The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 18, 1999
Filed:
Oct. 25, 1996
Robert M Schildgen, Gurnee, IL (US);
James P Anderson, Kenosha, WI (US);
FibraSonics Inc., Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
An improved valve utilizes a ball or sphere positioned within a housing which is movable by source of magnetic force external to the housing, the housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a sealing member positioned within the housing adjacent the fluid inlet or the fluid outlet. A modular control valve apparatus is provided having at least one or a plurality of valves in the housing, each having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a passage from a source of fluid or aspiration to an instrument or other device to direct and/or utilize the fluid or aspiration. Control is provided by including one or more pressure monitors, such as diaphragms positioned in recesses in a surface of the housing, coupled to passageways connected to passageways leading to fluid flow conduits. Variations in pressure in the conduits are transmitted from the diaphragm to a sensor such as a transducer to generate a signal, which activates a correcting electronic circuit which in turn controls a pump for a vacuum system. Provision is made to prevent contamination of the monitoring system by providing a hydrophobic filter between each passageway leading to the conduit and the diaphragm.