Aseptic sampler fitting

Claim 2

In combination with a container having sterile material therein which is to be sampled, an aseptic sampler fitting connected to said container providing for sampling the contents without introducing bateria, said fitting comprising a tubular member having two opposing ends, a first exteriorly accessible cover closing one of said ends and having a self-sealing pierceable portion, a second cover closing the other of said ends and having a self-sealing pierceable portion, an aseptic medium within said tubular member between said first and second covers, and means for attaching said tubular member to said container with said second cover adjacent to the contents of said container so that an aseptic sample of the contents of said container may be obtained by piercing both of said pierceable portions of said covers with a hypodermic needle and withdrawing a sample of said contents through said hypodermic needle, the aseptic medium being so located and of such character as to asepticize the needle before it enters the container having the sterile material.

Claim 3

An aseptic sampler fitting as defined in claim 1 wherein the aseptic medium is steam and wherein the pierceable portion of said first and second covers is made of one of the following three materials: (1) ethyleNepropyleneterpolymer, (2) fluorocarbon elastomer, (3) butyl elastomer.

Claim 4

An aseptic sampler fitting as defined in claim 1 and further comprising a steam inlet port attached to said tubular member and communicating with the interior thereof, and a steam outlet port attached to said tubular member and communicating into the interior thereof for circulating steam through the interior of said tubular member.

Claim 5

An aseptic sampler fitting as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second covers each comprise a readily removable disk of relatively rigid material having an opening formed in the center thereof, said disk having a permanently affixed coating on at least one side which is composed of a self-sealing pierceable material at least covering said center opening.

Claim 6

An aseptic sampler fitting as claimed in claim 4 in which each disk has a permanently affixed coating on both sides, and said coating being formed to provide protruding circular beads on each side of the disk adjacent the periphery thereof to form sealing and locating beads, and there being means on the fitting and container for receiving said beads.

Claim 7

An aseptic sampler fitting as claimed in claim 5 in which there is means for revmovably clamping the disks in position on the fitting, and said fitting and container having grooves located to receive the beads of the disks.

Claim 8

An aseptic sampler fitting as claimed in claim 1 in which said container has a stem with an annular flange, in which said tubular member has inner and outer annular flanges, in which one cover is removably clamped between the inner annular flange of the tubular member and said annular flange of the stem, and in which the other cover member is removably clamped against the annular flange at the outer end of the tubular member.

Claim 9

An aseptic sampler fitting as claimed in claim 7 in which said other cover is removably clamped between a cap and said annular flange at the outer end of the tubular member, said cap having a central hole.

Claim 10

An aseptic sampler fitting for attachment to a container for sampling the contents of said container, said fitting comprising a tubular member having two opposed ends, a first exteriorly accessible cover comprising a disk of relatively rigid material having an opening in the central portion thereof coated on both sides with a self-sealing pierceable material at least covering the opening in the central portion of the disk, a second like cover closing the other of said ends and having a self-sealing pierceable portion, the self-sealing pierceable coating material on both sides of the disk including a protruding circular bead adjacent the periphery of said disk to form a sealing and locating bead on both sides of the disk, an aseptic medium within said tubular member between said first and second covers, and means for attaching said tubular member to said container with said second cover adjacent to the contents of said container so that an aseptic sample of the contents may be obtained by piercing both of said pierceable portions of said covers with a hypodermic needle and withdrawing a sample of said contents through said hypodermic needle.

Claim 11

An aseptic sampler fitting for attachment to a container for sampling the contents of said container, said fitting comprising a tubular member having two opposed ends, a first exteriorly accessible cover comprising a disk of relatively rigid material having an opening in the central portion thereof coated on both sides with a self-sealing pierceable material at least covering the opening in the central portion of the disk, a second like cover closing the other of said ends and having a self-sealing pierceable portion, the self-sealing pierceable coating material on both sides of the disk including a protruding circular bead adjacent the periphery of said disk to form a sealing and locating bead on both sides of the disk, an aseptic medium within said tubular member between said first and second covers, and means for attaching said tubular member to said container with said second cover adjacent to the contents of said container so that an aseptic sample of the contents may be obtained by piercing both of said pierceable portions of said covers with a hypodermic needle and withdrawing a sample of said contents through said hypodermic needle.

Claim 12

An aseptic sampler fitting as defined in claim 9 and further comprising means for attaching said tubular member and first and second covers to a conduit containing a fluid to be sampled.

Claim 13

An aseptic sampler fitting as defined in claim 9 wherein grooves are formed in said tubular member adjacent to said first and second covers for receiving said sealing beads around the periphery of said first and second covers.

Claim 14

An aseptic sampler fitting as defined in claim 11 wherein said opposing ends of said tubular member are flanged and wherein said grooves are formed in said flanges.

Claim 15

An aseptic sampler fitting as defined in claim 12 and further comprising a third flange adjacent to the outer periphery of one of said covers and a fourth flange adjacent to the outer periphery of the other of said covers, there being grooves formed iN said third and fourth flanges for receiving said sealing beads around the periphery of said first and second covers.

Claim 16

An aseptic sampler fitting as defined in claim 13 and further comprising a first and a second clamp member for clamping said first and second covers onto the opposing ends of said tubular member.

Claim 17

An aseptic sampler fitting as defined in claim 14 wherein said first and second clamp members and all of said flanges are tapered so that tightening of the clamp members increases the sealing pressure on said sealing beads of said first and second covers.

Claim 18

An aseptic sampler fitting as defined in claim 14 in which there is a cap externally of said first cover maintained in position by said first clamp member, and in which said cap has a hole in alignment with the pierceable portions of said covers.