US 4,941,517 A · Aseptic fluid transfer apparatus and methods

Abstract

Apparatus for aseptically transferring material between enclosures. Apparatus for transferring the material includes a fluid receiver assembly (12) comprising an adapter (24), and a fitting (93) mounted in the adapter (24). The fitting has a plurality of needle guide channels (86) leading from the outside of the fluid receiver assembly (12) toward the interior of the enclosure (10), and a seal (26) at the ends of the channels (86). A pierceable, self-closing seal (26) is between ends of each of the channels (86) and the interior of the enclosure. Projected extensions of the channels pass through corresponding holes (40) in the adapter, so that needles (101) inserted into the channels (86) can penetrate the seal (26) and enter the interior of the enclosure (10). A plurality of needles (101) in a novel needle bundle (95) may be used in making the transfer. An assembly for transferring material between two stationary enclosures comprises a pair of novel needle bundles (295) and connecting tubing (266). Methods of transferring materials are taught.

Claims74

Dependent claims

A fluid receiver fitting, comprising:

(a) a first outer surface at a bottom thereof;
(b) a second outer surface at a top thereof;
(c) needle channels comprising top ends thereof disposed toward said top, and bottom ends thereof disposed toward said bottom, said needle channels extending through a hard material which is not readily pierceable by conventional hypodermic needles;
and
(d) seal means on said bottom of said fitting, said seal means comprising a plurality of separate and distinct seal elements each forming a downwardly extending projection from said seal means, one disposed at each of said bottom ends of corresponding ones of said needle channels, said projections defining an array thereof.

2 more elements

A fluid receiver fitting, comprising:

(a) a resiliently deformable seal member, said seal member comprising (i) a first outer surface of said fitting, said first outer surface comprising a seal means, and (ii) a first inner surface of said fitting, said first inner surface comprising a first central portion, a first upstanding wall portion, and a penetration zone between said first central portion and said first upstanding wall portion, said first outer surface comprising a plurality of separate and distinct seal elements opposing, and aligned with, said penetration zone, each said seal element forming a downwardly extending projection from said seal means, said projections defining an array thereof, a second upstanding wall portion extending outwardly from said bottom portions, and a second central surface portion extending inwardly and upwardly of said bottom portions,
the composition of said seal member between said penetration zone and said bottom portions comprising a pierceable, self-closing material;
and
(b) a channel member, said channel member comprising a second outer surface and a second inner surface of said fitting, said second inner surface comprising a first channel member surface portion in contact with said penetration zone, said channel member having needle guide channels extending from said second outer surface toward said first channel member surface portion, said needle guide channels being oriented and positioned such that needles inserted into said channels from said second outer surface pass, along paths, through said channels, said penetration zone, and said plurality of separate and distinct seal elements of said seal member, each said path passing through a different one of said seal elements.

1 more element

A fluid receiver assembly, comprising:

(a) an adapter having a plurality of individually distinct and spaced holes through a first hard material which is not readily pierceable by conventional hypodermic needles, said holes being disposed about a central core member in said adapter, bridging members between said plurality of holes, and spacing said holes from each other;
(b) a channel member having channels extending through a second hard material which is not readily pierceable by conventional hypodermic needles;
(c) a seal member disposed between said channel member and said adapter;
and
(d) retaining means retaining said channel member to said adapter,
said seal member including pierceable portions, readily pierceable by conventional hypodermic needles, said pierceable portions extending between said channels and corresponding ones of said holes, such that said asembly comprises a plurality of definable needle paths therethrough, each said needle path extending in a generally singular direction through one of said channels, through a corresponding pierceable portion, and through a corresponding one of said individually distinct and spaced holes in said adapter, such that a plurality of needles simultaneously disposed in said paths are spaced from each other, at said adapter, by said central core member in said adapter and said bridging members in said adapter.

3 more elements

An enclosure for enclosing a fluid, said enclosure comprising an aseptic fluid receiver assembly, said aseptic fluid receiver assembly comprising, in combination, first wall means serving as an interface with said enclosure, said wall means having a plurality of individually distinct and spaced holes therethrough, said wall means comprising a first hard material about said holes, said first hard material being not readily pierceable by conventional hypodermic needles, channel means having needle channels arranged in a first pattern and extending through a second hard material which is not readily pierceable by conventional hypodermic needles, said channels terminating propinquant corresponding ones of said holes in said wall means, whereby said holes define a second pattern corresponding to said first pattern, a seal member disposed between said channel means and said wall means, and retaining means retaining said channel means to said wall means, said seal member including pierceable portions, readily pierceable by conventional hypodermic needles, said pierceable portions extending between said needle channels and corresponding ones of said spaced holes.

An enclosure fo enclosing a fluid, said enclosure comprising an aseptic fluid receiver assembly, said aseptic fluid receiver assembly comprisingly, in combination, an adapter permanently attached to said enclosure, said adapter having a plurality of holes through a first hard material which is not readily pierceable by conventional hypodermic needles, said holes being disposed about a central core member and spaced from each other by bridging members and a fluid receiver fitting secured to said adapter, said fitting having inner and outer surfaces, relative to said enclosure, a film over said outer surface, said film being readily pierceable by needles, needle channels extending from said outer surface toward said inner surface, said needle channels extending through a second hard material which is not readily pierceable by conventional hypodermic needles, said fitting including pierceable, self-closing seal means on the inner ends of said channels, and between said channels and corresponding ones of said plurality of holes.

An enclosure for enclosing a fluid, said enclosure comprising an aseptic fluid receiver assembly, said fluid receiver assembly comprising an adapter permanently mounted in said enclosure, said adapter having a plurality of holes through a first hard material which is not readily pierceable by conventional hypodermic needles, said holes being disposed about a central core member, and a fluid receiver fitting secured to said adapter, said fitting having inner and outer surfaces, relative to said enclosure, needle channels extending from said outer surface toward said inner surface, said channels extending through a second hard material which is not readily pierceable by conventional hypodermic needles, said fitting including pierceable, self-closing seal means on the inner ends of said needle channels, said assembly comprising definable needle paths extending through said channels, said seal means, and said holes, to the interior of said enclosure, the relative directions of said path being such that needles simultaneously disposed in said paths diverge from each other, in traversing from said outer surface toward the interior of said enclosure, each needle extending into the interior of said enclosure through a separate one of said plurality of holes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Aseptic fluid transfer apparatus and methods

Life of this patent

Aseptic fluid transfer apparatus and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims74