Connector
First Claim
1. A sterile connection assembly, comprising:
- a pair of terminal connectors for connection to each other, each of said connectors including a housing having a sterile interior and an open connecting end;
each of said connectors including an openable closure means for closing the housing interior from the open connecting end and maintaining sterile integrity, each of said closure means comprising a deformable resilient barrier means including at least one preformed opening which is normally closed and which is opened upon deforming the barrier means and which is closed upon release of deformation by the resiliency of the barrier means, and one of said housings including an integral movable deforming means in the interior thereof, said deforming means after connection of the connectors being movable relative to said one of said housings to apply a releasable deformation force to the barrier means in each of said connectors which deformation force opens the at least one preformed openings in the barrier means of each of said connectors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A reusable connector which is provided with a deformable barrier at the open connecting end thereof which maintains the sterile integrity of the interior portions. The deformable barrier includes a preformed opening (or openings) which is normally closed and which can be opened by application of a deformation force, with the opening being reclosed upon release of such force. Connection to a sterile fluid source is made through a mating connector having a similar deformable barrier for maintaining internal sterile integrity. The external surfaces of the barriers are sterilized after connecting the connectors, and after sterilization is complete, a deformation force is applied to the barriers to permit material flow between the interior portions of the connectors.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A sterile connection assembly, comprising:
a pair of terminal connectors for connection to each other, each of said connectors including a housing having a sterile interior and an open connecting end;
each of said connectors including an openable closure means for closing the housing interior from the open connecting end and maintaining sterile integrity, each of said closure means comprising a deformable resilient barrier means including at least one preformed opening which is normally closed and which is opened upon deforming the barrier means and which is closed upon release of deformation by the resiliency of the barrier means, and one of said housings including an integral movable deforming means in the interior thereof, said deforming means after connection of the connectors being movable relative to said one of said housings to apply a releasable deformation force to the barrier means in each of said connectors which deformation force opens the at least one preformed openings in the barrier means of each of said connectors.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
Specification