Face-Sealing Fluidic Connection System

• US 20160116088A1
• Filed: 10/23/2015
• Published: 04/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Idex Health & Science LLC (RELX PLC)
• Original Assignee: Idex Health & Science LLC (RELX PLC)
• Inventors: Graham, Craig, Beemer, Eric, Nienhuis, Nathaniel, Ellis, Scott, Sanders, Troy
• Granted Patent: US 10,655,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 15/10 characterised by constructional or operational features
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0838 Capillaries
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/563 Joints or fittings in general F16L; Separable fluid transfer means to transfer fluids between at least two containers, e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 15/08 with supplementary elements F16L15/04, F16L41/00 and F16L43/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 19/0206 the collar not being integral with the pipe
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 19/0212 using specially adapted sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6026 Fluid seals

Abstract

A tubing or fitting assembly has an inner tube layer, an outer tube layer, a sleeve, a tip portion, and can have a nut. Each of the nut, sleeve, inner and outer tubing layers, and tip portion have a passageway therethrough, with at least the passageways in the sleeve, tip portion, outer tube layer, and nut adapted to allow the inner tube layer to pass therethrough or extend over the inner layer. The tip portion can be molded over an end portion of the inner tube layer and also over a portion of the sleeve. The sleeve may include a retention feature in the form of a lip which extends into the tip portion, and also a narrower portion so that the tip portion and sleeve remain coupled together. The inner and outer tubing layers can also be retained by an interference fit. The ends of the tip portion and inner layer together define a substantially flat surface which can form a seal in a flat-bottomed port of a component such as may be found in any one of a number of components in an analytical instrument system, including for example a liquid chromatography system. The nut, tube, ferrule, and transfer tube or liner tube may comprise biocompatible materials. In addition, the nut may have a slot, such as a slot adapted to allow the tube and the nut to be easily and quickly separated or to allow a portion of the tube to be easily and quickly inserted in the nut.

Claims

1. A fitting assembly for a flat-bottomed port comprising:

a tube having a passageway therethrough and adapted to fit in a passageway extending through a nut having a first end and a second end, wherein said tube has a first end and a second end, and wherein at least one of the first end and second end of said tube has a tube seal face end adapted to form a seal in a port;

a transfer tube having a passageway therethrough, wherein at least a portion of said tube is located within the passageway of said transfer tube and is secured relative to said transfer tube;

a tip adjacent to and in contact with the tube face seal end, wherein at least a portion of one end of the tip is adapted to form a seal in a port adapted to engage with a portion of the nut, and wherein a portion of the tip is located between said tube and said transfer tube.

2. The fitting assembly according to claim 1, wherein said tube comprises an inner tube and an outer tube.

3. The fitting assembly according to claim 1, wherein said tip comprises a compressible material and wherein at least one of said transfer tube and an inside surface of said tip are adapted to provide an interference fit with said tube.

4. The fitting assembly according to claim 1, wherein said transfer tube has a shorter length than said tube and wherein one end of said transfer tube is adapted to impinge on a portion of one end of said tip, thereby forcing said tip against a port bottom when a nut provides an axial load.

5. The fitting assembly according to claim 1, wherein said tube comprises a single metal, said transfer tube comprises a metal, and further wherein said transfer tube comprises a pocket portion at a terminal end thereof, and wherein said tip is adapted to be held in the pocket portion, thereby providing an interference seal with a portion of said tube.

6. The fitting assembly according to claim 1 wherein said tube and said tip each comprise a biocompatible material.

7. The fitting assembly according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said tube and said tip comprises at least one of the following:

polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyaryletherketone (PAEK), polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), perfluoroalkoxy (PFA, also called perfluoroalkoxyethylene), polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), polymer-sheathed fused silica (such as PEEKSil), fused silica, or silica borite.

8. The fitting assembly according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said tube, said transfer tube, and said tip comprise a material which further comprises a filler.

9. The fitting assembly according to claim 8 wherein the filler comprises fibers.

10. The fitting assembly according to claim 9 wherein the filler comprises at least one of carbon fibers, nanofibers, or metallic fibers.

11. The fitting assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of the second end of said tube and the end of said tip have a substantially flat face adapted to provide a seal when pressed against the bottom of a flat-bottomed port.

12. The fitting assembly according to claim 1, wherein either the second end of said tube, the end of said tip, or both, have a substantially flat face adapted to provide a seal when pressed against the bottom of a flat-bottomed port.

13. The fitting assembly according to claim 11 or 12 wherein the seal is sufficient to withstand fluidic pressures of at least 15,000 psi.

14. The fitting assembly according to claim 11 or 12 wherein the seal is sufficient to withstand fluidic pressures of at least 20,000 psi.

15. The fitting assembly according to claim 11 or 12 wherein the seal is sufficient to withstand fluidic pressures of at least 25,000 psi.

16. The fitting assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a nut adapted to engage with a port in a component of an analytical instrument system, wherein the component is any one of the following:

a pump, a column, a filter, a guard column, a valve, a detector, a pressure regulator, a reservoir, a degasser, a debubbler, a union, a tee, a cross, an adapter, a splitter, a sample loop, or a connector.

17. The fitting assembly according to claim 1 in which said transfer tube comprises an internal angled face portion proximate the tube face seal end and said tip comprises an oppositely angled external face portion.

18. The fitting assembly according to claim 16 wherein the port comprises a flat-bottomed port.

19. The fitting assembly according to claim 18 wherein the port comprises a port with a coned portion.

20. The fitting assembly according to claim 1 wherein a portion of said tube extending from the second end of said nut comprises a portion of said tube which extends beyond the second end of said transfer tube.

26. The fitting assembly according to claim 1 or 21 wherein said nut has at least one slot.

27. The fitting assembly according to claim 26 wherein the slot extends the longitudinal length of the nut.

28. The fitting assembly according to claim 27 wherein the slot extends radially between the passageway of the nut and an exterior surface of the nut.

21. A biocompatible fitting assembly for a flat-bottomed connection comprising:

a nut having a passageway extending therethrough and having a first end and a second end, wherein said nut is adapted to provide an axial load;

a tube located in the passageway of said nut, having a first end extending from the first end of said nut, a portion extending through the passageway in said nut, and a portion extending from the second end of said nut, wherein the portion extending from the second end of said nut further comprises a tube face seal end;

a transfer tube having a passageway therethrough, a first end, and a second end, wherein at least the first end of said transfer tube is located within an interior portion of said nut, and wherein at least a portion of said tube is located within the passageway of said transfer tube and is secured relative to said transfer tube;

a tip adjacent to and in contact with the tube face seal end, wherein at least a portion of one end of the tip is adapted to form a seal in a port operable to engage with said nut, and wherein a portion of said tip is located between said tube and said transfer tube.

22. The fitting assembly according to claim 21, wherein at least one or said tip, tube, and transfer tube comprises a biocompatible material.

23. The fitting assembly according to claim 21 wherein at least one said ferrule, tube, and transfer tube comprises at least one of the following:

PEEK, PAEK, PEKK, FEP, ETFE, or PTFE.

24. The fitting assembly according to claim 21 wherein the seal is sufficient to withstand fluidic pressures of at least 15,000 psi.

25. The fitting assembly according to claim 21 wherein a portion of said tube extending from the second end of said nut comprises a portion of said tube which extends beyond the second end of said transfer tube.

29. The fitting assembly according to claim 21 wherein said nut further comprises a threaded portion operable to engage with a threaded portion of a port.

30. A fitting assembly for a flat-bottomed port comprising:

a tube having a passageway therethrough and adapted to fit in a passageway extending through a nut having a first end and a second end, wherein said tube has a first end and a second end;

a transfer tube having a passageway therethrough, wherein at least a portion of said tube is located within the passageway of said transfer tube and is secured relative to said transfer tube;

a tip having a passageway therethrough and providing an interior portion, wherein said tip is adjacent to and in contact with one of the first end and the second end of said tube, wherein said tip is adapted to receive and hold a portion of one of the first end and the second end of said tube in the interior portion, wherein at least a portion of one end of the tip is adapted to form a seal in a port, and wherein a portion of the tip is located between a portion of said tube and a portion of said transfer tube.

31. The fitting assembly according to claim 30, wherein said tube comprises an inner tube and an outer tube.

32. The fitting assembly according to claim 30, wherein at least one of said transfer tube and a surface of said tip are adapted to provide an interference fit with said tube.

33. The fitting assembly according to claim 30, wherein said transfer tube has a shorter length than said tube and wherein a portion of said transfer tube is adapted to impinge on a portion of said tip.

34. The fitting assembly according to claim 30, wherein said tip comprises a metal.

35. The fitting assembly according to claim 30, wherein the portion of the one end of said tip adapted to form a seal in a port has a substantially flat face adapted to provide a seal in a flat-bottomed port.

36. A nut for a fitting assembly in an analytical instrument system, comprising:

a nut having a first end and a second end, a passageway therethrough, a threaded portion adapted to engage with a component or port in an analytical instrument system, and a slot extending the longitudinal length of said nut, wherein the slot is adapted to allow the insertion into a portion of the passageway or removal from a portion of the passageway of at least a portion of a tube.