Aseptic coupling devices
AssigneeColder Products Company
InventorsRandall Scott Williams, Patrick Thomas Gerst, Jeremy Henry Nichols, Todd Charles Andrews
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Formation of a sterile connection includes inserting a first aseptic coupling device into a second aseptic coupling device, removing a first membrane from the first aseptic coupling device and a second membrane from the second aseptic coupling device, and rotating a locking clip on the first aseptic coupling device to compress a first seal member of the first aseptic coupling device with a second seal member of the second aseptic coupling device to form a sterile fluid passageway.
Claims16
A method for creating an aseptic connection, the method comprising:
- inserting a front portion of a first aseptic coupling device into a second aseptic coupling device by moving the first and second aseptic coupling devices toward each other along a centerline of the first and second aseptic coupling devices to thereby cause front face portions of the first and second aseptic coupling devices to engage together,
- each of the first and second aseptic coupling devices defining a fluid passage therethrough along the centerline and comprising:
- a seal member positioned in a window formed by the respective coupling;
- and
- a membrane coupled to a front surface of the respective coupling to cover the seal member;
- and
- after inserting the front portion of the first coupling device into the second aseptic coupling device, grasping and pulling the membranes of the first and second aseptic coupling devices by applying a force in a direction away from the first and second coupling devices,
- wherein the pulling the membranes causes:
- (i) the membranes to roll in on one another and (ii) the seal members to engage each other, as the membranes are removed from the seal members, to form the aseptic connection through the fluid passages of the first aseptic coupling device and the second aseptic coupling device,
- wherein the first aseptic coupling device includes an inner member that at least partially defines the fluid passage, and wherein the membrane is attached so as to at least partially cover an end of the inner member,
- wherein the first aseptic coupling device includes a rotatable locking ring coupled to the inner member.
A method for creating an aseptic connection, the method comprising:
- inserting a front portion of a first aseptic coupling device into a second aseptic coupling device by moving the first and second aseptic coupling devices toward each other along a centerline of the first and second aseptic coupling devices to thereby cause front face portions of the first and second aseptic coupling devices to engage together,
- each of the first and second aseptic coupling devices defining a fluid passage therethrough along the centerline and comprising:
- a seal member positioned in a window formed by the respective coupling;
- and
- a membrane coupled to a front surface of the respective coupling to cover the seal member;
- and
- after inserting the front portion of the first coupling device into the second aseptic coupling device, grasping and pulling the membranes of the first and second aseptic coupling devices by applying a force in a direction away from the first and second coupling devices,
- wherein the pulling the membranes causes:
- (i) the membranes to roll in on one another and (ii) the seal members to engage each other, as the membranes are removed from the seal members, to form the aseptic connection through the fluid passages of the first aseptic coupling device and the second aseptic coupling device, wherein the second aseptic coupling device defines slots and comprises a clip received in the slots.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.