According to an aspect, an inflatable penile prosthesis includes a fluid reservoir configured to hold fluid, an inflatable member, and a pump assembly configured to transfer the fluid between the fluid reservoir and the inflatable member. The pump assembly includes a valve body, a pump bulb, and a deflation mode actuator. The valve body includes a bi-directional valve configured to move from an inflation position to a deflation position in response to an activation of the deflation mode actuator. The bi-directional valve in the inflation position is configured to open a fluid passageway in the valve body to transfer fluid from the pump bulb to the inflatable member. The bi-directional valve in the deflation position is configured to open a fluid passageway in the valve body to transfer fluid from the inflatable member to the fluid reservoir that bypasses the pump bulb.

A dual latching microvalve is capable of a metastable state, wherein a one or more complete flow paths are open, before switching to another state that allows only an inlet or outlet valve to be open at any time on any fluid path. One valve mechanism uses a cam to alternately open and close two valves, with an external force applying pressure to move one valve arm onto a resting position on the cam, thereby opening the closed valve and provided an uninterrupted flow path through the dual latching microvalve. The metastable state provides, for example, a means to prime the pump before operation, such as pumping of insulin into a patient. When released from the metastable state, the dual latching microvalve operates in a fashion whereby opening of both valves simultaneously is prevented, thereby protecting the patient from injury.

According to an aspect, an inflatable penile prosthesis includes a fluid reservoir configured to hold fluid, an inflatable member, and a pump assembly configured to transfer the fluid between the fluid reservoir and the inflatable member. The pump assembly includes a valve body, a pump bulb, and a deflation mode actuator. The valve body includes a bi-directional valve configured to move from an inflation position to a deflation position in response to an activation of the deflation mode actuator. The bi-directional valve in the inflation position is configured to open a fluid passageway in the valve body to transfer fluid from the pump bulb to the inflatable member. The bi-directional valve in the deflation position is configured to open a fluid passageway in the valve body to transfer fluid from the inflatable member to the fluid reservoir that bypasses the pump bulb.

The invention relates to a valve (1), comprising a valve housing (4) and a closing body (3) arranged in the valve housing (4) in such a way that the closing body can be moved longitudinally, wherein at least one inlet channel (5) and at least one outlet channel (6) are arranged in the valve housing (4). The closing body (3) interacts with a valve seat (8) formed on the valve housing (4) by means of the longitudinal motion of the closing body and thereby opens and closes at least one hydraulic connection between the at least one inlet channel (5) and the at least one outlet channel (6). The closing body (3) can be driven by means of a metal-bellows/piston unit (2), wherein the metal-bellows/piston unit (2) has a variable-length metal bellows (20) and a variable-volume working chamber (23) and wherein the metal bellows (20) bounds the working chamber (23) in a sealing manner.

A fluid switching valve including a first elastic tube that delivers a first fluid; a second elastic tube that delivers a second fluid; a third elastic tube having one end connected to the first and second elastic tubes; and a switching member that, by displacing a protruding portion, switches between a first state in which the first elastic tube is constricted and the second fluid is delivered to the third elastic tube, a second state in which the second elastic tube is constricted and the first fluid is delivered to the third elastic tube, a third state in which the first and second elastic tubes are both constricted and introduction of fluid to the third elastic tube is cut off, and a fourth state in which neither the first nor second elastic tube is constricted and both the first and second fluids are delivered to the third elastic tube.

An encapsulated valve system includes a first housing portion having a first facing surface, the first facing surface comprising a plurality of branch pathways formed as a recess within the first facing surface. The valve system further includes a second housing portion having a second facing surface, the second facing surface comprising a plurality of branch pathways formed as a recess within the second facing surface. A disposable conduit is configured to be interposed between the first and second housing portions and disposed within the recess of the first facing surface and the recess of the second facing surface. The disposable conduit is thus sandwiched between the first and second facing surfaces. A plurality of pinch valve actuators are mounted on one or both of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the plurality of pinch valve actuators configured to pinch the disposable conduit at selective branch pathways.

The flow path switching valve described herein has a valve chamber with three openings and a valve piston disposed in the valve chamber. The valve piston has a flexible diaphragm which at its circumference co-operates sealingly with an inner circumferential wall of the valve chamber. The valve piston is movable between two end positions; in a first end position, it opens a flow path between a first opening and a second opening and blocks a third opening, and in the second end position, it blocks the first opening and opens a flow path between the second opening and the third opening. The wall of the valve chamber is shaped such that in the last phase of the diaphragm movement to the first end position, the sealing contact between the diaphragm and the inner wall is undone in at least part of the circumference.

An external support that routes the tubing of a reversing valve in such a manner that connection tubes extend from one end of the device and the treatment device tubes extend from the opposite end. The external support may provide guides that hold the tubing extending from the supported flat rotary switch type of valve so as to keep them from being pinch or kinked thereby ensuring free flow of blood.

A valve for use in connection with microfluidic devices includes a safety feature such that flow is controlled even in the case of a loss of power, thus having applications in critical applications such as the precise delivery of drugs overtime. The valve may be used in connection with multiple tubes delivering drugs, and may be used with a pump, such as an electrochemical pump, to provide the force to move the fluids containing drugs for delivery. In certain applications, more than one medicine may be delivered and metered independently using a single pump with multiple reservoirs and valves.

A pinch valve may use a spring force to close a collapsible tube at a pinch point, and may open with a cam mechanism, which may be controlled using an electric motor. The open and closed positions of the pinch valve may be stable without the use of continuing electrical energy, and electrical energy may be consumed during a change between positions. One arrangement may use multiple tubes in a circular arrangement with a cam that may operate one or more of the valves at a time. The cam mechanism may be driven by an electric motor.