Systems and methods for aseptic sampling
View Patent ↗A sampling assembly configured to be coupled to a sample source and facilitate aseptic sampling at one or more instances in time is provided. Further, the sampling assembly includes a first conduit having first and second ports, where the first port is configured to be coupled to the sample source. The sampling assembly also includes a plurality of sub-conduits having corresponding sub-ports, where each of the plurality of sub-conduits is operatively coupled to the first conduit at respective connector junctions. Also, each of the sub-ports is in fluidic communication with the first conduit. The sampling assembly also includes a plurality of sampling kits and one or more pumping devices. Further, each sampling kit is operatively coupled to a respective sub-port of a corresponding sub-conduit. Moreover, the one or more pumping devices are operatively and aseptically coupled to the second port of the first conduit.
1. A sampling assembly configured to be coupled to a sample source and facilitate aseptic sampling at one or more instances in time, comprising:
a first conduit comprising a first port and a second port, wherein the first port is directly coupled to the sample source;
a plurality of sub-conduits having corresponding sub-ports, wherein each of the plurality of sub-conduits is operatively coupled to the first conduit at respective connector junctions, wherein the sub-ports are disposed between the first and second ports of the first conduit, and wherein each of the sub-ports is in fluidic communication with the first conduit;
a plurality of sampling kits, wherein each sampling kit of the plurality of sampling kits is operatively coupled to a respective sub-port of a corresponding sub-conduit; and
one or more pumping devices directly and aseptically coupled to the second port of the first conduit.
2. The sampling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pumping devices comprise a pump, a syringe, a resilient container, or combinations thereof.
3. The sampling assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an air filter operatively coupled to the one or more pumping devices.
4. The sampling assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one flow regulator operatively coupled to the one or more pumping devices.
5. The sampling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first conduit is a continuous conduit.
6. The sampling assembly of claim 1 , wherein one or more sampling kits of the plurality of sampling kits comprise a resilient sampling pillow, a sampling syringe, a sampling container, or combinations thereof.
7. The sampling assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of first flow controllers disposed along the first conduit.
8. The sampling assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of second flow controllers operatively coupled to one or more sampling kits of the plurality of sampling kits.
9. A sampling system configured to facilitate aseptic sampling at one or more instances in time, the sampling system comprising:
a sample source configured to house a biological inoculum;
a sampling assembly, comprising:
a first conduit comprising a first port and a second port, wherein the first port is directly coupled to the sample source;
a plurality of sub-conduits having corresponding sub-ports, wherein each of the plurality of sub-conduits is operatively coupled to the first conduit at respective connector junctions, wherein the sub-ports are disposed between the first and second ports of the first conduit, and wherein each of the sub-ports is in fluidic communication with the first conduit;
a plurality of sampling kits, wherein each sampling kit of the plurality of sampling kits is operatively coupled to a respective sub-port of a corresponding sub-conduit; and
one or more pumping devices directly and aseptically coupled to the second port of the first conduit,
wherein the sampling assembly comprises a functionally closed arrangement.
10. The sampling system of claim 9 , further comprising a flow regulator operatively coupled to the one or more pumping devices.
11. The sampling system of claim 9 , further comprising an air filter operatively coupled to the one or more pumping devices.
12. The sampling system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of sampling kits comprises a resilient sampling pillow, an enclosed sampling syringe, a combination of a rigid sampling container and a sampling syringe, or combinations thereof.
13. The sampling system of claim 12 , wherein the combination of the rigid sampling container and the sampling syringe further comprises an air filter disposed between the rigid sampling container and the sampling syringe.
14. A method for aseptically sampling at one or more instances in time, comprising:
providing a sample source having an outlet port;
providing a sampling assembly configured to be coupled to the sample source and facilitate aseptic sampling at one or more instances in time, wherein the sampling assembly comprises:
a first conduit comprising a first port and a second port, wherein the first port is directly coupled to the sample source;
a plurality of sub-conduits having corresponding sub-ports, wherein each of the plurality of sub-conduits is operatively coupled to the first conduit at respective connector junctions, wherein the sub-ports are disposed between the first and second ports of the first conduit, and wherein each of the sub-ports is in fluidic communication with the first conduit;
a plurality of sampling kits, wherein each sampling kit of the plurality of sampling kits is operatively coupled to a respective sub-port of a corresponding sub-conduit;
one or more pumping devices directly and aseptically coupled to the second port of the first conduit;
coupling the first port of the first conduit to the outlet port of the sample source;
providing fluidic communication between the sample source and the first conduit to facilitate flow of the sample out of the sample source and into at least a portion of the first conduit and at least a portion of a corresponding sub-conduit of the plurality of sub-conduits;
providing a negative pressure in a sampling kit of the plurality of sampling kits to facilitate a flow of at least the portion of the sample from the sample source and the corresponding sub-conduit into the sampling kit; and
drawing the portion of the sample from the sample source and the corresponding sub-conduit into the sampling kit.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising adjusting an orientation of the sample source to establish a fluidic connection between the sample source and the first conduit.
16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
determining if a desirable amount of sample is drawn into the sampling kit; and
if the desirable amount of sample is drawn into the sampling kit, purging at least a portion of the corresponding sub-conduit using the sampling kit by pushing a residual sample from the portion of the sub-conduit towards the first conduit.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising purging at least the portion of the first conduit using the one or more pumping devices.
18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising sealing two or more locations on the corresponding sub-conduit of the plurality of sub-conduits.
19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising decoupling the sampling kit from the sampling assembly by decoupling the corresponding sub-conduit at a location disposed between the two or more locations.