Flap Valve Adapter for Medical Cleaning Pressure Drop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cleaning technologies for medical and industrial products face challenges in achieving reliable, cost-effective, and easy-to-use closure techniques that prevent excessive pressure drop and contamination in liquid circuits, particularly in minimally invasive medical procedures where cavity cleaning is complex and requires efficient liquid flow.
Innovation Solution
A closable device with movable flap or brush elements that can be sealed by elastic holding elements, allowing for flexible and modular connection of products to pipe distributors, adapters, and other devices, preventing pressure drop and ensuring effective cleaning by maintaining liquid flow through the product channel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If machine-controlled systems with multiple openings are used for cavity product cleaning, then cleaning coverage is improved, but pressure drop increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the closure function from complex machine-controlled systems and implements it at the individual adapter level using simple flap valves. Each adapter independently closes its opening when not in use, preventing pressure drop while maintaining multiple openings for cleaning coverage when products are inserted.
Solution Approach 2:
Flap valves serve as intermediary elements between the cleaning fluid circuit and the adapters. These passive closure members automatically open when a product is inserted and close when removed, mediating between the need for open systems (cleaning coverage) and closed systems (pressure maintenance).
2Reliability
If complex flap valves with springs or multiple components are used for closure, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flap valves are designed as self-acting closure members that automatically open and close based on fluid pressure differential without requiring external control mechanisms, springs, or complex actuation systems. The flap's weight and fluid pressure alone provide the closure action, eliminating the need for additional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses thin, flexible flap elements made of elastomeric or plastic material that can deform under pressure to provide sealing. These flexible membranes replace rigid, multi-component valve mechanisms with simple, single-piece closure elements that are both reliable and inexpensive.
3Ease of operation
If open systems are used in cleaning machines, then ease of operation is improved, but pressure fluctuations occur due to liquid outflow
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the pressure stabilization function from the overall system control and implements it at the local adapter level through passive flap valves. Each adapter independently maintains pressure by closing its opening when not in use, preventing system-wide pressure fluctuations while maintaining operational simplicity.
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 device ensures constant cleaning success by maintaining sufficient cleaning pressure and preventing contamination, allowing for versatile product geometries and easy handling, while being cost-effective and suitable for sterilization, thus enhancing the reliability and efficiency of medical and industrial cleaning processes.
Implementation Method 1
mindestens ein elastisches Halteelement, derart ausgebildet, dass dieser durch Einbringen des Produkts in das Gerät komprimierbar ist und damit das Produkt in dem Gerät haltbar ist
Implementation Method 2
um ein Produkt aufzunehmen, das in das Gerät einbringbar ist, und durch Öffnen des Flaps einen Flüssigkeitsdurchgang durch den Produktkanal zu ermöglichen
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a~2b
AI summary
The device has a forwardly- and reversely movable flap-, brush- or blower element arranged below a stop limit i.e. stop ring, in formation of stop-, sealing- and/or holding elements for pushing a product (24) to be cleaned downwardly into an antechamber or chamber. The stop limit is formed with an upper sealing cap (1), a stop or a wire element, where a movable connection for fluid transmission and/or product cleaning is formed in the device. Different product- geometries and -cross-sections are placed in the device by an opening area (4) in a stop limit plane. An independent claim is also included for a rinsing method for a product in field of medical and industrial product processing for conveying fluids, solutions, biological fluids or viscous substances.