Patent Description:
Fluid connectors for various applications, including sanitary applications and in carbon steel pipelines for transporting corrosive fluids or gasses such as H<NUM>S, are known. See, for example, <CIT> and <CIT>.

In bioprocess environments, a series of actions or steps are taken in a prescribed sequence to develop and/or purify one or more desired products. These series of actions or steps is known as bioprocess operation in the bioprocess environment. However, a proper control and monitoring of the bioprocess operation may be required to develop these desired products.

Many bioprocess systems use equipment to monitor and control the bioprocess operation. In one example, the equipment includes filters, circuits, disposable components, and the like. These components may have tubing connections between them to convey fluid from one component to another. Wired sensors may be disposed on the components and/or the tubing connections to measure parameters in the bioprocess environment. Some of these parameters include temperature, pressure, a potential of hydrogen (pH), and dissolved oxygen (DO) in the fluid. Such sensors may be connected to an external reader using wires to track the measured parameters. Due to wired connections, there it may be challenging to position certain sensors at desired locations in the bioprocess environment. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved system and method to monitor and control the bioprocess in the bioprocess environment.

The present invention, as defined by the appended claims, is thus provided.

As will be described in detail hereinafter, various embodiments of systems and methods for using aseptic connectors with integrated wireless connectivity are presented. In the embodiments, the systems and methods presented herein employ sensors and wireless data transmission to monitor and/or control a bioprocess operation in a bioprocess environment. Further, the monitoring of sensor measurements and/or output is performed using wireless data transmissions, thereby reducing an amount of wires at a system and decreasing clutter. Embodiments in accordance with the invention include reusable clamps that secure connectors together and that house electronic components for wireless data transmission. As a result, disposable/single-use aseptic connectors and/or sensor systems may be used with reusable clamps that enable wireless connectivity functionality.

In the following specification and the claims, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used herein, the term "or" is not meant to be exclusive and refers to at least one of the referenced components being present and includes instances in which a combination of the referenced components may be present, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

As used herein, the terms "may" and "may be" indicate a possibility of an occurrence within a set of circumstances; a possession of a specified property, characteristic or function; and/or qualify another verb by expressing one or more of an ability, capability, or possibility associated with the qualified verb. Accordingly, usage of "may" and "may be" indicates that a modified term is apparently appropriate, capable, or suitable for an indicated capacity, function, or usage, while taking into account that in some circumstances, the modified term may sometimes not be appropriate, capable, or suitable.

Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this specification belongs. The terms "first", "second", and the like, as used herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The use of terms "including," "comprising" or "having" and variations thereof herein are meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The terms "connected" and "coupled" are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings and can include electrical connections or couplings, whether direct or indirect. Furthermore, terms "circuit," "circuitry," "controller," and "control unit" may include either a single component or a plurality of components, which are either active and/or passive and are connected or otherwise coupled together to provide the described function. In addition, the term operationally or operatively coupled as used herein includes wired coupling, wireless coupling, electrical coupling, magnetic coupling, radio communication, software based communication, or combinations thereof.

Some embodiments of the disclosure include rechargeable devices, such as clamps, to power and/or send wireless signals from single use sensor(s) embedded in aseptic connectors. Accordingly, certain aseptic connector systems may include integrated sensors or other sensing elements and wireless transmission functionality.

Aseptic connectors may be used to flow material, such as fluid, from one location to another. Embodiments of the disclosure include aseptic connector systems that are configured to collect data using one or more, or a plurality, of sensors integrated at an aseptic connector, and to wirelessly transmit the data using a wireless radio. In some instances, certain electronic components, such as a wireless radio, controller, battery, and/or other components may be disposed in a secondary component of the system, such as in a housing of a clamp that secures or couples the aseptic connector together. The clamp may include one or more lithium ion batteries to power, among other components, the embedded or integrated sensor(s) in the aseptic connector, and may be configured to send data from the sensor(s) to another device via a wireless network, such as a local area network (LAN) on which one or more sensor transmitters reside. When the clamp is not in use, the clamp may be inductively recharged on a charging station with other clamps. It should be noted that the clamp, as referred to herein, could be in a different format that still provides power to the integrated sensor(s) and/or transmits data wirelessly.

As a result of embodiments of the invention, cluttering of bio-manufacturing production areas with tubing and wires (that pose a potentially confusing and hazardous environment for operators) may be reduced. Some embodiments may reduce an amount of wiring present in a manufacturing area thereby reducing clutter. Furthermore, some embodiments include clamps that can be configured for specific tasks using process automation and/or may be color coded so they are easily identifiable by operators. In addition, bioprocessing entities using sterile sensing technology may be limited to predetermined points in the workflow. If the sensing point is predetermined, certain embodiments include aseptic connectors with sensing elements that may be preassembled prior to sterilization. Embodiments in accordance with the invention include a clamp used to complete the secure seal between two portions of an aseptic connector, and the interface for excitation and data transmission.

The invention will now be described more closely in association with the accompanying drawings and some non-limiting examples.

<FIG> is a schematic drawing of an example aseptic connector system use case <NUM> in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. In certain embodiments, the bioprocess environment may include biodevices, such as bioreactors, cell banking units, filters, cell harvesting units, chromatography units, circuits, wave rockers, protein concentration units, sterile filtration units, virus removal units, product holding units, buffer preparation units, media preparation units, buffer holding units, media holding units, pumps, flexible cell culture bags, mixers, tanks, safety units, other disposable/single-use components and the like. Some of these devices may be connected to each other with tubes, clamps, and/or smart switches that aid in conveying and controlling fluid from one device to another device.

Bioprocess operation may be performed using one or more of these devices in the bioprocess environment to develop and/or purify the desired products. It may be noted that bioprocess operation is referred to as a series of actions or steps that are taken in a prescribed sequence on living cells, organisms, or their molecular components in the fluid to develop the desired products in the bioprocess environment. Some of the bioprocess operations may include processing of genetically engineered organisms or cells to obtain the desired products.

Bioprocessing components may include a sensing subsystem <NUM> and a control subsystem <NUM>. A portion of the, or the entire, sensing subsystem <NUM> may be single-use. For example, a sensing element in the sensing subsystem that is in contact with a fluid may be disposable/single-use or reusable after a cycle of bioprocess operation. It can suitably be pre-sterilized, e.g. by radiation sterilization. After disposing the sensing-subsystem, a new sensing element may be electrically coupled with existing components for another cycle of bioprocess operation. The cycle of bioprocess operation may be referred to as a time taken to complete a series of actions or steps in a prescribed sequence to develop the desired product. The term "single-use" is referred as the usage of the device/component for only one cycle of bioprocess operation. After one cycle of bioprocess operation, the device/component may be disposed.

The sensing subsystem <NUM> may be configured to measure one or more parameters in the bioprocess operation. Some of the parameters include pressure of the fluid employed for one or more applications in the bioprocess environment, electrical conductivity of the fluid, a biomass in the fluid, a dissolved gas level in the fluid, temperature of the fluid, glucose flow in the fluid, a viable cell density in the fluid, a flow rate of the fluid, a level of foam in the fluid, and a potential of hydrogen (pH) level in the fluid. It may be noted that the sensing subsystem <NUM> may be positioned at any desired location, such as on the bioreactors, the filtration unit, the circuits, the disposable/sinlge-use components, the flexible cell culture bags, the pumps, and the connecting tubes in the bioprocess environment.

In some embodiments, the sensing subsystem <NUM> may be operatively coupled to connecting tubes <NUM> that are positioned between one or more pumps <NUM> and one or more bioreactors <NUM>. Sensing subsystems <NUM> may be used as key building blocks of a flexible flow path. In the embodiment depicted in <FIG>, the sensing subsystem <NUM> may be configured to measure the parameters of the fluid that flows from the pump <NUM> to the bioreactor <NUM> via the connecting tubes <NUM>. However, the sensing subsystem <NUM> may be configured to be disposed in other components of the bioprocess environment as well, for example, in the bioreactor itself. In such embodiments, the sensing subsystem <NUM> is configured to measure the parameters of the fluid that the sensing subsystem <NUM> is in contact with. In certain embodiments, the sensing subsystem <NUM> may include a single-use wired or wireless sensor.

The pump <NUM> may be coupled to the bioreactor <NUM> via the tubes <NUM> and/or tubing chambers. In one example, the tubes <NUM> are flexible and disposable/single-use plastic tubes. Further, the pump <NUM> may be configured to supply fluid to the bioreactor <NUM> where the bioprocess operations, such as cell cultivation, takes place. In one example, the bioreactor <NUM> may include a flexible cell culture bag that aids in cultivating the cells in the fluid.

The sensing subsystem <NUM> may be at least partially disposed in the tubes <NUM> and may be configured to measure one or more parameters of the fluid conveyed from the pump <NUM> to the bioreactor <NUM>. In one example, a portion of the sensing subsystem <NUM> is in contact with the fluid that is flowing through the tubes <NUM> to measure the parameters of the fluid. For example, the sensing subsystem <NUM> may include a sensing element and a signal processor. The sensing element may be a sensor that is in contact with the fluid in the tubes <NUM> to sense analog data corresponding to the parameters of the fluid. The signal processor may be used to process the analog data to generate the parameters of the fluid. More specifically, the signal processor may convert the analog data to digital data that represents the measured parameters of the fluid.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the sensing subsystem <NUM> includes an aseptic connector <NUM> and a clamp <NUM>. It may be noted that the sensing subsystem <NUM> may include other components, and is not limited to the components depicted in <FIG>. <FIG> illustrate example embodiments of aseptic connectors and clamps in detail.

The sensing subsystems in accordance with some embodiments of the specification may allow for modular sensors such that the sensor components can be designed and fitted together in variety of configurations. The modular sensor may be referred as a sensing device where one or more internal elements/components of the sensor may be separated or disintegrated from other internal elements/components in the sensor.

The control subsystem <NUM> may be operationally coupled to the sensing subsystem <NUM> to receive one or more measured parameters or characteristics (and/or other outputs) of the fluid from the sensing subsystem <NUM>. In one example, the control subsystem <NUM> may receive one or more sensed signals that represent the measured parameters of the fluid. It may be noted that control subsystem <NUM> may be coupled to a plurality of sensing subsystems, and is not limited to a single sensing subsystem <NUM> as depicted in <FIG>.

In accordance with the invention, the control subsystem <NUM> is in wireless communication with the sensing subsystem <NUM> to receive the measured parameters of the fluid from the sensing subsystem <NUM>. In one example, the control subsystem <NUM> may be wirelessly coupled to the sensing subsystem <NUM> using any wireless communication techniques, such as infrared, short-range radio frequency (RF) communication, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, Global System for Mobile (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), ZigBee, and the like.

The control subsystem <NUM> may include a first controller and a user interface unit that are electrically coupled to each other. The user interface unit may be referred to as an input-output (I/O) device that is configured to receive data from a user and/or display data to the user. In one embodiment, the user interface unit is configured to receive user-input data. The user-input data may include data indicating an application of the sensing subsystem <NUM> and/or at least one desired parameter of the fluid in the bioprocess environment. The application of the sensing subsystem <NUM> may include usage of the sensing subsystem <NUM> in the biodevices, such as the bioreactors, the filtration units, the chromatography units, the mixers/tanks, and/or the safety units. In certain embodiments, the user may select one or more options from a drop-down menu in the user interface unit. These selected options may be used as the user input data and/or the sensing subsystem data. Further, the user interface unit transmits the user-input data to the first controller.

In a similar manner, the first controller may receive a sensing subsystem data from the sensing subsystem <NUM>. The sensing subsystem data may include data indicating a type of the sensing subsystem <NUM> and/or other information. In one example, the data indicating the type of the sensing subsystem <NUM> may be used to identify the sensor(s), such as the pressure sensor, the temperature sensor, the pH sensor, the conductivity sensor, the glucose sensor, the biomass sensor, the cell viability sensor, the oxygen sensor, the carbon-dioxide sensor, the ultraviolet (UV) sensor, the flow sensor, the foam sensor, and/or a different sensor employed in the bioprocess environment. In one embodiment, the first controller may receive the sensing subsystem data from a user via the user interface unit.

The sensing subsystem <NUM> is wirelessly coupled to the control subsystem <NUM> to communicate the measured parameters of the fluid to the control subsystem <NUM>. In one example, the sensing subsystem <NUM> may transmit one or more signals that represent the measured parameters of the fluid. The control subsystem may also be referred to as a reader. The control subsystem <NUM> may be disposed external to the sensing subsystems.

<FIG> illustrates an example clamp <NUM> in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. The clamp <NUM> may be the same or different than the clamp <NUM> discussed with respect to <FIG>. Other embodiments may include clamps with additional or fewer, or different, components. According to the invention, the clamp <NUM> is part of an aseptic connector clamp system (as illustrated in <FIG>).

<FIG> illustrates an example aseptic connector <NUM> in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. <FIG> will be discussed in conjunction with <FIG>. The aseptic connector <NUM> may be the same or different than the aseptic connector <NUM> discussed with respect to <FIG>. Other embodiments may include connectors with additional or fewer, or different, components. According to the invention, the aseptic connector <NUM> is part of an aseptic connector clamp system (as illustrated in <FIG>).

With reference to <FIG>, the clamp <NUM> is a removable clamp configured to secure a first portion <NUM> of the aseptic connector <NUM> to a second portion <NUM> of the aseptic connector <NUM>. The clamp <NUM> includes a number of components. For example, the clamp <NUM> includes a housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> may be formed of any suitable material, such as plastic. The housing <NUM> may be formed of one or more pieces that may be coupled together using, for example, screws, friction fit or snap fit components, and the like.

The clamp <NUM> includes one or more electronic components disposed within the housing <NUM>. For example, the clamp <NUM> includes a controller disposed within the housing <NUM>. The controller may be configured to control operation of one or more components of the clamp <NUM>. The clamp <NUM> includes a rechargeable battery <NUM> disposed within the housing <NUM>. The rechargeable battery <NUM> may be an internal battery and may or may not be externally accessible. For example, in some embodiments, the rechargeable battery <NUM> may be charged using inductive charging, in which case the battery may not be physically accessible by components external to the housing <NUM>. The rechargeable battery <NUM> may be any suitable battery type, such as a coin cell battery, a lithium-ion battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, and/or a different type of battery. The rechargeable battery <NUM> may be configured for inductive charging. The rechargeable battery <NUM> may be configured to power one or more electronic components within or in communication with the clamp, such as the controller, a wireless radio, a sensor <NUM> of the aseptic connector <NUM>, and/or other components.

The clamp <NUM> includes a wireless radio <NUM> disposed within the housing <NUM>. The wireless radio <NUM> may be configured to transmit and/or receive data, such as data captured or otherwise determined by the sensor(s) <NUM> of the aseptic connector <NUM>. The wireless radio <NUM> may be, in one example, a Bluetooth radio configured for wireless communication using Bluetooth protocol or a ZigBee radio configured for wireless communication using ZigBee protocol. The wireless radio <NUM> may be configured for any suitable wireless communication, such as infrared, short-range radio frequency (RF) communication, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, Global System for Mobile (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), and the like.

The clamp <NUM> includes a sensor plug receptacle <NUM> configured to receive a sensor plug <NUM> that is coupled to the sensor <NUM> of the aseptic connector <NUM>. The sensor plug receptacle <NUM> may be any suitable male, female, or genderless receptacle that is configured to couple or connect to the sensor plug <NUM>. Data may be transmitted from the sensor <NUM> to the controller and/or wireless radio <NUM> via a wired connection from the sensor <NUM> that may include an interface at the sensor plug receptacle <NUM>.

The clamp <NUM> may include a pivotable arm <NUM> that is configured to pivot with respect to the housing <NUM>. The pivotable arm <NUM> may pivot about a joint <NUM> and may form a substantially circular opening <NUM> when in a closed position <NUM>. Other embodiments may include different forms of arm joints, such as sliding, twisting, two-piece configurations, and so forth.

The clamp <NUM> may include a securing mechanism <NUM> to secure one arm to another. The securing mechanism <NUM> in <FIG> is illustrated as a rotatable screw <NUM>. The rotatable screw <NUM> may be configured to engage a portion <NUM> of the housing <NUM> in order to secure the pivotable arm <NUM> to the housing <NUM>.

The aseptic connector <NUM> includes the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> of the aseptic connector <NUM> may be a connector body. One or more sensors <NUM> may be disposed within the connector body. For example, the connector body may include a cylindrical portion <NUM>, and the sensor <NUM> may be disposed within a portion of the cylindrical portion <NUM>. Accordingly, the sensor <NUM> may measure parameters of fluid flowing through the cylindrical portion <NUM>.

An interface <NUM> between the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> may be compressed when the clamp <NUM> is engaged in a closed position and is secured about the outer surfaces of the respective first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> of the aseptic connector <NUM>.

The first portion <NUM> of the aseptic connector <NUM> may be an insert portion <NUM> and may include a tip of reduced diameter <NUM> in some embodiments. Fluid may flow through the connector body or second portion <NUM> to the insert portion or the first portion <NUM> of the aseptic connector <NUM>.

The sensor <NUM> may be removably coupled to the connector body and/or second portion <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> may be a single use sensor, such that it may be replaced after a bioprocessing cycle and/or after a certain amount of time. The sensor <NUM> is integrated into the aseptic connector <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> may be detachable from the aseptic connector <NUM> in some embodiments. The sensor <NUM> and/or the aseptic connector <NUM> may be disposable and/or single-use. The sensor <NUM> may be one or more of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a potential of hydrogen (pH) sensor, a conductivity sensor, a glucose sensor, a biomass sensor, a cell viability sensor, an oxygen sensor, a carbon-dioxide sensor, an ultraviolet (UV) sensor, a flow sensor, a foam sensor, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the sensor <NUM> may be one or more of: a pressure transducer, a temperature sensor, a flow meter sensor, or a conductivity sensor. In some embodiments, more than one sensor may be included at the aseptic connector <NUM>.

The sensor <NUM> may be coupled to a wire <NUM> that terminates at a sensor plug <NUM>. The sensor plug <NUM> may engage the sensor plug receptacle <NUM> of the clamp <NUM> and may be used to communicate sensor readings or sensor output to the electronic components of the clamp <NUM>. The clamp <NUM> may receive the sensor output and may transmit the sensor output using the wireless radio <NUM>. The sensor plug <NUM> may be detachable from the sensor plug receptacle <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates another embodiment of the aseptic connector <NUM> with a spool piece <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the aseptic connector <NUM> may include the spool piece <NUM>, which may be configured to provide an inlet and outlet of the same diameter. Accordingly, the aseptic connector <NUM> may be configured to allow for sensor placement at flexible locations. The aseptic connector <NUM> of <FIG> may include a coupling interface <NUM> that is the same as the first portion <NUM>. In some embodiments, the coupling interface <NUM> may be the mirror image of the first portion <NUM>. The spool piece <NUM> may optionally include a tube <NUM> or other structure extending from the coupling interface <NUM>. The tube <NUM> may have the same diameter as the coupling interface <NUM> in some embodiments.

<FIG> is a schematic drawing of the clamp <NUM> of <FIG> and the aseptic connector <NUM> of <FIG> in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

The clamp <NUM> may be configured to secure the insert portion or the first portion of the aseptic connector <NUM> to the connector body or the second portion of the aseptic connector <NUM>. The sensor(s) of the aseptic connector <NUM> may be coupled to the controller of the clamp <NUM> via a wire that is coupled to the sensor and a sensor plug. The sensor plug may removably engage a sensor plug receptacle at the housing of the clamp <NUM>. Data from the sensor of the aseptic connector <NUM> may therefore be communicated to the controller of the clamp <NUM>. The data may be wirelessly transmitted by the clamp <NUM> using one or more wireless radios. The clamp <NUM> may include a rechargeable battery that powers not only components of the clamp, but the sensor of the aseptic connector as well.

<FIG> is a schematic drawing of components of an aseptic connector system in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. The respective aseptic connector and/or clamp may be the same or different than the aseptic connectors and clamps previously discussed. Other embodiments may include connectors with additional or fewer, or different, components.

In accordance with the invention, the clamp <NUM> of <FIG> includes a housing <NUM>. Disposed within the housing <NUM>, the clamp <NUM> includes a rechargeable battery <NUM>, a wireless radio <NUM>, and a controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is configured to determine a sensor output of one or more integrated sensor(s) <NUM> of an aseptic connector <NUM>, and is configured to transmit the output using the wireless radio <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> may be configured to wirelessly transmit sensor data or sensor output to a control system. The control system may receive the measured parameters of the fluid or other sensor output. In some embodiments, the controller <NUM> may be configured to transmit the data or sensor output over a local area network.

The clamp <NUM> may include a pivotable arm <NUM> or other mechanical component, a securing mechanism <NUM>, such as a rotatable screw. In accordance with the invention, the clamp <NUM> includes a sensor plug receptacle <NUM>. In some embodiments of the disclosure, not in accordance with the invention, the controller <NUM> may be in wireless communication with the integrated sensor(s) <NUM>, and the clamp <NUM> may therefore not include the sensor plug receptacle <NUM>.

The aseptic connector <NUM> includes a first portion <NUM>, which may be an insert portion, a second portion <NUM>, which may be a connector body, and one or more integrated sensors <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic drawing of an example method <NUM> of using an aseptic connector system in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Other embodiments may include methods with additional or fewer, or different, operations. The operations illustrated in the example.

A first operation <NUM> includes placing a first portion of an aseptic connector adjacent to a second portion of the aseptic connector, wherein the aseptic connector comprises a removable sensor coupled to the second portion. For example, an insert portion may be placed adjacent to a connector body of an aseptic connector. The sensor may be removably coupled to the connector body. In some embodiments, the aseptic connector and/or sensor may be disposable and/or single use.

A second operation <NUM> may include clamping the first portion to the second portion using a removable clamp, wherein the removable claim comprises a housing, a rechargeable battery disposed within the housing, and a wireless radio disposed within the housing. For example, a removable clamp may be positioned about the aseptic connector, so as to secure the first portion to the second portion in a sterile manner while creating an airtight seal.

A third operation <NUM> may include determining a sensor output of the removable sensor. For example, the sensor may be powered by the rechargeable battery and may be configured to determine one or more fluid parameters or other readings.

A fourth operation <NUM> may include transmitting the sensor output using the wireless radio. For example, a controller at the clamp may receive the sensor output and may send the captured data, or at least a portion of the captured data, to, for example, a control system for monitoring of the bioprocess. One or more adjustments to the bioprocess may be implemented as a result of the output.

The various embodiments of the system and method aid in reducing clutter and improving efficiency in a bioprocess environment. By removing wires and assembly complexity, performance and efficiency may be improved, overall footprint size may be reduced, and cluttering may be reduced.

Claim 1:
A system (<NUM>, <NUM>) for a bioprocess operation, comprising:
an aseptic connector (<NUM>;<NUM>) having a first portion (<NUM>;<NUM>) and a second portion (<NUM>;<NUM>);
a removable clamp (<NUM>;<NUM>) configured to secure the first portion (<NUM>;<NUM>) of the aseptic connector (<NUM>;<NUM>) to the second portion (<NUM>;<NUM>) of the aseptic connector, the system (<NUM>, <NUM>) being characterised by:
the aseptic connector (<NUM>;<NUM>) comprising a sensor (<NUM>), wherein the sensor (<NUM>) is for measuring parameters of fluid flowing through the aseptic connector (<NUM>;<NUM>), the sensor (<NUM>) being coupled to a sensor plug (<NUM>); wherein the removable clamp (<NUM>;<NUM>) comprises:
a housing (<NUM>;<NUM>);
a controller (<NUM>) disposed within the housing;
a rechargeable battery (<NUM>;<NUM>) disposed within the housing;
a wireless radio (<NUM>;<NUM>) disposed within the housing; and
a sensor plug receptacle (<NUM>;<NUM>) configured to receive the sensor plug (<NUM>);
wherein the controller (<NUM>) is configured to determine a sensor output of the sensor (<NUM>) and to transmit the output using the wireless radio (<NUM>;<NUM>).