Spring-Free Valve Stem Retention for Sterile Fluid Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

The pharmaceutical and biological industries require improved valve designs that minimize damage to fluid components and enhance operational efficiencies while maintaining sterility.

Innovation Solution

A valve design featuring a valve stem that translates between open and closed configurations, utilizing a retention feature to maintain the desired configuration, and incorporating seals and a locking flange to ensure fluid flow control, without the need for a spring, and optionally including a sanitary coupling or fluid condition sensor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a spring is used to maintain valve stem configuration, then the valve can automatically return to closed position, but the spring may damage fluid components and compromise sterility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve configuration maintenanceVSAvoidfluid component damage and sterility compromise

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the spring from the valve system entirely, replacing it with a manual retention feature that maintains the valve stem in the desired configuration without using elastic components that could damage fluid components or compromise sterility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The valve is designed as a single-use disposable component, eliminating the need for springs and complex retention mechanisms that would require maintenance. The entire valve assembly is discarded after one use, ensuring no contamination risk from spring degradation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Stability of the object's composition

If a complex retention mechanism is used to maintain valve stem configuration, then configuration stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve stem configuration stabilityVSAvoidretention mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex spring-based retention mechanism and replaces it with a simple manual override feature that uses basic mechanical elements like a tab or lever to maintain valve stem position without requiring complex components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The valve stem incorporates self-retaining features such as detents or cam locks that automatically maintain configuration stability without requiring additional active retention mechanisms, allowing the valve to hold its position through its own structural design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the valve is designed for reusable configuration, then operational flexibility is improved, but contamination risk and maintenance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidsterility maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the valve as a single-use disposable component that is discarded after one use, eliminating all risks associated with reuse such as contamination, wear, and maintenance requirements. The low cost of the disposable valve allows for this approach

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The valve is designed as a complete disposable assembly that can be easily replaced, segmenting the system into replaceable units. This allows operational flexibility through simple replacement rather than cleaning and sterilization of reusable components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12485265B2Valves

Publication Date: 2025.12.02 SAINT GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS CORP

AI summary

A valve comprising: a valve body; and a valve stem disposed at least partially within the valve body, the valve stem comprising a sidewall defining a central lumen and at least one opening in the sidewall, wherein the valve is adapted to prevent fluid flow through the lumen when the at least one opening is disposed within the valve body and permit fluid flow through the lumen when the at least one opening is exposed from the valve body, and wherein the valve is essentially free of a spring.