Flow control assembly having localized non- volatile memory
AssigneeIDEX Health & Science LLC
InventorsTim Tiemeyer, John Ruf, Michael Brew
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for controlling fluid flow and in particular fluid flow through a microfluidic multi-port control valve assembly of a High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) unit. The flow control apparatus has a localized data repository for storing local valve position data and cumulative wear indications of components of the apparatus. The stored information travels with the apparatus allowing for more reliable predictive failure of components of the apparatus and translation of local valve position data for compatibility with host valve information. The translated valve position data enables determination of whether valve motion is acceptable and complete.
Claims16
A micro-fluidic multi-position valve assembly for a high pressure liquid chromatograph unit having a host database for digitally storing valve information, a host controller, and a host processor for processing commands from the host controller, the valve assembly comprising:
- a multi-position valve having a valve housing, the multi-position valve being movable about a valve axis;
- an actuator assembly having an actuator for movably actuating the multi-position valve about the valve axis;
- an encoder for determining positions of the multi-position valve about the valve axis and generating a signal responsive to the respective positions and indicative of local valve position data corresponding to a position resolution of the encoder;
- a local digital memory unit for recording valve information including the local valve position data associated with the encoder signal;
- and
- a local controller communicatively coupled to the actuator, the encoder, the local digital memory unit, and the host controller, wherein the local controller is adapted to translate the local valve position data to host valve position data corresponding to position resolution compatible with the valve information stored at the host database and processed by the host processor, wherein the local valve position data is otherwise incompatible with the valve information stored at the host database and processed by the host processor.
A method for evaluating a micro-fluidic multi-position valve assembly for a high-pressure liquid chromatography unit having a host database for digitally storing valve information, a host controller, and a host processor for processing commands from the host controller, the method comprising:
- (a) initializing a multi-position valve of the valve assembly, wherein the multi-position valve is movable about a valve axis;
- (b) controlling movement of the multi-position valve about the valve axis;
- (c) obtaining local valve position data from a position sensor corresponding to positions of the multi-position valve about the valve axis;
- (d) translating the local valve position data to host valve position data compatible with the valve information stored at the host database and processed by the host processor, wherein the local valve position data is otherwise incompatible with the valve information stored at the host database and processed by the host processor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.