# US 12,760,259 B2 · Connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,760,259 B2 - Document ID: US12760259B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/944,408 - Filed: 2024-11-12 - Published: 2025-02-27 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-17 - Assignees: Oribiotech Ltd. - Applicants: Oribiotech LTD - Inventors: Farlan Veraitch; William Raimes; Richard Smith; Neil Anthony Litten - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12760259B2 ## CPC - C12M 33/04: {by injection or suction, e.g. using pipettes, syringes, needles (pipettes in general B01L3/02)} - A61J 1/00: Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes (capsules or the like for oral use A61J3/07; specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments A61B50/30; containers for radioactive substances G21F5/00) - A61J 1/2003: {Accessories used in combination with means for transfer or mixing of fluids, e.g. for activating fluid flow, separating fluids, filtering fluid or venting} - A61J 1/2013: {having two piercing ends} - B01L 3/563: {Joints or fittings; Separable fluid transfer means to transfer fluids between at least two containers, e.g. connectors} - C12M 23/06: {Tubular (C12M23/08, C12M23/16 take precedence)} - C12M 23/28: {disposable or single use} - C12M 23/34: {Internal compartments or partitions} - C12M 23/48: {Holding appliances; Racks; Supports (holding devices for laboratory apparatus B01L9/00)} - C12M 47/02: {Separating microorganisms from the culture medium; Concentration of biomass (separating microorganisms from their culture media C12N1/02)} - C12M 47/04: {Cell isolation or sorting (purging biological preparations of unwanted cells C12N5/0081, determining the presence or kind of microorganism C12Q1/04)} - B01L 2200/026: Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details - B01L 2200/0689: Sealing - B01L 2300/0672: Integrated piercing tool - B01L 2400/0683: mechanically breaking a wall or membrane within a channel or chamber - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} - A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE ## Abstract There is provided a connector, for introducing or extracting a material to or from at least one receptacle, comprising a housing extending between a distal end and a proximal end, the housing comprising, at least at one end, a pierceable seal; a hollow needle mounted, at least partially, within the housing between the distal end and the proximal end of the housing, a first end of the hollow needle being connected or connectable to a first corresponding receptacle, and a second end of the hollow needle facing the pierceable seal at an end of the housing; and an actuating mechanism acting on the housing or the hollow needle to enable the hollow needle to pierce the pierceable seal thereby forming a communication through the pierceable seal, such that material is able to transfer through the connector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aseptic coupling arrangement comprising: a first aseptic seal system comprising a first clip portion including a first coupling element, and a first aseptic membrane, operably coupled to the first clip portion, and disposed over at least a portion of a first pierceable seal; and a second aseptic seal system comprising a second clip portion including a second coupling element configured to operably couple to the first coupling element, and a second aseptic membrane, operably coupled to the second clip portion and configured to operably couple to the first aseptic membrane, disposed over at least a portion of a second pierceable seal, wherein the first aseptic seal system and the second aseptic seal system are arranged to be actuated between a first configuration, in which the respective first aseptic membrane and second aseptic membrane are at least partially disposed over their respective first pierceable seal and second pierceable seal, and a second configuration, in which the respective first aseptic membrane and second aseptic membrane are removed from their respective first pierceable seal and second pierceable seal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aseptic coupling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first aseptic membrane and/or the second aseptic membrane is disposed over the entirety of the respective first pierceable seal and/or second pierceable seal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The aseptic coupling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first aseptic seal system and/or the second aseptic seal system comprises an aseptic seal system of a connector, the respective first and/or second pierceable seal being formed as part of the connector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The aseptic coupling arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the connector is a needle-based connector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The aseptic coupling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first aseptic seal system and/or the second aseptic seal system comprises an aseptic seal system of a container, a bioreactor or an interface plate, the respective first and/or second pierceable seal being formed as part of the container, the bioreactor or the interface plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The aseptic coupling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first pierceable seal and/or the second pierceable seal comprises a hermetic seal, a resealable seal or a septum seal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The aseptic coupling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first aseptic seal system and the second aseptic seal system are arranged to be actuated by an actuation system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The aseptic coupling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first clip portion is slidably operably coupled to a portion of a component in which the first pierceable seal is arranged, and the second clip portion is slidably operably coupled to a portion of a component in which the second pierceable seal is arranged. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The aseptic coupling arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the first aseptic seal system and the second aseptic seal system are arranged to be actuated to slidably move the first clip portion and the second clip portion, thereby removing the first aseptic membrane and the second aseptic membrane from the respective first pierceable seal and the second pierceable seal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The aseptic coupling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first clip portion and/or the second clip portion comprise a front wall, a rear wall, side walls adjoining the front and rear walls and a bottom wall, wherein the front wall comprises one or more protruding shoulders. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The aseptic coupling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first aseptic membrane and/or the second aseptic membrane comprises an aseptic paper seal or an aseptic polyethylene film. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The aseptic coupling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each of the first aseptic membrane and the second aseptic membrane comprises at least one fold, thereby forming a first surface configured to provide an aseptic seal to the respective first pierceable seal and second pierceable seal, and a second surface configured to mate with the other of the first aseptic membrane and the second aseptic membrane. ### Claim 13 A method of operating an aseptic coupling arrangement, comprising: providing a first aseptic seal system comprising a first clip portion including a first coupling element, and a first aseptic membrane, operably coupled to the first clip portion, disposed over at least a portion of a first pierceable seal; providing a second aseptic seal system comprising a second clip portion including a second coupling element, and a second aseptic membrane operably coupled to the second clip portion, disposed over at least a portion of a second pierceable seal; operably coupling the first coupling element to the second coupling element; operably coupling the first aseptic membrane to the second aseptic membrane; and actuating the first aseptic seal system and/or the second aseptic seal system, thereby removing the first aseptic membrane from the portion of the first pierceable seal and the second aseptic membrane from the portion of the second pierceable seal to aseptically couple an outer face of the first pierceable seal to an outer face of the second pierceable seal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising urging the outer face of the first pierceable seal into an aseptic face-to-face engagement with the outer face of the second pierceable seal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising disposing of the first aseptic seal system and/or the second aseptic seal system after use. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising providing a fluid passageway through the first pierceable seal and the second pierceable seal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the fluid passageway is provided by a needle-based connector.