Originally Published EMDM March/April 2002
VALVES
Custom valve mixes gaseous media
"Basically, we're a trading company that also makes custom products," says Matthias Siegwart, European sales manager at Bibus AG (Wallisellen, Switzerland). The company, which distributes and produces pumps and valves for the medical industry, displayed a custom gas-mixing valve at the Medica show.
The mixing valve, which can change its flow rate, consists of a valve block and a built-in stepper motor. The valve is designed to mix two gaseous media. With a lifetime of more than 100 million cycles, it is expected to find applications in respirators and anaesthesia equipment. The mix valve operates with a pressure range of 0 to 6 bar and has a high repeatability accuracy.
Siegwart says that medical manufacturers also appreciate the valve's small size (42 x 42 x 74 mm) and reasonable price. He also notes that specific customer requirements can be met. "If a pulsating delivery is necessary, for example in respiration equipment, an impulse valve can be flange mounted on the mixing valve," he says.
Benjamin Lichtman
Copyright ©2002 European Medical Device Manufacturer
