Axially Shiftable Immersion Tube Probe for Sterile Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing probe systems for sterile applications face challenges in effectively calibrating and sterilizing measuring probes and immersion tubes, particularly due to inadequate sealing and cleaning of the seal region between treatment chambers, leading to potential contamination risks.

Innovation Solution

A probe system with a design featuring axially shiftable immersion tubes, multiple treatment chambers, and a seal that opens to allow for individual washing and sterilization of each chamber, ensuring thorough cleaning and calibration of the measuring probe and immersion tube while maintaining effective sealing during measurement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a seal is arranged between the first and second treatment chambers to seal them relative to one another, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the cleaning and sterilization of the seal region becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The immersion tube is made axially movable between a measuring position and a retracted position. When retracted, the immersion tube opens the seal region between the first and second treatment chambers, allowing cleaning and sterilization media to access and clean the seal. When in the measuring position, the immersion tube seals the chambers relative to each other, preventing contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs cleaning and sterilization of the seal region before measurement operations. By retracting the immersion tube, cleaning media can flow through the seal region in advance, ensuring the seal is clean and sterile before the measurement process begins, thereby preventing contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the immersion tube is made axially movable between measuring and treatment positions, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of calibration and sterilizationVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The axially movable immersion tube serves multiple functions: it acts as a seal element between treatment chambers, provides access for cleaning media when retracted, holds the measuring probe, and defines the measurement path when extended. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The measuring probe is held within the immersion tube, which itself is movable within the probe body. The treatment chambers are formed between the guiding passageway and the immersion tube. This nested arrangement allows compact integration of multiple functional elements within a limited space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If a second treatment chamber is added for thorough sterilization, then the reliability is improved, but the volume of the device increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterilization effectivenessVSAvoiddevice volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The second treatment chamber is arranged in series along the axial dimension rather than expanding the device in radial or lateral directions. The immersion tube moves axially to access both chambers sequentially, allowing thorough sterilization of the probe and immersion tube while maintaining a compact overall device volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The treatment process is segmented into two separate treatment chambers: the first treatment chamber for initial cleaning and sterilization, and the second treatment chamber for final sterilization and calibration. This segmentation allows each chamber to be optimized for its specific function while sharing common structural elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8578798B2Probe system for measuring a measured variable of fluid contained in a process container, especially for sterile applications

Publication Date: 2013.11.12 ENDRESS HAUSER CONDUCTA GESELLSCHAFT FUER MESS UND REGELTECHNIK MBH CO KG

AI summary

A probe system for measuring a measured variable of a fluid, comprising: A probe body, which is connectable to the process container by means of a process connection; axially shiftable in a guiding passageway of the probe body between a measuring position and at least two different treatment positions; an immersion tube, which has a protective cylinder on its front end immersible in the fluid; a measuring probe held in the immersion tube, having a measuring head, wherein the measuring head is arranged within a region of the protective cylinder having openings; a first treatment chamber formed between the guiding passageway and the immersion tube; a second treatment chamber formed between the guiding passageway and the immersion tube and adjoining the first treatment chamber on a side of the first treatment chamber facing away from the process connection; and a seal arranged between the first and second treatment chambers, wherein the immersion tube has a first section with a first outer diameter and a second section adjoining the first section and having a second outer diameter smaller than the first outer diameter, so that, through axial shifting of the immersion tube, the seal arranged between the first and second treatment chambers can be opened.