Fluid control solutions for analytical markets

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Dec 17, 2002

Asco Joucomatic has created a new division - Asco Scientific - specifically to provide fluid control solutions to the medical, biomedical and industrial analytical markets.

Asco Joucomatic has created a new division - Asco Scientific - specifically to provide fluid control solutions to the medical, biomedical and industrial analytical markets.

The comprehensive Asco Scientific range is designed to provide solutions where standard products are unsuitable.

It includes miniature products such as pinch valves for contamination-free operation, fluid isolation valves for controlling aggressive fluids, miniature directional control valves, and a series of proportional valves that includes piezo types, with non heating characteristics, to full closed loop versions in port sizes up to G1.

These products are also combined by Asco Scientific to provide bespoke multi-function modules for use in application areas such as dentistry, microbiology, analysis and respiratory control.

Asco Scientific's pinch solenoid valves are direct acting, two- and three-way NO or NC types which are intended to provide sterile conditions in medical analyser, biotechnology and chromatography applications.

The pinch valves control the flow of air, water, inert gases and liquids by the pinching of a silicone tube, which is the only component in contact with the fluid.

This action shuts off the flow without any, noise, turbulence or dead spaces where a medium could collect and stagnate.

The pinch valves are designed for bidirectional flow and are available with both 12 and 24V DC coils.

The range of isolation valves introduced by Asco Scientific is designed for use in medical analysers, biotechnology and gas analysers, and with corrosive fluids such as acids, bases and analytical reagents.

In view of their stringent operating conditions, the valves are direct acting types, with hermetic separation between the fluid and valve parts to prevent contamination.

They are available in both two- and threeway configurations with operation via lever, diaphragm or bellows.

In order to resist the corrosive mediums with which they are used, the valves have either stainless steel or plastic bodies and cater for a wide range of applications with seal material options such as EPDM, Viton and silicone elastomers.

Asco Scientific's range of miniature direct acting solenoid valves are the ideal building blocks for use in bespoke control manifolds of the type used in dentistry, microbiology and chemical analytical systems.

The valves meet today's market requirements for more compact, lower power (1W min) and low cost valves.

Both 2 way and 3 way versions are provided, all employing plastic bodies and internal parts of brass and stainless steel.

The modular construction of the valves provides great flexibility with M3 threaded bodies and M3 and M5 sub-bases all being available.

Completing the list of products in Asco Scientific's medical and analytical series is one of the most comprehensive ranges of proportional valves available.

These valves provide variable flow, which is proportional to a control signal.

This type of operation is employed in medical applications such as endoscopy, where a proportional valve block controls the flow of CO2 used to enlarge the operating area for endoscopic surgery.

Asco Scientific's Sentronic proportional valves are also used in tandem to control the flow of blood through artificial hearts, by alternatively applying pressure or vacuum.

In another application; micro injection of aqueous solutions into living cells, Asco Joucomatic's Piezotronic valve is providing precise control with extremely low power consumption (0.007W) and practically unlimited service life (above a billion cycles).

The Piezotronic is ideal for this application as its low power consumption means that there is no heat transfer from the valve into the fluid, a condition that could otherwise spoil the process.

Further information regarding Asco Scientific's new medical and analytical range of valve products is contained within a new 80 page catalogue produced by the company.