Control valve for a liquid circulating in a flexible tube
Inventors
Fiorino, Adrien • Picot, Sylvain
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12246158-B2
Publication Date
2025-03-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention relates to an automatic valve for regulating a flow rate of liquid intended to circulate in a flexible tube, comprising: a cam system (23) mounted moveably on a base and rotationally around an axis of rotation,a bearing part (24) translationally mounted on the base, arranged to be translationally moved as a result of a rotational movement of the cam system (23), and comprising a compression portion (240),an abutment part (25) positioned opposite the compression portion (240), defining with the bearing part (24) a receiving space intended to receive a flexible tube (3), the translation of the bearing part (24) displacing the compression portion (240) along the direction of translation, in order to modify a dimension of the receiving space, a magnet and a magnetic sensor detecting the magnetic field generated by the magnet.
Core Innovation
An automatic valve regulates a flow rate of liquid intended to circulate in a flexible tube. The valve includes a cam system rotationally driven by a drive shaft of a motor, with the cam system moveably mounted on a valve base to rotate around an axis of rotation (B). Following a rotational movement of the cam system, a bearing part translationally moves with respect to the valve base along a direction of translation (Y), where the bearing part includes a compression portion.
An abutment part is mounted on the valve base and positioned opposite the compression portion along the direction of translation (Y). The abutment part and the bearing part define a receiving space extending along a longitudinal direction (L) and intended to receive a flexible tube, and translation of the bearing part displaces the compression portion to modify a dimension along the direction of translation (Y) of the receiving space. The bearing part is translationally moveable between a close together position with a first distance and a spaced apart position with a second distance strictly greater than the first distance, and is configured to be stabilised in any intermediate position between these two positions.
The valve further comprises a magnet integral with the bearing part or with the valve base, and a magnetic sensor integral respectively with the valve base or with the bearing part, where the magnetic sensor detects a magnetic field generated by the magnet whatever the position of the bearing part. The valve also comprises a cover intended to obstruct the receiving space as a function of the position of the bearing part.
In an autotransfusion treatment unit, a filtration device treats haemorrhagic liquid by removing undesirable compounds, and a treatment bag contains treated haemorrhagic liquid. At least one fluid transfer line fluidically connects the filtration device and the treatment bag to a fluid inlet or fluid outlet, with the fluid transfer line provided with regulating valves that use the automatic valve construction based on the cam system, translationally movable bearing part, receiving space dimension change, integral magnet, and magnetic sensor position detection.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims specify two main inventive aspects: the automatic cam-driven regulating valve with translational bearing-part compression and magnet/sensor position detection with stabilization in intermediate positions, and the treatment unit for autotransfusion that uses a filtration device and a treatment bag with fluid transfer lines employing the regulating valve, including calculation of valve opening/closing based on magnetic-field detection with startup calibration.
Cam-driven translational compression in receiving space between bearing and abutment
An automatic valve comprising a valve base, a cam system rotationally driven by a drive shaft of a motor and moveably mounted on the valve base to rotate around an axis of rotation (B), and a bearing part translationally mounted on the valve base and translationally moved with respect to the valve base along a direction of translation (Y) following a rotational movement of the cam system, the bearing part comprising a compression portion; an abutment part mounted on the valve base positioned opposite the compression portion along the direction of translation (Y) such that the abutment part and the bearing part define between them a receiving space extending along a longitudinal direction (L) and intended to receive a flexible tube, where translation displaces the compression portion along the direction of translation (Y) to modify a dimension along the direction of translation (Y) of the receiving space between the bearing part and the abutment part.
Two discrete receiving-space dimensions with stabilization in intermediate positions
The bearing part translationally moveable along the direction of translation (Y) between a close together position where the receiving-space dimension along the direction of translation (Y) is equal to a first distance and a spaced apart position where the receiving-space dimension along the direction of translation (Y) is equal to a second distance strictly greater than the first distance, with the bearing part configured to be stabilised in any intermediate position situated between the close together position and the spaced apart position.
Integral magnet and magnetic sensor for position-dependent detection
A magnet integral with the bearing part or with the valve base and a magnetic sensor integral respectively with the valve base or with the bearing part, where the magnetic sensor is arranged to detect a magnetic field generated by the magnet whatever the position of the bearing part.
Cover configured to obstruct the receiving space as a function of bearing-part position
A cover intended to obstruct the receiving space as a function of the position of the bearing part.
Autotransfusion treatment unit with filtration, treatment bag, fluid transfer lines, and regulating valve
A treatment unit comprising a filtration device configured to treat a haemorrhagic liquid by removing undesirable compounds from the haemorrhagic liquid, a treatment bag configured to contain a treated haemorrhagic liquid, at least one fluid transfer line enabling a circulation of fluid and fluidically connecting one among the filtration device and the treatment bag to a fluid inlet or to a fluid outlet or to the other among the filtration device and the treatment bag, wherein the fluid transfer line is provided with at least one regulating valve arranged for a regulation of a flow rate of liquid in the fluid transfer line, the regulating valve comprising the valve base, cam system rotationally driven by a drive shaft of a motor, moveably mounted cam system, translationally moved bearing part including a compression portion, an abutment part defining a receiving space for a flexible tube with receiving-space dimension modification, and an integral magnet and magnetic sensor arranged to detect a magnetic field whatever the position of the bearing part, and a cover intended to obstruct the receiving space as a function of the position of the bearing part.
Control of valve opening/closing based on magnetic-field detection signal
The treatment unit includes a calculating unit configured to control a parameter of opening/closing of the regulating valve based on a magnetic-field-detection signal produced by the magnetic sensor.
Startup storing of an initial magnetic-field detection signal value for later opening/closing control
The treatment unit includes a calculating unit configured to store, during startup, an initial value of the magnetic-field-detection signal in memory and later determine an opening/closing parameter based on that initial value.
Across the independent claims, the core inventive combination is a cam-driven valve that translates a bearing part to modify a receiving-space dimension between compression portion and abutment part with stabilization in intermediate positions, while using an integral magnet and magnetic sensor to detect bearing-part position; the treatment unit applies this regulating valve within an autotransfusion setup with filtration and a treatment bag, further adding magnetic-signal-based calculation of valve opening/closing with an initial startup value stored in memory.
Stated Advantages
Unchanged position when power is off, as a result of stepper/cam behavior.
Compact design and simple design.
Rapid switching enabled by cam-driven regulation with the bearing part.
Optional stabilisation in intermediate positions.
Real-time state detection based on magnetic-field detection.
Documented Applications
Integration into an autotransfusion treatment system including a filtration device, a treatment bag, and multiple fluid transfer lines and valves that regulate flow by controlling valve opening/closing from magnetic-field signals.
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