Sterile Sanitary Fitting With Integrated Valve for Flexible Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies lack a sanitary fitting that effectively couples a fluid conduit to a flexible container for sterile fluid transfer, ensuring easy connection and disconnection while maintaining sterility.
Innovation Solution
A sanitary fitting comprising a first annular member with a bore and a flange, a second annular member with a bore that aligns with the first annular member to create a fluid flow passageway, and a valve to control fluid flow, facilitating secure and sterile connections between fluid conduits and flexible containers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sanitary fitting is designed to securely couple a fluid conduit to a flexible container, then connection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sanitary fitting is divided into multiple functional segments: a first annular member for coupling to the flexible container, a second annular member for coupling to the fluid conduit, and a valve assembly for flow control. Each segment performs a specific function, allowing the overall system to achieve high reliability through modular design while maintaining manageable complexity by assigning dedicated roles to each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve assembly is nested within the second annular member, with the valve body positioned inside the bore of the second annular member. This nesting arrangement allows the valve to be integrated into the fitting structure without adding significant external complexity, while still providing reliable flow control functionality that enhances connection security.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a valve is integrated into the sanitary fitting to control fluid flow, then flow control capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is merged with the second annular member by positioning the valve body within its bore and securing it with a retention ring. This combination integrates flow control capability directly into the fitting structure, eliminating the need for separate external valve components and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining versatile flow control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The second annular member serves multiple functions: it couples to the fluid conduit, provides structural support for the valve assembly, and maintains the sterile barrier integrity. By making the second annular member multi-functional, the design achieves improved flow control capability without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same component performs multiple roles.
3Reliability
If a sterile barrier is positioned between the fluid conduit and flexible container, then sterility maintenance is improved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The sterile barrier acts as an intermediary component positioned between the fluid conduit and flexible container, with the second annular member serving as a mediator that couples to both while maintaining barrier integrity. This mediating structure allows for easy connection and disconnection operations while preserving sterility, as the barrier can be independently managed without requiring complex manipulation of the entire assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The sterile barrier is positioned locally at the critical interface between the fluid conduit and flexible container, specifically within the bore of the second annular member where fluid transfer occurs. This localized placement ensures sterility maintenance at the most critical point while minimizing interference with ease of operation, as the barrier is integrated into the coupling mechanism rather than requiring separate installation steps.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are embodiments of a sanitary fitting for coupling a fluid conduit to a flexible container to facilitate sterile transfer therebetween, and methods of making and using such a sanitary fitting, whereby the sanitary fitting includes a first annular member having a first annular member bore extending between first annular member first and second ends, the first annular member second end terminating in a flange radially outwardly extending therefrom, the flange comprising a substantially planar face; a second annular member having a second annular member bore extending between second annular member first and second ends, the second annular member couplable to the first annular member to axially align the first and second annular member bores to provide a first fluid flow passageway; and a valve coupled to the second annular member, the valve operable to interrupt fluid flow through a fluid flow path which includes the first fluid flow passageway.