Encapsulated valve system and method of use
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.
1. A method of controlling flow for pressurized pharmaceutical or biological liquid fluids comprising: inserting a disposable conduit comprising un-reinforced polymer tubing having a common line and one or more branch lines connected to the common line in an exoskeleton formed from a first housing and second housing, the first housing and the second housing each having respective pathways formed as a recesses in facing surfaces thereof, wherein a plurality of pinch valve actuators are mounted on both of the first housing and the second housing and configured to pinch the disposable conduit along the common line and one or more branch lines; securing the first housing to the second housing using one or more fasteners, wherein no portion of the disposable conduit between the first housing and the second housing is exposed to the external environment and not encapsulated by the exoskeleton; flowing a pressurized liquid in the disposable conduit; actuating one or more of the plurality of pinch valve actuators to divert flow from the common line to one or more of the branch lines; and wherein the disposable conduit is configured to carry a pressurized liquid fluid therein that would otherwise form an aneurysm in the disposable conduit in the absence of the first housing and second housing forming an exoskeleton for the same.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disposable conduit comprises a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) tubing or elastomeric tubing.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disposable conduit comprises silicone.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disposable conduit comprises seals disposed at terminal ends thereof and located outside the first housing and the second housing.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fasteners comprise at least one of a screw, bolt, or clamp.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pinch valve actuators are automatically controlled actuators.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of pinch valve actuators are mounted on both the first housing and the second housing.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a polymer material.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a metallic material.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising unsecuring the first housing from the second housing and replacing the disposable conduit with a replacement disposable conduit and re-securing the first housing to the second housing around the replacement disposable conduit.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first housing is unsecured from the second housing by loosening the one or more fasteners and the first housing is resecured to the second housing by tightening the one or more fasteners.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising connecting a terminal end of the disposable conduit to another component.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the terminal end of the disposable conduit comprising a fitting.