Four-way Stopcock vs. Three-way Stopcock

Sometimes we’ll get a customer question about our Luer stopcocks that goes something like this:  Your website lists 4-way stopcocks, but the stopcock in the picture only has three ports. Do you carry a 4-way?

The answer is: YES, the one with three ports is a 4-way!

The stopcocks are called 4-way because of the flow options rather than the number of ports. The best way to visualize this is to focus on the handle positioned at 12 o’clock, 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock and 9 o’clock. Each one of these positions opens the ports differently to create the four different flow options as seen in the graphic.

4way-stopcock-line-drawing

So, yes! We stock 4-way stopcocks, and the name is appropriate when considering the number of flow options they provide.

Related Posts

Hub colors are not standardized across manufacturers, so this guide explains Component Supply’s color system and how to verify gauge sizes accurately. 
Interested in using Nitinol in your medical device design? Read to find answers to questions like: What is Nitinol? Where did Nitinol come from? How does Nitinol work? Are there
We’re excited to announce the addition of Radiation-Stable Polycarbonate Luer Fittings to our fitting product category. These fittings are a great option for applications involving sterilizing radiation, like gamma irradiation