Aseptic Genderless Fluid Couplings With Removable Seal Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid couplings often fail to provide aseptic and genderless connections that maintain sterility and prevent biological contamination, while also being single-use and easily connectable.
Innovation Solution
The development of fluid coupling devices with a main body, post, seal, and removable membrane, featuring a protective cover and lever valve, which ensures aseptic and single-use connections through mechanical locks and genderless design, maintaining sterility and preventing contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional fluid couplings are used, then connection speed is improved, but sterility and contamination prevention deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-sterilizing the entire coupling device and sealing it with a removable membrane before use. The protective cover and membrane are prepared in advance to maintain sterility during storage and handling, allowing quick connection without compromising contamination prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable single-use coupling devices that are pre-sterilized and discarded after one use. This eliminates the risk of contamination from repeated sterilization cycles and ensures each device starts in a guaranteed sterile state, while the quick-connect mechanism maintains fast connection speed.
2Reliability
If reusable fluid couplings with sterilization cycles are used, then sterility is improved, but connection speed and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for repeated sterilization by using single-use disposable couplings that are pre-sterilized during manufacturing. Each device is guaranteed sterile upon opening, and the quick-connect mechanism allows rapid operation without waiting for sterilization cycles, thus improving both sterility reliability and ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If male-female coupling designs are used, then connection compatibility is improved, but contamination risk and sterility maintenance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing genderless couplings where both sides have identical connection interfaces. This allows any coupling to connect with any other coupling of the same type, providing versatility while maintaining sterility through disposable single-use design and protective covers that prevent contamination during handling and storage.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If protective covers and membranes are added to maintain sterility, then contamination prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the coupling device into distinct functional components: the main coupling body, removable protective cover, and separate membrane. This modular approach allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining sterility through the layered protection system.
Data Source
AI summary
Fluid handling couplings can include a main body with a front face and can define a longitudinal axis. Such fluid handling couplings can include a post extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a post receptacle. Fluid handling couplings can include a seal coupled to the main body around the longitudinal axis. A portion of the seal can protrude from the front face of the main body. Fluid handling couplings can include a removable membrane releasably attached to the front face of the main body and covering the portion of the seal protruding from the front face of the main body. Fluid handling couplings can be genderless, can include manually openable valves, and can be configured for single-use aseptic fluid handling usage.