Sterile Connector with Displaceable Cover for Sensor Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
In pharmaceutical and laboratory settings, there is a need to measure physical and chemical parameters within containers without contaminating their interior, while maintaining sterility to prevent germ penetration from the environment.
Innovation Solution
A connector system with a displaceable sterile covering device and a movable sensor device that allows for sterile connection to a complementary connector, enabling the sensor to measure parameters within the container while preventing external contamination through a fluidtight and sterile interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a connector is connected to a container to measure parameters, then measurement capability is improved, but the risk of contaminating the container interior increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into a sterile side and a non-sterile side, separated by a feed-through opening that allows sensor passage while maintaining sterile barrier. This segmentation enables measurement capability while preventing contamination by isolating the sterile container interior from the non-sterile sensor device.
Solution Approach 2:
A sterile covering device acts as an intermediary element that covers the feed-through opening when the sensor is not in use. This intermediary maintains the sterile barrier while allowing sensor insertion when needed, thus enabling measurement without direct exposure of the sterile interior to contaminants.
2Measurement precision
If a sensor device is inserted through a feed-through opening, then direct measurement is improved, but the sterility of the connection is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The sterile covering device is designed to be displaceable, moving from a covering position to a retracted position that allows sensor insertion. This dynamic behavior enables the system to switch between maintaining sterility and allowing measurement, thus resolving the contradiction between direct measurement capability and sterility maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The sterile covering device is positioned to cover the feed-through opening before sensor insertion. This preliminary action of covering the opening maintains sterility in advance, and only when measurement is required does the covering device move to allow sensor passage, thus preserving sterility as long as possible while enabling measurement when needed.
3Ease of operation
If the connector is made displaceable for engagement, then ease of connection is improved, but the complexity of maintaining sterile seal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sterile covering device is integrated into the connector housing structure, with the covering device nested within the connector body. This nesting allows the covering device to move with the connector during engagement/disengagement while maintaining the sterile barrier, thus simplifying the overall structure compared to having separate sterile maintenance mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector (10) is provided for sterile connection to a complementary connector (12). The connector (10) has a housing (14) with an engagement device (16) to engage a complementary engagement device (18) of the complementary connector (12) along an engagement direction (44). The connector (10) is displaceable relative to the complementary connector (12) along the engagement direction (44) after the engagement device (16) engages the complementary engagement device (18). The housing (14) has a feed-through opening (24) for receiving a sensor (34) and a cover (22). The cover (22) is displaced relative to the connector (10) along the engagement direction (44) to close the feed-through opening (24) in a sterile manner. The connector (10) also has a sterile sensor (34) that is movable along a sensor displacement direction (52) that differs from the engagement direction (44).