�ǳ�web Knowledgebase - CFC

Innovating Under Pressure: Ventilator Solutions for Respiratory Support

Rachel Desenberg — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 17:17:53 +0000

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As engineers, we are constantly challenged to solve complex problems, but sometimes the stakes go beyond efficiency and innovation—they are about saving lives. During the height of the COVID-19 crisis, ventilators became essential tools for supporting patients unable to breathe on their own. The global shortage of these devices placed immense pressure on manufacturers and engineers to deliver solutions quickly and precisely.

Ventilators rely on a delicate balance of components to replicate the body’s natural breathing process. They must regulate the flow of oxygen, air, and carbon dioxide with exceptional precision, ensuring the right mixture for each patient. The precision needed to replicate this biological function requires carefully timed sequences of valves, flow controllers, and gas regulation systems—all working together in harmony. This is where �ǳ�web’s flexible manufacturing capabilities and ability to innovate under pressure made a crucial difference.

Precision for Every Breath

A ventilator does more than push air into the lungs; it ensures the right balance of life-essential gases. Every breath must be precisely calibrated—delivering the correct amount of oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide. A slight shift in balance could be life-threatening.

This is where engineering expertise is crucial. Designing a system that regulates pressure, flow, and gas mixtures requires meticulous attention to detail. The challenge is ensuring consistent performance in a life-support application where even the smallest miscalculation can have severe consequences.

Video filmed at �ǳ�web in Cincinnati, Ohio

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�ǳ�web's Swift Response: Delivering Critical Solutions

In response to the ventilator shortage, �ǳ�web quickly adapted to the crisis. Our flexible manufacturing capabilities enabled us to design and deliver a special manifold solution that incorporated high-performance �ǳ�web components.

At the core of this solution were our low decibel, low power, high life cycle EV valves. These valves provided the precise control of air and gas flow essential for ensuring the correct delivery of oxygen, air, and carbon dioxide. In a life-support system, reliable and consistent performance is key, and �ǳ�web’s valves excelled in providing that.

Additionally, we incorporated our Cordis Series flow controllers into the design. These controllers allowed for fine-tuned regulation of gas flow, ensuring the exact mix of oxygen and air was delivered in precise quantities for each patient. This level of accuracy is critical in critical care applications, where even the slightest deviation can lead to serious health risks.

Engineering Under Pressure: The �ǳ�web Advantage

�ǳ�web’s ability to deliver in such a high-pressure situation wasn’t just about having the right products—it was our ability to think fast, adapt, and innovate under pressure. Our deep understanding of precision fluid control, coupled with our flexible manufacturing capabilities, allowed us to meet the urgent demand for ventilator solutions with quick turnaround times and exceptional performance.

The high life cycle and low energy consumption of our EV valves made them ideally suited for the demanding environments of ventilators, where components must perform reliably over long periods without failure. In addition, the precision of the Cordis Series flow controllers ensured that the correct gas ratios were consistently delivered, preventing dangerous fluctuations in gas mixtures.

Designing for Critical Care: A New Standard

The ventilator shortage underscored the importance of rapid innovation and precision in critical applications. It was a reminder that engineering solutions must not only be technically sound but adaptable to real-time needs. In times of crisis, quick thinking and high-caliber engineering can have a direct impact on the outcome.

�ǳ�web’s engineers embraced this responsibility, ensuring that our solutions enabled ventilators to provide consistent, life-saving care in hospitals. The impact went beyond simply meeting production demand—it was about delivering the precision that enabled these life-support machines to function safely and effectively.

The Future of Engineering Solutions

In high-stakes applications like critical care, the ability to innovate quickly, adapt to changing needs, and deliver reliable solutions is essential. �ǳ�web’s flexible manufacturing capabilities and commitment to excellence allowed us to step up when it was needed most, delivering the components that helped ventilators function with the precision and reliability required for patient care.

As we look forward, the lessons learned from this experience remain crucial. When urgency meets ingenuity, we can save lives. Whether you’re working on ventilators, medical devices, or other applications that require precise fluid and gas control, �ǳ�web’s solutions are designed to meet the highest standards of performance and reliability.

Let’s continue designing systems that not only solve problems but contribute to saving lives when it matters most. Ready to get started? Contact us today to discuss your application.

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Cordis CFC Series Flow Controller	EV Series Electronic Valves

Electronic Gas Blending

Rachel Desenberg — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 15:04:25 +0000

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Videos

Andrew Aurand, Regional Sales Manager for �ǳ�web, discusses how �ǳ�web's Cordis electronic flow controllers solve some of the problems that can occur with gas blending and provide some unique benefits.

Video filmed at �ǳ�web in Cincinnati, Ohio

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:

My name is Andrew Aurand. I’m the Regional Sales Manager covering New England. So, electronic gas blending is the control of combining different gasses to control both the mixture ratio as well as the overall combined flow rate. And in this application, we are utilizing a number of �ǳ�web products to accomplish that task.

So in electronic gas blending, typically the media would include nitrogen, oxygen, helium, carbon dioxide, or different gasses that are used during surgery. The device itself would take those gasses, whether from a line in the hospital or from bottled gasses, combine them, precisely controlling the ratio, and then also controlling the overall combined flow rate of those gasses.

Some of the problems that can occur are to be able to control the mixture over the full range that the device needs to operate. So for example, if they are utilizing this device at a very low flow rate where they need high precision control, but they also need to be able to achieve a high flow rate of the combined gasses, it can be difficult for the device to have the level of precision needed at the low end while also giving that high flow rate range.

So by utilizing �ǳ�web’s Cordis units, this allows simplification of the circuit utilizing three products where typically there would be more involved. With any medical device, space is everything. Whether it be inside of an operating room, or inside of a hospital itself, saving on space and simplification are very helpful. As well as serviceability is improved—you only have one unit to service, some of them can even utilize the same unit to control different gasses depending on the flow rates and the different medias. So you’re able to make the device smaller, lighter, now having an option to transport that device whereas it may have been too heavy or bulky previously.

On the more technical side, the Cordis flow controller’s onboard PID loop simplifies the control system of the device itself. Also, from a serviceability standpoint, because the device has the controls built into it, all that needs to be replaced is one cable that plugs into it if you do have an issue.

So, �ǳ�web’s Cordis flow controller has the ability to custom tune the PID loop to optimize performance of the flow controller in the application. Additionally, when that is paired with �ǳ�web’s value-added capabilities to allow the customer to purchase only one part number with all of the units assembled onto one and a manifold to reduce leak points, it allows the customer to not only save time during assembly, but ultimately cost.

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CFC

Flow Cytometry Application

Rachel Desenberg — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 19:28:58 +0000

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Applications

Did you know? �ǳ�web products are used in flow cytometry to help provide early detection of blood-related cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma.

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Pressure Driven Flow Control

Rachel Desenberg — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 18:46:35 +0000

Category:

Applications

�ǳ�web pressure and flow control components make for an ideal solution for precise control of critical gases in bioprocessing applications and are a smart alternative to syringe and peristaltic pumps. Smooth acceleration and stable, pulsation-free, bidirectional flow of liquids are achievable, minimizing the damaging effects of acceleration, pressure surges, shear, and impact forces on sensitive media.

A �ǳ�web Cordis Electronic Pressure Controller is precisely maintaining the headspace pressure of a reservoir. The very fine resolution capability of a second Cordis is actively controlling differential pressure to smoothly accelerate the flow of the liquid media to a stable, pulsation-free rate into and out of the reservoir. The piloted pinch valves allow use of the same pressure controllers to control multiple flow paths, in both directions and at differing flow rates.

Watch a video of a similar demo:

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15 mm Electronic Valves	DR-2 Precision Regulator	Electronic Pinch Valves	Pneumatic Pinch Valves

Cordis Electronic Pressure Controls	Cordis Electronic Flow Controls

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