Aseptic connection of separation or reaction systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10099047-B2
Application number	US-201113521242-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 10, 2011
Priority date	Jan 11, 2010
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

A separation or reaction unit ( 1; 1′; 81; 81′; 101 ) and a method for aseptically connecting such units. The separation or reaction unit ( 1; 1′; 81; 81′; 101 ) comprises at last one fluid inlet ( 3 a, 3 b, 5 a, 5 b; 3 a′, 3 b′, 5 a′, 5 b ′; 85 a, 85 b; 103 a, 103 b ) and at least one fluid outlet ( 3 a, 3 b, 5 a, 5 b; 3 a′, 3 b′, 5 a′, 5 b′; 85 a, 85 b; 103 a, 103 b ). At least one of the inlet or outlet is sealed by at least one film ( 7, 9; 11; 87 a, 87 b; 107 a, 107 b ) and the contact surface between the film and the separation or reaction unit is aseptic. The films are adapted to be mated with a corresponding film on another separation or reaction unit or on a fluid distribution unit ( 20; 57; 61 ) which the separation or reaction unit possibly should be connected with and said mated films are adapted to be pulled out together two and two after mating such that corresponding fluid inlets/outlets on the two connected units are mated aseptically.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for providing aseptic connections between a first stackable unit and a second stackable unit to form a multi-unit device, the method comprising:
providing on contact surfaces of the first stackable unit and the second stackable unit, plural fluid inlets/outlets comprising:
at least two pairs of inlets/outlets on a first surface of the first stackable unit and at least two pairs of inlets/outlets
on a second surface of the second stackable unit;
providing a first film over a first pair of the inlets/outlets on the first stackable unit and a first film over a first pair of the inlets/outlets of the second stackable unit;
providing a second film over a second pair of inlets/outlets on the first stackable unit and a second film over a second pair of inlets/outlets of the second stackable unit;
connecting the first stackable unit with the second stackable unit;
mating the first films of the first stackable unit and the second stackable unit together and mating the second films of the first stackable unit and the second stackable unit together, while the first stackable unit is in connection with the second stackable unit;
forming an aseptic connection between the contact surface of the first stackable unit and the contact surface of the second stackable unit;
providing a first compression plate and a second compression plate, wherein the first and second compression plate are configured to provide a compressive force;
enabling a fluid tight connection between the first stackable unit and the second stable unit, wherein a first gasket is provided around the first pair of inlets/outlets of the first stackable unit and the second stackable unit, and a second gasket is provided around the second pair of inlets/outlets of the first stackable unit and the second stackable unit, and
compressing, to a first position the mated first films and second films, wherein when the mated first films and the mated second films pulled out, compressing to a second position by applying a force by compression plates in a direction towards each other and engaging the first gaskets together and the second gaskets together thereby forming a fluid tight seal.

2. A stackable unit configured for combining with other stackable units to form a multi-unit device, the stackable unit comprising:
on a contact surface thereof, providing plural fluid inlets/outlets comprising:
a first pair of inlets/outlets on a first surface of the unit;
a first film disposed overtop the first surface;
a second pair of inlets/outlets on a second surface on a same contact surface of the stackable unit; and
a second film disposed overtop the second surface;
wherein a first stackable unit is configured to connect with a second stackable unit;
wherein the first film of the stackable unit is configured to mate with a first film of another stackable unit, and the second film of the stackable unit is configured to be mated with a second film of the other stackable unit, while the stackable unit is in connection with the other stackable unit;
wherein a first gasket is provided around the first pair of inlets/outlets of the stackable unit, and a second gasket is provided around the second pair of inlets/outlets of the stackable unit, wherein the first gasket mates a first gasket of the other stackable unit, and the second gasket mates with a second gasket of the other stackable unit while the stackable unit is in connection with the other stackable unit;
wherein the first films and second films are configured to be removed concurrently while mating the first films and second films;
wherein the stackable unit is configured to form an aseptic connection with the other stackable unit while removing of the first films and second films; and
a compression device comprising a pair of compression plates, wherein the compression plates are configured to compress, to a first position the mated first films and second films, wherein when the mated first films and the mated second films are pulled out, compressing to a second position by applying a force by the compression plates in a direction towards each other and engaging the first gaskets together and the second gaskets together thereby forming a fluid tight seal.

3. The stackable unit of claim 2 , further comprising a foam layer formed around each of the first gasket and the second gasket.

4. The stackable unit of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the stackable unit and the other stackable unit includes a porous structure.

5. The stackable unit of claim 2 , wherein the first film and the second film are unevenly folded over the first pair of inlets/outlets and the second pair of inlets/outlets, respectively.

6. The stackable unit of claim 2 , wherein each compression plate fitted with a fluid port.

7. The stackable unit of claim 6 , wherein a distribution plate is disposed between one of the the stackable unit and the other stackable unit, and the compression plate.

Assignees

• Gebauer Klaus
• Ge Healthcare Bio Sciences Ab

Inventors

• Gebauer Klaus

Classifications

• G01N30/96

  using ion-exchange (G01N30/02, G01N30/90 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01N2030/8881

  Modular construction, specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• A61M39/165

  Shrouds or protectors for aseptically enclosing the connector · CPC title

• Y10T137/794

  With means for separating solid material from the fluid · CPC title

• A61M39/16

  having provision for disinfection or sterilisation {(A61M39/143 takes precedence)} · CPC title