Valve System

• US 20160319954A1
• Filed: 05/04/2016
• Published: 11/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Smith, Mark Forrest
• Granted Patent: US 10,197,180 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/128 with incorporated valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/082 using a electromagnet and a permanent magnet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8242 Electrical

Abstract

The present specification is directed to a valve that has an orifice closing member adjacent to an orifice through which fluid can flow, a displacement member having a first portion and a second portion, where the first portion is adjacent to the orifice closing member when the valve is in an open position, a first magnet and a second magnet where the first and second magnets are sufficiently proximate to the displacement member to exert a magnetic force on the displacement member, and an actuator for generating a magnetic field to move the displacement member toward the first magnet, cause the first portion to press against the orifice closing member, and cause the orifice closing member to close the orifice.

Claims

1. A kidney dialysis system comprising a valve having a first stable state and a second stable state wherein said valve comprises magnets, wherein an input of energy into said valve modulates magnetic fields which cause a displacement member to move within said kidney dialysis system, wherein the movement of said displacement member causes a change between the first state and the second state, and wherein maintenance of said first or second state does not require energy input.

2. The kidney dialysis system of claim 1 further comprising:

a disposable manifold having an orifice wherein said orifice is closed to fluid flow when said valve is in the first state and wherein said orifice is open to fluid flow when said valve is in the second state.

3. The kidney dialysis system of claim 2 wherein said orifice is covered by a compressible material.

4. The kidney dialysis system of claim 3 wherein said movement of said displacement member valve compresses the material into said orifice when said valve is in the first state.

5. The kidney dialysis system of claim 3 wherein said movement of said displacement member valve causes the material to expand out of said orifice when said valve is in the second state.

6. The kidney dialysis system of claim 2 wherein the orifice is covered by an orifice closing member and wherein the orifice closing member compresses against a valve seat when the valve is in a closed position.

7. The kidney dialysis system of claim 6 wherein the displacement member is physically movable relative to said orifice closing member, wherein said displacement member moves from a second position when said valve is in an open position to a first position and wherein, in said first position, the displacement member presses against the orifice closing member to cause said orifice closing member to compress against the valve seat.

8. The kidney dialysis system of claim 7, wherein said valve comprises a first magnet and a second magnet having a separation, wherein said first magnet and second magnet generate a magnetic field in the separation, and wherein said magnetic field has a direction.

9. The kidney dialysis system of claim 8, wherein said valve further comprises an actuator capable of generating an electromagnetic force, wherein said electromagnetic force reverses the direction of said magnetic field.

10. The kidney dialysis system of claim 8, wherein said first magnet and second magnet provide a bearing surface for movement of said displacement member.

11. The kidney dialysis system of claim 8, wherein said first magnet, having a first pole, is larger than said second magnet, having a second pole.

12. The kidney dialysis system of claim 11, wherein the first pole and second pole repel each other and wherein the first magnet and second magnet are configured to have said first pole and second pole face each other.

13. The kidney dialysis system of claim 6, wherein the orifice closing member and valve seat are part of a disposable manifold for a kidney dialysis system.

14. A kidney dialysis system comprising:

a disposable manifold having at least one orifice covered by a compressible material; and

a moveable displacement member positioned outside said disposable manifold and configured to move between a first state and a second state, wherein said movement is effectuated by a first magnet and a second magnet, wherein said first magnet and second magnet generate a magnetic field, wherein an input of energy modulates the magnetic field, and wherein maintenance of said first or second state does not require energy input.

15. The kidney dialysis system of claim 14, wherein said orifice is positioned within a fluid pathway and wherein said fluid pathway is closed to fluid flow when said displacement member is in the first state and wherein said fluid pathway is open to fluid flow when said displacement member is in the second state.

16. The kidney dialysis system of claim 15 wherein said movement of said displacement member valve compresses the material into said orifice when said displacement member is in the first state.

17. The kidney dialysis system of claim 15 wherein said movement of said displacement member valve causes the material to expand out of said orifice when said displacement member moves from the first state to the second state.

18. The kidney dialysis system of claim 14 wherein the compressible material compresses against a valve seat when the displacement member is in the first state.

19. The kidney dialysis system of claim 14, wherein said first magnet and second magnet are separated by a space, wherein said first magnet and second magnet generate a magnetic field in the space, and wherein said magnetic field has a direction.

20. The kidney dialysis system of claim 19, further comprising an actuator configured to generate an electromagnetic force, wherein said electromagnetic force reverses the direction of said magnetic field.

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)