Disposable Wall Pass-Through for Sterile Chemical Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for transferring liquid chemicals or pharmaceuticals from a 'dirty' to a 'clean' processing area through a wall pass-through require extensive cleaning of components in contact with the materials, compromising sterility and HVAC balance.
Innovation Solution
A single-use wall pass-through system featuring a tubular assembly with support flanges, clamping flanges, and a gasket, where the hose and gasket are designed for disposable use, ensuring a secure and sealed connection without the need for cleaning, using silicone or thermoplastic materials and an adhesive bond.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reusable tubes, fitments, clamps and gaskets are used in wall pass-through systems, then the system provides durable and reusable connections, but extensive cleaning is required after use which compromises sterility and increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable principle by making the hose and gasket single-use components that are discarded after one use, eliminating the need for cleaning and sterilization. This resolves the contradiction by sacrificing reusability to eliminate cleaning complexity and maintain sterility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements discarding of contaminated components (hose and gasket) after single use, while recovering and reusing the clean components (mounting flange, tubular body, clamping flange). This selective discarding approach maintains connection reliability for permanent fixtures while eliminating cleaning requirements for disposable parts.
2Loss of substance
If reusable components are used in wall pass-through systems, then the system reduces material waste, but the cleaning process creates contamination risks and compromises sterility
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable hose and gasket eliminate contamination risk by being discarded after single use, preventing any possibility of cross-contamination between uses. This resolves the contradiction by accepting material waste of inexpensive components to eliminate the harmful effect of contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments components into disposable (hose, gasket) and reusable (mounting flange, tubular body, clamping flange) categories. This segmentation allows the disposable parts to absorb contamination and be discarded, while expensive permanent fixtures are protected from contamination and can be reused without cleaning concerns.
3Reliability
If traditional cleaning procedures are applied to wall pass-through components, then reusable components can be sanitized, but the HVAC balance and integrity of clean rooms is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable hose and gasket eliminate the need for cleaning procedures that would compromise HVAC balance. By discarding these components after single use, the system maintains sterility without requiring cleaning operations that would disrupt clean room environmental control and HVAC efficiency.
4Ease of operation
If multiple tubes, fitments, clamps and gaskets are assembled in prior known systems, then the system provides functional connectivity, but the assembly complexity and time required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the hose and gasket into a pre-assembled unit that is installed as one component, eliminating the need to separately assemble multiple tubes, fitments, clamps and gaskets. This reduces assembly steps and time while maintaining functional connectivity, resolving the contradiction between assembly ease and time consumption.
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 system provides a sterile and efficient transfer method that maintains the integrity of both environments by eliminating contamination risks and simplifying the process, as the disposable components prevent the need for extensive cleaning and ensure a secure seal.
Implementation Method 1
the gasket is made from silicone or a thermoplastic material, and is connected to the hose using silicone or an adhesive of chemical bond
Data Source
AI summary
A single use wall pass-through system having a fixed wall part attached through an opening in a wall and connected by at least one mounting flange. The fixed wall part includes clamping flanges used to provide a sealed connection between the fixed wall part and the hose or tube which carries the material from an outside area into another area defined on the inside of the wall. A gasket is used along with a clamp plate for connection to the clamping flange via a clamping ring. The clamp plate can be two pieces separated by a dividing line and the clamp plate hose opening intersects the dividing line. The transfer hose and the gasket are disposable. The clamp ring and clamp plate can be re-used.