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US 12,710,107 B2Granted
Independent dual actuation piezo valve for magnetic resonance environments
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips N.V.
InventorsDimitri George Kostakis, Bruce Geoffrey Appleton, Avraham Yeini, David Cocco
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Electrically-controllable piezo valves comprising independent, dual actuation piezo elements, systems incorporating such valves, and methods of controlling a fluid flow using such valves are described herein. These valves, systems, and methods find particular application in the field of patient care as it relates to magnetic resonance (“MR”) environments, such as environments with strong electromagnetic fields generated by MR imaging machines.
Claims11
A magnetic resonance (“MR”) system comprising:
- a MR device;
- a fluid flow device;
- an electrically-controllable valve comprising:
- a valve body comprising an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet;
- a first piezo element configured to control a fluid flow (Fout) through the first outlet;
- and
- a second piezoelectrical element configured to control the fluid flow
- (
- F
- out
- ′
- )
- through the second outlet;
- wherein the first piezo element and the second piezo element are mechanically and electrically independent of each other;
- a first controller operatively connected to the first piezo element of the electrically-controllable valve;
- and
- a second controller operatively connected to the second piezo element of the electrically-controllable valve;
- wherein the first controller and the second controller are configured to independently actuate each of the first piezo element and the second piezo element.
15 more elements
A method of fluid control, comprising:
- providing a fluid flow from a fluid flow device to an electrically-controllable valve;
- applying at least a first voltage to a first piezo element of the electrically-controllable valve to allow passage of the fluid flow (Fout) from an inlet of the electrically-controllable valve through a first outlet of the electrically-controllable valve;
- applying at least a second voltage to a second piezo element of the electrically-controllable valve to allow passage of the fluid flow
- (
- F
- out
- ′
- )
- from the inlet of the electrically-controllable valve through a second outlet of the electrically-controllable valve;
- detecting a fault condition with the first piezo element of the electrically-controllable valve;
- and
- applying, at least a third voltage to the second piezo element of the electrically-controllable valve based on the fault condition detected;
- wherein the first piezo element and the second piezo element are located within a valve body of the electrically-controllable valve and are electrically and mechanically independent of each other, and
- wherein the first piezo element is operatively connected to a first controller, the second piezo element is operatively connected to a second controller, and the first controller and second controller are configured to independently actuate each of the first piezo element and the second piezo element.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.