Method and apparatus for sterile handling of fluids
OwnerJerome A. Silbertinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for sterile handling of fluids is provided, in particular blood, in which a manifold assembly having a plurality of ports or openings is connected to a fluid to be handled in sterile condition and to a sterilizing solution. The sterilizing solution is introduced into the manifold assembly preferably after the fluid unit is connected thereto so that all connections to the manifold are sterilized. The fluid is then permitted to flow into the manifold which is utilized to move it to one or more processing locations under sterile conditions.
Claims33
Apparatus for the sterile handling of a fluid comprising:
- a manifold having a plurality of openings for the connection of various components thereto, isolating means for closing each of said openings and for maintaining the interior of said manifold sterile from the external environment, a plurality of separate hollow connecting members, mountable in said isolating means for projection into the interior of said manifold through said openings, each of said members having one end for connection to said components and its other end shaped for penetrating said isolating member, a seal at said other end of each of said members and means for breaking said seal, wherein said connecting members when mounted in said isolating means are movable between a first position in which said isolating means manintains the interior of said manifold isolated from the external environment and a second position in which the interior of the manifold is in communication with the said other end of said connecting members, and the seal on the other end of said connecting members maintaining the interior of said connecting members isolated from the interior of said manifold in said second position until said seal is broken.
A method for the sterile handling of a sterile fluid in a container by an apparatus of the type having a sterile manifold normally sealed from the external environment comprising the steps of joining said container to one end of a sterile hollow connector having a sterile closure at the other end, inserting the closure end inside said manifold, forming a seal sterile from the external environment between said manifold and said closure end, introducing a sterilizing solution into said manifold, moving said sterilizing solution through said manifold to sterilize the interior of the manifold and the portion of said closure end exposed to the interior of said manifold, removing the sterilizing solution therefrom, breaking the closure and then moving the fluid into said manifold.
A method for transferring multiple units of blood to be processed comprising the steps of providing a first manifold having a plurality of sections for the sterile transfer of blood for the processing of individual units thereof, joining at least one container having a unit of blood therein to one end of a sterile hollow connector having a sterile closure at the other end, inserting said closure end inside a first section of said manifold forming a seal sterile from the outside environment between the manifold and said connector and maintaining said blood sealed off from said manifold, moving sterilizing solution through said manifold to sterilize the interior of the manifold and the portion of said closure end exposed to the interior of the manifold, and removing said sterilizing solution from at least the first section of said manifold isolating the first section of said manifold from other sections, breaking said closure and moving said blood into the sterile first section, and maintaining said first section isolated from other sections of said manifold during transfer of blood units in said other sections.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.