Tubing System With Interlocking Caps For Bioreactor Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connector systems for plastic tubing, especially in bioreactors, face issues with inadequate sealing, high costs, and labor-intensive assembly/disassembly, and existing solutions like overmolded manifolds require multiple dies and are limited in connecting long lengths of tubing.
Innovation Solution
A flexible tubing connection system using a hollow manifold with orifices and capped tubes, where the caps seal against each other to establish fluid communication, allowing for easy connection and disconnection without the need for injection molding or multiple dies, and accommodating varying tubing sizes and lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional metal or plastic connectors with circumferential ridges are used, then tubing can be connected, but sealing is inadequate especially for small diameter tubing
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into a manifold body and separate end caps that are inserted into the tubing. Each end cap independently seals against the tubing inner wall, providing reliable sealing for small diameter tubing without requiring the entire connector to be tightly fitted.
Solution Approach 2:
The end caps act as intermediary sealing elements between the manifold and the tubing. These caps are inserted into the tubing lumen and seal against the tubing inner wall, mediating the connection and ensuring leak-free sealing.
2Ease of manufacture
If overmolded manifolds are used to connect plastic tubes, then connection is achieved, but the system requires injection molding machines and multiple dies for different varieties
Solution Approach 1:
The connector system is segmented into a manifold body and separate end caps that can be manufactured independently using simple extrusion or injection molding. This eliminates the need for complex overmolding processes and multiple dies, as each component can be produced with standard molding equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The end caps are designed as universal components that can be used with various tubing sizes and manifold configurations. The standardized end cap design allows a single mold to produce caps for multiple applications, eliminating the need for different dies for each variety.
3Length of moving object
If overmolded manifolds are used, then tubing can be connected, but the length of tubing that can be connected is very limited
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system allows multiple tubing sections to be connected in series through separate end caps on each tubing segment. This modular approach enables long tubing runs by connecting multiple standard-length tubes rather than requiring a single custom-molded manifold for the entire length.
4Reliability
If metal clamps are tightened to produce a leak-free seal, then sealing is achieved, but assembly and disassembly are time-consuming and laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The end caps are designed as separate insertable components that can be quickly pushed into the tubing and secured with simple fastening mechanisms. This eliminates the time-consuming process of tightening metal clamps around the entire tubing circumference, as only small localized fastening is needed at each end cap.
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
A system for establishing a fluid path between a plurality of tubes (12) includes a manifold (14) and a plurality of caps (16). The manifold defines an internal cavity (18) and a plurality of orifices (20) that access the cavity. Each of the plurality of caps (16) are secured to an end of a respective tube of the plurality of tubes. Each cap(16) defines a central orifice (26) that is in fluid communication with the respective tube. Each cap has a tapered protrusion (30) extending away from the end of the respective tube. The caps (16) are disposed within the internal cavity (18) such that the respective tube (12) extends through a respective orifice (20) of the plurality of orifices and outward from the manifold. The tapered protrusions (30) of adjacent caps (16) interact with each other to position each cap to form a seal with other caps having a central orifice such that the central orifices (26) are in fluid communication with each other.