Abstract: A safety overflow trap for a medical suction system to withdraw liquids from a patient. The trap protects a vacuum regulator and other downstream components from contacting the liquid withdrawn from the patient. The trap has an inlet and an outlet and a reservoir intermediate thereto. A valve is provided between the reservoir and the outlet comprising a fixed member and a movable member. The movable member floats on the liquid accumulated in the reservoir and, as that liquid rises, the movable member rises to seal against the fixed member to occlude the source of vacuum. The fixed and movable members become latched together when the movable member enters the closed position to prevent the leakage of the liquid if the trap is inadvertently tipped over. A system is also present to provide a visual alert to the attending personnel when the movable member has moved to its closed position.

Abstract: An improved fluid control valve assembly employing a needle valve integrally formed on a non-rotating valve stem includes a metering orifice for engaging and forming a fluid seal with the valve needle, and a generally radially extending end face on the valve stem for engaging an opposing wall surface acting to positively stop the valve stem upon fully closing the valve and forming a seal between the metering orifice and valve needle to thereby avoid excessive loads and wear between the metering orifice and valve needle.