Titan OTR reservoir "LOCKOUT" valve - Auto-inflation

[Waynetho]

I'm going to preface first by saying that I do not have a Titan but I was researching some patent drawings on Google Patent site today in reference to MarkOS2018's statement of his pump squeaking and found something interesting about the Titan's lockout valve.

Coloplast Patent and drawings for LOCKOUT valve in Reservoir

I discovered something about the practice of "One Squeeze to lock out" that shows that practice is counter-productive. The lockout valve is located in the base of the Coloplast reservoir and consists of a ball with two fluid-paths, attached to a bar in a rocking assembly. In the DEFLATE path, fluid travels through a check-valve in that ball, from the cylinders into the reservoir but it's protected against reservoir pressure spikes by that check-valve. When the pump is squeezed and then released, the vacuum on the reservoir tube flips the lock-out valve into INFLATE mode which has a straight-path (curved) non-valved channel.

The practice of putting one squeeze into a Coloplast implant to keep it from auto-inflating is thus counter to the design drawings and shouldn't be performed. That will allow pressure spikes on the reservoir (from abdominal pressures, coughing, bending at the waist, etc.) to force fluid into the cylinders.

Bottom line, Titan owners should not put one squeeze in after deflation because doing so will defeat the lockout valve and permit auto-inflation.

[TANGERINE]

fascinating topic---thank you for bringing this up.

I have posted a coment by reinvigorating a thread titled: "diagram or schematic"

located at:

https://www.franktalk.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=14562

[hopeful_future]

I'm going to preface first by saying that I do not have a Titan but I was researching some patent drawings on Google Patent site today in reference to MarkOS2018's statement of his pump squeaking and found something interesting about the Titan's lockout valve.

Coloplast Patent and drawings for LOCKOUT valve in Reservoir

I discovered something about the practice of "One Squeeze to lock out" that shows that practice is counter-productive. The lockout valve is located in the base of the Coloplast reservoir and consists of a ball with two fluid-paths, attached to a bar in a rocking assembly. In the DEFLATE path, fluid travels through a check-valve in that ball, from the cylinders into the reservoir but it's protected against reservoir pressure spikes by that check-valve. When the pump is squeezed and then released, the vacuum on the reservoir tube flips the lock-out valve into INFLATE mode which has a straight-path (curved) non-valved channel.

The practice of putting one squeeze into a Coloplast implant to keep it from auto-inflating is thus counter to the design drawings and shouldn't be performed. That will allow pressure spikes on the reservoir (from abdominal pressures, coughing, bending at the waist, etc.) to force fluid into the cylinders.

Bottom line, Titan owners should not put one squeeze in after deflation because doing so will defeat the lockout valve and permit auto-inflation.

As a counterpoint here, I found that backflow seems to readily occur when I manage to fully depress the Touch button...It does not occur for me when I hold the button to deflate (partially depressing the button). I found that in that former case, the first pump feels like a "pop", where the valve is being pushed back into "inflate mode". If I "pop" the valve back, the backflow stops.

Whether this is supposed to happen or not, I have no idea (the drawing says it's not), but that's my anecdotal experience.

[Waynetho]

As a counterpoint here, I found that backflow seems to readily occur when I manage to fully depress the Touch button...It does not occur for me when I hold the button to deflate (partially depressing the button). I found that in that former case, the first pump feels like a "pop", where the valve is being pushed back into "inflate mode". If I "pop" the valve back, the backflow stops.

Whether this is supposed to happen or not, I have no idea (the drawing says it's not), but that's my anecdotal experience.

That honestly sounds like a failure of the valve inside the pump that prevents backflow into the reservoir. It sounds like the lock-out valve in the reservoir may be working as designed because after the first pump and release it clicks the lock-out into full-flow so fluid would theoretically be able to flow both directions through that valve. The ball-valve inside the pump should prevent fluid already pumped into the cylinder from leaking back, but in this case it sounds like it's defective and doesn't seat properly.

That's my theory based on the available info and my limited knowledge, and not a medical or engineer's opinion.

[hopeful_future]

That honestly sounds like a failure of the valve inside the pump that prevents backflow into the reservoir. It sounds like the lock-out valve in the reservoir may be working as designed because after the first pump and release it clicks the lock-out into full-flow so fluid would theoretically be able to flow both directions through that valve. The ball-valve inside the pump should prevent fluid already pumped into the cylinder from leaking back, but in this case it sounds like it's defective and doesn't seat properly.

That's my theory based on the available info and my limited knowledge, and not a medical or engineer's opinion.

Ah, I think I might not have been clear in my description. The unusual flow I'm noticing is primarily from the reservoir into the cylinders, and only when in deflate mode (button has been fully pressed, and deflation is possible without holding it). After the first pump and release of the bulb, no fluid flows in either direction without pumping. That is, no fluid flows into the cylinders after that first pump, and when I pump, no amount of squeezing causes fluid to return to the cylinders.

When the pump is in "deflate mode", I can easily squeeze the cylinders to push fluid to the reservoir, but there's bidirectional flow, so some fluid flows back into the cylinders. I can always squeeze it back out without touching the deflate button or pump bulb, it just goes back to its equilibrium unless I press the pump bulb once; at which point, the fluid remains in the reservoir until I pump, and fluid in the cylinders stays there.

As a side note, I've definitely noticed a theme of people with the same devices having quite different experiences...Doesn't seem like something you want in a medical device! The way mine operates doesn't get in the way of doing its job, but it's strange hearing so many conflicting reports on how it "should" operate. Or rather, hearing the official word on how it should operate, and having lots of people (including myself) with different experiences.

[warrenw]

Bottom line, Titan owners should not put one squeeze in after deflation because doing so will defeat the lockout valve and permit auto-inflation.

The recommendation to add a pump after deflation is from the Coloplast documentation for the Titan:

VERY IMPORTANT:
After the prosthesis has been deflated, for each new inflation, the first pump may require more pressure than subsequent pumps. It is recommended after full deflation of the IPP to teach the patient to inflate one pump to make the next usage easier.

[Waynetho]

Bottom line, Titan owners should not put one squeeze in after deflation because doing so will defeat the lockout valve and permit auto-inflation.

The recommendation to add a pump after deflation is from the Coloplast documentation for the Titan:

VERY IMPORTANT:
After the prosthesis has been deflated, for each new inflation, the first pump may require more pressure than subsequent pumps. It is recommended after full deflation of the IPP to teach the patient to inflate one pump to make the next usage easier.

Note that the portion I underlined and highlighted in red above is only for EASE OF INFLATION NEXT TIME. IT has nothing to do with locking out the back-flow.

If you have the lock-out reservoir, that is not recommended because the lock-out in the reservoir will be defeated effectively by the post-deflation squeeze. To be clear, based on what I understand of the drawings, it's not the squeeze that activates the lock-out valve. It's the vacuum on the reservoir tubing that is caused by the bulb refilling after the squeeze.

Not all reservoirs may have the lock-out valve. If you don't have the four-lobed reservoir with the lock-out valve (don't know how it would be identified on your card), obviously this type of lock-out system isn't present so the post-deflate squeeze may be helpful to lock the PUMP'S valves. Also, there are different pumps as well (three that I'm aware of, maybe more or several versions of each, I don't know). It's possible you don't have the configuration that is referenced in the patent drawings I linked in the OP.

[Waynetho]

Ah, I think I might not have been clear in my description. The unusual flow I'm noticing is primarily from the reservoir into the cylinders, and only when in deflate mode (button has been fully pressed, and deflation is possible without holding it). After the first pump and release of the bulb, no fluid flows in either direction without pumping. That is, no fluid flows into the cylinders after that first pump, and when I pump, no amount of squeezing causes fluid to return to the cylinders.

When the pump is in "deflate mode", I can easily squeeze the cylinders to push fluid to the reservoir, but there's bidirectional flow, so some fluid flows back into the cylinders. I can always squeeze it back out without touching the deflate button or pump bulb, it just goes back to its equilibrium unless I press the pump bulb once; at which point, the fluid remains in the reservoir until I pump, and fluid in the cylinders stays there.

As a side note, I've definitely noticed a theme of people with the same devices having quite different experiences...Doesn't seem like something you want in a medical device! The way mine operates doesn't get in the way of doing its job, but it's strange hearing so many conflicting reports on how it "should" operate. Or rather, hearing the official word on how it should operate, and having lots of people (including myself) with different experiences.

You may very likely have a different version of the model listed, or a different model altogether that the info in my OP doesn't apply to. Examine the drawings for the pump - do you have that type of pump? Examine the four-lobed reservoir - do you think you have that reservoir? Maybe your card has the type of system printed on it and you could match it. If you've got the model listed in the drawing however, it sounds like yours isn't working as designed. If you have a work-around and it works for you though, great.

[hopeful_future]

You may very likely have a different version of the model listed, or a different model altogether that the info in my OP doesn't apply to. Examine the drawings for the pump - do you have that type of pump? Examine the four-lobed reservoir - do you think you have that reservoir? Maybe your card has the type of system printed on it and you could match it. If you've got the model listed in the drawing however, it sounds like yours isn't working as designed. If you have a work-around and it works for you though, great.

I do have the cloverleaf reservoir, but looking again at the drawing, it appears it's for the Titan OTR pump rather than the current Titan Touch model. Could be a reason for it!

Just might explain that while you can definitely say "The one squeeze lockout is counterproductive", it seems to do the trick for me...And I'm guessing for some others too, if you're needing to post this to explain.

[Waynetho]

I do have the cloverleaf reservoir, but looking again at the drawing, it appears it's for the Titan OTR pump rather than the current Titan Touch model. Could be a reason for it!

Just might explain that while you can definitely say "The one squeeze lockout is counterproductive", it seems to do the trick for me...And I'm guessing for some others too, if you're needing to post this to explain.

Updated OP subject line to add "OTR" as suggested.