Aseptic connector

Abstract

The invention relates to a An aseptic connector comprising a first connection unit ( 102; 202; 302; 402; 502 ) provided with a first terminal end surface ( 104; 204; 304; 404; 504 ) and a second connection unit ( 106; 206; 306; 406; 506 ) provided with a second terminal end surface ( 108; 208; 308; 408; 508 ); said first and second terminal end surfaces are each provided with at least one first and second opening ( 110, 112; 210, 212; 310, 312; 410, 412; 510, 512 ), which openings are orientated to substantially coincide when said first and second connection units are connected to each other; said first and second openings are sealed by at least one film ( 114; 214; 314; 414; 514 ) arranged on said first and second connection units, so that the contact between the film and each connection unit is aseptic; said at least one film is adapted to be mated with a corresponding film on the other connection unit when said first and second connection units are connected to each other; and said mated films are adapted to be pulled out together two and two after mating such that corresponding first and second openings in said first and second terminal end surfaces are mated aseptically. At least two first ports ( 116; 216; 316; 416; 516 ) are arranged on the first connection unit, which first ports have fluid connection with the at least one first opening ( 110; 210; 310; 410; 510 ) in the first terminal end surface; and in that at least one second port ( 118; 218; 318; 418; 518 ) is arranged on the second connection unit, which the at least one second port has a fluid connection with the at least one second opening ( 112; 212; 312; 412; 512 ) in the second terminal end surface.

1 . An aseptic connector comprising a first connection unit ( 102 ;  202 ;  302 ;  402 ;  502 ) provided with a first terminal end surface ( 104 ;  204 ;  304 ;  404 ;  504 ) and a second connection unit ( 106 ;  206 ;  306 ;  406 ;  506 ) provided with a second terminal end surface ( 108 ;  208 ;  308 ;  408 ;  508 );
 said first and second terminal end surfaces are each provided with at least one first and second opening ( 110 ,  112 ;  210 ,  212 ;  310 ,  312 ;  410 ,  412 ;  510 ,  512 ), which openings are orientated to substantially coincide when said first and second connection units are connected to each other;   said first and second openings are sealed by at least one film ( 114 ;  214 ;  314 ;  414 ;  514 ) arranged on said first and second connection units, so that the contact between the film and each connection unit is aseptic;   said at least one film is adapted to be mated with a corresponding film on the other connection unit when said first and second connection units are connected to each other; and said mated films are adapted to be pulled out together two and two after mating such that corresponding first and second openings in said first and second terminal end surfaces are mated aseptically,   wherein at least two first ports ( 116 ;  216 ;  316 ;  416 ;  516 ) are arranged on the first connection unit, which first ports have fluid connection with the at least one first opening ( 110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 ;  510 ) in the first terminal end surface; and in that at least one second port ( 118 ;  218 ;  318 ;  418 ;  518 ) is arranged on the second connection unit, which the at least one second port has a fluid connection with the at least one second opening ( 112 ;  212 ;  312 ;  412 ;  512 ) in the second terminal end surface.   
     
     
         2 . The aseptic connector of  claim 1 , wherein the aseptic connector ( 100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ) is a disposable unit. 
     
     
         3 . The aseptic connector of  claim 1 , wherein at least two second ports ( 118 ;  218 ;  318 ;  418 ;  518 ) are arranged on the second connection unit, which the at least two second ports have fluid connection with the at least one second opening in the second terminal end surface. 
     
     
         4 . The aseptic connector of  claim 1 , wherein a gasket ( 122 ;  222 ;  322 ;  422 ;  522 ) is arranged around each opening or possibly a gasket is arranged around a suitable number of openings, said gasket being adapted to mate with a corresponding gasket or terminal end surface on another connection unit which the connection unit possibly should be connected with when the films have been released from the connection units. 
     
     
         5 . The aseptic connector of  claim 4 , wherein a foam layer ( 124 ;  224 ;  324 ;  424 ;  524 ) is arranged around each gasket, which foam layer is adapted to be compressed around each gasket when two connection units are mated. 
     
     
         6 . The aseptic connector of  claim 1 , wherein said films are double folded over said openings and a single sheet of the uppermost layer of the film is reaching outside the terminal end surfaces and adapted to be pulled together with another single sheet of the film when the films are released from the connection units. 
     
     
         7 . The aseptic connector of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second ports is provided with a valve ( 428 ), which is arranged to control fluid flow through the aseptic connector ( 400 ). 
     
     
         8 . The aseptic connector of  claim 1 , wherein measuring means ( 436 ) comprising a sensor and a RFID tag is arranged at the aseptic connector. 
     
     
         9 . The aseptic connector of  claim 1 , wherein the number of openings in the terminal end surface correspond to the number of ports arranged on the connection unit. 
     
     
         10 . The aseptic connector of  claim 1 , wherein the connection units ( 102 ;  106 ) are provided with orientation specific locking means ( 126 ) arranged to mechanically lock the connection units ( 102 ;  106 ) to each other. 
     
     
         11 . A first connection unit for the aseptic connector of  claim 1 , comprising a first terminal end surface ( 102 ;  202 ;  302 ;  402 ;  502 ), which is provided with at least one first opening ( 110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 ;  510 ), said first opening is sealed by at least one film ( 114 ;  214 ;  314 ;  414 ;  514 ) arranged on said first connection unit, so that the contact between the film and the first connection unit is aseptic;
 wherein at least two first ports ( 116 ;  216 ;  316 ;  416 ;  516 ) are arranged on the first connection unit, which first ports have fluid connection with the at least one first opening in the first terminal end surface.   
     
     
         12 . The first connection unit of  claim 11 , wherein the first connection unit is a disposable unit. 
     
     
         13 . The first connection unit of  claim 11 , wherein a gasket ( 122 ;  222 ;  322 ;  422 ;  522 ) is arranged around each opening or possibly a gasket is arranged around a suitable number of openings, said gasket being adapted to mate with a corresponding gasket or end surface on another connection unit which the first connection unit possibly should be connected with when the film has been released from the first connection unit. 
     
     
         14 . The first connection unit of  claim 13 , wherein a foam layer ( 124 ;  224 ;  324 ;  424 ;  524 ) is arranged around each gasket, which foam layer is adapted to be compressed around each gasket when two connection units are mated. 
     
     
         15 . The first connection unit of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first ports is provided with a valve ( 420 ), which is arranged to control fluid flow through the first connection unit. 
     
     
         16 . The aseptic connector of  claim 1 , wherein measuring means ( 436 ) comprising a sensor and a RFID tag is arranged at the first connection unit. 
     
     
         17 . The first connection unit of  claim 11 , wherein the number of openings in the first terminal end surface correspond to the number of ports arranged on the first connection unit. 
     
     
         18 . A sterile circuit comprising at least one first connection unit ( 102 ;  202 ;  302 ;  402 ;  502 ) of  claim 11 , and at least two lengths of tubing ( 120 ;  220 ) fluidically connected to said first connection unit. 
     
     
         19 . The sterile circuit of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one container, such as a storage bag or a bioreactor bag, which is fluidically connected to at least one of the tubing lengths ( 120 ;  220 ).