Valves, valved fluid transfer devices and ambulatory infusion devices including the same
View Patent ↗An ambulatory medical device including a reservoir, a fluid transfer device operably connected to the reservoir, and a pressure regulator that has a valve seat and a valve element movable between a closed position where the valve element engages the valve seat and prevents fluid flow and an open position where the valve element is in spaced relation to the valve seat and does not prevent fluid flow. One of the valve seat and the valve element includes a main portion and a seal portion that is less tacky than the main portion and is engaged by the other of the valve seat and the valve element when the valve element is in the closed position.
1. An ambulatory medical device, comprising:
a reservoir;
a fluid transfer device operably connected to the reservoir and including a fluid transfer device housing and a pump associated with the fluid transfer device housing; and
a pressure regulator, in fluidic communication with the pump and/or the reservoir, having
a pressure regulator housing including an inlet and an outlet,
a valve seat including an opening located between the inlet and the outlet, and
a valve element operably associated with a reference pressure and movable relative to the valve housing between a closed position where the valve element engages the valve seat and prevents fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet, and an open position where the valve element is in spaced relation to the valve seat and does not prevent fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet,
wherein one of the valve seat and the valve element includes a main portion and a seal portion that is less tacky than the main portion and is engaged by the other of the valve seat and the valve element when the valve element is in the closed position.
2. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the valve seat includes the main portion and the seal portion; and
the valve element includes a shaft, which extends through the valve seat opening, and a head that engages the valve seat seal portion when the valve element is in the closed position.
3. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material selected from the group consisting of silicone rubber, latex rubber, fluoropolymers, urethane, butyl rubber, and isoprene.
4. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material; and
the seal portion comprises a layer of silicon suboxide on the main portion.
5. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material; and
the seal portion comprises a relatively thin layer of a relatively hard elastomeric material.
6. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material; and
the seal portion comprises a relatively thin layer of a fluoroelastomer or a low friction protective coating.
7. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material; and
the seal portion comprises a surface of the valve seat main portion that has been halogenated.
8. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material; and
the seal portion comprises a surface of the valve seat main portion that has been implanted with ions of a ceramic material or ions of a metal material or ions of a metal oxide.
9. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material; and
the seal portion comprises a surface of the valve seat main portion that has been implanted with ions of a ceramic material or ions of a metal material.
10. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material; and
the seal portion comprises a coating of a filler material.
11. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the pressure regulator is configured such that the valve element will be in the closed position when pressure within the housing exceeds the reference pressure and the valve element will be in the open position when pressure within the housing is below the reference pressure.
12. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a reference pressure apparatus that defines the reference pressure and is connected to the valve element.
13. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein
the reference pressure apparatus is configured to move the valve element to the closed position when pressure within the housing is above the reference pressure and to move the valve element to the open position when pressure within the housing is below the reference pressure.
14. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the reference pressure apparatus comprises a sealed bellows.
15. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the valve element faces the opening and is aligned with the opening when the valve element is in the open position; and
the valve element faces the opening and is aligned with the opening when the valve element is in the closed position.
16. An ambulatory medical device, comprising:
a reservoir;
a fluid transfer device operably connected to the reservoir; and
a pressure regulator located upstream or downstream of the reservoir and in direct or indirect fluidic communication with the fluid transfer device, and including an inlet and an outlet, a valve seat with an opening located between the inlet and the outlet, and a valve element movable between a closed position where the valve element engages the valve seat, thereby preventing fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet, and an open position where the valve element is in spaced relation to the valve seat, thereby permitting fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet;
wherein the pressure regulator is configured such that the valve member will be in the closed position when pressure at the pressure regulator is above a reference pressure and the valve member will be in the open position when pressure at the pressure regulator is below the reference pressure; and
wherein one of the valve seat and the valve element includes a main portion and a seal portion that is less tacky than the main portion and is engaged by the other of the valve seat and the valve element when the valve element is in the closed position.
17. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein
the valve seat includes the main portion and the seal portion; and
the valve element includes a shaft, which extends through the valve seat opening, and a head that engages the valve seat seal portion when the valve element is in the closed position.
18. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 16 , further comprising:
a reference pressure apparatus that defines the reference pressure and is connected to the valve element.
19. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the reference pressure apparatus comprises a sealed bellows.
20. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein
the valve element faces the opening and is aligned with the opening when the valve element is in the open position; and
the valve element faces the opening and is aligned with the opening when the valve element is in the closed position.
21. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material selected from the group consisting of silicone rubber, latex rubber, fluoropolymers, urethane, butyl rubber, and isoprene.
22. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein
the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material; and
the seal portion comprises a layer of silicon suboxide on the main portion.
23. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein
the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material; and
the seal portion comprises a relatively thin layer of a relatively hard elastomeric material.
24. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein
the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material; and
the seal portion comprises a relatively thin layer of a fluoroelastomer or a low friction protective coating.
25. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein
the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material; and
the seal portion comprises a surface of the valve seat main portion that has been halogenated.
26. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein
the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material; and
the seal portion comprises a surface of the valve seat main portion that has been implanted with ions of a ceramic material or ions of a metal material or ions of a metal oxide.
27. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein
the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material; and
the seal portion comprises a surface of the valve seat main portion that has been implanted with ions of a ceramic material or ions of a metal material.
28. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein
the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material; and
the seal portion comprises a coating of a filler material.