as the threshold value is applied to the flexible member, the moveable elements are moved to an open position separated from one another along the slit permitting flow through the lumen.
1 - 27 . (canceled)
28 . A valve for use in medical applications, comprising:
a flexible disk having a plurality of moveable elements, the moveable elements having open and closed configurations; and
at least one stiffening element disposed adjacent to the moveable elements, wherein the stiffening element is configured to hold the moveable elements in the closed configuration when acted upon by fluid pressures less than a predetermined threshold.
29 . The valve according to claim 28 , wherein the stiffening element is ring shaped and encircles the moveable elements.
30 . The valve according to claim 28 , wherein the stiffening element is substantially rectangular and surrounds the moveable elements.
31 . The valve according to claim 28 , wherein the stiffening element is wholly embedded within the flexible disk.
32 . The valve according to claim 28 , wherein the stiffening element is bonded to a surface of the flexible disk.
33 . The valve according to claim 28 , wherein the stiffening element is integrally formed with the flexible disk.
34 . The valve according to claim 28 , wherein the predetermined threshold is between approximately 22 mmHg and 44 mmHg.
35 . The valve according to claim 28 , wherein the moveable elements are formed as edges of a slit through the flexible disk, and wherein the edges are adjacent to one-another in the closed configuration but are separated from one-another in the open configuration.
36 . The valve according to claim 35 , wherein the disk includes a plurality of slits that are non-parallel and non-intersecting.
37 . The valve according to claim 35 , wherein the disk includes a plurality of slits that are non-parallel and that intersect.
38 . The valve according to claim 35 , wherein the disk includes a plurality of slits that are parallel.
39 . The valve according to claim 35 , wherein the disk includes at least one curved slit.
40 . The valve according to claim 35 , wherein the disk includes a slit that is S-shaped.
41 . A valve for use in medical applications, comprising:
a flexible disk having a plurality of moveable elements, the moveable elements having open and closed configurations; and
a plurality of stiffening elements disposed around the moveable elements, wherein the stiffening elements are configured to hold the moveable elements in the closed configuration when acted upon by fluid pressures less than a predetermined threshold.
42 . The valve according to claim 41 , wherein the stiffening elements are parallel and are disposed alongside the moveable elements.
43 . The valve according to claim 41 , wherein the stiffening elements are disposed in a substantially rectangular arrangement about the moveable elements.
44 . The valve according to claim 41 , wherein the stiffening elements are wholly embedded within the flexible disk.
45 . The valve according to claim 41 , wherein the stiffening elements are bonded to a surface of the flexible disk.
46 . The valve according to claim 41 , wherein the stiffening elements are integrally formed with the flexible disk.
47 . The valve according to claim 41 , wherein the predetermined threshold is between approximately 22 mmHg and 44 mmHg.
48 . The valve according to claim 41 , wherein the moveable elements are formed as edges of a slit through the flexible disk, and wherein the edges are adjacent to one-another in the closed configuration but are separated from one-another in the open configuration.
49 . The valve according to claim 48 , wherein the disk includes a plurality of slits that are non-parallel and non-intersecting.
50 . The valve according to claim 48 , wherein the disk includes a plurality of slits that are non-parallel and that intersect.
51 . The valve according to claim 48 , wherein the disk includes a plurality of slits that are parallel.
52 . The valve according to claim 48 , wherein the disk includes at least one curved slit.
53 . The valve according to claim 48 , wherein the disk includes a slit that is S-shaped.