Sterile docking apparatus and method of use
OwnerKurt J. Christofferseninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for sterilely coupling two bodies of fluids in fluid communication utilizes a clamp transportable into a sterile enclosure. A pair of tubing segments, each communicating with one of the fluid bodies, is preferably retained in the clamp and transported into the sterile enclosure. The clamp maintains the shape of the tubing segments during the process. Portions of the tubing segments are severed within the enclosure and the remaining ends are heated. The heat may be provided with a hollow disk into which is blown heated air. The ends of the tubing segments are transported out of the enclosure and bonded together while held within the clamps. The clamps prevent deformation of the tubing segments during the process. The process may be partially or fully automated.
Claims20
An apparatus for joining first and second tubing segments together in sterile fluid communication to enable sterile fluid coupling between two bodies of sterile fluids through the first and second tubing segments, the apparatus comprising:
- a. an at least partial enclosure having an interior, the enclosure configured to retain heat therein and thereby maintain a sterile environment within at least a substantial portion of the interior of the enclosure;
- b. a tubing clamp adapted to receive the first and second tubing segments therein and mounted to be positionable within the enclosure;
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- c. a heating plate at least partially located within the enclosure, the heating plate having one or more heatable surfaces for concurrently heating the first and second tubing segments.
An apparatus for joining first and second tubing segments together in sterile fluid communication to enable sterile fluid coupling between two bodies of sterile fluids through the first and second tubing segments, the apparatus comprising:
- a. an at least partial enclosure having an interior, the enclosure configured to retain heat therein and thereby maintain a sterile environment within at least a substantial portion of the interior of the enclosure;
- b. a tubing clamp adapted to receive the first and second tubing segments therein and mounted to be positionable within the enclosure, the tubing clamp comprising a substantially annular opening adapted to receive the tubing segments without substantially deforming the tubing segments, the tubing clamp dynamically mounted upon a track adapted to guide the clamps into and out of the enclosure;
- c. a hollow disk heating plate at least partially located within the enclosure, the hollow disk heating plate having opposing heatable surfaces for concurrently heating the first and second tubing segments;
- d. a cutting blade positionable within the interior to sever distal ends of the first and second tubing segments, the cutting blade partially disposed within the hollow disk heating plate;
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- e. a hot air blower adapted to blow heated air into an interior of the hollow disk to heat the hollow disk and the cutting blade, the hot air blower also adapted to heat air within the interior of the enclosure to maintain a heated aseptic environment within the interior of the enclosure and thereby maintain sterility of the tubing segments.
A method of sterilely coupling first and second fluid bodies in fluid communication, the method comprising:
- a. providing first and second fluid bodies and first and second tubing segments, the first tubing segment in fluid communication with the first fluid body and the second tubing segment in fluid communication with the second fluid body;
- b. clamping distal ends of the first and second tubing segments into a selected position relative to an at least partial enclosure;
- c. heating air within the interior of the enclosure with a heating means and retaining at least a substantial portion of the heated air to maintain a heated aseptic environment within at least a substantial portion of the interior of the enclosure while also using the heating means to heat the distal ends of the first and second tubing segments while the first and second tubing segments arc within the enclosure;
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- d. bringing the distal ends of the first and second tubing segments into contact with each other and allowing the distal ends to cool such that the first and second tubing segments bond to each other with a continuous lumen passing through the distal ends.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.