Medical Valve Variable Diameter Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical valves, such as hemostatic and iris valves, face issues with deformation, leakage, and wear during use, failing to provide an effective seal across a range of medical device sizes and requiring excessive force for operation, especially when used with multiple devices during procedures.
Innovation Solution
A medical valve assembly featuring a tube with a plunger plate and valve housing, incorporating an elastomeric seal and a locking ring that allows for variable diameter adjustment and maintenance, enabling secure sealing without constant manual compression, accommodating various medical device sizes and reducing fluid loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a disk valve is modified with increased tensile and elongation properties to accommodate differently sized medical devices, then the valve can seal across a wider range of device sizes, but the resistance increases requiring excessive force for insertion and withdrawal
Solution Approach 1:
The seal element is designed with variable compression characteristics that dynamically adjust during device insertion. The seal starts in a compressed state to accommodate smaller devices, then transitions to a less compressed state to accommodate larger devices, reducing the force required throughout the procedure while maintaining sealing effectiveness across different device sizes
2Reliability
If an elastomeric sleeve in an iris valve is continuously twisted and constricted to achieve closure, then the valve can seal the opening, but the sleeve experiences wear leading to tearing
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful twisting and constriction actions are completely eliminated from the sealing mechanism. Instead of deforming the elastomeric sleeve through twisting, the invention uses a simple axial movement of the plunger to compress or release the seal uniformly, removing the source of wear and extending the service life of the elastomeric component while maintaining reliable sealing
3Reliability
If the elastomeric sleeve in an iris valve is held in closed position, then fluid leakage is prevented, but gaps or channels still extend through the sleeve due to twisting required for closure
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of twisting the elastomeric sleeve inward to achieve closure (which creates gaps), the invention inverts the approach by uniformly compressing the seal axially between the plunger and valve body. This inversion of the closure mechanism eliminates the creation of gaps or channels while maintaining effective fluid sealing, and the structure remains simpler without requiring complex twisting motions
4Productivity
If a hemostatic valve must quickly adjust to accommodate multiple differently sized medical devices during a single procedure, then procedural efficiency is improved, but the valve structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The valve employs a dynamic seal compression system where the plunger can be quickly moved axially to adjust the compression force on the elastomeric seal. This single dynamic adjustment mechanism allows rapid accommodation of different device sizes without requiring multiple valves or complex switching mechanisms, achieving fast adaptation while keeping the overall valve structure relatively simple
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 medical valve assembly provides a reliable, adjustable seal for different medical devices, reducing fluid loss and improving user experience by maintaining the open condition of the elastomeric seal without continuous manual radial compression, thus enhancing procedural efficiency and device compatibility.
Implementation Method 1
An elastomeric seal is compressed between the plunger plate and the housing flange and has an inner diameter for use in establishing a variable seal of the medical valve assembly
Implementation Method 2
A compression member is disposed within the valve housing and is biased against the plunger plate for decreasing the inner diameter to establish a closed inner diameter of the elastomeric seal
Implementation Method 3
A pair of lever arms are pivotably connected to the valve housing and radially compressible to overcome the bias of the compression member and effectuate axial movement of the valve housing relative to the tub to increase the distance between the plunger plate and the housing flange and increase the inner diameter of the elastomeric seal
Data Source
AI summary
A medical valve assembly includes a tube extending between a first tube end and a second tube end to define a passageway extending along a longitudinal axis between the ends. A plunger plate extends radially from the second tube end of the tube, and a valve housing surrounds the tube about the second tube end and extends from a first valve housing end to a second valve housing end. The valve housing includes a housing flange extending radially inwardly from the second valve housing end and disposed in spaced relationship with the plunger plate to define a distance dimension D extending therebetween. An elastomeric seal is compressed between the plunger plate and the housing flange, and one of the valve housing and the tube is axially movable relative to the other to vary the distance between said plunger plate and said housing flange and adjust an inner diameter of the elastomeric seal.