Bonded Tube Filter Capsule Connection Eliminates Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter assemblies with rigid connectors and barb connections suffer from contamination risks due to compromised seals, mechanical stress, and potential leakage, especially under sterilization processes.
Innovation Solution
A soft tube filter assembly connection that eliminates the need for clamping or barb systems by using a tube/connector/capsule combination where the connector is bonded to both the tube and the capsule in a single step, maintaining structural and seal integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid connectors with clamps or barbs are used to connect tubes to filter capsules, then the connection is mechanically secure, but contamination points are created due to compromised seals and mechanical stress
Solution Approach 1:
The tube and filter capsule are merged into a single integrated structure where the tube is directly formed as part of the filter capsule housing. This eliminates separate connectors, clamps, and barbs that create contamination points, while maintaining secure connection through the integrated design. The tube wall thickness is increased at the connection region to provide mechanical strength without requiring external fastening components.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful connector components (clamps, barbs, separate tube segments) are extracted and removed from the system. By taking out these intermediate connection elements, the design eliminates the sources of seal compromise and mechanical stress that lead to contamination, achieving a cleaner, more reliable connection between tube and filter capsule.
2Strength
If barb connections are used to secure tubes, then the tube is mechanically locked, but the tube material is weakened at the connection point leading to potential failure under pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The tube and filter capsule housing are merged into a single piece with the tube being directly formed as an integral part of the housing. This eliminates barb connections that dig into and weaken tube material. The mechanical strength is maintained through the integrated structure and increased wall thickness at the connection region, providing reliability without compromising tube integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall thickness parameter of the tube is changed and increased specifically at the connection region where the tube joins the filter capsule housing. This parameter change provides the necessary mechanical strength and pressure resistance without requiring barb connections that would otherwise weaken the tube material through biting and stress concentration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If flanged tubes with clamps are used for rigid pipe connections, then spatial inflexibility is reduced, but cost and potential contamination points increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tube and filter capsule housing are combined into a single integrated structure, eliminating the need for separate flanged tubes, clamps, and other connection components. This merger maintains spatial flexibility through the integrated design while significantly reducing device complexity and the number of parts required for assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex flanged tube and clamp components are extracted and removed from the system. By taking out these separate connection elements, the design achieves both spatial flexibility and reduced complexity through the simplified integrated structure, eliminating multiple potential contamination points and assembly steps.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple materials with different characteristics are used for tubes and connectors, then design flexibility is improved, but sterilization processes compromise seal integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The tube and filter capsule housing are made from the same material or compatible materials with matching thermal and chemical properties. This homogeneity ensures that both components respond uniformly to sterilization processes such as autoclaving or gamma radiation, maintaining seal integrity and preventing differential expansion or degradation that would compromise the connection.
Solution Approach 2:
By merging the tube and housing into a single integrated component made from compatible materials, the design eliminates the interface between dissimilar materials. This ensures uniform response to sterilization processes and maintains seal integrity, while still allowing flexibility in material selection to suit specific application requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a tube/tube connector/capsule port assembly that eliminates a connection point in a filter capsule apparatus, A relatively soft tube is thermally or sonically bonded to a relatively hard tube connector that may have a tube receiving bore, frustoconical tube receiving channel or straight tube receiving channel. The tube connector is bonded to a filter capsule port. The manufacturing process can be either a one-step process bonding the tube, tube connector and capsule in one step, or a two-step process that binds the tube to the tube connector in the first step and then binds the tube/tube connector subassembly to a filter capsule housing during the housing's molding procedure. Single and dual-wailed tubes may be used as well as single and dual-walled tubes having reinforcing material superposed about or embedded in the tube wa!i(s). A tube support collar is also disclosed.