System for the sterile mixing of materials

Claim 1

In a fluid transfer assembly usable to interconnect and establish a fluid path between two locations, the transfer assembly being of the type having a first fluid conduit including at one end thereof a first connector member having first meltable wall means for normally sealing said first connector member, and thus said associated conduit end, from the exterior, a second fluid conduit including at one end thereof a second connector member having second meltable wall means for normally sealing said second connector, and thus said associated conduit end from the exterior, and means for coupling said first and second connector means together with said first wall means held in facing contact with said second wall means while the coupled assembly is exposed to a source of radiant energy, the improvement comprising one of said wall means includes a material which absorbs a sufficient quantity of the radiant energy so that, solely in response to its exposure to the radiant energy source, said one wall means is heated to its melting point to open said associated connector member, and the other one of said wall means consists essentially of a material which, while said one wall means is being heated to its melting point by exposure to the radiant energy source, does not absorb a sufficient quantity of the radiant energy to melt said other wall means but which does conduct a sufficient quantity of heat energy from said one wall means during melting thereof to concurrently heat said other wall means to its melting point to also open said associated connector member, whereby, during exposure of the coupled assembly to the radiant energy source, both of said wall means are opened by melting, one in response to thermal radiation and the other in response to thermal conduction, to open a fluid path between said fluid conduits.