Control of Fluid Transfer Operations
First Claim
1. An automated method of providing fluid communication through a self-sealing membrane, the method comprising:
- a) operating an articulated conveyor to retrieve a first fluid conduit having a beveled leading edge;
b) creating a first aperture in a re-sealable fluid port membrane by piercing the membrane with the first fluid conduit;
c) operating the articulated conveyor to retrieve an additional fluid conduit having a beveled leading edge;
d) determining alignment and orientation of the additional fluid conduit relative to the first aperture;
e) registering and orienting the additional fluid conduit for entry into the first aperture; and
f) inserting the additional fluid conduit through the first aperture and in substantial alignment with the first aperture.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Some methods and related apparatus for manipulating a fluid conduit for insertion into a substantially re-sealable membrane include determining an orientation and position of a fluid conduit relative to the membrane. In an illustrative example, a syringe needle having a beveled leading edge may be manipulated by an automated device to be oriented and aligned with an aperture made upon a previous insertion of a needle into a membrane. In some examples, a predetermined number of insertions may be made in the same aperture by aligning and orienting one or more needles with the aperture. In some examples, multiple needle insertions may be controlled to produce apertures that are substantially spaced apart. Such procedures may, for example, advantageously extend the integrity of the membrane against leakage and/or contamination.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. An automated method of providing fluid communication through a self-sealing membrane, the method comprising:
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a) operating an articulated conveyor to retrieve a first fluid conduit having a beveled leading edge; b) creating a first aperture in a re-sealable fluid port membrane by piercing the membrane with the first fluid conduit; c) operating the articulated conveyor to retrieve an additional fluid conduit having a beveled leading edge; d) determining alignment and orientation of the additional fluid conduit relative to the first aperture; e) registering and orienting the additional fluid conduit for entry into the first aperture; and f) inserting the additional fluid conduit through the first aperture and in substantial alignment with the first aperture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer readable medium, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, perform operations for providing fluid communication through a self-sealing membrane, the operations comprising:
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a) cause an articulated conveyor to retrieve a first fluid conduit having a beveled leading edge; b) create a first aperture in a re-sealable fluid port membrane by piercing the membrane with the first fluid conduit; c) cause the articulated conveyor to retrieve an additional fluid conduit having a beveled leading edge; d) determine alignment and orientation of the additional fluid conduit relative to the first aperture; e) register and orient the additional fluid conduit for entry into the first aperture; and f) insert the additional fluid conduit through the first aperture and in substantial alignment with the first aperture.
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25. A method of repeatedly accessing a fluid container to permit fluid transfer, the method comprising:
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a) selecting a first location and orientation to insert a leading tip for needles having a beveled leading edge; b) repeatedly inserting a leading tip of at least one needle at the selected first location and orientation; c) after performing step b) a predetermined number of times, selecting a second location and orientation to insert a leading tip for at least one needle having a beveled leading edge, wherein a first aperture formed by inserting a needle at the selected first location and orientation will be substantially spaced apart from a second aperture formed by inserting a needle at the selected second location and orientation; and d) positioning a leading tip of a needle for insertion at the selected second location and orientation. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer readable medium, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, perform operations for repeatedly accessing a fluid container to permit fluid transfer, the operations comprising:
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a) select a first location and orientation to insert a leading tip for needles having a beveled leading edge; b) repeatedly insert a leading tip of at least one needle at the selected first location and orientation; c) after performing step b) a predetermined number of times, select a second location and orientation to insert a leading tip for at least one needle having a beveled leading edge, wherein a first aperture formed by inserting a needle at the selected first location and orientation will be substantially spaced apart from a second aperture formed by inserting a needle at the selected second location and orientation; and d) position a leading tip of a needle for insertion at the selected second location and orientation.
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34. An automated method of providing fluid communication through a self-sealing membrane, the method comprising:
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a) determining whether an aperture has been made in a membrane, the aperture being made by piercing the membrane with a fluid conduit having a beveled leading edge; and b) upon determining that the membrane has at least one aperture, performing one of the following operations; i) causing a second fluid conduit to be oriented and registered to be inserted through and in substantial alignment with one of the identified apertures, or ii) identifying a second location and orientation and causing the needle to be inserted at the second location and orientation such that the resulting aperture is substantially spaced apart from any other aperture that has been made in the membrane. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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Specification