Replaceable Coriolis Flow Sensors With Gamma-Sterilizable Enclosures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Coriolis flow sensors are expensive, not suitable for single-use or disposable applications, and sterilization methods using chemicals can cause cross-contamination, while designs with heavy materials to reduce cross-talk are not cost-effective for such applications.
Innovation Solution
Designing a Coriolis flow sensor with a lightweight, gamma-sterilizable enclosure and a heavy cradle that increases the effective mass, allowing for gamma irradiation sterilization and reducing zero drift through balanced locking mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional flow sensors are constructed from heavy or thick materials and attached to a large mass, then cross-talk and destructive interference effects are reduced, but the cost increases and they become unsuitable for single-use or disposable applications
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate components: a lightweight disposable flow sensor and a heavy reusable cradle. The flow sensor contains only the essential sensing elements while the cradle provides the heavy mass for stability. This segmentation allows the sensor to be lightweight for disposable use while the cradle provides the necessary mass to reduce cross-talk effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The cradle acts as an intermediary between the lightweight flow sensor and the measurement system. It provides the heavy mass that reduces cross-talk effects without requiring the flow sensor itself to be heavy. The cradle mediates between the need for lightweight disposable sensors and the need for heavy mass for stability.
2Reliability
If chemical sterilization methods are used on flow sensors with metal enclosures, then sterilization is achieved, but cross-contamination occurs and effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Chemical sterilization is replaced with gamma irradiation sterilization. Instead of using chemical agents that can cause cross-contamination, the patent uses gamma irradiation which penetrates the sensor housing and sterilizes internal components without leaving chemical residues. This substitutes a physical radiation-based method for a chemical method.
3Ease of manufacture
If lightweight materials are used for flow sensor enclosure, then cost is reduced and disposable applications become feasible, but gamma irradiation sterilization may not be effective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters of the enclosure to be gamma irradiation compatible. Instead of using materials that block gamma rays, the enclosure is made from materials with appropriate density and atomic number characteristics that allow gamma irradiation to penetrate and sterilize the sensor while maintaining structural integrity and low cost for disposable use.
Data Source
AI summary
A Coriolis flow sensor includes a metal flow tube and an enclosure. The enclosure encloses the flow tube and is constructed at least partially from a gamma transparent material. The metal flow tube may be constructed from stainless steel. The gamma transparent material and the flow tube are thin enough to permit sterilization of an interior of the flow tube by gamma irradiation of the flow tube through the gamma transparent material. The enclosure is also shaped to facilitate locking and unlocking the Coriolis flow sensor in place on a mounting structure.