Hollow Needle Connector with Locking Mechanism for Sterile Piercing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing needle-based connectors for biological processing, such as cell and gene therapy, pose a risk of needle-stick injuries, which can compromise sterility and safety.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a housing with a hollow needle mounted within, an actuating mechanism to pierce a pierceable seal, and a locking mechanism that controls the relative movement between the needle and the seal, ensuring the needle only pierces upon intentional operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a needle-based connector is used to enable fluid communication between devices, then sterility and connection reliability are improved, but the risk of needle-stick injuries increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector performs preliminary actions by automatically piercing the seal and establishing fluid communication upon engagement, eliminating the need for manual needle insertion. The needle is pre-positioned and activated automatically when the connector is coupled to the receptacle, ensuring sterility while removing the harmful manual needle-stick step.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful needle-stick injury risk is extracted and eliminated by replacing the exposed needle mechanism with a sealed, automated piercing system. The needle remains enclosed within the connector housing until automatic activation, separating the useful function (fluid communication) from the harmful effect (needle-stick injury).
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual or semi-automated steps are used across multiple devices for biological processing, then flexibility in processing methodologies is maintained, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is designed as a universal interface that can be used across multiple different receptacle types and biological processing devices. The standardized connector design with adaptable sealing mechanisms enables the same connector to work with various cell culture vessels, bioreactors, and processing equipment, reducing system complexity while maintaining processing flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure concerns a connector including a housing, a hollow needle, an actuating mechanism, and a locking mechanism. The housing including a first end and a second end. The hollow needle mounted, at least partially, within the housing. A first end of the hollow needle being connected or connectable to a first receptacle and a second end of the hollow needle facing a pierceable seal. The actuating mechanism configured to cause relative movement between the hollow needle and the pierceable seal to enable the hollow needle to pierce the pierceable seal. The locking mechanism, in a first configuration, prevents the actuating mechanism from causing relative movement between the hollow needle and the pierceable seal, and in a second configuration, permits the actuating mechanism to cause relative movement between the hollow needle and the pierceable seal.