An apparatus, system and method for regulating fluid flow are disclosed. The apparatus includes a flow rate sensor and a valve. The flow rate sensor uses images to estimate flow through a drip chamber and then controls the valve based on the estimated flow rate. The valve comprises a rigid housing disposed around the tube in which fluid flow is being controlled. Increasing the pressure in the housing controls the size of the lumen within the tube by deforming the tube, therefore controlling flow through the tube.

A fluid switching valve including a first elastic tube that delivers a first fluid; a second elastic tube that delivers a second fluid; a third elastic tube having one end connected to the first and second elastic tubes; and a switching member that, by displacing a protruding portion, switches between a first state in which the first elastic tube is constricted and the second fluid is delivered to the third elastic tube, a second state in which the second elastic tube is constricted and the first fluid is delivered to the third elastic tube, a third state in which the first and second elastic tubes are both constricted and introduction of fluid to the third elastic tube is cut off, and a fourth state in which neither the first nor second elastic tube is constricted and both the first and second fluids are delivered to the third elastic tube.

An encapsulated valve system includes a first housing portion having a first facing surface, the first facing surface comprising a plurality of branch pathways formed as a recess within the first facing surface. The valve system further includes a second housing portion having a second facing surface, the second facing surface comprising a plurality of branch pathways formed as a recess within the second facing surface. A disposable conduit is configured to be interposed between the first and second housing portions and disposed within the recess of the first facing surface and the recess of the second facing surface. The disposable conduit is thus sandwiched between the first and second facing surfaces. A plurality of pinch valve actuators are mounted on one or both of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the plurality of pinch valve actuators configured to pinch the disposable conduit at selective branch pathways.

A medical pump, in particular an infusion pump for conveying a medium, includes a seating for a hose clamp which is separate from the pump and arranged on the hose. Two clamping portions of the hose clamp which can be moved relative to each other can be transferred into a closed relative position in which they pinch off the hose arranged therebetween in such a manner that it is not possible for any medium to flow through the interior of the hose. Moreover, the clamping portions can be moved with respect to each other into an opened relative position in which the hose arranged between the clamping portions is not pinched off, so that the medium is able to flow through the interior of the hose. The pump is distinguished in that a sensor is provided thereon, in particular in the seating for the hose clamp, which sensor detects at least when the hose clamp is received in the seating—whether their clamping portions are in the closed or opened relative position.

A device for controlling fluid media, such as a directional control valve, includes a molded part made from an elastomeric material in which at least one line section is formed. The line section connects at least two connections to one another, between which at least one flow path extends. The device or valve has a control unit that includes an actuator coupled to at least one blocking element. The at least one blocking element is displaced by the actuator between a blocking position and a release position. In the blocking position, the at least one blocking element deforms the at least one line section in order to block the at least one flow path.

Disclosed are embodiments of a pinch valve assembly that can include a controller, an actuator assembly, the actuator assembly including a stepper motor, a leadscrew actuated by the stepper motor such that the leadscrew travels in a plurality of incremental linear steps, a piston coupled with the leadscrew such that relative movement of the leadscrew is transferred to the piston, a valve body, where the piston travels within a bore defined by the valve body, a slotted aperture formed in the valve body to retain at least a portion of tubing, and a pin where the piston and the pin are configured to pinch tubing therebetween such that flow within the tubing can be metered.

A linearly actuated pinch clamp is provided, including a housing, a motor connected to the housing, a mechanical drive unit connected to the motor for converting a rotary motion of the motor to a linear motion and for introducing a mechanical advantage to the motion of the motor, and a pinching element having a body and a pinching surface. The pinching element body is coupled to the mechanical drive unit. In certain versions of the pinch clamp, the pinching element is slidably mounted to the housing such that the pinching element is linearly displaceable by the mechanical drive unit between a first position and a second position where the pinching surface cooperates with a fixed surface to pinch closed a flexible tube.

A pinch valve assembly for use in fluidic applications has an inlet and outlet with a flexible conduit therebetween, a base plate attached to a housing maintaining in its upper part an electromagnet. The valve assembly further includes a pinch munit assembly including in its lower external surface a knife, the pinch unit assembly being axially moveable around the body of the electromagnet between a rest position in which the knife pinches the flexible conduit when the electromagnet is not energized and an open position in which the knife releases the flexible conduit when the electromagnet is energized. It further includes an elastic unit urging the pinch unit assembly against the base plate. The electromagnet is energized in phases, first with a high level of energy during a short time and second with an energy ten times less than that provided in the first phase to maintain the valve open.

A low noise solenoid valve system includes a solenoid valve; and a controller configured to perform a power actuation sequence in which power to the solenoid valve undergoes a plurality of cycles that switch from an actuation level power to a hold level power, wherein the actuation level power is increased at each subsequent cycle, and wherein the actuation power level of one of the plurality of cycles is sufficient to fully actuate the solenoid valve.

Disclosed herein are media for culture of cells, tissues, and/or organs. The media formulations disclosed herein can be used to support growth, viability, and/or function of one or more than one cell type, tissue, or organ. In some embodiments, one or more cell types, tissues, organ devices, and/or organs are contacted with a disclosed culture medium under conditions sufficient to support growth, viability, and/or function of the cell types, tissues, and/or organs. The disclosed media can be used in methods of culturing multiple cell types, and in some examples, is used in a platform device including one or more organ devices, for example, by circulating the medium through the one or more organ devices in the platform.