Aseptic Fluid Coupling With Manual Valve Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid handling couplings lack effective mechanisms for maintaining sterility and preventing biological contamination during fluid transfer, especially in single-use applications, and often require complex gendered connections.
Innovation Solution
The development of single-use, aseptic fluid coupling devices with manually operable valves and aseptic attachment structures that resist uncoupling, utilizing thermoplastics and metallic components, and featuring a removable membrane and detent mechanisms to ensure sterility and prevent contamination, allowing for either single or multi-use configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fluid handling couplings are used, then fluid transfer can be performed, but sterility cannot be maintained and biological contamination can occur
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device is divided into separate male and female portions that can be independently sterilized and then connected. The male portion includes a valve assembly that can be closed before connection, preventing contamination during the coupling process. This segmentation allows each component to maintain sterility independently while enabling safe fluid transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve in the male portion is closed before connection to the female portion, preventing fluid leakage and contamination during the coupling process. The protective cap is removed only when ready to connect, ensuring sterility is maintained until the moment of connection. This preliminary action of closing the valve and keeping caps on until needed prevents biological contamination.
2Reliability
If single-use coupling devices with lock mechanisms are used, then sterility is preserved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into simple geometric features: a square aperture in the male portion and a corresponding square protrusion in the female portion. When the male portion is inserted and rotated 90 degrees, the square protrusion engages with the square aperture, creating a simple mechanical lock that prevents removal. This segmented approach achieves reliable sterility preservation without complex locking structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling device uses asymmetric geometric features for locking: a square aperture and a square protrusion that only engage in one orientation. The male portion has a square aperture that accepts a square protrusion from the female portion, allowing insertion in one direction but preventing removal by rotation. This asymmetric design provides simple yet effective sterility preservation.
3Ease of operation
If gendered connections (male and female portions) are used, then coupling can be achieved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The male and female portions are merged into a single integrated device where the male portion contains the valve assembly and the female portion contains the receiving aperture and locking feature. This unified structure eliminates the need for separate coupling components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining ease of operation through a simple connect-and-lock mechanism.
4Productivity
If manual valve operation is implemented, then fluid flow control is achieved, but the ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The valve operates through asymmetric rotation: the handle is rotated 90 degrees from a closed position (where it blocks the aperture) to an open position (where fluid can flow). This simple asymmetric motion provides effective fluid flow control while requiring minimal operator effort, balancing productivity with ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
This document describes fluid handling couplings. For example, this document describes fluid handling couplings that include manually openable valves and that are configured for aseptic fluid handling usage. In some embodiments, the valves are manually openable by rotation of a collar of the fluid handling couplings.