Flow control valve
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices and establishing fluid communication between body lumens. In particular, the present disclosure relates to devices and methods for establishing a controlled flow or access passage between body lumens.
1. A medical device, comprising:
an elongate tubular body comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a length therebetween, the elongate tubular body defining a lumen along the length;
the elongate tubular body having an unexpanded configuration, and an expanded configuration wherein the proximal portion expands into a proximal retention member and the distal portion expands into a distal retention member leaving a length of a saddle region extending therebetween; and
two flexible collars disposed around the saddle region along separate portions of the length of the saddle region;
wherein each of the flexible collars is configured to constrict at least a portion of the saddle region to define a fluid reservoir between the flexible collars, and to allow controlled flow of fluid from the reservoir to be delivered through a lumen defined by at least one of the collars.
2. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein each flexible collar defines a lumen, wherein each flexible collar is configured to move from a non-expanded configuration to an expanded configuration, and wherein an inner dimension of the lumen of each flexible collar in the non-expanded configuration is less than an inner dimension of the lumen of each flexible collar in the expanded configuration.
3. The medical device of claim 2 , wherein the lumens defined by the flexible collars are completely closed when the flexible collars are in the non-expanded configuration to retain fluid within the reservoir.
4. The medical device of claim 2 , wherein the lumen of the constricted portion of the length of the saddle region is partially closed when the flexible collars are in the non-expanded configuration.
5. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a therapeutic agent disposed within the reservoir and flowable from the reservoir through the proximal retention member.
6. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a therapeutic agent disposed within the reservoir and flowable from the reservoir through the distal retention member.
7. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein a surface of the proximal retention member is configured to contact an inner surface of a tissue wall of a first body lumen, and a surface of the distal retention member is configured to contact an inner surface of a tissue wall of a second body lumen.
8. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible collars and the constricted portion of the length of the saddle region are configured to move from a first diameter configuration to a second diameter configuration in response to a threshold level of force to allow controlled flow of a fluid from within the reservoir through at least one of the flexible collars.