VALVE FOR MEDICAL IMPLANT DELIVERY SYSTEM

Abstract

A valve (100) for use in delivering a medical device comprises first and second ends and an hourglass shaped centre section defining an aperture (34) for accepting a guidewire. The application of torsion about the centre section closes the aperture to seal against the guidewire.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A valve for use in delivering a medical device, the valve including: a body having a first end and a second end disposed along a longitudinal axis, a wall defining a passage between the first and second ends, a flexible member disposed between the first and second ends, the flexible member defining an aperture having a first diameter when in an unstressed state, wherein: (1) the first diameter is less than the internal diameter of the passage at one or both of the first and second ends, (2) when an element having an external diameter greater than the first diameter is inserted into the aperture, the diameter of the aperture increases to accommodate the element and to create a seal around the element, (3) the diameter of the aperture reduces when torsion is applied to the flexible member.

18. The valve of claim 17 wherein the aperture has a first diameter of up to 1 mm.

19. The valve of claim 17 wherein the first diameter is less than the internal diameter of the passage at both the first and the second ends.

20. The valve of claim 17 wherein the wall is configured so that the passage is ho glass shaped.

21. The valve of claim 17 wherein the flexible member is defined by the internal surface of the wall.

22. The valve of claim 17 wherein the flexible member is formed of the same material as the wall.

23. The valve of claim 17 wherein the first end is rotatable relative to the second end about the longitudinal axis so as to apply torsion to the flexible member.

24. The valve of claim 23 further including locking means for locking the rotational position of the first end relative to the second end, whereby the flexible member is retained under torsion.

25. The valve of claim 24 wherein the first end is locked into a position in which it has been rotated 360 relative to the second end.

26. The valve of claim 17 wherein the flexible member is in a permanent state of torsion, such that the aperture has a diameter which is less than the first diameter.

27. The valve of claim 17 further including resistance means for resisting increase of the diameter of the aperture.

28. The valve of claim 27 wherein the resistance means comprises an annular element formed of a resilient material, the annular element being disposed around the flexible member.

29. The valve of claim 17 wherein the wall is in a state of longitudinal tension between the first and second end of the body.

30. The valve of claim 29 wherein the body is stretched along its longitudinal axis to a length which is from 120%-150% of its length when not under longitudinal tension.

31. The valve of claim 17 having several flexible members disposed sequentially between the first and second ends.

32. The valve of claim 17 further including a tubular liner.

33. A valve for use in delivering a medical device, the valve including: a body having a wall defining a passage extending between a first end and a second end, the passage converging inwardly from the first end and from the second end to define a narrowed aperture between the first and second ends, wherein the wall is flexible about the aperture, whereby the aperture seals about an element of a medical device inserted therein if the element has a diameter greater than the diameter of the aperture, and wherein twisting one of the first and second ends of the body with respect to the other reduces the diameter of the aperture, thereby increasing the seal about the element inserted therein.

34. The valve of claim 33 wherein the body is formed of elastomeric material.

35. A method of enhancing the seal of the valve of claim 33, the method including the step of twisting one of the first and second ends of the body with respect to the other.

36. The method of claim 35 further including the step of tensioning the body between the first and second ends until the length of the body between the first and second ends is at least 120% of the length of the body when untensioned.

Description

[0026] A number of preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a valve in accordance with the invention:

[0028] FIG. 2 is an end view from one end of the valve shown in FIG. 1:

[0029] FIG. 3 is an end view of the other end of the valve shown in FIG. 1: and

[0030] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the valve of FIG. 1.

[0031] Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a valve 100 with proximal end 10 and distal end 20 both formed of circular section of plastics material. Proximal and distal ends 10, 20 have proximal aperture 15 and distal aperture 25 respectively at their centres.

[0032] Hour-glass valve wall 30 is formed of silicone and disposed between proximal and distal ends 10/20. The shape of valve wall 30 can be seen in more detail in FIG. 4. Valve wall 30 has proximal flange 31 which fits into proximal end 10 and has distal flange 32 which fits into distal end 20. The valve wall 30 has an hour-glass shape with a waisted section 33 having aperture 34 therein for accepting guidewires in use.

[0033] The dimensions for each of the component parts (which are preferred dimensions only) are shown on FIGS. 1-4.

[0034] In use, a guidewire (not shown) is inserted through proximal aperture 15, through valve aperture 35 and exits out of distal aperture 25. Valve 100 can then be closed to seal around the guidewire by rotating distal end 20 relative to proximal end 10 in order to apply torsion to valve wall 30 and to close down the internal diameter of aperture 34. The valve can be locked in to the twisted position or in an alternative embodiment the valve can be provided pre-twisted depending on the use to which it is to be put.

[0035] In order to release the guidewire it can either simply be pulled out of the valve 100 or alternatively the valve can be untwisted first in order to allow the guidewire to be removed more easily.

[0036] All optional and preferred features and modifications of the described embodiments and dependent claims are usable in all aspects of the invention taught herein. Furthermore, the individual features of the dependent claims, as well as all optional and preferred features and modifications of the described embodiments are combinable and interchangeable with one another.

[0037] The disclosures in UK patent application number 1402149.7, from which this application claims priority, and in the abstract accompanying this application are incorporated herein by reference.