Connector Assemblies With Nested Piston Seals for Sterile Fluid Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluid connection systems in biopharmaceutical, medical, and other industries face challenges in maintaining sterility and preventing contamination during connections and disconnections, which can lead to the introduction of unwanted contaminants like biological and environmental particles.

Innovation Solution

The use of connector assemblies with hollow piston and actuator mechanisms that couple and seal connector bodies, providing a robust, tamper-proof connection that prevents accidental disassembly and ensures sterility by positioning the actuator around the coupling mechanism and sealing the piston between the connector bodies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If connector bodies are coupled to make fluid connections, then fluid flow capability is improved, but risk of contamination and accidental disassembly increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid flow capabilityVSAvoidsterility maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The actuator is positioned around the coupling mechanism, and the piston is positioned around the coupled connector bodies, creating nested protective structures. The actuator housing encloses the coupling mechanism, while the piston extends between the connector bodies to seal their interiors, preventing contamination during fluid flow operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The piston acts as an intermediary element that seals between the coupled connector bodies, preventing direct exposure of fluid pathways to the external environment. This intermediary sealing mechanism maintains sterility while allowing fluid flow through the connected system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If connector bodies are made secure against accidental disassembly, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection securityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The actuator is designed to move between a retracted position and an extended position around the coupling mechanism. This dynamic positioning provides mechanical protection and locking functionality without requiring complex permanent structural features, maintaining connection security while controlling overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If piston seals connector bodies interiors, then sterility is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesterilityVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The connector assembly is divided into separable components: connector bodies, piston, actuator, and coupling mechanism. The piston can be independently positioned and sealed between the connector bodies after coupling, allowing each component to be manufactured separately and assembled in a controlled sequence, which simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining sterility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2428718B1Connector assemblies, fluid systems including connector assemblies, and procedures for making fluid connections

Publication Date: 2019.12.04 PALL CORP

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AI summary

A connector assembly comprises first and second connector bodies (101,102), a coupling mechanism arranged to couple the connector bodies at the first ends (105,106) of the bodies, a moveable hollow piston (103), and a moveable actuator (104). The hollow piston moves from a first position to a second position in response to movement of the actuator from a first position to a second position. In the second position the hollow piston is sealed to the interiors of first and second connector bodies.