Disposable 3-Way Valve Unit for Contamination-Free Nutrition Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve units for medical preparation installations, particularly for parenteral nutrition, are complex and not cost-effective, with reusable valves having poor cleaning capabilities, making them unsuitable for efficient and safe use.
Innovation Solution
A compact, cost-effective valve unit designed as a single-use component with 3-way valves configured in a hexagonal layout for efficient mechanical activation, using plug valves with elastomer plugs and hoses of varying diameters for precise fluid transfer, and a housing that minimizes dead volume and ensures easy assembly and replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If reusable valves are used in the valve unit, then the device can be used multiple times, but the cleaning capability is poor and contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a disposable valve unit that is discarded after a single use, eliminating the need for complex cleaning procedures. The entire valve unit including housing, valves, and connecting elements is designed as a single-use component that can be safely discarded after one preparation cycle, ensuring no contamination risk while maintaining operational reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple valves are provided for controlling metering from different source containers, then the functionality is complete, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple valve functions into a single integrated valve unit housing. Multiple valves are arranged in parallel within one housing, with all necessary connecting elements and engagement features integrated into a single replaceable unit. This merging approach maintains complete metering control functionality while significantly reducing the overall complexity of the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve unit is designed as a universal component that can control metering from multiple source containers through a single integrated housing. The unit provides multi-functionality by incorporating multiple valves and connecting elements that can interface with different source containers, eliminating the need for separate valve assemblies for each container.
3Reliability
If the valve unit is designed as a single-use component, then the cost-effectiveness improves and contamination risk reduces, but the initial component cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve unit is designed as an affordable single-use component that can be manufactured at low cost using standard plastic injection molding techniques. The housing and internal valve components are made from inexpensive materials that can be mass-produced, ensuring that the disposable nature of the unit does not significantly increase the overall system cost while providing superior contamination prevention.
4Volume of moving object
If the valves are arranged in a compact layout, then the valve unit size is reduced, but the mechanical activation by motor becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The valve unit employs a nested arrangement where the housing contains the valves, which in turn contain the plug elements. The engagement elements are integrated within the housing structure, allowing compact nesting of all components while maintaining accessible external engagement features that can be easily actuated by the motor-driven drive mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement within the housing to accommodate multiple valves and engagement elements in a compact volume. The engagement elements are positioned to extend from the housing in a direction that facilitates motor-driven rotation, while the valves themselves are arranged in parallel within the housing volume, efficiently utilizing available space without compromising mechanical actuation capability.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a valve unit for a system for producing parenteral nutrition, in which unit a three-way valve is used for each pair of connections to a source container. The valve unit is a component that can be mounted on die system and removed again after use. The valve unit is in particular provided as an interchangeable disposable component.