Split Stator Rotary Drive for Sterile Disposable Hose Assembly

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electromagnetic rotary drives for biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications require complex sterilization processes, particularly for disposable components that come into direct contact with biological substances, which can compromise sterility and increase costs due to time-consuming steam sterilization methods.

Innovation Solution

A disposable electromagnetic rotary drive design featuring a rotor housing with a connecting hose and a reusable stator that can be easily assembled and disassembled without threading hoses through feedthroughs, allowing for pre-assembly and sterilization of the disposable device as a complete unit, reducing contact with components and simplifying the assembly process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If disposable components are sterilized by steam sterilization, then sterility is achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesterilityVSAvoidsterilization time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into disposable components (rotor housing, connecting hose, separator insert) and reusable components (stator, device housing). The disposable components can be pre-sterilized independently before assembly, eliminating the need for time-consuming steam sterilization of the entire assembled device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The disposable components are sterilized before assembly with the reusable device. This preliminary sterilization action allows the components to be ready for use without requiring post-assembly sterilization, reducing overall sterilization time and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If disposable components are assembled with reusable device, then sterility can be maintained, but assembly complexity increases due to hose threading through feedthroughs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesterility maintenanceVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting hose is routed through a channel in the device housing instead of through feedthroughs in the stator. This dimensional change in the routing path simplifies the assembly process by eliminating the need to thread hoses through complex feedthrough structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The hose routing function is extracted from the stator feedthroughs and relocated to the device housing channel. This separation removes the complexity of threading hoses through the electromagnetic drive components while maintaining the sterile barrier.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If disposable device is assembled as complete unit, then assembly is simplified, but sterilization becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidsterilization ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The disposable device is segmented into separate components (rotor housing, connecting hose, separator insert) that can be sterilized independently before assembly. This segmentation allows each component to be sterilized using appropriate methods for that specific component, maintaining ease of sterilization while enabling simplified final assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 simplifies the assembly and sterilization of disposable components, maintaining sterility and reducing the complexity and cost of the sterilization process, while allowing for the use of disposable devices in high-purity applications.

Implementation Method 1

The stator (4) comprises a plurality of windings (6) for generating an electromagnetic rotating field for driving the rotor (3)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

the rotor (3) can be magnetically supported in a contactless manner with respect to the stator (4)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field interaction: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP4387052A1Electromagnetic rotary drive
Publication Date: 2024.06.19 LEVITRONIX GMBH(CH)
  • EP4387052A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4387052A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4387052A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An electromagnetic rotary drive is proposed comprising a single-use device (100) and a reusable device (200) designed for multiple uses. The single-use device (100) comprises a rotor housing (2) with a rotor (3), a connecting hose (9) for a fluid, and at least one further single-use component (10). The rotor housing (2) has an inlet (21) and an outlet (22). The rotor (3) is provided in the rotor housing (2) for rotation about a predetermined axis of rotation, which defines an axial direction (A). The rotor (3) can be magnetically driven without contact. The connecting hose (9) connects the inlet (21) or the outlet (22) of the rotor housing (2) to the further single-use component (10) such that, in the operating state, the fluid can flow through the connecting hose (9).wherein the reusable device (200) comprises a stator (4) with which the rotor (3) can be magnetically driven to rotate about the desired axis of rotation without contact in the operating state, wherein the stator (4) comprises a plurality of windings (6) for generating an electromagnetic rotating field for driving the rotor (3), and wherein the stator (4) has a stator housing (5) with a passage (52) for the connecting hose (9). The stator (4) is designed to be openable with a first stator part (48) and a second stator part (49), which are movable relative to each other, wherein in an open position of the stator (4) the connecting hose (9) can be inserted into the passage (52), and wherein in a closed position of the stator (4) the passage (52) encloses the connecting hose (9). Furthermore, a disposable device (100) for such an electromagnetic rotary drive is proposed.