Normally Closed Elastomeric Valve for Surgical Cassette Fluid Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical cassette valve designs are 'normally open,' leading to unwanted fluid ingress during installation and removal, dribbling of liquids, and potential fluid flow issues during power loss, compromising cleanliness and safety.
Innovation Solution
A normally closed valve design featuring a concentric circular valve seal face and seat, utilizing a hollow mushroom or conical-shaped elastomeric valve boss, which remains closed without applied force and opens with force application, preventing fluid flow until needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If normally open valves are used in surgical cassettes, then ease of operation is improved, but fluid ingress and dribbling occur compromising cleanliness and safety
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional valve design by making the valve normally closed rather than normally open. The elastomeric valve boss is stretched over a through-hole, creating a pre-tensioned seal that closes the valve by default. Force applied to the inner surface of the valve boss opens the valve, reversing the conventional approach where valves are open by default and require closing action.
2Device complexity
If normally open valves are used, then fluid flow control is simplified, but reliability during power loss deteriorates due to potential unwanted fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The valve design is self-regulating through the elastic properties of the valve boss. The pre-tensioned elastomeric material continuously exerts closing force on the valve seat, automatically maintaining closure without requiring external power or control systems. This passive self-service mechanism ensures reliability during power loss conditions.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If normally closed valve design is implemented, then cleanliness and safety are improved, but device complexity increases due to elastomeric valve boss structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an elastomeric valve boss that utilizes the properties of flexible materials. The valve boss is formed from elastomeric material that can be stretched over a through-hole, creating a flexible sealing structure. This flexible shell approach simplifies the overall valve design while achieving reliable closure compared to more complex mechanical valve structures.
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
This design eliminates unwanted fluid ingress, prevents dribbling, and ensures safe fluid control during power loss, enhancing the cleanliness and reliability of surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
the valve seal face rests against the valve seat as a result of the steady free-state load created by the stretch of the valve boss over the slightly longer through hole
Data Source
AI summary
A valve system comprising a valve design in which the valve is normally closed is disclosed. The normally closed valve can comprise a circular valve seal face formed by the underside of a rim of an elastomeric valve boss and a circular valve seat, which is formed by the rim of a through-hole molded into, for example, a plastic cassette, such that the valve seal face, the valve seat, and the through hole are concentric. The valve boss can be a hollow “mushroom” shaped valve boss, or a conical-shaped valve boss. If no force is applied to the inside surface of the valve boss, no fluid can pass through the valve as the valve seal face rests against the valve seat as a result of the steady free-state load created by the stretch of the valve boss over the slightly longer through hole. When a force is applied to the inside surface of the valve boss, the valve seal face is displaced from the valve seat, allowing fluid between the valve seal face and valve seat and then to pass between the valve boss and the inside surface of the through hole.