Method and apparatus for sealed, sterile connection
First Claim
1. The method of transferring sterile contents from a first, sealed, sterile container, having a first, flexible, sealed, fluid transfer tube, to a second, sealed, sterile container having a second, flexible, sealed, fluid transfer tube, said first and second tubes communicating at one end with their respective sealed, sterile containers, said first and second tubes having a free end, and being each sealed with a diaphragm across their bores, said diaphragms being spaced from the free ends of said first and second tubes, said method comprising:
- inserting one end of a double-ended, hollow spike into each of the bores of said first and second tubes at the free end thereof, said spike being proportioned to tightly and sealingly fit into each bore of the first and second tubes;
sterilizing said spike and that portion of said first and second tubes extending from each said diaphragm to the free ends of said tubes; and
thereafteraxially collapsing said first and second tubes adjacent the free ends thereof to pass the ends of said spike through said diaphragms to open a flow channel between said first and second containers;
transferring said sterile contents through said fluid transfer tubes from said first to said second container; and
resealing said second fluid transfer tube while sterility is retained in said second tube.
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Accused Products
Abstract
First and second sealed, sterile containers, having respectively communicating first and second fluid transfer tubes, the tubes having diaphragms occluding the bores thereof, may be connected together in sterile manner for the sterile transfer of the contents of one container to the other. To accomplish this, one point of a double-pointed, hollow spike is inserted into each of the bores of the fluid transfer tubes, at the free ends thereof, the spike being proportioned to tightly and sealingly fit into each bore of the fluid transfer tubes. Thereafter, the spike and that portion of the tubes extending from the diaphragms to the free ends thereof are sterilized. Then the points of the spike are moved to rupture the diaphragms, to open a flow channel, and the sterile contents are transferred. The fluid transfer tube of the container receiving the desired sterile contents is then resealed, prior to breaking sterility by opening the connection.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. The method of transferring sterile contents from a first, sealed, sterile container, having a first, flexible, sealed, fluid transfer tube, to a second, sealed, sterile container having a second, flexible, sealed, fluid transfer tube, said first and second tubes communicating at one end with their respective sealed, sterile containers, said first and second tubes having a free end, and being each sealed with a diaphragm across their bores, said diaphragms being spaced from the free ends of said first and second tubes, said method comprising:
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inserting one end of a double-ended, hollow spike into each of the bores of said first and second tubes at the free end thereof, said spike being proportioned to tightly and sealingly fit into each bore of the first and second tubes; sterilizing said spike and that portion of said first and second tubes extending from each said diaphragm to the free ends of said tubes; and
thereafteraxially collapsing said first and second tubes adjacent the free ends thereof to pass the ends of said spike through said diaphragms to open a flow channel between said first and second containers; transferring said sterile contents through said fluid transfer tubes from said first to said second container; and
resealing said second fluid transfer tube while sterility is retained in said second tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A sealed sterile connection means between a first, sealed, sterile container having a sealed, flexible, sterile fluid transfer tube communicating at one end thereof with said first container and having a free end, and a second, sealed, sterile container having a second, sealed, flexible sterile fluid transfer tube communicating at one end thereof with said second container, and having a free end, said first and second fluid transfer tubes being each sealed with a diaphragm across their respective bores, said diaphragms being spaced from the free ends of said tubes, the improvement comprising:
A double-ended, hollow spike, one end of said spike being inserted into each of the bores of said first and second tubes at the free ends thereof but spaced from said diaphragms to maintain the diaphragms intact, said spike being proportioned to tightly and sealingly fit into each bore of said first and second tubes, said first and second tubes being each sufficiently flexible adjacent their free ends to permit manual axial collapse thereof, to permit said diaphragms to be penetrated by the ends of said spike.
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5. A sealed sterile connection means between a first, sealed, sterile container having a sealed, flexible, sterile fluid transfer tube communicating at one end thereof with said first container and having a free end, and a second, sealed, sterile container having a second, flexible, sterile fluid transfer tube communicating at one end thereof with said second container and having a free end, said first and second fluid transfer tubes being each sealed with a diaphragm across their respective bores, said diaphragms being spaced from the free ends of said tubes, the improvement comprising:
a double-ended, hollow spike, one end of said spike being inserted into each of the bores of said first and second tubes at the free ends thereof, but spaced from said diaphragms to maintain the diaphragms intact, said spike being proportioned to tightly and sealingly fit into each bore of said first and second tubes, said first and second tubes being each sufficiently flexible adjacent their free ends to permit manual axial collapse thereof, to permit said diaphragms to be penetrated by the ends of said spike, and - View Dependent Claims (7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- 6. removable clip members surrounding each said fluid transfer tube adjacent each free end, to prevent said axial collapse, and consequent rupturing of the diaphragms of said tubes, by said hollow spike prior to removal of said clip member in which the free end of said sealed, flexible tube is provided with a first external flange adjacent its free end and a second external flange positioned on said tube adjacent said diaphragm, said clip member being positioned in an abutting relationship between said first and second flanges.
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14. A sealed, sterile container having a sealed, flexible, sterile fluid transfer tube communicating at one end thereof with said container and having a free end;
- the improvement comprising;
a diaphragm positioned across the bore of said tube, said diaphragm being spaced from the free end thereof, said tube being sufficiently flexible to permit manual axial collapse thereof adjacent said free end, and a removable clip member surrounding said fluid transfer tube adjacent the free end thereof, to prevent said axial collapse prior to removal of said clip member.
- the improvement comprising;
Specification