US 11,793,990 B2
Complex irrigation/suction flow path in a medical device
Edward P. Donlon, San Jose, CA (US); and Craig Tsuji, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC., Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Filed by INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC., Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/553,314.
Application 17/553,314 is a division of application No. 15/897,832, filed on Feb. 15, 2018, granted, now 11,224,733.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/459,708, filed on Feb. 16, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0105336 A1, Apr. 7, 2022
Int. Cl. A61M 39/22 (2006.01); A61M 3/02 (2006.01); F16K 3/26 (2006.01); F16K 27/06 (2006.01); A61M 1/00 (2006.01); A61B 34/35 (2016.01); F16K 11/16 (2006.01); F16K 31/53 (2006.01); F16K 11/10 (2006.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.01); A61M 39/24 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 39/223 (2013.01) [A61B 34/35 (2016.02); A61M 1/774 (2021.05); A61M 3/022 (2014.02); A61M 3/0208 (2014.02); A61M 3/0212 (2014.02); A61M 3/0283 (2013.01); A61M 39/225 (2013.01); F16K 3/26 (2013.01); F16K 11/165 (2013.01); F16K 27/065 (2013.01); F16K 31/535 (2013.01); A61B 2034/305 (2016.02); A61M 1/77 (2021.05); A61M 2039/226 (2013.01); A61M 2039/2473 (2013.01); A61M 2039/2486 (2013.01); A61M 2205/584 (2013.01); F16K 11/10 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A suction/irrigation medical device comprising:
a valve body having one or more conduits fluidically coupled thereto;
a first channel extending through the valve body, the first channel comprising a proximal portion, a middle portion, and a distal portion, wherein a central axis extends through the first channel, and wherein the proximal, middle, and distal portions of the first channel are aligned along the central axis;
a first valve plunger disposed along the first channel and configured to move along a first axis to open and close the first channel, the first valve plunger including a first opening coupling the proximal and middle portions of the first channel when the first valve plunger is in a first position; and
a second valve plunger disposed along the first channel and along a second channel extending through the valve body, the second valve plunger having a second opening coupling the middle and distal portions of the first channel and coupling the second channel to the distal portion of the first channel when the second valve plunger is in a first position, the second opening of the second valve plunger including at least one dimension that is greater than a corresponding dimension of the first opening of the first valve plunger.