System and method for sterilization of biological connections

A method of sealing together under sterile conditions a first end portion of a first tube and a second end portion of a second tube, the method comprising:

• receiving a connector in a sterilization chamber;
• receiving the first tube in a first tube holder, the first tube holder having curved walls movably coupled to the sterilization chamber;
• receiving the second tube in a second tube holder, the second tube holder having curved walls movably coupled to the sterilization chamber;
• receiving the first end portion and the second end portion in the sterilization chamber;
• irradiating the connector, the first end portion, and the second end portion with a distribution of electrons;
• coupling the first end portion to the connector;
• and
• coupling the second end portion to the connector, thereby providing fluid coupling between the first and second tubes and preventing transport of microorganisms between an interior of the tubes and an exterior of the tubes.

A method of sealing together under sterile conditions a first end portion of a first tube and a second end portion of a second tube, the first end portion initially plugged by a first plug and the second end portion initially plugged by a second plug, thereby preventing transport of microorganisms across the respective end portion, the method comprising:

• receiving a connector in a sterilization chamber of a sterilization system;
• receiving the first end portion and the second end portion in the sterilization chamber;
• unplugging the first end portion by removing the first plug from the first end portion;
• unplugging the second end portion by removing the second plug from the second end portion;
• irradiating the connector, the first end portion, and the second end portion with a distribution of electrons;
• coupling the first end portion to the connector;
• and
• coupling the second end portion to the connector, thereby providing fluid coupling between the first and second tubes and preventing transport of microorganisms between an interior of the tubes and an exterior of the tubes.

A method of sealing closed under sterile conditions a first end portion of a first tube, the first end portion initially sealed together via a connector with a second end portion of a second tube to provide fluid coupling between the first and second tubes, the method comprising:

• receiving the connector, the first end portion, and the second end portion in a sterilization chamber;
• receiving a first plug in the sterilization chamber;
• detaching the first end portion from the connector;
• irradiating the first plug with a distribution of electrons;
• and
• coupling the first end portion to the first plug, thereby preventing transport of microorganisms between an interior of the first tube and an exterior of the first tube.

A method of sealing closed under sterile conditions an end portion of a tube, the method comprising:

• receiving the tube in a tube holder having curved walls movably coupled to a sterilization chamber, the end portion extending into the sterilization chamber;
• receiving a plug in the sterilization chamber;
• irradiating the plug with a distribution of electrons;
• and
• coupling the end portion to the plug by moving the curved walls of the tube holder between a first position where the end portion is separated from the plug and a second position where the end portion is coupled to the plug, thereby preventing transport of microorganisms between an interior of the tube and an exterior of the tube.

A connector for coupling a first tube to a second tube, the first tube having a first tube wall with a first inner surface and a first outer surface, the first tube wall defining a first interior region and a first exterior region of the first tube, the second tube having a second tube wall with a second inner surface and a second outer surface, the second tube wall defining a second interior region and a second exterior region of the second tube, the connector comprising:

• a body;
• a generally cylindrical first bore extending from a center portion of the body to a first distal portion of the body and having a first axis and a flared first inner bore surface;
• a first annular barb fitting around the first distal portion of the body;
• a generally cylindrical second bore extending from the center portion of the body to a second distal portion of the body and having a second axis and a flared second inner bore surface, the first bore and second bore defining a conduit through which fluid can flow;
• a second annular barb fitting around the second distal portion of the body;
• a first retaining collar around the body, the first retaining collar having a flared first inner collar surface, the first retaining collar providing a first positive connection with the first tube, the first positive connection preventing transport of microorganisms between the first interior region and the first exterior region of the first tube;
• and
• a second retaining collar around the body, the second retaining collar having a flared second inner collar surface, the second retaining collar providing a second positive connection with the second tube, the second positive connection preventing transport of microorganisms between the second interior region and the second exterior region of the second tube.

A plug for sealing a tube having a tube wall with an inner surface and an outer surface, the tube wall defining an interior region and an exterior region of the tube, the plug comprising:

• a plug body;
• a center portion of the plug body adapted to be held by a holder and supported by the arcuate surface of a connector, the connector comprising:
• a connector body;
• a generally cylindrical first bore extending from a center portion of the connector body to a first distal portion of the connector body and having a first axis and a flared first inner bore surface;
• a first annular barb fitting around the first distal portion of the connector body;
• a generally cylindrical second bore extending from the center portion of the connector body to a second distal portion of the connector body and having a second axis and a flared second inner bore surface, the first bore and second bore defining a conduit through which fluid can flow;
• a second annular barb fitting around the second distal portion of the connector body;
• a first retaining collar around the connector body, the first retaining collar having a flared first inner collar surface;
• and
• a second retaining collar around the connector body, the second retaining collar having a flared second inner collar surface;
• a generally cylindrical stopper portion extending from the center portion of the plug body to a distal portion of the plug body;
• a third annular barb fitting around the distal portion of the plug body;
• a third retaining collar around the plug body, the third retaining collar having a flared inner collar surface, the third retaining collar providing a positive connection with the tube, the positive connection preventing transport of microorganisms between the interior region and the exterior region of the tube.