Smart-Material Multi-Valve Actuation for Low-Dead-Volume Fluid Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multi-valve devices for precise liquid handling in medical and scientific applications face challenges such as high energy consumption, large dimensions, contamination risks, and limited miniaturization potential due to the use of rotary valves and individual solenoid valves, which are not suitable for handling small quantities of fluids effectively.
Innovation Solution
An actuation unit with a housing that can receive multiple actuator modules, each containing a smart material actuator for controlling valves in a fluidic unit, allowing for precise control of fluid channels with minimal internal volume and flexible channel combinations, enabling the connection of 'X' input channels to 'Y' output channels for various fluid handling tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If rotary valves are used for fluid handling, then internal volume is minimized and dead volumes are avoided, but installation space increases and energy consumption rises due to strong motors required for sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotary valve system with a matrix valve system using individual solenoid actuators. This substitution eliminates the need for strong motors required by rotary valves, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining compact internal volume through the matrix arrangement of smaller valves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the single rotary valve function into multiple individual solenoid valves arranged in a matrix configuration. Each solenoid valve handles a specific channel connection, allowing independent control with minimal actuation force, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while achieving the same fluid routing capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If individual solenoid valves are used for fluid handling, then channel combinatorial flexibility increases and operating speed improves, but dimensions increase and internal volume including dead volumes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a matrix arrangement where multiple solenoid valves are nested within a compact valve block structure. This nesting allows individual valves to be closely integrated, minimizing the overall internal volume and reducing dead volumes while maintaining full combinatorial flexibility for channel connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple individual solenoid valves into a single integrated valve block assembly. This combination achieves compact dimensions by consolidating the valve structures and minimizing inter-valve spacing, thereby reducing total internal volume while preserving the flexibility of individual valve control for various channel combinations.
3Speed
If solenoid valves are used for fluid handling, then operating speed increases compared to rotary valves, but heat dissipation into the system and fluids increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat dissipation problem by positioning solenoid valves externally to the main fluid handling chamber. This separation allows heat to be dissipated away from the sensitive fluid pathways and samples, reducing thermal interference while maintaining the fast operating speeds of solenoid actuation.
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 solution provides a compact, energy-efficient, and flexible system for precise fluid handling, reducing contamination risks and enabling the handling of small fluid quantities with minimal dead volumes, allowing for all conceivable combinations of open and closed channels, thus addressing the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
The actuator module comprises at least one actuator made at least partially of a smart material, preferably made at least partially of a shape memory material, particularly made at least partially of a shape memory alloy
Implementation Method 2
The actuator is configured to move the at least one valve actuation member such that at least one of the valves selectively blocks or opens the fluid channel
Data Source
AI summary
An actuation unit for a multi valve device, the multi valve device comprising a fluidic unit comprising at least one fluid channel and a plurality of valves, wherein the valves selectively block or open the fluid channel. The actuation unit comprises a housing and at least one actuator module. The housing is configured to receive a plurality of actuator modules. The at least one actuator module is received within the housing. The actuator module comprises at least one actuator made of a smart material and at least one valve actuation member. The actuator is configured to move at least one valve actuation member such that at least one of the valves selectively blocks or opens the fluid channel. The actuation unit is connectable to the fluidic unit. Further, a multi valve device and a fluid handling device are proposed.