Valve system

• US 8,240,636 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2009
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Inventors: Smith, Mark Forrest
• Primary Examiner(s): Fristoe, Jr., John
• Assistant Examiner(s): AIGBE, TIME O
• Application Number:
  US12/351,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20100179464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 251/65, 251/129.02, 251/129.15, 251/129.17, 251/129.19, 137/553, 137/554
• US Class Current: 251/129.19
• 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 invention 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 valve having an open position and a closed position comprising:

a. an orifice closing member adjacent to an orifice through which fluid can flow;

b. a displacement member having a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion is adjacent to the orifice closing member when the valve is in said open position and wherein the first portion comprises a housing, elastic material, a rod and a gap between said elastic material and said rod;

c. a first magnet and a second magnet wherein said first and second magnets are sufficiently proximate to said displacement member to exert a magnetic force on said displacement member; and

d. an actuator for generating a magnetic field to move said displacement member toward said first magnet, cause said first portion to press against the orifice closing member, and cause the orifice closing member to close said orifice.

2. The valve of claim 1 further comprising an optical sensor positioned to sense if a gap in said valve is present or absent.

4. The valve of claim 1 wherein said first magnet is larger than said second magnet.

5. The valve of claim 1 wherein the orifice closing member comprises at least one of a diaphragm, an elastic material, and a compressible material.

6. The valve of claim 1 wherein the orifice is part of a manifold for a kidney dialysis system.

7. The valve of claim 1 wherein the orifice closing member compresses against a valve seat to close said orifice.

8. The valve of claim 7 wherein the valve seat is part of a manifold for a kidney dialysis system.

9. The valve of claim 7 wherein the orifice closing member is part of a manifold for a kidney dialysis system.

3. A valve having an open position and a closed osition comprising:

a. an orifice closing member adjacent to an orifice through which fluid can flow;

b. a displacement member having a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion is adjacent to the orifice closing member when the valve is in said open position and wherein the first portion comprises a rod bonded to a cylinder and said second portion of said displacement member is a metal body with a diameter greater than said rod;

c. a first magnet and a second magnet wherein said first and second magnets are sufficiently proximate to said displacement member to exert a magnetic force on said displacement member; and

d. an actuator for generating a magnetic field to move said displacement member toward said first magnet, cause said first portion to press against the orifice closing member, and cause the orifice closing member to close said orifice.