Aseptic fluid couplings
AssigneeColder Products Company
InventorsMatthew G. Casura, Loi T. Truong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Some fluid coupling devices described herein are configured for use in fluid systems for purposes of providing a single-use, aseptic disconnection functionality that substantially prevents fluid spillage when being disconnected. In some embodiments, the coupling portions cannot be functionally reconnected to each other after being disconnected from each other.
Claims20
A single-use aseptic fluid coupling assembly defining a longitudinal axis and an open fluid flow path through the fluid coupling assembly along the longitudinal axis, the fluid coupling assembly comprising:
- a first coupling releasably connected to a second coupling,
- the first coupling comprising:
- a first housing;
- a first valve comprising a front face surface;
- a first sleeve disposed between the first housing and the first valve, the first sleeve being translatable along the longitudinal axis;
- and
- a first valve seal coupled to the first valve and covering at least a portion of the front face surface of the first valve;
- the second coupling comprising:
- a second coupling seal comprising:
- (i) a face seal pressing against the first sleeve and (ii) a circumferential radial seal pressing against the first sleeve;
- and
- a second valve that is translatable along the longitudinal axis, the second valve comprising a front face surface,
- wherein the first valve seal is compressed between the front face surfaces of the first valve and the second valve.
A single-use aseptic fluid coupling assembly comprising a first coupling connected to a second coupling, the fluid coupling assembly defining a longitudinal axis and an open fluid flow path through the fluid coupling assembly along the longitudinal axis, wherein the first coupling and second coupling are configured to be disconnected from each other by performing steps a-c:
- (a) rotating a housing of the first coupling in a first direction about the longitudinal axis;
- (b) translating the housing of the first coupling along the longitudinal axis toward the second coupling;
- and
- (c) rotating the first coupling relative to the second coupling in a second direction about the longitudinal axis,
- wherein a first valve of the first coupling unlatches from a second valve of the second coupling during step (c).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.