Smart actuator for valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10019020-B2
Application number	US-201615139144-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2016
Priority date	Nov 11, 2013
Publication date	Jul 10, 2018
Grant date	Jul 10, 2018

Abstract

A system and method of monitoring and controlling the open and close states of a manifold diaphragm type valve includes using an actuator mechanism with feedback control. A pressure transducer and/or force gauge located on the contact end of the actuator mechanism monitors the pressure and/or force applied to the end of the actuator mechanism. A controller instructs the actuator mechanism to move forward or backward an appropriate distance based on the monitored pressure and/or force. Temperature and pressure changes in the system and material changes to the diaphragm are sensed immediately and positioning correction is applied to the actuator in real-time, thereby maintaining the same valve state while monitoring pressure separately. The linear actuator functions as a ‘smart’ actuator, capable of fine tune adjustments without additional outside monitoring and providing a more accurate and reliable method of closing the valve in a dynamic environment.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for monitoring and maintaining a state of a valve in a dialysis machine, the method comprising:
providing a valve actuator configured to open and close the valve having a diaphragm positioned adjacent a flow path in a fluid circuit, the valve actuator system comprising:
a displacement member configured to be displaced linearly and having a contact end wherein the contact end is configured to push the diaphragm into the flow path to close the valve and not push the diaphragm into the flow path to open the valve;
at least one pressure transducer positioned on the contact end; and
a controller for receiving data from the pressure transducer and for controlling the displacement member;

extending the displacement member to extend the contact end and push the diaphragm into the flow path of the fluid circuit to close the valve;
sensing a pressure applied by the diaphragm against the pressure transducer;
comparing the sensed pressure to a pre-determined pressure value; and
retracting the displacement member to withdraw the diaphragm out of the flow path such that the sensed pressure is matched to the pre-determined pressure value.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing the sensed pressure to the pre-determined pressure value comprises executing, by a processing unit, a plurality of programmatic instructions stored in a memory of the controller for comparing the sensed pressure to the pre-determined value stored in the memory.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein retracting the displacement member to withdraw the diaphragm out of the flow path comprises using the controller to activate a motor coupled with the displacement member, wherein the activation is based upon the comparison of the sensed pressure to the pre-determined pressure value.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the motor is at least one of a DC motor and a stepper motor.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is part of a disposable manifold positioned within the dialysis machine and the displacement member is fixedly attached to the dialysis machine.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pre-determined pressure value is at least 2 psi.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using an encoder to determine an amount of displacement of the displacement member.

8. A method for maintaining a valve in an open state, the method comprising:
providing a valve actuator system configured to open the valve having a diaphragm positioned parallel to a flow path in a fluid circuit, the valve actuator system comprising:
a displacement member configured to be linearly displaced perpendicular to the flow path and having a contact end wherein said contact end is configured to push said diaphragm into the flow path;
a pressure transducer positioned on the contact end; and
a controller for receiving data from the pressure transducer and for controlling the displacement member;

retracting the displacement member to retract the contact end and pull the diaphragm out of the flow path of the fluid circuit to open the valve;
sensing a pressure applied by the diaphragm against the pressure transducer;
comparing the sensed pressure to a pre-determined threshold pressure value; and
further retracting the displacement member to withdraw the diaphragm out of the flow path such that the sensed pressure is less than the pre-determined pressure threshold value.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein comparing the sensed pressure to the pre-determined pressure threshold value comprises executing, by a processing unit, a plurality of programmatic instructions stored in a memory of the controller for comparing the sensed pressure to the pre-determined pressure threshold value stored in the memory.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein further retracting the displacement member to withdraw the diaphragm out of the flow path such that the sensed pressure is less than the pre-determined pressure threshold value comprises using the controller to activate a motor coupled with the displacement member based upon the comparison of the sensed pressure to the pre-determined pressure threshold value.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the motor is one of a DC motor and a stepper motor.

12. The method claim 8 , wherein the diaphragm is part of a disposable manifold positioned within a dialysis machine and the displacement member is fixedly attached to the dialysis machine.

13. The method claim 8 , wherein the controller retracts the displacement member to withdraw the diaphragm until the sensed pressure reaches zero, signifying that the pressure transducer has disengaged from the diaphragm, the diaphragm is in a relaxed configuration, and the valve is open.

14. A method for maintaining a valve in a closed state, the method comprising:
providing a valve actuator system configured to close the valve having a diaphragm positioned parallel to a flow path in a fluid circuit, the valve actuator system comprising:
a displacement member configured to be linearly displaced perpendicular to the flow path and having a contact end wherein the contact end is configured to push the diaphragm into the flow path;
at least one pressure transducer positioned on the contact end;
at least one force gauge positioned on the contact end; and
a controller for receiving data from the pressure transducer and force gauge and for controlling the displacement member;

extending the displacement member to extend the contact end and push the diaphragm into the flow path of the fluid circuit to close the valve;
sensing a pressure applied by the diaphragm against the pressure transducer;
sensing a force applied by the diaphragm against the force gauge;
comparing the sensed pressure to a pre-determined pressure value;
comparing the sensed force to a pre-determined force value; and
extending the displacement member to push the diaphragm into the flow path to match the sensed pressure value to the pre-determined pressure and the sensed force to the pre-determined force value.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein comparing the sensed pressure to the pre-determined pressure value and comparing the sensed force to the pre-determined force value comprises executing, by a processing unit, a plurality of programmatic instructions stored in a memory of the controller for comparing the sensed pressure to the pre-determined pressure value stored in the memory and comparing the sensed force to the pre-determined force value stored in the memory.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein extending the displacement member to push the diaphragm into the flow path to match the sensed pressure value to the pre-determined pressure value and the sensed force to the pre-determined force value comprises using the controller to activate a motor coupled with the displacement member based upon the comparison of the sensed pressure to the pre-determined pressure value and the sensed force to the pre-determined force value.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the motor is one of a DC motor and a stepper motor.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the diaphragm is part of a disposable manifold positioned within a dialysis machine and the displacement member is fixedly attached to the dialysis machine.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the pre-determined pressure value is at least 2 psi.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising using an encoder to determine an amount of displacement of the displacement member.

Assignees

• Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Byler Terry Lynn

Classifications

• A61M1/14 Primary

  Dialysis systems; Artificial kidneys; Blood oxygenators (semi-permeable membranes characterised by the material, manufacturing processes therefor B01D71/00){; Reciprocating systems for treatment of body fluids, e.g. single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis} · CPC title

• G05D16/202 Primary

  actuated by an electric motor · CPC title

• F16K31/04

  using a motor · CPC title

• A61M2205/3331

  Pressure; Flow · CPC title

• A61M2039/226

  Spindles or actuating means · CPC title