Fluid connectors
First Claim
1. A connector assembly to prevent entry of contaminants, such as microorganisms, gases and particulates, including,a pair of terminal connectors each terminal connector having a housing, a conduit extending from one end of the housing and communicating with the interior of the housing, an openable end of each housing closed by a penetratable barrier, a film of adhesive substantially covering the area of at least one of the barriers,coupling means within each housing communicating with the conduit,a penetrator element associated with one of the coupling means so that said barriers may be adhesively joined to immobilize any present environmental contaminants and to exclude contact with the environment at an area of adhesion and relative movement between the adhesively joined barriers and the penetrator element results in penetration of the barriers within the area of adhesion and communication between the terminal connectors so that fluid may move from a supply source to a delivery location through the conduits of the terminal connectors.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A connector means for conveying fluid from a supply source to a delivery location, said connectors having one conduit extending to the supply source and another conduit extending to the delivery location. Each terminal part has a cylindrical housing with a closed end to which the conduit is joined, and having an opposite operable end which is closed by a penetrable barrier. The barrier and closed end of the housing define an interior environment safe from external contaminants. A male tubular coupler is in one housing, a female tubular coupler is in the other housing, and a penetrator element is disposed around one of the tubular connectors. The penetrable barriers have a film of covered adhesive. The exposed adhesive films are placed in face to face contact to coaxially align the housing parts and bond the barrier membranes to exclude the environment. The penetrator element pierces the adhering barriers by either moving the penetrator element from one housing into the coaxially aligned housing, or by telescoping the housing cylinders so that the adhering barriers are contacted by the fixed penetrator element. The male tubular connector then engages the female tubular connector within a protected environment to effect connection between the supply source and the delivery location.
283 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A connector assembly to prevent entry of contaminants, such as microorganisms, gases and particulates, including,
a pair of terminal connectors each terminal connector having a housing, a conduit extending from one end of the housing and communicating with the interior of the housing, an openable end of each housing closed by a penetratable barrier, a film of adhesive substantially covering the area of at least one of the barriers, coupling means within each housing communicating with the conduit, a penetrator element associated with one of the coupling means so that said barriers may be adhesively joined to immobilize any present environmental contaminants and to exclude contact with the environment at an area of adhesion and relative movement between the adhesively joined barriers and the penetrator element results in penetration of the barriers within the area of adhesion and communication between the terminal connectors so that fluid may move from a supply source to a delivery location through the conduits of the terminal connectors.
Specification