Patent Publication Number: US-2005139276-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for the distribution of fluids

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims priority to Application number FR 03 51031, titled “Three-way tap for the distribution of fluids, and its use”, filed in France on Dec. 11, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates generally to perfusion devices used to perform synthetic chemistry operations for the production of pharmaceutical compounds. In particular, the present invention relates to a three-way valve for the distribution of fluids.  
      Perfusion devices, which are used classically in medicine, especially for providing care to bed-ridden patients, include one or more three-way valves. These devices are fed by pouches, bottles, syringes and the like through conduits. A valve is normally placed on the conduit which goes from the fluid container to the perfusion device. When several different fluids are to be administered, there are known ways of placing a three-way valve, also referred to as a three-way tap, for each fluid. Two passages of the valve are located on a main conduit while the third passage is connected to the fluid container. In certain cases, if the number of fluids to be injected is great, an array or bank of three-way valves may be cascade-mounted on the main conduit.  
      The valves conventionally used in the field of perfusion devices are of the core valve type. This kind of valve consists of a cylindrical part drilled with a radial channel, which is the core. This part can rotate on its axis and is inserted into a fixed valve body provided with at least two holes. When a hole of the channel of the core faces a hole of the fixed body, the valve is open on this outlet (which may be an inlet). When the core is turned to a position in which no hole of the channel comes before a given outlet of the fixed body, this outlet is closed.  
      The three-way valve is classically formed by a fixed body provided with three holes placed at 90° with respect to each other. A T-shaped channel is formed by drilling a first channel going from one side of a core to the other along a diameter. A half-channel is then drilled from the periphery of the core at right angles to the first channel, leading up perpendicularly into the middle of the first channel. In a first position of the core, a first outlet from the body, facing a first half-channel that is along the diameter, is thus connected to a second outlet from the body, facing the half-channel at right angles. In a second position of the core, the second outlet of the body facing the half-channel at right angles is thus connected to a third outlet of the body facing the second half-channel that is along the diameter. In a third position of the core, the outlets of the body facing the two half-channels placed along the diameter are connected to each other. In a fourth and last position of the core, the three outlets are connected to each other.  
      When used in a process of chemical synthesis, the aforementioned three-way valve raises a problem of rinsing. In every case except the last one, a channel segment remains filled with a fluid that has gone through it in a previous step. Therefore, when different solutions are to be transferred in succession through the valve, numerous rinsing steps are required to prevent the remaining fluid from polluting the next solution.  
      An additional concern with currently available valves is the high cost. If the valve is integrated into a device designed for one-time use, whereby the valve is to be disposable, the cost of purchasing replacement valves may be prohibitive.  
      Therefore, apparatus and method are desired to distribute fluids that address the problems noted above and others previously experienced. Certain embodiments of the present invention are intended to meet these needs and other objectives that will become apparent from the description and drawings set forth below.  
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      In one embodiment, an apparatus for distributing fluid comprises a circular, cylindrical valve body and a circular, cylindrical core. The body is centered with respect to a cylinder axis and has a perimeter. Three outlets, each of which communicates with one of three conduits, are positioned at 120 degrees relative to each other on the perimeter of the body. The core comprises a channel and a rotational axis which is collinear with respect to the cylinder axis of the body. The core has a periphery and fits into the body wherein the perimeter and periphery are in communication with each other. The core is rotatable within the body, and the channel connects two of the three outlets of the body to each other according to the position of the core with respect to the body.  
      In another embodiment, a method for distribution of fluid comprises inserting a circular, cylindrical core into a circular, cylindrical valve body to form a three-way valve. The body comprises three outlets positioned equidistant relative to each other on a perimeter, each of which communicate with one of three conduits. The core comprises a channel having first and second holes at either end for conveying fluid between two of the outlets. By rotating the core to a first position, the channel interconnects two of the outlets.  
      In another embodiment, an apparatus for the distribution of fluid comprises an array of at least two three-way valves. Each of the three-way valves comprises a circular, cylindrical valve body and a circular, cylindrical core. The body is centered with respect to a cylinder axis and has a perimeter with three outlets positioned at 120 degrees relative to each other which communicate with one of three conduits. The core comprises a rotational axis which is collinear with respect to the cylinder axis. The core has a periphery and fits into the body with the perimeter and periphery in communication with each other. A channel within the core connects two of the three outlets of the body to each other according to a position of the core with respect to the body. A common general conduit is in communication with at least one of the outlets of each of the three-way valves and interconnects the array.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a cut away view of an array of three-way valves formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a view of the core of the three-way valve formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates a first embodiment formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a second embodiment formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  illustrates a third embodiment formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a fourth embodiment formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
      The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a cut away view of an array of three-way valves  30  formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Three-way valves  1 ,  17  and  18  are illustrated and are used to distribute fluid (the three-way valves  17  and  18  are partially illustrated). It should be understood that different quantities of three-way valves  1 ,  17 , and  18  may be used to create the array of three-way valves  30 . By way of example only, approximately 25 three-way valves  1 ,  17 , and  18  may be interconnected to create an array, also referred to as a ramp or manifold. Alternatively, three-way valves  1 ,  17  and  18  may be used singularly.  
      The three-way valves  1 ,  17  and  18  are formed in the same manner. Thus, only exemplary three-way valve  1  will be discussed. The three-way valve  1  has a circular, cylindrical valve body  5 . The body  5  is centered with respect to a cylinder axis  6 . The body  5  is provided with three outlets  7 ,  8  and  9  forming access points for three conduits  2 ,  3  and  4 , respectively. The three outlets  7 ,  8  and  9  of the body  5  are positioned at 120° relative to one another on a circular, cylindrical perimeter  12  of the body  5 .  
      The three-way valve  1  has a circular, cylindrical core  10 . The core  10  fits into the body  5 . The core  10  has a periphery  14  and an axis of rotation that is collinear with the cylinder axis  6 . The core  10  comprises a secant channel  13  leading out on either side to the periphery  14  of the core  10 . Holes  15  and  16  are at either end of the channel  13 . The channel  13  is called secant because it is preferably straight and follows a non-diametrical secant line positioned on the circular cylindrical perimeter  12 . In other words, the channel  13  is straight and off-center with respect to the cylinder axis  6 . Depending upon the position of the core  10  in the body  5 , the channel  13  connects two of the three outlets  7 ,  8  and  9  of the body  5  to each other. In order to orient the core  10  within the body  5  as desired, the core  10  may be attached to a wheel  11 .  
      As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the channel  13  leads out into the periphery  14  so as to be facing the outlets  8  and  9 . Holes  15  and  16  corresponding to the ends of the channel  13  are facing the outlets  8  and  9  of the body  5 . The holes  15  and  16  are located at the ends of a circular sector with a 120° angle and are centered on a trace of the axis  6 . In the position shown, a fluid may be conveyed from the conduit  4  to the conduit  3 , or vice versa. In other words, the conduits  3  and  4  are an extension of each other, connected by the interposed channel  13 . If the core  10  were to be rotated by 120° from the position shown, the channel  13  would connect the conduits  2  and  3  or the conduits  2  and  4  to each other. Therefore, by rotating the core  10 , a fluid may be conveyed by a first conduit  2  and distributed to either of two conduits  3  and  4  of the three-way valve  1 .  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a view of the core  10  of the three-way valve  1  formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The channel  13  is straight and offset relative to the cylinder axis  6 . The channel  13  therefore does not follow a diameter.  
      Such an arrangement favors the making of the ramp, bank, or array of three-way valves  30 . Returning to  FIG. 1 , the three-way valves  17  and  18  are placed on either side of the three-way valve  1 . The conduits  3  and  4  may serve to connect a battery of conduits  2  of each of these three-way valves to a common, general conduit  19 . In addition, any pair of conduits  2  may be interconnected.  
      The body  5  and the core  10  may be made of plastic, especially with a view to a one-time type of use. It should be appreciated, however, that other suitable materials may be used. By way of example only, the core  10  may have a diameter of 8 millimeters (mm) and the channel  13  may have a diameter of 1 to 2 mm. The core  10  may be hollow, having only a wall of the channel  13  within the peripheral wall  14 . The entire core  10  may be made by injection molding. In addition, the core  10  is provided with a clip  20  and the body  5  of the three-way valve  1  provides a recess on an interior surface of the body  5  (the recess is not shown) to receive the clip  20 . In this way, the assembly, and the holding of the core  10  and body  5  of the three-way valve  1  may be facilitated. By forming the valve  1  with plastic or other similar material, when using the three-way valve  1  for perfusion, there is no need to make a sealing joint. The periphery  14  of the core  10  and perimeter  12  of the body  5  facing each other are smooth enough to permit free rotation and to maintain a tight seal at low pressure.  
       FIGS. 3-6  illustrate four possible implementations of use for the three-way valves  1 ,  17  and  18 .  FIG. 3  illustrates a first embodiment  32  formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The body  5  is provided with a hollow needle  21  which may extend into the conduit  2 . The hollow needle  21  may be placed at the base of a receptacle  22 , which may be continuous or open, and thus capable of receiving a bottle  23 . The needle  21  is designed to perforate a plug  24  of the bottle  23 . The hollow needle  21  conveys fluid from within the bottle  23  through channel  13  of the core  10  to conduit  3 .  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a second embodiment  34  formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The valve body  5  is provided with a receptacle  25  to receive a syringe piston  26 . The receptacle  25  opens into the conduit  2 , and fluid is conveyed through channel  13  to conduit  4 .  
       FIG. 5  illustrates a third embodiment  36  formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the body  5  is provided with a grooved connecting piece  27  to receive a tube or other conduit.  FIG. 6  illustrates a fourth embodiment  38  formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the body  5  is provided with a standardized receiver  28  of syringe tips.  
      By way of example only, the three-way valve  1  may be integrated into a radiochemical synthesis device for one-time use. The three-way valve  1  provides a lower cost solution with no mixing of undrained fluid, as was previously experienced.  
      While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.