Method and device for the sterile connection of pipes

A method for the sterile connection of tubes, said method comprising the following steps:

• a) providing a first and a second tube (1a, 1b);
• b) heating a separating region of each of the first and second tubes (1a, 1b) using heating means;
• c) mechanically separating the two tubes (1a, 1b) by exerting a tensile and/or shear force onto the tubes such that the two tubes (1a, 1b) are each separated in the heated separating region into a first and a second tube portion (100a, 100b, 101a, 101b);
• and
• d) producing mechanical contact, after separation of the tubes (1a, 1b), between the end (1001a) of the first tube portion (100a) of the first tube (1a), formed by the separation of the first tube, and the end (1001b) of the first tube portion (100b) of the second tube (lb), formed by the separation of the second tube (lb), wherein
• e) the mechanical contact is produced such that the ends (1001a, 1001b) of the tube portions (100a, 100b), as a result of the heating according to step b), still have such a temperature when they come into mechanical contact with one another that they form an integral bond with one another without additional heating after separation of the tubes.