System and method for the automated opening of a sterile tubing weld
AssigneeFenwal, Inc.
InventorsMark Joseph Brierton, James Knapp, Michael Platt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for automatically opening a heat bonded connection site between two conjoined tubing segments of a medical fluid path is provided. A pair of rollers is utilized to draw the connection site of the conjoined tubing segments between the rollers to compress the connection site with sufficient force to open the connection site. A guide in the form of an elongated groove is provided in a support surface of the system that properly aligns the seal line axis of the conjoined tubing segments relative to the rollers.
Claims20
A system for automatically opening a heat bonded connection site between two conjoined tubing segments of a medical fluid path, the conjoined tubing segments defining a longitudinal axis and the connection site defining a seal line axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conjoined tubing segments, the system comprising:
- a) a support surface having a first axis for receiving the conjoined tubing segments with the longitudinal axis of the conjoined tubing segments in alignment with the first axis of the support surface;
- b) first and second spaced-apart rollers, each rotatable about an axis generally perpendicular to the first axis of the support surface, the first roller being positioned substantially on a first side of the support surface and the second roller being positioned substantially to a second side of the support surface opposite the first side so that the conjoined tubing segments are positioned between the first and second rollers when the conjoined tubing segments are positioned on the support surface with the longitudinal axis in alignment with the first axis, at least one of the first and second rollers being movable toward and away from the other one of the first and second rollers;
- and
- c) a drive motor associated with at least one of the first and second rollers for rotating said at least one of the first and second rollers about its axis.
A method for opening a heat-bonded connection site between two conjoined tubing segments of a medical fluid path, the conjoined tubing segments defining a longitudinal axis and the connection site defining a seal line axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conjoined tubing segments, the method comprising:
- a) spacing first and second rollers apart a distance sufficient to receive the conjoined tubing segments therebetween;
- b) positioning the conjoined tubing segments on a support surface between the first and second rollers with the longitudinal axis of the conjoined tubing segments in alignment with a first axis of the support surface;
- c) bringing the first and second rollers into contact with the conjoined tubing segments;
- d) rotating the first and second rollers to draw the connection site of the conjoined tubing segments between the first and second rollers so as to exert a pressure on the connection site sufficient to open a flow path between the conjoined tubing segments;
- and
- e) stopping rotation of the first and second rollers and moving the first and second rollers apart a distance sufficient to permit removal of the conjoined tubing segments from between the first and second rollers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.