Aseptic Connector Pliers for Reliable Snap Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aseptic connection assemblies in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and food industries require manual dexterity and precision to ensure sterile connections, which can be challenging and prone to contamination risks.
Innovation Solution
Pliers are designed with hinge and handle mechanisms to facilitate the secure snapping together of connector bodies and pinching of tubing clamps, providing aseptic seals efficiently and reducing human error.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual engagement of connector bodies is used, then the assembly process is simple, but the risk of contamination and human error increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces pliers as an intermediary tool between the user and the connector bodies. The pliers include phalanges that engage with the connector bodies and transmit force through a hinge mechanism, allowing users to snap connectors together without direct manual contact, thereby reducing contamination risk while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The pliers are designed to be self-contained with integrated hinge mechanisms and phalanges that automatically engage with the connector bodies. The tool performs the engagement function autonomously once positioned, reducing the need for precise manual dexterity while ensuring reliable aseptic connections
2Ease of operation
If pliers with hinge mechanism are used, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pliers are segmented into distinct functional components: hinge portions with holes for forming the hinge, handle portions for user actuation, and phalanges for engaging connector bodies. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall design manageable and not overly complex
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into the pliers: the hinge mechanism provides rotational movement, the handle portions transmit actuation force, and the phalanges engage the connectors. By merging these functions into a single integrated tool rather than using separate components, the device achieves ease of operation without excessive complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The pliers streamline the assembly process, ensuring aseptic connections are formed reliably with reduced contamination risk, enhancing safety and efficiency in sterile fluid transfer.
Implementation Method 1
The hinge portion has a first hole for forming a hinge. The hinge is formed by a rod inserted through the holes of the hinge portions of the two arms.
Implementation Method 2
An actuation force applied to the handle portions causes the two arms to rotate about the hinge and the pair of phalanges to move towards one another
Data Source
AI summary
Pliers for engaging an aseptic connection assembly is disclosed. The pliers has two arms. Each arm includes a hinge portion, a handle portion, and a pair of phalanges. The hinge portion has a hole for forming a hinge. The handle portion couples to the hinge portion. The pair of phalanges is on a plane perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the two arms and is coupled to the hinge portion. The phalanges couple to sides of outer surfaces of a pair of connector bodies. The hinge is formed by a rod inserted through the holes of the hinge portions of the two arms. An actuation force applied to the handle portions causes the two arms to rotate about the hinge, causing the pair of phalanges to move together to snap together the pair of connector bodies, thereby engaging the aseptic connection assembly.