Fluid connectors

• US 4,030,494 A
• Filed: 11/15/1976
• Issued: 06/21/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Living Trust of Francis J Tenczar Western National Bank of Cicero Successor Trustee Under Trust Agreement No H-1296 Dated JUNE 11 1964
• Original Assignee: Francis Tenczar
• Inventors: Tenczar, Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Callaghan, Thomas F.
• Application Number:
  US05/741,630
• Time in Patent Office: 218 Days
• Field of Search: 285/3, 285/4, 285/2, 285/21, 285/DIG. 16, 285/331, 285/363, 285/DIG. 2, 285/423, 21/54 R, 21/102 R, 83/171, 83/170, 83/651.1, 128/272, 128/214 R, 128/214.2
• US Class Current: 604/411
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/14 for connecting tubes having sealed ends needle sets A61M5/162; having valves closing automatically on disconnection of line A61M39/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/18 Methods or apparatus for making the connection under sterile conditions, i.e. sterile docking
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2201/44 sterile
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/02 in which the connection is maintained only by friction of the parts being joined F16L37/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/30 with fluid cut-off means in each of two pipe-end fittings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/293 Of tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/9292 Wire tool

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.

Claims

1. A connector assembly to prevent entry of contaminants, including

a pair of terminal connectors, each terminal connector having a housing, a conduit extending from one end of each housing and communicating with the interior of the housing, an openable end of each housing closed by a heat penetratable and fusible plastic barrier,

coupling means within each housing communicating with the conduit,

a penetrator element associated with one of the coupling means, and

a conductive heating element positioned at least adjacent one barrier, and conductor means joining said heating element and said coupling means, whereby said plastic barriers may be adjoined and a power source may energize the element to penetrate the adjoined plastic barriers and, at the same time, fuse and sterilize the penetrated portions, whereby relative movement between adjoined plastic barriers and the penetrator element allows the coupling means to be joined.

2. A connector assembly as in claim 1 wherein said conductive heating element is a discontinuous loop and whereby relative movement between the adjoined barriers and the penetrator element pushes away a flap formed by the discontinuous loop heating element.

3. A connector assembly which includes the features of claim 1, and which further includes a film of adhesive substantially covering the area of at least one of the barriers.

4. A connector assembly as in claim 1 wherein said conductive heating element is an electrical resistant discontinuous loop, and said power source is an external voltage source, whereby relative movement between the adjoined barriers and the penetrator element pushes away a flap formed by the discontinuous loop penetrating and fusing the adjoined barriers.

5. A connector assembly which includes the features of claim 1 wherein the power source is an external ultrasonic generator.

6. A connector assembly which includes the features of claim 1 wherein the conductive element is a ferro-magnetic material, and the power source is means for inducing an electric current in said conductive element.