Flow-Reversing Valve for Rapid Hyperthermia Line Debris Clearing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing patient treatment systems, particularly those used for hyperthermia, often experience clogs and debris buildup in fluid lines, leading to treatment delays, increased patient risk, and higher costs due to the need for equipment cleaning and extended treatment times.

Innovation Solution

A flow reversing valve (FRV) that enables forward, reverse, and bypass flow modes without disconnecting components, allowing for rapid switching between these modes to clear blockages and debris within seconds, maintaining continuous fluid flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual cleaning or re-plumbing is performed to remove clogs and debris, then the blockages are cleared, but treatment time increases and patient risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclearing blockagesVSAvoidtreatment delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies reverse flow operation to clear blockages by reversing the direction of fluid flow through the valve, which dislodges and removes accumulated debris without requiring manual cleaning or treatment interruption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous fluid flow and treatment operation while clearing blockages through reverse flow, eliminating treatment delays and maintaining uninterrupted therapeutic action

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Object-generated harmful factors

If flow rate is reduced to decrease blockage accumulation, then debris buildup is reduced, but therapy effectiveness to the patient decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris accumulationVSAvoidtherapy effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system periodically reverses flow direction to clear accumulated debris, allowing normal forward flow at therapeutic rates to continue between reversals, thus maintaining both high flow rates and blockage-free operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The valve dynamically switches between forward and reverse flow modes based on operational needs, enabling the system to adapt flow direction rather than maintaining a fixed reduced flow rate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If equipment is taken out of service for cleaning, then blockages are removed, but patient treatment is interrupted and infection risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremoving clogsVSAvoidinfection risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The reverse flow clearing operation occurs without interrupting the closed-loop extracorporeal circulation, maintaining continuous patient connection and eliminating exposure to infection risks associated with equipment disassembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-cleaning through automated reverse flow operation, removing the need for manual intervention and equipment service interruptions that would expose the patient to infection risks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12569664B2Flow-reversing valve, and associated hyperthermia treatment method and system

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 BELMONT INSTRUMENT LLC

AI summary

The present disclosure describes a flow reversing valve, along with associated methods and systems for providing forward flow, reverse flow, and bypass flow modes of operation, and integrating them into patient treatment systems, including those used for treating and inducing hyperthermia.