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EP-4739186-A1 - TWO-WAY FLUIDICS VALVE FOR BRONCHOSCOPY

EP4739186A1EP 4739186 A1EP4739186 A1EP 4739186A1EP-4739186-A1

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for a two-way valve assembly for a medical device. The two-way valve assembly has a knob seated within a valve body, two inlet passages leading to a suction source and a gas source, an outlet passage leading to an endoscope fluid channel, and an internal channel connecting one of the two inlet passages to the outlet passage. A spring presses the knob into the valve body to seal the openings along the channels and passages. Rotating the knob slides one or more guide pins on the knob along one or more guide grooves on the body and connects the other inlet passage to the outlet passage, such that the same endoscope fluid channel can be used both for suction, as in clearing fluid from within a patient, and delivering gas, as in insufflation.

Inventors

  • FAULKNER, Daniel Joseph
  • MANSFIELD, Richard Paul

Assignees

  • Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240701

Claims (15)

  1. 1. A two-way valve assembly for a medical device, comprising: a knob comprising: a knob barrel having a side wall and an internal channel running between inlet and outlet openings in the side wall, and one or more guide pins; a valve body comprising: a valve well encircling the knob barrel, first and second inlet passages in fluid communication with the valve well, an outlet passage in fluid communication with the valve well, and one or more guide grooves, each guide groove receiving a different one of the one or more guide pins; and a spring applying force to press the side wall of the knob barrel against an inner surface of the valve well; wherein the knob rotates relative to the valve body between: a first position in which the inlet opening in the knob barrel forms a seal with the first inlet passage in the valve body and the outlet opening in the knob barrel forms a seal with the outlet passage in the valve body, placing the first inlet passage in fluid communication with the outlet passage through the internal channel of the knob, and a second position in which the inlet opening in the knob barrel forms a seal with the second inlet passage in the valve body and the outlet opening in the knob barrel forms a seal with the outlet passage in the valve body, placing the second inlet passage in fluid communication with the outlet passage through the internal channel of the knob; and wherein each of the one or more guide pins moves from a first seat in a guide groove corresponding to the first position of the knob to a second seat of the guide groove corresponding to the second position of the knob when the knob rotates.
  2. 2. The valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising: an end cap attached to the valve body opposite the knob, wherein the spring is attached to the valve body and the end cap to push the end cap away from the valve body, pressing the knob into the valve body.
  3. 3. The valve assembly of claim 2, wherein the knob further comprises a pole extending through the valve body and into the end cap, the pole having a key fitting at its distal end shaped to engage with a keyhole in the end cap.
  4. 4. The valve assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a tube within the internal channel of the knob barrel, the tube having raised portions at the inlet and outlet openings to form a seal when the knob barrel is pressed against the valve well.
  5. 5. The valve assembly of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the outlet opening of the knob barrel subtends an angle of the side wall equal to or greater than the angle of rotation between the first position and the second position.
  6. 6. The valve assembly of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the guide grooves are each shaped with a raised portion between the first seat corresponding to the first position of the knob and the second seat corresponding to the second position of the knob such that, when rotating the knob between the first position and the second position, the knob barrel is lifted relative to the valve well to break contact between the knob barrel and the valve well.
  7. 7. The valve assembly of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the one or more guide pins is a plurality of guide pins extending radially from the knob and spaced with radial symmetry about the knob; and wherein the one or more guide grooves is a plurality of guide grooves shaped and spaced with radial symmetry about the valve body.
  8. 8. The valve assembly of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the side wall of the knob barrel and the inner wall of the valve body are cylinders tapered from top to bottom.
  9. 9. The valve assembly of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the knob has a handle sized and shaped to be grasped and rotated by one hand.
  10. 10. A medical system for bronchoscopy, comprising: an endoscope having a fluid channel therein; the two-way valve assembly of any one of claims 1 to 8 in fluid communication with the endoscope fluid channel; a source of suction in fluid communication with the first inlet passage of the two-way valve assembly such that, when the two-way valve assembly is in a first position, suction is applied through the endoscope fluid channel; and a gas source in fluid communication with the second inlet passage of the two- way valve assembly such that, when the two-way valve assembly is in a second position, gas is supplied through the endoscope fluid channel.
  11. 11. The medical system of claim 10, wherein the endoscope is a bronchoscope suitable for diagnostic and/or surgical deployment in the human respiratory system.
  12. 12. The medical system of claim 10 or 11, wherein the gas source is a source of gas suitable for insufflation during bronchoscopy.
  13. 13. The medical system of claim 12, wherein the gas is room air, contained air, or oxygen.
  14. 14. A method for operating the medical system of any one of claims 12 or 13, comprising: deploying the endoscope into the respiratory system of a patient; while the two-way valve is in a first position, clearing fluid from the respiratory system of the patient via suction through the endoscope fluid channel; rotating the knob of the two-way valve assembly from the first position to the second position; and insufflating the patient with gas deployed through the endoscope fluid channel.
  15. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein rotating the knob of the two-way valve assembly from the first position to the second position is done with one of a user’s hands while the user’s other hand is operating the endoscope.

Description

TWO-WAY FLUIDICS VALVE FOR BRONCHOSCOPY CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/511,772 filed on July 3, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present disclosure generally relates to endoscope suction tubing. Particularly, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a valve for two-way fluidics within an endoscope. BACKGROUND [0003] Endoscopic examinations provide a minimally-invasive procedure for visual investigation of internal bodily lumens. Bronchoscopy is an endoscopic diagnostic technique for directly examining the airways of the lungs via insertion of a long, thin endoscope (or bronchoscope) through the trachea of a patient and down into the lung pathways. A feature present in some bronchoscopes is a suction tube that allows for evacuation of fluid from the airways before and during examination. [0004] Another procedure that often precedes or succeeds bronchoscopy is insufflation, in which gas (often oxygen, air, or carbon dioxide) is supplied at a positive pressure to the airways. Examination of insufflated airways can allow for detection of air leaks in the patient’s respiratory system. [0005] Switching between endoscopy and insufflation may require unnecessary time and cause extra trauma. Thus, there is a need for a device that allows for a medical professional to apply both suction and insufflation as needed during a bronchoscopy procedure. SUMMARY [0006] This disclosure provides design, material, manufacturing method, and use alternatives for medical devices and medical systems. In a first example, two-way valve assembly for a medical device can comprise a knob, a valve body, and a spring. The knob includes a knob barrel having a side wall and an internal channel running between inlet and outlet openings in the side wall and one or more guide pins. The valve body includes a valve well encircling the knob barrel, first and second inlet passages in fluid communication with the valve well, an outlet passage in fluid communication with the valve well, and one or more guide grooves, each guide groove receiving a different one of the one or more guide pins. The spring applies force to press the side wall of the knob barrel against an inner surface of the valve well. The knob rotates relative to the valve body between a first position in which the inlet opening in the knob barrel forms a seal with the first inlet passage in the valve body and the outlet opening in the knob barrel forms a seal with the outlet passage in the valve body, placing the first inlet passage in fluid communication with the outlet passage through the internal channel of the knob, and a second position in which the inlet opening in the knob barrel forms a seal with the second inlet passage in the valve body and the outlet opening in the knob barrel forms a seal with the outlet passage in the valve body, placing the second inlet passage in fluid communication with the outlet passage through the internal channel of the knob. Each of the one or more guide pins moves from a first seat in a guide groove corresponding to the first position of the knob to a second seat of the guide groove corresponding to the second position of the knob when the knob rotates. [0007] Alternatively or additionally to any of the examples above, the valve assembly can further include an end cap attached to the valve body opposite the knob, wherein the spring is attached to the valve body and the end cap to push the end cap away from the valve body, pressing the knob into the valve body. [0008] Alternatively or additionally to any of the examples above, the knob can further include a pole extending through the valve body and into the end cap, the pole having a key fitting at its distal end shaped to engage with a keyhole in the end cap. [0009] Alternatively or additionally to any of the examples above, the valve assembly can further include a tube within the internal channel of the knob barrel, the tube having raised portions at the inlet and outlet openings to form a seal when the knob barrel is pressed against the valve well. [0010] Alternatively or additionally to any of the examples above, the outlet opening of the knob barrel can subtend an angle of the side wall equal to or greater than the angle of rotation between the first position and the second position. [0011] Alternatively or additionally to any of the examples above, the guide grooves can each be shaped with a raised portion between the first seat corresponding to the first position of the knob and the second seat corresponding to the second position of the knob such that, when rotating the knob between the first position and the second position, the knob barrel is lifted relative to the valve well to break contact between the knob barrel and the valve well. [0012] Alternatively or additionally to any of the examples above, the o