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OwnerJoseph M. Almasian, Brett M. Belongia +6inventors
InventorsJoseph M. Almasian, Brett M. Belongia, Frank Lentine, Martin Morrissey, Curtis Nauseda, Chau Nguyen, Stephen Proulx, Naren Renganath
Estimating the term…
A sterile to sterile connection device comprising a connector and one or more coupling devices. The connector has body portion which has two openings sealed from the environment so as to form a sterile environment within the connector. At least one of the openings being sealed from the environment by a sterile barrier plug. The connector also has a port capable movement within the body of the connector to at least an open and a closed position. The coupling device is formed of a body having two openings and a stem having a bore through at least a portion of the stem. The stem is contained within the body and capable of moving at least linearly through the body between a first and second stem position. One of the openings of the stem is sealed from the environment by a sterile barrier plug and the other is sealed to a presterilized component. The coupling device opening containing the sterile barrier plug is attached to either the inlet or outlet of the connector.
A sterile connection device comprising a connector having two openings, each opening being sealed from the environment so as to form a sterile environment within the connector, at least one opening being sealed from the environment by a first sterile barrier plug, the connector also comprising a port capable of three positions, a first closed position, a second partially opened position and a third open position, wherein the port of the connector in its closed position has a portion supporting the sterile plug and maintaining it in its position within the connector, the port has a first opening and a second opening wherein the first opening is capable of containing two or more sterile barrier plugs, at least one coupling device, the coupling device being comprised of a body having an inlet and an outlet, a stem contained within the body and capable of moving at least linearly through the body between a first and second stem position, the outlet being sealed from the environment by a sterile barrier plug and the inlet being sealed to a presterilized component, the outlet of the at least coupling device being attached to either the inlet or outlet of the connector.
A process of forming a sterile to sterile connection comprising (a) taking a connector having two openings, each opening being sealed from the environment so as to form a sterile environment within the connector, at least one opening being sealed from the environment by a first sterile barrier plug, the connector also comprising a port capable of three positions, a first closed position, a second partially opened position and a third open position, wherein the port of the connector in its closed position has a portion supporting the sterile plug and maintaining it in its position within the connector, the port has a first opening and a second opening wherein the first opening is capable of containing two or more sterile barrier plugs, (b) attaching at least one coupling device to an opening of the connector containing the sterile barrier plug, the coupling device having a body having an inlet and an outlet, a stem contained within the body and capable of moving at least linearly through the body between a first and second stem position, the outlet being sealed from the environment by a sterile barrier plug and the inlet being sealed to a presterilized component, (c) moving the port to the second partially opened position to align the first opening with the sterile barrier plugs of the connector and the coupling device, (d) moving the plugs of the connector and the coupling into the first opening of the port and (e) moving the port to the third open position to align the second opening with the outlet of the coupling device so as to establish fluid communication between the coupling device and the connector.
A sterile connection device comprising a connector having two openings, an inlet and an outlet, each opening being sealed from the environment so as to form a sterile environment within the connector, the outlet being sealed to a sterile downstream component, the inlet being sealed from the environment by a first sterile barrier plug, the connector also comprising a port capable of three positions, a first closed position, a second partially opened position and a third open position, wherein the port of the connector in its closed position has a portion supporting the sterile plug and maintaining it in its position within the connector, the port has a first opening and a second opening wherein the first opening is capable of containing two or more sterile barrier plugs, at least one coupling device attached to the inlet of the connector, the coupling device being comprised of a body having an outlet for the device, a stem contained within the body and capable of moving at least linearly through the body between a first and second stem position, the stem containing an inlet to the device at a location distal from the outlet of the device, the outlet being sealed from the environment by a sterile barrier plug and the inlet being sealed to a presterilized component.
A process of forming a sterile to sterile connection comprising (a) taking a connector having two openings, each opening being sealed from the environment so as to form a sterile environment within the connector, at least one opening being sealed from the environment by a first sterile barrier plug, the connector also comprising a port capable of three positions, a first closed position, a second partially opened position and a third open position wherein the port of the connector in its closed position has a portion supporting the sterile plug and maintaining it in its position within the connector, the port has a first opening and a second opening wherein the first opening is capable of containing two or more sterile barrier plugs, (b) attaching at least one coupling device to the opening of the connector containing the sterile barrier plug, the coupling device having a body having an inlet and an outlet, a stem contained within the body and capable of moving at least linearly through the body between a first and second stem position, the outlet being sealed from the environment by a sterile barrier plug and the inlet being sealed to a presterilized component, (c) rotating the port to the second partially opened position so as to align the first opening of the port with the sterile plugs of the connector and coupling device, (d) moving the plugs of the connector and the coupling into the first opening of the port and (e) rotating the port to the third open position so as align the second opening of the port with the outlet of the coupling device so as to establish fluid communication between the coupling device and the connector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.