Aseptic connector for fluid conduits
Inventors
BONNYMAN, Alexandra • Love, Kerry R. • WEINER, Larry • Love, John Christopher • Kahatt, Espir • AL-SHAMSIE, Ziad • REISMAN, Ben • GOLDBLATT, Alex
Assignees
Publication Number
US-11844922-B2
Publication Date
2023-12-19
Expiration Date
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Abstract
An aseptic connector includes first and second matable housings each comprising a plurality of connectors for fluid conduits. The fluid conduits enter the housings and may be force-fitted onto barbs or flanges on one side of the connectors, or may instead be molded directly onto the connectors. When the housings are joined, the opposite sides of the connectors mate to form fluid seals, thereby establishing fluid pathways between now-connected sets of tubes.
Core Innovation
Embodiments of the present invention facilitate selectable, bidirectional, aseptic connections among fluid conduits using a pair of matable housings each comprising a plurality of connectors for fluid conduits. The fluid conduits enter the housings and may be force-fitted onto barbs or flanges on one side of the connectors, or may instead be molded directly onto the connectors. When the housings are joined, the opposite sides of the connectors mate to form fluid seals, thereby establishing fluid pathways between now-connected sets of conduits.
The invention includes housings in which at least one hinged door and a foil or other hermetic seal on the second housing are arranged so that mating of the first and second housings causes the door to swing from a closed position into an open position to pierce the seal and aseptically establish fluid communication between the connectors of the first housing and the connectors of the second housing. The hinged doors can comprise a pair of serrated leaves which pierce the seal of the second housing, and the housings may include alignment marks and gaskets to provide fluidic seals. The background problem being addressed is that aseptic couplers must be able to make an aseptic connection outside a clean-room environment because any contact of the fluid path or a contact surface exposed to the environment or a user risks contamination, and packaging or removable seals alone do not eliminate that risk.
Claims Coverage
The patent contains five independent claims. The inventive features cover matable housings with hinged doors and seals that are pierced upon mating to establish aseptic fluid communication, embodiments with alignment marks, embodiments with mating connector ends and gaskets, embodiments including a pierceable fluid seal and shroud/frame/doors configuration, and a method of fluid transfer using mating housings to pierce a seal.
Matable housings with hinged door and seal that are pierced upon mating to establish aseptic fluid communication
first and second housings matable with one another and each comprising at least one connector for fluid conduits; and on the second housing, (i) at least one hinged door hingedly mounted on the second housing and (ii) a seal disposed at the second housing and configured for maintaining an interior region of the second housing sealed until mating of the first and second housings, wherein when mating of the first and second housings, the first housing causes the at least one hinged door to swing from a closed position into an open position to thereby pierce the seal and aseptically establish fluid communication between the at least one connector of the first housing and the at least one connector of the second housing.
Matable housings with alignment marks indicating mating
first and second housings matable with one another and each comprising at least one connector for fluid conduits; and on the second housing, (i) at least one hinged door and (ii) a seal, wherein mating of the first and second housings causes the at least one hinged door to swing from a closed position into an open position to thereby pierce the seal and aseptically establish fluid communication between the at least one connector of the first housing and the at least one connector of the second housing; and the first housing includes a window therethrough and a first alignment mark on the window and the second housing has second alignment mark thereon, registration of the first and second alignment marks indicating mating of the at least one connector of the first-housing with the at least one connector of the second-housing.
Matable housings with connector ends and gaskets providing fluidic seals
first and second housings matable with one another and each comprising at least one connector for fluid conduits; and on the second housing, (i) at least one hinged door and (ii) a seal, wherein mating of the first and second housings causes the at least one hinged door to swing from a closed position into an open position to thereby pierce the seal and aseptically establish fluid communication between the at least one connector of the first housing and the at least one connector of the second housing; each of the at least one connector of the first housing and the at least one connector of the second housing has a first end adapted to sealably receive a fluid conduit and a second end, opposite the first end, for mating with another connector; and each of the at least one connector of the second housing includes a gasket surrounding a portion of the second end thereof, the second end of each of the at least one connector of the second housing being receivable into the second end of a corresponding connector in the at least one connector of the first housing whereby the gasket provides fluidic seals therebetween.
Pierceable fluid seal over interior of first housing with shroud/frame and internal doors
first and second housings matable with each other and each comprising at least one connector for fluid conduits; a pierceable fluid seal over an interior of the first housing; and on the second housing, (i) at least one hinged door and (ii) a seal, wherein mating of the first and second housings causes the at least one hinged door to swing from a closed position into an open position to thereby pierce the pierceable fluid seal and aseptically establish fluid communication between the at least one connector of the first housing and the at least one connector of the second housing; and the first housing comprises a shroud and a frame bearing the at least one connector of the first housing for fluid conduits and further comprises a pair of doors within the first housing for maintaining a sealed region between said doors of the first housing and the pierceable fluid seal over the interior of the first housing, wherein said doors of the first housing are openable upon introduction of the frame into the shroud.
Method of fluid transfer using mating housings to pierce a seal and establish aseptic connections
connecting a plurality of fluid conduits to first and second housings matable with one another, the second housing comprising at least one hinged door hingedly mounted on the second housing and a seal disposed at the second housing and configured for maintaining an interior region of the second housing sealed until mating of the first and second housings; and mating the first and second housings such that the first housing causes the at least one hinged door of the second housing to swing from a closed position into an open position to pierce the seal and establish aseptic fluid connections between at least one connector of the first housing and at least one connector of the second housing.
The independent claims are directed to mating housing assemblies in which hinged doors and seals on the second housing are pierced upon mating to establish aseptic fluid communication, with specific embodiments covering alignment marks, connector end/gasket mating for fluidic seals, a pierceable seal with shroud/frame and internal doors, and a corresponding method of fluid transfer.
Stated Advantages
Affords flexibility in terms of device configuration and actual use by allowing the number of fluid-conduit connectors to be selected and not all available connectors to be employed.
Reduces the risks associated with independent connections because a single housing set can afford a plurality of connections.
Documented Applications
Fluid transport and connections among fluid conduits in biological production processes.
Aseptically connect a fluid flow path from one piece of processing equipment to another along a sterile pathway.
Fluid transfer by connecting a plurality of fluid conduits to first and second matable housings and mating the housings to establish aseptic fluid connections.
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