Multiple-tube pinch valve assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12209689-B2
Application number	US-202318113151-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 23, 2023
Priority date	Feb 28, 2022
Publication date	Jan 28, 2025
Grant date	Jan 28, 2025

Abstract

A multi-tubing pinch valve assembly including a receiving space defined between a pinch protrusion and tubing contact body. The multi-tubing pinch valve assembly is moveable between a retracted state and an extended state. In the extended state, multiple tubes disposed in the receiving space are pinched, restricting flow therethrough. In the retracted state, multiple tubes are capable of being loaded into and/or out of the receiving space.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multiple-tube pinch valve assembly, comprising:
a camshaft extending a length along a longitudinal axis of the camshaft, the camshaft comprising at least one cam disposed along the length, the at least one cam comprising a cam profile shape defined around the longitudinal axis and a periphery of the camshaft;
a platen offset a distance from the longitudinal axis, the distance at least partially defining a space configured to receive multiple fluid flow tubes; and
an anvil assembly comprising a cam contact portion disposed on a first side of the anvil assembly and a pinch edge disposed on a second side of the anvil assembly, wherein the anvil assembly is moveable between a retracted state such that the pinch edge is disposed outside of the space and an extended state such that the pinch edge is disposed inside the space adjacent the platen, and wherein the anvil assembly moves between the retracted state and the extended state by a rotation of the camshaft and the at least one cam.

2. The multiple-tube pinch valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cam profile shape comprises at least one cam lobe and at least one cam heel, wherein the anvil assembly is in the extended state when the cam lobe is disposed in contact with the cam contact portion, and wherein the anvil assembly is in the retracted state when the cam heel is disposed in contact with the cam contact portion.

3. The multiple-tube pinch valve assembly of claim 2 , wherein the cam contact portion comprises at least one cam follower.

4. The multiple-tube pinch valve assembly of claim 2 , wherein the space comprises a plurality of tube receiving apertures arranged side-by-side along a direction that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the camshaft.

5. The multiple-tube pinch valve assembly of claim 4 , wherein each tube receiving aperture of the plurality of tube receiving apertures extend in a direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the camshaft.

6. The multiple-tube pinch valve assembly of claim 5 , further comprising:
a plurality of tubes removably engaged with the plurality of tube receiving apertures such that a section of each tube of the plurality of tubes is disposed in the space adjacent the platen, wherein, in the retracted state, a lumen of each tube of the plurality of tubes is open along the section of each tube of the plurality of tubes, and wherein, in the extended state, the lumen of each tube of the plurality of tubes is closed at a point along the section of each tube of the plurality of tubes.

7. The multiple-tube pinch valve assembly of claim 6 , further comprising:
a motor comprising an output shaft;
a drive body attached to the output shaft of the motor; and
a cam drive body attached to the camshaft, wherein rotation of the output shaft of the motor transmits power from the drive body to the cam drive body causing the camshaft to rotate relative to the anvil assembly.

8. The multiple-tube pinch valve assembly of claim 7 , further comprising:
a support frame comprising a plurality of recesses, wherein each recess of the plurality of recesses is configured to hold a respective bioreactor, and wherein each tube of the plurality of tubes is associated with the respective bioreactor.

9. The multiple-tube pinch valve assembly of claim 8 , wherein the anvil assembly, when moving between the retracted state and the extended state, translates along a plane that is perpendicular to a plane running through the plurality of tubes, and wherein, in the extended state, the pinch edge of the anvil assembly contacts and closes each tube of the plurality of tubes.

10. The multiple-tube pinch valve assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
an array of valves disposed along a length of the longitudinal axis of the camshaft, wherein each valve in the array of valves comprises a plurality of tube receiving apertures, and wherein each valve in the array of valves comprises a respective anvil assembly that is capable of moving between the retracted state and the extended state by the rotation of the camshaft and the at least one cam.

11. The multiple-tube pinch valve assembly of claim 10 , wherein the respective anvil assembly of each valve in the array of valves is capable of moving between the retracted state and the extended state based on a position of a respective cam connected to the camshaft.

12. The multiple-tube pinch valve assembly of claim 11 , wherein a first valve in the array of valves is capable of closing tubing contained within a first set of tube receiving apertures associated with the first valve at a same time or a different time as a second valve in the array of valves closes tubing contained within a second set of tube receiving apertures associated with the second valve.

13. The multiple-tube pinch valve assembly of claim 11 , wherein, at a first time as the camshaft rotates, a first valve in the array of valves closes tubing contained within a first set of tube receiving apertures associated with the first valve, wherein, at a second time as the camshaft rotates, a second valve in the array of valves closes tubing contained within a second set of tube receiving apertures associated with the second valve.

14. The multiple-tube pinch valve assembly of claim 13 , wherein, at a third time as the camshaft rotates, a third valve in the array of valves closes tubing contained within a third set of tube receiving apertures associated with the third valve, wherein, at a fourth time as the camshaft rotates, a fourth valve in the array of valves closes tubing contained within a fourth set of tube receiving apertures associated with the fourth valve, and wherein at a fifth time as the camshaft rotates, a fifth valve in the array of valves closes tubing contained within a fifth set of tube receiving apertures associated with the fifth valve.

15. The multiple-tube pinch valve assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first set of tube receiving apertures, the second set of tube receiving apertures, the third set of tube receiving apertures, the fourth set of tube receiving apertures, and the fifth set of tube receiving apertures each comprise four tube receiving apertures.

16. A multiple-tube pinch valve assembly, comprising:
a motor comprising an output shaft;
a drive body attached to the output shaft of the motor;
a camshaft extending a length along a longitudinal axis of the camshaft, the camshaft comprising at least one cam disposed along the length, the at least one cam comprising a cam profile shape defined around the longitudinal axis and a periphery of the camshaft and;
a cam drive body attached to the camshaft;
a platen offset a distance from the longitudinal axis, the distance at least partially defining a space configured to receive multiple fluid flow tubes; and
an anvil assembly comprising at least one cam follower disposed on a first side of the anvil assembly and a pinch edge disposed on a second side of the anvil assembly, wherein rotation of the output shaft of the motor transmits power from the drive body to the cam drive body causing the camshaft to rotate relative to the anvil assembly and move the anvil assembly between a retracted state, such that the pinch edge is disposed outside of the space, and an extended state, such that the pinch edge is disposed inside the space adjacent the platen, and wherein the anvil assembly moves between the retracted state and the extended state by rotation of the camshaft and the at least one cam.

17. A multi-tubing pinch valve assembly, comprising:
a hinge plate extending a length from a first point to a second

Assignees

• Terumo Corp
• Terumo Bct Inc

Inventors

• Gloor Andrew
• Janzen Jesse
• Ladtkow James
• IGARASHI Masatsugu

Classifications

• F16K31/52

  with crank, eccentric, or cam · CPC title

• F16K11/24

  with an electromagnetically-operated valve, e.g. for washing machines · CPC title

• F16K11/166

  with the rotating spindles at right angles to the closure members · CPC title

• F16K27/003

  Housing formed from a plurality of the same valve elements · CPC title

• F16K7/06

  by means of a screw-spindle, cam, or other mechanical means {(F16K7/045 takes precedence)} · CPC title