US 2026/0176569 A1 · A VALVE SYSTEM FOR A MODULAR INCUBATOR SYSTEM

Abstract

A valve system for a modular incubator system includes a first valve and a second valve, each including a valve body and a valve element. Each valve body includes a front end and a rear end and a throughgoing channel extending between said front end and said rear end. Each valve element is arranged in the throughgoing channel of the valve body in such a way that said valve element is displaceable in a displacement direction D between a first extreme position and a second extreme position in said throughgoing channel, wherein in said first extreme position, said valve element is displaced in a direction towards the front end of said valve body, and wherein in said second extreme position, said valve element is displaced in a direction towards the rear end of said valve body.

Claims22

Dependent claims

1-93. (canceled)

A modular incubator system (500) for incubating a viable biological material M, said modular incubator system comprising:

one or more modular incubator chambers (300) in combination with
a docking station (400);
wherein in respect of one or more of said one or more modular incubator chambers (300), said modular incubator chamber (300) comprises a housing (302) having a first end (340) and a second end (342), thereby defining a longitudinal direction X between said first end and said second end;
wherein said housing comprises a lid (304), wherein said lid is being configured to be able to shift between an open configuration allowing access to the interior (306) of said modular incubator chamber and a closed configuration, sealing off access to the interior of said modular incubator chamber;
wherein said modular incubator chamber (300), at said interior (306) thereof, comprises a culture dish support (308) for positioning a culture dish (310) with the view to accommodate one or more biological materials M within the housing (302) of said modular incubator chamber (300);
wherein in respect of one or more of said one or more modular incubator chambers (300), said housing of said modular incubator chamber (300) comprises a chamber inlet opening for gas (312), wherein said chamber inlet opening for gas (312) is being in fluid connection with the interior (306) of said modular incubator chamber;
and
wherein said housing (302) of said modular incubator chamber furthermore comprises a chamber outlet opening for gas (314), wherein said chamber outlet opening for gas (314) is being in fluid connection with the interior (306) of said modular incubator chamber;
wherein said docking station (400) comprises one or more docking ports (402) for receiving a modular incubator chamber;
wherein in respect of one or more docking ports (402) of said docking station (400), said docking port (402) comprises a docking port outlet opening for gas (404);
thereby enabling transfer of gas from said docking port (402) of said docking station (400) to the interior (302) of said modular incubator chamber (300) via said docking port outlet opening for gas (404) and said chamber inlet opening for gas (312);
and
wherein said docking port (402) furthermore comprises a docking port inlet opening for gas (406), thereby enabling transfer of gas from the interior (306) of said modular incubator chamber (300) to said docking port (402) of said docking station (400);
wherein said modular incubator system (500) comprises a valve system (100), wherein said valve system comprises a first valve (2) and a second valve (4);
wherein said first valve (2) comprises:
a first valve body (6);
and
a first valve element (8);
wherein said first valve body (6) comprising a front end (10) and a rear end (12);
wherein said first valve body (6) comprises a first throughgoing channel (14) extending between said front end (10) and said rear end (12) of said first valve body (6);
wherein said first valve element (8) is being arranged in said first throughgoing channel (14) of said first valve body (6) in such a way that said first valve element (8) is being displaceable in a displacement direction D between a first extreme position and a second extreme position in said first throughgoing channel (14), wherein in said first extreme position, said first valve element (8) is being displaced in a direction towards the front end (10) of said first valve body (6), and wherein in said second extreme position, said first valve element (8) is being displaced in a direction towards the rear end (12) of said first valve body (6);
wherein the dimensions and geometries of said first valve body (6) and said first valve element (8) are adapted to each other in such a way that, once being positioned in said first extreme position, said first valve element (8) will block passage through said first throughgoing channel (14) between said front end (10) and said rear end (12) thereof, and in such a way, that once being displaced in a direction towards said second extreme position, said first valve element (8) will provide passage through said first throughgoing channel (14) between said front end (10) and said rear end (12) thereof;
wherein said second valve (4) comprises:
a second valve body (16);
and
a second valve element (18);
wherein said second valve body (16) comprising a front end (20) and a rear end (22);
wherein said second valve body (16) comprises a second throughgoing channel (24) extending between said front end (20) and said rear end (22) of said second valve body (16);
wherein said second valve element (18) is being arranged in said second throughgoing channel (24) of said second valve body (16) in such a way that said second valve element (18) is being displaceable in a displacement direction D between a first extreme position and a second extreme position in said second throughgoing channel (24), wherein in said first extreme position, said second valve element (18) is being displaced in a direction towards the front end (20) of said second valve body (16), and wherein in said second extreme position, said second valve element (18) is being displaced in a direction towards the rear end (22) of said second valve body (16);
wherein the dimensions and geometries of said second valve body (16) and said second valve element (18) are adapted to each other in such a way that, once being positioned in said first extreme position, said second valve element (18) will block passage through said second throughgoing channel (24) between said front end (20) and said rear end (22) thereof, and in such a way, that once being displaced in a direction towards said second extreme position, said second valve element (18) will provide passage through said second throughgoing channel (24) between said front end (20) and said rear end (22) thereof;
wherein one valve (2,4) of the valve system (100) is being arranged in said chamber inlet opening for gas (312), and wherein another valve (4,2) of the valve system (100) is being arranged in said docking port outlet opening for gas (404);
and
wherein one valve (2,4) of the valve system (100) of is being arranged in said chamber outlet opening for gas (314), and wherein another valve (4,2) of the valve system (100) is being arranged in said docking port inlet opening for gas (406);
wherein the individual incubation chamber is configured in a way that enables support on a planar, horizontal support surface, thereby making the incubator chambers configured to be used for incubation of a viable biological material, irrespective of whether the individual incubator chamber is being docked in a docking port of the docking station, or whether that incubator chamber is removed from the docking port of the docking station.

31 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

A valve system for a modular incubator system

Life of this patent

A valve system for a modular incubator system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22