Fluid transfer device and process of aseptically transferring a fluid

1. A fluid transfer device comprising

a first reservoir ( 1 ) having a predetermined sub-ambient pressure and volume and a presealed opening ( 1 a ),

a second reservoir ( 2 ) containing a predetermined volume of a fluid (M) and having a presealed opening ( 2 a ),

a chamber ( 3 ) having an internal space ( 6 ) and an inlet ( 4 ) to the space ( 6 ) configured to be connected to the opening ( 2 a ) of the second reservoir ( 2 ) and an outlet ( 5 ) from the space ( 6 ) configured to be connected to the opening ( 1 a ) of the first reservoir ( 1 ),

wherein the first and second reservoirs ( 1 , 2 ) are connected to each other such that the respective openings ( 1 a , 2 a ) are oriented to be simultaneously connectable to the inlet ( 4 ) and outlet ( 5 ) of the chamber ( 3 ), and

wherein the first and second reservoirs ( 1 , 2 ) are arranged such that, upon connection with the inlet ( 4 ) and outlet ( 6 ) of the chamber ( 3 ), the opening ( 1 a ) of the first reservoir ( 1 ) is opened before the opening ( 2 a ) of the second reservoir ( 2 ) is opened.

2. The fluid transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein a volume of the fluid (M) contained in the second reservoir ( 2 ) is predetermined such that it is larger than the volume of the internal space ( 6 ) of the chamber ( 3 ).

3. The fluid transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the second reservoir ( 2 ) is deformable under ambient pressure when pressure in an internal volume of the second reservoir ( 2 ) is at a sub-ambient pressure.

4. The fluid transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the second reservoir ( 2 ) is rigid and contains a piston configured to move under ambient pressure when pressure in an internal volume of the second reservoir ( 2 ) is at a sub-ambient pressure.

5. The fluid transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the second reservoir ( 2 ) is rigid at ambient pressure and when pressurized.

6. The fluid transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second reservoirs ( 1 , 2 ) are releasably connected to each other by an adapter ( 9 ).

7. The fluid transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the presealed openings ( 1 a , 2 a ) of the first and second reservoirs ( 1 , 2 ) are configured to be forcibly opened upon connection with the inlet ( 4 ) and outlet ( 5 ) of the chamber ( 3 ).

8. The fluid transfer device according to claim 7 , wherein needle-like extensions ( 23 and 24 ) of the chamber ( 3 ) are removable.

9. The fluid transfer device according to claim 8 , wherein seals ( 1 b , 2 b ) of the openings ( 1 a , 2 a ) of the first and second reservoirs ( 1 , 2 ) have a self-resealing property.

10. The fluid transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the internal space ( 6 ) of the chamber ( 3 ) includes one or more corrugated channel(s) ( 10 ) or a plurality of channels arranged for a simultaneous flow and connected to an inlet header and an outlet header, respectively, communicating with the inlet ( 4 ) and the outlet ( 5 ) of the chamber ( 3 ).

11. The fluid transfer device according to claim 10 , wherein the plural channels of the internal space are of substantially equal length or are designed for substantially equal throughput volume.

12. The fluid transfer device according to claim 10 , wherein said one or more corrugated channel(s) ( 10 ) or a plurality of channels is/are arranged so as to substantially cover an internal surface of the chamber ( 3 ).

13. The fluid transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the inlet ( 4 ) and outlet ( 5 ) of the chamber ( 3 ) are sealed by a sterile filter barrier or a piercable opening.

14. The fluid transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the chamber ( 3 ) is partially rigid having at least one wall formed from a flexible material.

15. The fluid transfer device according to claim 14 , wherein the flexible material is a porous membrane.

16. The fluid transfer device according to claim 15 , further comprising a second chamber integrated with the chamber ( 3 ) or sealingly connectable to the chamber ( 3 ) such that its internal space is separated from an internal volume of the chamber ( 3 ) with the porous membrane interposed as a permeable interface, wherein the second chamber has at least one further inlet and/or outlet to the internal space.

17. A process of aseptically transferring a fluid comprising:

providing a fluid transfer device as defined by claim 1 ;

connecting the first reservoir ( 1 ) to the outlet ( 5 ) of the chamber ( 3 ) and opening the presealed opening ( 1 a ) to extract a part of any fluid contained in the internal space ( 6 ) of the chamber ( 3 ) into the first reservoir ( 1 ) by means of the sub-ambient pressure in the first reservoir ( 1 );

connecting the second reservoir ( 2 ) to the inlet ( 4 ) of the chamber ( 3 ) and opening the presealed opening ( 2 a ) to extract at least a part of the fluid (M) contained in the second reservoir ( 2 ) into the internal space ( 6 ) of the chamber ( 3 ) by means of the sub-ambient pressure in the first reservoir ( 1 );

disconnecting the first and second reservoirs ( 1 , 2 ) from the chamber ( 3 ).

18. The fluid transfer device of claim 7 wherein seals ( 1 b , 2 b ) are pierced by needle-like extensions ( 23 and 24 ) of the chamber ( 3 ).