Encapsulated Pinch Valve Housing for Disposable Fluid Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid management and valving systems in pharmaceutical and biological applications are complex, cumbersome, and prone to cross-contamination, with significant residual volume and high costs due to the need for sterilization and the use of expensive, inflexible reinforced silicone tubing.
Innovation Solution
An encapsulated valve system featuring a disposable conduit sandwiched between two housing portions with pinch valve actuators, reducing organizational complexity and residual volume by using un-reinforced silicone tubing and a modular design that minimizes the need for sterilization and reduces material costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reinforced silicone tubing is used to prevent leakage, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the fluid management function into separate components: the reusable housing contains the valve mechanism while the disposable cartridge contains the tubing. This segmentation allows the tubing to be simple and disposable rather than complex and reusable, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability through proper component division.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs disposable cartridges containing the tubing and conduit system. These are single-use components that are discarded after one sterilization cycle, eliminating the need for complex reinforced tubing designed for repeated sterilization. The disposable nature maintains reliability for each use while reducing structural complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple conduits and valves are used to manage fluid processes, then functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple conduits and valve functions into an integrated cartridge assembly. The housing contains multiple branch pathways and valve actuators that work together as a unified system, reducing organizational complexity while maintaining comprehensive fluid management capability. The encapsulated design combines what would otherwise be separate components into a single manageable unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system is designed with multiple branch pathways and actuators that can handle various fluid management tasks through a single integrated unit. The system provides universal functionality for pumping, filtering, and fluid transport through consolidated components rather than requiring separate specialized devices for each function.
3Reliability
If conventional tubing is used to avoid aneurysm, then reliability is improved, but flexibility and cost worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses disposable tubing within the cartridge that does not require reinforcement. Since the tubing is single-use and discarded after one sterilization cycle, it does not develop aneurysms from repeated sterilization like reusable tubing would. This eliminates the need for expensive reinforced tubing while maintaining flexibility and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the tubing by transitioning from reusable to single-use. This parameter change (from multiple sterilization cycles to one-time use) eliminates the aneurysm risk associated with repeated sterilization while allowing the use of simpler, more flexible, and less expensive tubing materials.
4Reliability
If sterilization procedures are implemented for batch production, then reliability is improved, but loss of time and productivity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable cartridge system maintains sterilization compliance by being designed for single use after one sterilization cycle. This eliminates the need for repeated sterilization of complex components across multiple batches, as each cartridge is sterilized once and then discarded. This significantly reduces the time loss associated with repeated sterilization procedures while maintaining FDA compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a discard strategy where the cartridge is sterilized once and then discarded after use rather than being re-sterilized for subsequent batches. This approach recovers the time that would be spent on repeated sterilization cycles while maintaining reliability through proper initial sterilization and single-use disposal, directly addressing the productivity bottleneck in batch production.
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 encapsulated valve system simplifies fluid management, reduces residual volume, and lowers costs by utilizing a disposable, flexible, and cost-effective un-reinforced silicone conduit, while maintaining high pressure ratings and reducing the complexity of sterilization procedures.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of pinch valve actuators are mounted on one or both of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the plurality of pinch valve actuators configured to pinch the disposable conduit at selective branch pathways
Data Source
AI summary
An encapsulated valve system includes a first housing portion having a first facing surface, the first facing surface comprising a plurality of branch pathways formed as a recess within the first facing surface. The valve system further includes a second housing portion having a second facing surface, the second facing surface comprising a plurality of branch pathways formed as a recess within the second facing surface. A disposable conduit is configured to be interposed between the first and second housing portions and disposed within the recess of the first facing surface and the recess of the second facing surface. The disposable conduit is thus sandwiched between the first and second facing surfaces. A plurality of pinch valve actuators are mounted on one or both of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the plurality of pinch valve actuators configured to pinch the disposable conduit at selective branch pathways.