Method of joining sterile connectors

Inventors

Freeman, George Leonard • Houghton, Albert • Heimann, Carl • Jasik, Jakub • Mitchell, Adam • Culshaw, Poppy • Glen, Adam

Assignees

Unicorn Biotechnologies Ltd

Abstract

Disclosed is a convenient joining of tubing in a secure, leak-free connection, suitable for aseptic fluid transfer, wherein two holders each have a channel designed to house tubing and each holder has a mating surface at one end of the channel. The ends of the respective tubing closest to the mating surfaces are fitted with male and female hollow connectors. Tape is attached to the region of the connectors near the tubing and/or to the tubing itself. After the holders are joined, the ends of the tape are pulled to advance the male and female connectors to mate and form a secure connection.

Core Innovation

The invention provides a method of connecting a first tubing to a second tubing for aseptic fluid transfer by using two holders, each having a channel designed to house the tubing and a mating surface at one end of the channel. A male connector having a central bore and a tapered distal end is attached to a female connector having a central bore made of elastic material so it surrounds the male connector and forms a seal.

The method places the first tubing in the channel in the first holder and the second tubing in the channel in the second holder so that the opposing male and female connectors face each other. First and second tapes are attached to portions of the first and second tubings, respectively, and the mating surfaces of the holders are then placed adjacent, and the ends of the first and second tapes are pulled so the male and female connectors advance toward each other, with the male connector pulled inside the female connector to form the seal and provide a fluid connection from the first tubing to the second tubing.

The described system further supports aseptic/semi-sterile connection using configurations that enable reduced contamination risk and reduced reliance on chemical agents and/or external sterile environments. Multiple connector and taping configurations are described, and the connection is stated to allow secure leak-free sealing and the ability to connect and disconnect multiple times while maintaining sterility.

Claims Coverage

The independent claim identified is clm-00001. It contains five inventive features that together define an aseptic tubing-to-tubing connection using holders, a tapered male connector inserted into an elastic female connector to form a seal, and tape-based advancement that pulls the connectors together.

Overall, the claim coverage centers on forming an aseptic seal between tubing ends using holders that position opposing connectors, a tapered male connector received by an elastic female connector to create the seal, and tape-based pulling that advances the connectors together to establish the fluid connection.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications