Device for controlling the flow of anesthetic from a reservoir

Abstract

The present invention may be embodied as a device for selectively opening or closing an anesthetic reservoir, the device having a first component adaptable to a reservoir and a second component adaptable to a vaporizer. The first component may have a base, a nozzle, and a through-hole. The second component may have a support member with a knob for engaging the through-hole of the first component and preventing liquid from flowing from the through-hole. The first and second components may be threaded to engage with each other such that when the components are twisted relative to each other, the knob may move toward or away from the through-hole to prevent or allow liquid flow.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for controlling the flow of liquid anesthetic from an anesthetic reservoir comprising:
 a first component having:
 (a) a base that is adapted to be fixedly secured to an opening of a reservoir; and 
 (b) a nozzle attached to the base and having at least one external thread formed thereon, wherein the nozzle and the base define a passage extending therethrough; and 
   a second component having:
 (a) an inner surface and an outer surface which is adapted to couple with a anesthetic device, wherein the inner surface has at least one internal thread engaged with the external threads to moveably couple the second component to the first component; and 
 (b) an occlusion member fixedly attached to the inner surface; 
   whereby relative rotation between the first component and second component causes the occlusion member to move from a first position in which the passageway is open to a second position in which the passageway is sealed by the occlusion member.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the occlusion member comprises a cantilever support member having one end fixedly attached to the inner surface and a knob attached to a free end of the support member. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first component has screw threads formed in the base, wherein the screw threads are adapted to mate with mating screw threads formed on an anesthetic reservoir. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a biasing member coupled to the first component and the second component to thereby bias the second component relative to the first component in a direction causing the occlusion member to seal the passageway. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising one or more indexing tabs disposed on the outer surface of the second component. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the indexing tabs are distributed around a circumference of the second component in a spaced apart relation to correspond to a desired anesthetic device. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the base at least one notch formed therein and configured to receive at least one indexing nub formed on an anesthetic reservoir. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the first component has a circumferential groove formed therein and an O-ring disposed in the circumferential groove. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein a downstream side of the occlusion member is adapted to interact with a plunger of an anesthetic device. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein, in the second position, the occlusion member presses against an end of the nozzle.