Sartorius Stedim Biotech Gmbh

B. Braun Melsungen Ag

Winfried Kuhlmann

Oscar-Werner Reif

Colin Kalman Lanyi

Christopher Biddell

Christopher Biddel

Wolfgang Kahlert

Reinhard Kiel

A connector assembly has a connector () with a fluid leadthrough () and a contact device (). The contact device has an essentially planar contact surface () and a fluid leadthrough opening () passing through the contact surface (). A sterile covering () sterilely covers at least part of the contact surface () and/or an end of the fluid leadthrough opening () adjacent the contact surface (). A coupling device () is provided in proximity to the contact surface () outwardly from the fluid leadthrough opening (). The connector assembly further includes a complementary connector () with a complementary coupling device () that can engage with the coupling device () along a coupling direction () that is essentially parallel to the contact surface ().

Connector, connector system and use thereof

A connector system () for producing a sterile connection includes a fluid conduit (), an engagement device () designed to engage with a complementary engagement device () of a complementary connector (), a displacement device () with a substantially plane displacement surface () and a fluid conduit aperture () which extends through the displacement surface () and is connected to the fluid conduit (), with the displacement device () being designed to displace the connector () and the complementary connector () relative to one another in a displacement direction () after the engagement device () has engaged with the complementary engagement device (), and with the displacement direction () being substantially parallel to the displacement surface (), and a sterile cover device () designed to cover at least the fluid conduit aperture () in a sterile manner. The invention also relates to a method of use of the connector system () and of the complementary connector () for sterile connection of a fluid inlet of the connector () to a fluid outlet of the complementary connector.

Connector system and method of using same

An immersion tube dipping into a fluid is connected via a valve and via a 3/2-valve to a condensate line and to a working line. In the sterilization position, vapor flows through the valve and through the 3/2-way valve and the valve is in a position which is open to the head space of the vessel and to the tube. As a result, all of the inner space of the vessel is exposed to the same pressure. In the operating position, the valve connects the duct only to the interior of the immersion tube, while the connection to the head space is blocked. All components connected to the line are sterilized by vapor.

Vapor sterilizable bioreactor

Growing community of inventors

Melsungen, Germany

Winfried Kuhlmann