Abstract: A ball-valve member, which in its valve-closed condition must have circumferentially continuous sealed contact with its seat, is mounted for rotation about an axis which is eccentrically gyrated in the course of limited rotation of an actuating element that is journalled in the valve body. The eccentric throw is selected to be such in relation to the full course of actuating-element rotation that, beginning with a fully-closed condition of the valve, an initial fraction of the course of actuating-element rotation is devoted to achieving the eccentric throw (without rotating the ball), whereby to displace the ball-rotation axis in the axial direction away from seat engagement; the ball surface is thus displaced into axially offset clearance with respect to the seat, before devoting the remaining fraction of actuating-element rotation to the task of rotating the ball to its valve-open position.

Abstract: A valve construction wherein the rotor shaft of a reversible electric motor is axially displaceable between axially spaced elements of a differential-screw system for driven displacement of a valve member. Each of these spaced elements is preferably a ball screw, independently co-operative with upper and lower regions of the rotor shaft, i.e., at the respective upper and lower sides of the rotor carried by the shaft. The valve of the invention and its control and drive system are contained within a housing which fixedly mounts (a) the ball-screw nut of the upper element of the differential-screw system and (b) the stator of the motor, so that motor-driven rotation results in axial displacement of the rotor and its shaft, pursuant to the helical advance lead or pitch of the upper ball-screw nut.

Abstract: A ball-valve member, which in its valve-closed condition must have circumferentially continuous sealed contact with its seat, is mounted for rotation about an axis which is eccentrically displaced in the course of limited rotation of an actuating element that is journalled in the valve body. The eccentric throw is selected to be such in relation to the full course of actuating-element rotation that, beginning with a fully-closed condition of the valve, an initial fraction of the course of actuating-element rotation is devoted to achieving the eccentric throw (without rotating the ball), whereby to displace the ball-rotation axis in the axial direction away from seat engagement; the ball surface is thus displaced into axially offset clearance with respect to the seat, before devoting the remaining fraction of actuating-element rotation to the task of rotating the ball to its valve-open position.

Abstract: A miniaturized check-valve construction utilizes a length of straight cylindrical tubing for its body, wherein the open ends of the tube are the inlet (or upstream) and outlet (or downstream) ports of the valve. The tubular body is locally deformed to fixedly retain an inserted annular valve-seat member at a first axial location of downstream offset from the inlet end of the pipe. The tubular body is also locally deformed, at a second axial location of upstream offset from the outlet end of the pipe, to fixedly retain another annular member which serves to establish a fixed reference for the downstream end of a compression spring which continuously urges a valve member into its valve-closing relation with the valve-seat member. Various modifications are described for the configuration and retention of internal parts of the check-valve assembly.

Abstract: Two opposed poles of a permanently magnetized circuit establish a relatively large air gap. An armature element (15) is displaceably interposed in the gap between these poles. The armature element establishes a first relatively small gap to one of these poles when in a first position of adjacency to the other of these poles, and the armature element establishes a second relatively small gap to the other of said poles when in a second position of adjacency to said one pole. Pole-fringing flux is manifested laterally of that one of the relatively small gaps which uniquely identifies the instantaneous presence of the armature in one of its two positions, and a detector of fringe flux at one of the two gaps (18) provides an indication of the positional status of the armature with respect to the poles.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a rotary valve which uses a brushless DC-motor to directly drive the flow control member of the valve. The motor is of toroidal-torque variety, with a wound stator that is fixed to the valve body, and a rotor which is fixed to the valve member. In a first embodiment, one polarity of transient stator excitation drives the rotor in one direction, from one to the other magnetically latched end of a limited angular excursion, and the opposite polarity of transient stator excitation drives the rotor in the opposite direction, to reverse the magnetically latched condition of the rotor and, therefore, of the valve member. In a second embodiment, a torsion spring is connected to apply torque in opposition to rotor displacement from one of the limits of its angular excursion, and the extent to which the valve member is operated is a function of the instantaneous magnitude of stator excitation.

Abstract: A poppet is modulated between closed and full open positions by a brushless DC motor operating magnetically through a housing to drive a permanent magnet rotor which carries the poppet. The rotor is supported on several parallel cables which are stationarily fixed at one end and attached to the rotor at the other end, whereby rotation of the rotor twists the cables, causing axial foreshortening and axial translation of rotor and poppet. Axial translation is enhanced by placing a spacer between the cables, intermediate their ends. A permanent magnet ring is disposed around the valve seat directly axially attracting the rotor to a valve closed position.

Abstract: A modulating valve fluid regulator utilizing a two pole brushless DC motor having the rotor mounted for axial and rotary movement. A poppet is directly carried by the rotor and lifted from the valve seat by a flexible band system which winds upon a mandrel upon rotation of the rotor, or by a cam system having ball bearing cam followers operating on an arcuate cam surface for maximizing torque. Magnetic fields of rotor permanent magnets reacting with the stator core close valve when no electrical power is present to motor.

Abstract: A modulating valve fluid regulator utilizing a two pole brushless DC motor having the rotor mounted for axial and rotary movement. A poppet is directly carried by the rotor and lifted from the valve seat by a flexible band system which winds upon a mandrel upon rotation of the rotor, or by a cam system having ball bearing cam followers operating on an arcuate cam surface for maximizing torque. Magnetic fields of rotor permanent magnets reacting with the stator core close valve when no electrical power is present to motor.

Abstract: A two-stage injection device has a resiliently expandable medication reservoir stored in collapsed state within the cannula. After inserting the cannula through the skin into an animal cavity, depression of a first stage element injects the reservoir out the cannula into the cavity. Depression of a second stage element fills the reservoir with fluid medication, elastically expanding the reservoir. The injection apparatus is withdrawn, leaving the reservoir implanted in the cavity, continuously infusing medication for a period up to hundreds of days through a restrictor orifice under the pressure of the elastically stretched walls of the reservoir.

Abstract: A flexible rubber bladder is disposed between a concave surface of a molded plastic base and a mirror image surface of a perforated molded plastic barrier, all enveloped by a molded plastic cover sealed to the base and defining a large volume cavity filled with inert gas under pressure. Injection of medication through a septum in the base fills a reservoir defined by the bladder and concave base surface and compresses the gas as the bladder moves to and against the barrier surface whereby the pressure exerted on the bladder forces medication through a metering outlet in the base and through an attached catheter to the infusion site. The free end of the catheter may be connected to a plastic protective cage for accumulating medication as droplets to dispense medication in bolus quantities.

Abstract: An implantable positive pressure medication infusion device is provided which is programmable over a wide dynamic range and yet the maximum flow of medication into the body, in the event the inlet valve of the device leaks or fails in the valve open position, is limited to a safe value which is much lower than the maximum programmable infusion rate of the device. An auxiliary flow restrictor is also provided which bypasses the programmable pumping unit and assures a minimum flow of medication into the body in the event of failure of the programmable pumping unit or its electronic drive. An arrangement is also provided for detecting catheter clogging or failure of the programmable pumping unit in either a positive or negative pressure device.

Abstract: A refill unit for a negative pressure type implanted infusion device includes a hollow cylindrical housing member which is adapted to receive at one end a bottle of vacuum conditioned medication. As the bottle is inserted first and second needles or tubes penetrate the closure member of the bottle, the shorter one of these needles being positioned to receive medication inside the bottle and the longer one extends into the ullage space of the bottle when it is inserted and held vertically. The shorter needle communicates with a refill needle, which extends downwardly from the other end of the cylindrical member, through a membrane type filter which is hydrophilic to the medication and has a micron rating such that the filter once it is wetted can pass air bubbles but only at a differential pressure substantially greater than the negative pressure differential of the implanted device.

Abstract: An integral fluid filter and capillary restrictor unit, or alternatively an integral fluid filter and multiple orifice restrictor unit, is resiliently positioned in a manifold body which is edge mounted to a flat cylindrical assembly which contains the medication reservoir and pressure stabilizing chamber to provide a completely self contained implantable unit which is thin, small and light weight and yet needs to be refilled only as often as the much larger stainless steel capillary tube devices with bellows type reservoirs now on the market.

Abstract: An implantable medication infusion device wherein a generally cylindrical manifold is employed having a shallow recess on one face thereof. A flexible diaphragm is positioned to form with the face of said manifold a medication reservoir. A circular cover member is positioned over the diaphragm to form with said diaphragm a pressure stabilizing chamber within which is positioned a two-phase fluid for maintaining a constant pressure on said diaphragm. A permanent magnet is positioned at the center of said diaphragm and is movable therewith. A Hall effect transducer positioned on said manifold opposite said permanent magnet is employed continuously to measure the position of said diaphragm and provide an indication of the amount of medication in said reservoir.A method of filling and sealing the pressure stabilizing chamber which insures that a small bubble of two-phase fluid is present in said chamber at all times.

Abstract: The implantable device includes a medication reservoir, a pulsatile pump and an absolute pressure transducer. The pumping pressure wave developed in the pumping chamber is measured by the absolute pressure transducer whose output is used to adjust the pulsing rate of the solenoid operated pump so that the programmed time averaged rate of infusion of medication into the body is precisely maintained throughout all operating temperature and pressure conditions.

Abstract: The implantable device includes a medication reservoir, a pulsatile pump and an absolute pressure transducer. The pumping pressure wave developed in the pumping chamber is measured by the absolute pressure transducer whose output is used to adjust the pulsing rate of the solenoid operated pump so that the programmed time averaged rate of infusion of medication into the body is precisely maintained throughout all operating temperature and pressure conditions.

Abstract: An integral valve and pumping unit is provided for infusing medication into the body which employs only one moving part. This pumping unit is connected to the medication supply reservoir through a first flow restriction device which has no moving parts but has directional flow characteristics so that liquid medication can flow readily from the reservoir to the pumping unit but flow from the pumping unit to the reservoir encounters a relatively high resistance. A second flow restriction device is connected between the pumping unit and the outlet catheter which is employed to infuse medication into the body, this second flow restriction device likewise having no moving parts and offering relatively little resistance to liquid flow from the pumping unit to the catheter while having relatively high resistance to flow in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A poppet valve actuating apparatus includes an actuator for driving a valve poppet closed with substantial but momentary force to effect tight valve shutoff. After driving the poppet closed with a momentarily-applied relatively high-value force, the actuator then automatically reduces the poppet seating or holding force for maintaining the value in the closed position by automatic release of an integral detent coupling that applies a lower-value auxiliary spring holding force after the poppet is seated. The reduced value holding force prevents cold flow of the poppet material during extended periods wherein the poppet is in a closed position.

Abstract: A device for controlling flow of fluid to and from a resilient inflatable cuff implanted about the urethra to control flow of urine therethrough. The device comprises a flexible bulb reservoir and a control unit that includes a manually operated valve that opens automatically when the bulb is squeezed to force fluid into the cuff for closing the urethra. The control unit also includes a movable valve seat member having a relatively large area exposed to pressure of fluid in a chamber that is connected to the cuff and which moves to a position in which the valve member is unseated by an abutment when fluid pressure in the chamber exceeds a predetermined value to thereby relieve excess fluid pressure in the cuff.