Separable fluid transfer connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11660438-B2
Application number	US-201916562533-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2019
Priority date	Sep 6, 2019
Publication date	May 30, 2023
Grant date	May 30, 2023

Abstract

A connector for facilitating fluid transfer includes first fitting, a second fitting, a rigid conduit, a first retaining connector, and a second retaining connector. The rigid conduit includes a flexible tube surrounded by a deformable sleeve. The rigid conduit is connected on a first end to the first fitting and on a second end to the second fitting. The first retaining connector connects the first fitting to the rigid conduit and the second retaining connector connects the second fitting to the rigid conduit. A lumen extends through the rigid conduit and is capable of being sealed. The rigid conduit and the flexible tube are capable of being severed while maintaining the seal of the lumen to separate the first fitting from the second fitting. The connections of the first fitting and the second fitting to the rigid conduit are capable of withstanding at least 1 bar of pressure without leaking.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A connector for facilitating fluid transfer, the connector comprising:
a first fitting suitable for receiving a fluid;
a second fitting suitable for emitting the fluid;
a rigid conduit including a flexible tube surrounded by a deformable sleeve and defining a lumen extending therethrough, the deformable sleeve fixed to an outer surface of the flexible tube prior to deformation, the rigid conduit connected on a first end to the first fitting and on a second end to the second fitting, the lumen capable of being sealed;
a first retaining connector connecting the first fitting to the rigid conduit; and
a second retaining connector connecting the second fitting to the rigid conduit,
the flexible tube and deformable sleeve of the rigid conduit capable of being deformed and severed while maintaining the seal of the lumen to separate the first fitting from the second fitting, and the connections of the first and second fittings to the rigid conduit being capable of withstanding at least 1 bar of pressure without leaking.

2. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the deformable sleeve is formed of a material having plasticity such that pressure applied to the deformable sleeve causes the deformable sleeve to deform about and seal the flexible tube and upon continued application of pressure to the deformable sleeve, the deformable sleeve and the flexible tube are cut and the deformable sleeve retains a deformed shape substantially sealing the tube.

3. The connector of claim 2 , wherein the deformable sleeve is adhesively attached to the flexible tube, wherein the deformable sleeve and adhesive are formed of materials having plasticity such that pressure applied to the deformable sleeve causes the deformable sleeve and adhesive to deform about and seal the flexible tube and upon continued application of pressure to the deformable sleeve, the deformable sleeve, the adhesive, and the flexible tube are cut and the deformable sleeve retains a deformed shape substantially sealing the flexible tube.

4. The connector of claim 3 , wherein the flexible tube is integral with at least one of the first fitting or the second fitting.

5. The connector of claim 4 , wherein the flexible tube is integral with both the first fitting and the second fitting.

6. The connector of claim 3 , wherein the first retaining connector or the second retaining connector includes a clamp that clamps the rigid conduit to a respective one of the first fitting or the second fitting.

7. The connector of claim 3 , wherein the first retaining connector or the second retaining connector includes a fastener that connects the rigid conduit to a respective one of the first fitting or the second fitting, the fastener comprising a crimp collar that surrounds an elastomeric liner.

8. The connector of claim 3 , wherein the deformable sleeve is attached to the flexible tube with an adhesive selected from the group consisting of a curable platinum catalyzed silicone adhesive, a moisture curable silicone adhesive, a hot melt adhesive, cyanoacrylate, epoxy, and urethane.

9. The connector of claim 8 , wherein the rigid tube further comprises a primer between the flexible tube and the adhesive.

10. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the deformable sleeve is made of a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, anodized aluminum, brass, bronze, nickel-plated bronze, and stainless steel.

11. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the deformable sleeve has as wall thickness between 0.005 to 0,062 inches.

12. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the flexible tube comprises a thermoplastic elastomer tubing.

13. The connector of claim 12 , wherein the flexible tube is constructed from material selected from the group consisting of styrene isobutylene copolymer and ethylene propylene copolymers blended with polypropylene.

14. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the flexible tube comprises thermoplastic polymer tubing.

15. The connector of claim 14 , wherein the flexible tube is constructed from material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and a flexible polyolefin.

16. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the flexible tube comprises thermoset elastomer tubing.

17. The connector of claim 16 , wherein the flexible tube is constructed from material selected from the group consisting of silicone, phenyl silicone, fluoroelastomer (FKM), perfluoroelastomer (FFKM), and perfluoropolyether.

18. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the rigid conduit is non-linear between the first and second ends thereof.

19. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the rigid conduit includes a bend between the first and second ends thereof.

20. The connector of claim 19 , wherein the bend is in a range of 15 degrees to 90 degrees.

21. An aseptic fluid transfer system comprising:
a first vessel;
a second vessel; and
a connector comprising:
a first fitting in fluid communication with the first vessel;
a second fitting in fluid communication with the second vessel; and
a rigid conduit connected between the first fitting and the second fitting, the rigid conduit comprising a flexible tube and a deformable sleeve fixed to the flexible tube prior to deformation, the flexible tube defining a lumen that extends through the rigid conduit and that is capable of being sealed, the flexible tube and the deformable sleeve of the rigid conduit being capable of being severed while maintaining a seal of the lumen to separate the first fitting from the second fitting.

22. A method of aseptically separating a closed fluid transfer system, the closed fluid transfer system including a first vessel, a second vessel, and a fluid transfer connector disposed between the first vessel and the second vessel, the fluid transfer connector having a first fitting suitable for receiving a fluid from the first vessel, a second fitting suitable for emitting the fluid to the second vessel, and a rigid conduit connected between the first fitting and the second fitting, the method comprising:
applying pressure to the rigid conduit to deform the rigid conduit, the rigid conduit including a deformable sleeve fixed to an outer surface of a flexible tube prior to deformation thereof; and
applying further pressure to the rigid conduit to cut the deformable sleeve and the flexible tube of the rigid conduit thereby leaving a lumen defined through the rigid conduit substantially sealed where cut.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the rigid conduit comprises a flexible tube surrounded by a deformable sleeve, the deformable sleeve being adhered to the flexible tube, wherein deforming the rigid conduit comprises deforming the flexible tube and the deformable sleeve, and wherein sealing t rigid conduit comprises sealing the flexible tube.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the pressure to deform and the pressure to cut is applied simultaneously.

25. A connector for facilitating fluid transfer, the connector comprising:
a rigid conduit including a flexible tube surrounded by a deformable sleeve, the rigid conduit having a first end, a second end, and a lumen defined therethrough with the flexible tube and the deformable sleeve each extending from the first end to the second end, the rigid conduit configured to seal the lumen when severed;
a first fitting;
a second fitting;
a first retaining connector forming a first connection between the first fitting and the first end of the rigid conduit, the first

Assignees

• Sartorius Stedim North America Inc

Inventors

• Zumbrum Michael A
• Wortmeyer Johannes

Classifications

• F16L31/02

  for branching hoses · CPC title

• A61M39/10 Primary

  Tube connectors; Tube couplings {(A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014)} · CPC title

• A61M2039/282

  including severing of the tube · CPC title

• F16L21/00

  Joints with sleeve or socket (F16L13/00, {F16L15/00,} F16L17/00, F16L19/00 take precedence; {joints for pipes made of reinforced concrete F16L25/0027;} connecting arrangements or other fittings specially adapted to be made of plastics or to be used with pipes made of plastics F16L47/00; specially adapted for pipes of brittle material F16L49/00) · CPC title

• F16L47/02

  Welded joints; Adhesive joints · CPC title