# US 11,906,070 B2 · Valve actuation system through permanent magnet use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,906,070 B2 - Document ID: US11906070B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/303,216 - Filed: 2021-05-24 - Published: 2021-12-16 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2020-05-26 - Assignees: Nextern Innovation, LLC - Applicants: Nextern Innovation, LLC - Inventors: Fernando Buarque; Christopher Narveson; Ryan J. Douglas; John Swoyer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11906070B2 ## CPC - F16K 31/084: {the magnet being used only as a holding element to maintain the valve in a specific position, e.g. check valves (F16K31/082, F16K31/086 take precedence)} - F16K 31/088: {the movement of the first magnet being a rotating or pivoting movement} - F16K 11/044: with movable valve members positioned between valve seats - F16K 11/161: {only slides} - F16K 11/165: {with the rotating spindles parallel to the closure members} - F16K 31/086: {the magnet being movable and actuating a second magnet connected to the closing element} - A61H 9/0092: {Cuffs therefor} - A61H 2201/5056: pneumatically controlled - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N) ## Abstract Apparatus and associated methods relate to a valve having an actuator configured to translate a mass in a plane and a valve element located out of the first plane and configured to translate along a first linear axis. In an illustrative example, at least one of the mass and the valve element may include a magnetic source providing a persistent magnetic field and the other may include a non-magnetized, magnetically permeable mass. Reluctance-induced forces may, for example, translate the valve element towards the mass along the first linear axis when the mass is brought into register with a second linear axis. The first linear axis and the second linear axis may, for example, be colinear. Various embodiments may advantageously provide a valve requiring low energy input for operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve comprising: an actuator configured to translate at least one mass along a curvilinear mass in a first plane; and, at least one valve element located out of the first plane and configured to translate along a first linear axis, wherein the at least one mass comprises a magnetic source providing a persistent magnetic field and the and the at least one valve element comprises a non-magnetized, magnetically permeable mass such that, when at least one of the masses is brought into register with a second linear axis, reluctance-induced forces translate the corresponding valve element towards the mass along the first linear axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one mass and the at least one valve element comprises a ferrous material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the first linear axis is substantially parallel to the first plane. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the first linear axis is substantially orthogonal to the first plane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the first linear axis is colinear with the second linear axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the first linear axis is substantially orthogonal to the second linear axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein: the at least one valve element comprises a first plurality of valve elements, each of the first plurality of valve elements are located out of the first plane and are configured to translate along a corresponding linear axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The valve of claim 7, further comprising a carrier, wherein: the at least one mass comprises a first plurality of masses, the carrier is configured to translate the first plurality of masses in the first plane, and, each of the first plurality of masses is configured to register with at least one of the linear axes corresponding to the first plurality of valve elements. ### Claim 9 A valve comprising: an actuator configured to translate at least one mass in a first plane; and, at least one valve element located out of the first plane and configured to translate along a first linear axis, wherein at least one of the at least one mass and the at least one valve element comprises a magnetic source providing a persistent magnetic field and the other comprises a non-magnetized, magnetically permeable mass such that, when at least one of the masses is brought into register with a second linear axis, reluctance-induced forces translate the corresponding valve element towards the mass along the first linear axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The valve of claim 9, wherein the mass comprises a permanent magnet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The valve of claim 9, wherein the valve element comprises a permanent magnet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The valve of claim 9, wherein the first linear axis is substantially parallel to the first plane. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The valve of claim 9, wherein the first linear axis is substantially orthogonal to the first plane. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The valve of claim 9, wherein the first linear axis is colinear with the second linear axis. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The valve of claim 9, wherein the first linear axis is substantially orthogonal to the second linear axis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The valve of claim 9, wherein the translation in the first plane comprises motion along a substantially linear path. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The valve of claim 9, wherein the translation in the first plane comprises motion along a curvilinear path. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The valve of claim 9, wherein: the at least one valve element comprises a first plurality of valve elements, each of the first plurality of valve elements are located out of the first plane and are configured to translate along a corresponding linear axis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The valve of claim 18, further comprising a carrier, wherein: the at least one mass comprises a first plurality of masses, the carrier is configured to translate the first plurality of masses in the first plane, and, each of the first plurality of masses is configured to register with at least one of the linear axes corresponding to the first plurality of valve elements. ### Claim 20 A valve comprising: means for translating at least one mass in a first plane; and, at least one valve element located out of the first plane and configured to translate along a first linear axis, wherein at least one of the at least one mass and the at least one valve element comprises a magnetic source providing a persistent magnetic field and the other comprises a non-magnetized, magnetically permeable mass such that, when at least one of the masses is brought into register with a second linear axis, reluctance-induced forces translate the corresponding valve element towards the mass along the first linear axis.