Self-Cleaning Check Valve for Particulate-Induced Backflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional check valves in intravenous sets often accumulate particulates or contaminants, leading to unreliable operation and potential backflow, which can prevent proper medical fluid dosage and necessitate frequent replacement of IV sets.
Innovation Solution
A check valve design featuring a valve body with a movable wiping extension that dislodges and removes particulates from the valve member, ensuring fluid flow and reducing contamination, comprising an inlet and outlet body with a valve cavity and a valve member that permits forward flow while preventing backflow, and a wiping extension that clears accumulated debris.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional check valve is used to prevent backflow and control medical fluid flow, then the valve provides basic flow control function, but particulate contaminants accumulate within the valve leading to unreliable operation
Solution Approach 1:
The wiping extension performs preliminary cleaning action on the valve member surface before particulates can accumulate and cause malfunction. By continuously or periodically wiping the valve member, the system prevents contaminant buildup that would otherwise lead to unreliable operation, thereby maintaining consistent valve performance throughout its service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiping extension is integrated into the valve body and automatically moves with the valve member during operation, enabling the valve to clean itself without external intervention. This self-cleaning mechanism ensures that particulates are removed during normal valve cycling, maintaining reliability without requiring separate maintenance actions or additional components.
2Productivity
If the check valve operates continuously without cleaning mechanism, then the device complexity remains low, but particulate accumulation causes frequent IV set replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The wiping extension is merged with the valve body structure, sharing the same housing and actuation mechanism. This integration allows the cleaning function to be added without requiring separate motors, actuators, or control systems, thereby extending IV set service life while minimizing increases in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve member's own motion during normal operation drives the wiping extension to clean the valve member surface. This self-service approach uses the existing operational cycles of the valve to perform cleaning, eliminating the need for dedicated cleaning mechanisms and extending productivity without significantly increasing device complexity.
3Reliability
If particulates are not removed from the valve member, then the device structure remains simple, but backflow prevention becomes unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The wiping extension acts as an intermediary element between the valve body and the valve member, facilitating continuous contact and cleaning. This intermediary component transfers the cleaning action from the valve body to the valve member surface, ensuring reliable backflow prevention by removing particulates that would compromise sealing without requiring complex integrated cleaning systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures reliable operation of the check valve by removing particulates, preventing backflow, and reducing the need for frequent IV set replacements, thereby enhancing patient safety and minimizing clinical waste.
Implementation Method 1
a wiping extension extending from the valve body toward the valve member, wherein the wiping extension is movable relative to the valve member to dislodge particulate from the valve member
Data Source
AI summary
Check valves are described herein. A check valve includes an inlet body, an outlet body, a valve body, a valve member, and a wiping extension. The inlet body defines an inlet portion. The outlet body defines an outlet portion. The valve body is coupled between the inlet bod and the outlet body. The valve body defines a valve cavity. The valve cavity is in fluid communication with the inlet portion and the outlet portion. The valve member is disposed within the valve cavity. The valve member is configured to permit flow from the inlet portion to the outlet portion and prevent flow from the outlet portion to the inlet portion. The wiping extension extends from the valve body toward the valve member. The wiping extension is movable relative to the valve member to dislodge particulate from the valve member.