Sterility testing drain actuator base

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments relate to drain actuators for cassettes used in sterility testing. A sterility cassette may have a spring-loaded drain to allow fluid flow through a porous membrane. To activate the drain, upwards pressure is applied to the spring during kit preparation through an actuator base. The actuator base may automatically actuate the drain when the cassette is inserted into the actuator base, and may be separate from or integral with a thermoformed drain tray. When the sterility cassette is removed from the tray, the base automatically shuts the drain. The actuator base has features that: maintain the rotational alignment between the tray and cassette; actuate the drain port on the bottom of the cassette; minimally inhibit flow out of the drain; minimize the collection of drain fluid; provide a rigid support across the drain tray surface; and stay locked into the drain tray when the cassette is removed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.