METHOD FOR PROTECTING AND UNPROTECTING THE FLUID PATH IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT ENCLOSURE

• Main Authors: CICHY, Marcin, PROCYSHYN, Christopher
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 21.02.2019
• Subjects: BABY COMFORTERS; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE; CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICALPURPOSES; CONVEYING; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGINGPHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL ORADMINISTERING FORMS; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGINGARTICLES OR MATERIALS; MEASURING; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; PHYSICS; STORING; TESTING; TRANSPORTING; UNPACKING

A controlled environment enclosure comprises a robotic arm manipulation system used to protect and unprotect a fluid path and a swab within the controlled environment enclosure. The apparatus allows the fluid path to be protected against dangerous decontamination vapors and chemicals before the controlled environment enclosure is decontaminated. The apparatus allows the fluid path to be unprotected without the use of gloves or other means that degrade the integrity of the controlled environment enclosure when decontamination is completed. The apparatus and method allow for the protecting, unprotecting and decontaminating sequences to be automated. In some embodiments the fluid path comprises a fill needle that can removably and aseptically be sealed with a disposable monolithic injection moulded polymeric fill needle sheath. The apparatus and method further allow for the use of a swab disposed in a swab holder that is aseptically and removably sealable to a swab cap to protect the swab against decontamination vapors.