Removable Multi-Piece Stator Plate for Biocompatible HPLC Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional high-pressure liquid chromatography systems face challenges with leak-free connections, contamination from stainless steel components, and the need for biocompatible materials, especially in biological samples, and suffer from inefficiencies in disconnecting and reconnecting components, which can lead to inaccurate results and increased operational time.
Innovation Solution
A high-pressure valve with a two-piece stator assembly, where a separate and removable stator plate is used, allowing for flexible material selection and easier maintenance, reducing costs, and enabling biocompatible fluid pathways to prevent contamination and improve connection efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single-piece stator assembly is used, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easier, but material selection is limited and contamination risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stator assembly is divided into multiple separate components including a stator body, stator plate, and end cap that can be manufactured from different materials. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function and material requirements, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and material selection flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The stator assembly uses composite construction with different materials for different components - such as stainless steel for the stator body and biocompatible materials like PEEK or titanium for the stator plate and end cap. This composite approach enables contamination prevention while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through specialized material selection for each component.
2Strength
If stainless steel components are used, then structural strength is sufficient for high-pressure applications, but contamination of biological samples occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Different materials are assigned to different locations within the stator assembly based on functional requirements. The stator body maintains stainless steel for structural strength and pressure containment, while the stator plate and end cap use biocompatible materials like PEEK or titanium to prevent contamination of biological samples in the fluid pathway.
Solution Approach 2:
The stator assembly employs composite material construction combining stainless steel for structural components with biocompatible materials for sample-contact surfaces. This resolves the contradiction by providing both the mechanical strength needed for high-pressure operation and the chemical inertness required to prevent sample contamination.
3Device complexity
If conventional single-piece stator assembly is used, then device complexity is low, but connection efficiency and maintenance are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The stator assembly is segmented into removable components (stator body, stator plate, end cap) that can be independently accessed and replaced. This segmentation enables faster maintenance and connection efficiency without significantly increasing overall device complexity, as the modular design allows for simplified assembly and disassembly procedures.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If biocompatible materials are used for fluid pathways, then contamination is prevented, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Biocompatible materials are applied locally only to the stator plate and end cap components that contact the fluid pathway, while the stator body can remain in stainless steel. This localized application of expensive biocompatible materials prevents contamination while minimizing the overall manufacturing cost increase compared to using biocompatible materials for the entire assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A valve for use with liquid chromatography or other analytical systems may include a separate and removable stator plate. The stator plate may be a with a multi-piece stator plate with different layers. A mounting device mounting device may be adapted to engage the stator plate. The mounting plate may include a plurality of ports for fluidic connections in fluid communication with fluid passageways in the stator plate. Liquid chromatography elements, such as a packed chromatography column, a sample loop, or an electronic device may be formed on one or more layers of the stator plate. A first stator plate may be removed from a valve and replaced by a second stator having additional or different liquid chromatography elements than the first stator plate.