CONTINUOUS SEALING TUOHY-BORST ADAPTER
A dynamic radial seal for Touhy-Borst adapters is provided. The seal has a breaking pressure above typical pressure regimes encountered in vivo in the blood of human subjects. A Touhy-Borst adapter is also provided which incorporates the dynamic radial seal.
1 . A seal for a Tuohy-Borst adapter, comprising a dynamic radial seal.
2 . The seal of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic radial seal comprises a plurality of pliable occlusive elements radiating inward, and arranged in a regular pattern relative to each other, wherein each of the pliable occlusive elements contacts a plurality of other occlusive elements.
3 . The seal of claim 2 further comprising a base flange, wherein the plurality of pliable occlusive elements radiate inward from the base flange.
4 . The seal of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of pliable occlusive elements is selected from semi-conical flaps, cilia, or rectangular flaps.
5 . The seal of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of pliable occlusive elements is adapted to form an occlusion in a liquid flow path with a breaking pressure above physiological blood pressure.
6 . The seal of claim 2 , wherein the seal comprises a complementary pair of seals in sealing contact with each other.
7 . The seal of claim 6 , wherein the pair of seals are further adapted to cooperatively form a sealing contact with an interventional element.
8 . A Tuohy-Borst adapter, comprising:
a main valve body comprising an inner luminal wall extending from a distal opening to a proximal opening, and defining a lumen;
a dynamic radial seal mountingly received by a seat of the main valve body, the dynamic radial seal having:
a base flange; and
a plurality of pliable occlusive elements radiating inward from the base flange, and arranged in a regular pattern relative to each other, wherein each of the pliable occlusive elements contacts a plurality of other occlusive elements;
a sidearm in fluid communication with the lumen and equipped with a three-way stopcock configured to switch fluid communication between the lumen and one of two alternate fluid paths, wherein a confluence joins the sidearm and lumen in fluid communication; and
a pressure transducer protruding through an opening into a lumen of the sidearm, the pressure transducer being isolatable from fluid communication with the lumen by switching the three-way stopcock.
9 . The Tuohy-Borst Adapter of claim 8 further comprising a cylindrical seal disposed proximal of the dynamic radial seal, wherein a central through-hole of the cylindrical seal is aligned and in fluid communication with the lumen.
10 . The Tuohy-Borst adapter of claim 9 further comprising a threaded compression fitting in axially compressive communication with the cylindrical seal such that compression of the cylindrical seal is continuously adjustable through turning the threaded compression fitting.
11 . The Tuohy-Borst adapter of claim 10 , wherein the cylindrical seal is adjacent to and in contact with the dynamic radial seal.
12 . The Tuohy-Borst adapter of claim 10 , wherein the cylindrical seal is housed in a first compartment and the dynamic radial seal is housed in a second compartment.
13 . The Tuohy-Borst adapter of claim 8 , wherein one of the two alternate fluid paths comprises a contrast dye inlet or a saline inlet.
14 . The Tuohy-Borst adapter of claim 13 , wherein the pressure transducer is in fluid communication with the saline inlet and isolatable from fluid communication with the lumen by switching the three-way stopcock.
15 . The Tuohy-Borst adapter of claim 8 further comprising a purge valve disposed near the proximal end of the dynamic radial seal, and disposed distal of the confluence.
16 . The Tuohy-Borst adapter of claim 15 , wherein the purge valve comprises a sealing surface defined by an orifice in fluid communication with the lumen and with an exterior of the main valve body, a plug cooperating with a plug seat to form a normally closed seal.
17 . The Tuohy-Borst adapter of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of pliable occlusive elements is selected from semi-conical flaps, cilia, or rectangular flaps.
18 . The Tuohy-Borst adapter of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of pliable occlusive elements is adapted to form an occlusion in a liquid flow path of the base flange with a breaking pressure above physiological blood pressure.
19 . The Tuohy-Borst adapter of claim 18 , wherein the Touhy-Borst seal comprises a complementary pair of seals in sealing contact with each other.
20 . The Tuohy-Borst adapter of claim 18 , wherein the pair of seals are further adapted to cooperatively form a sealing contact with an interventional element.
21 . The Tuohy-Borst adapter of claim 8 further comprising:
a flexible diaphragm in contact with the pliable occlusive elements, wherein the diaphragm has a central through-hole in coaxial alignment with a fluid path of the pliable occlusive elements; and
an anti-prolapse member in contact with the flexible diaphragm, and stiffening the flexible diaphragm and the pliable occlusive elements to resist prolapse during withdrawal of an interventional instrument.
22 . The Tuohy-Borst adapter of claim 8 further comprising an anti-prolapse member in contact with the pliable occlusive elements, and stiffening the pliable occlusive elements to resist prolapse during withdrawal of an interventional instrument.