Connector for medical tubing and medical solution bag device using the connector

• US 4,588,402 A
• Filed: 05/01/1985
• Issued: 05/13/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Isono, Keinosuke, Igari, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lester, Michelle N.
• Application Number:
  US06/729,080
• Time in Patent Office: 377 Days
• Field of Search: 604/280, 604/283, 604/408, 604/905, 29/DIG. 35, 285/DIG. 6
• US Class Current: 604/408
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/28 Peritoneal dialysis ; Other peritoneal treatment, e.g. oxygenation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/221 Frangible or pierceable closures within tubing A61M39/14 takes precedence; frangible closures for containers A61J1/14
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/905 Different coefficients of expansion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 29/035 Shrink fitting with other step
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

A connector for medical tubing for liquid transfusion includes a short tubular male connector member made of thermally resistant corrosionproof materia; a short tubular female connector member made of thermally resistant corrosionproof material; and a fitting surface portion on the outer surface of an insertion end of the male connector, shaped in the male form and made of a material having a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than the material of a corresponding fitting surface portion on the inner surface of an insertion end of the female connector shaped in the female form. The fitting surface portion of the insertion end shaped in the male form, and the fitting surface portion of the insertion end shaped in the female form, are of relative sizes such as to permit the insertion ends to be connected to and separated from each other by shrink fit utilizing the difference between the thermal expansion coefficients thereof. A medical solution bag device using the connector is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A connector arrangement for medical tubing for liquid transfusion, the connector connecting together two flexible tubes, the connector arrangement comprising:

a tubular male connector member made of thermally resistant corrosionproof material, and having an end adapted to be connected by insertion to the connecting end of one of said two flexible tubes, said male connector member having a male engaging portion having a male insertion end shaped in a male form at the end thereof opposite from the aforementioned end connected to a tube, and further having an inner passage extending therethrough;

a tubular female connector member made of thermally resistant corrosionproof material, and having an end adapted to be connected by insertion to the connecting end of the other of said two flexible tubes, said female connector member having a female engaging portion having a female insertion end shaped in a female form which is dimensioned for fast insertion into the insertion end shaped in the male form of said male connector member at the end opposite from said other of said two tubes and further having an inner passage extending therethrough;

a first fitting surface portion provided on said male connector member on the outer surface of said male insertion end thereof; and

a second fitting surface portion provided on an inner surface portion of said female insertion end of said female connector member;

said first fitting surface portion of said male connector member being made of a material having a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than the material of said second fitting surface portion of said female connector member, and said first fitting surface portion of said male connector member and said second fitting surface portion of said female connector member having relative sizes such as to permit the insertion ends thereof to be connected to and separated from each other by shrink fit utilizing a difference between the thermal expansion coefficients thereof;

wherein the materials forming said male and said female connector members including said first and said second fitting surface portions are capable of withstanding heating to a temperature sufficient for sterilization of both connector members, and said difference between the thermal expansion coefficients is selected to enable both connector members to be joined to and separated from one another at the sterilization temperature.

2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said male connector member is made of a ceramic material and said female connector member is made of at least one of a thermally resistant corrosionproof metal material and a thermally resistant corrosionproof plastic material.

3. A connector according to claim 2, wherein said female connector member is made of a thermally resistant corrosionproof metal material.

4. A connector according to claim 3, wherein said thermally resistant corrosionproof metal material is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, titanium, titanium alloy, nickel, nickel alloy, aluminum and chromium-plated brass.

5. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said first fitting surface of said male connector member and said second fitting surface of said female connector member are matched tapered cylindrical surfaces.

6. A connector according to claim 1, wherein fitting surface of said male connector member and said second fitting surface of said female connector member are matched parallelly cylindrical surfaces.

7. A connector according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said male and female connector members is provided with at least one seal member capable of liquid tightly connecting the connector members by sealing engagement with at least one of said male insertion end and said female insertion end.

8. A connector according to claim 7, wherein said seal member is an O ring.

9. A connector according to claim 1, which further comprises a locking mechanism coupled to said male and female connector members for locking said connector members together, thereby enhancing the union between said male and female connector members.

10. A connector according to claim 9, wherein said locking mechanism comprises a nut fitted around one of said connector members and a screw formed on the other of said connector members and adapted to be helically engaged with said nut.

11. A connector according to claim 1, further comprising two short tubes made of a thermally resistant corrosionproof plastic material, and wherein said male insertion end and said female insertion end are each connected to respective one of said short tubes made of a thermally resistant corrosionproof material.

12. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said flexible tubes are made of silicone resin or rubber.

13. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said connector members are provided at the mutually opposite ends thereof with short tubular connection tubes made of a thermally resistant flexible resin and said connection tubes are communicably connected to respective tubes made of a flexible thermally nonresistant plastic material.

14. A connector according to claim 1, further comprising hand tube members made of heat insulating material coupled coaxially to the tube insertion ends of said connector members.

15. A medical solution bag device, comprising:

a flexible bag containing a solution and having at least one solution transfer port, a first flexible tube connected to said transfer port and adapted to guide the solution contained in said bag during discharge of the solution from the bag, a second tube adapted to be connected to said first flexible tube, and a connector arrangement for coupling said first and second tubes together,

said connector arrangement comprising;

a tubular male connector member made of thermally resistant corrosionproof material, and having a first end adapted to be connected by insertion to a connecting end of one of said first and second tubes, said male connector member having a male engaging portion having a male insertion end shaped in a male form at the end thereof opposite from the aforementioned first end thereof, and further having an inner passage extending therethrough;

a tubular female connector member made of thermally resistant corrosionproof material, and having a first end adapted to be connected by insertion to the connecting end of the other of said first and second tubes, said female connector member having a female engaging portion having a female insertion end shaped in a female form which is dimensioned for fast insertion into the insertion end shaped in the male form of said male connector member at the end opposite from said other of said first and second tubes and further having an inner passage extending therethrough;

a first fitting surface portion provided on said male connector member on the outer surface of said male insertion end thereof; and

a second fitting surface portion provided on an inner surface portion of said female insertion end of said female connector member;

said first fitting surface portion of said male connector member being made of a material having a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than the material of said second fitting surface portion of said female connector member, and said first fitting surface portion of said male connector member and said second fitting surface portion of said female connector member having relative sizes such as to permit the insertion ends thereof to be connected to and separated from each other by shrink fit utilizing a difference between the thermal expansion coefficients thereof;

wherein the materials forming said male and said female connector members including said first and said second fitting surface portions are capable of withstanding heating to a temperature sufficient for sterilization of both connector members, and said difference between the thermal expansion coefficients is selected to enable both connector members to be joined to and separated from one another at the sterilization temperature.

16. A bag device according to claim 15, wherein said male connector member is made of a ceramic material and said female connector member is made of at least one of a thermally resistant corrosionproof metal and thermally resistant corrosionproof plastic material.

17. A bag device according to claim 16, wherein said female connector member is made of a thermally resistant corrosionproof metal.

18. A bag device accordig to claim 17 wherein said thermally resistant corrosionproof metal material is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, titanium, titanium alloy, nickel, nickel alloy, aluminum and chromium-plated brass.

19. A bag device according to claim 15, wherein said first fitting surface of said male connector member and said second fitting surface of said female connector member are matched tapered cylindrical surfaces.

20. A bag device according to claim 15, wherein said first fitting surface of said male connector member and said second fitting surface of said female connector member are matched parallelly cylindrical surfaces.

21. A bag device according to claim 15, which further comprises communication means arranged in a path leading from the inner end of said solution transfer port inside said bag to said connector, said communication means including means for blocking the flow of the solution contained in said bag until said solution is to be put to use, and said communication means including means for opening said blocking means to allow the flow of the solution from said bag when said solution is put to use.

22. A bag device according to claim 21, wherein said communication means is disposed at the inner end of said solution transfer port within said bag.

23. A bag device according to claim 21, wherein said communication means is disposed in said solution transfer port.

24. A bag device according to claim 21, wherein said communication means is disposed in said first flexible tube between said solution transfer port and said connector.

25. A connector apparatus for medical tubing for liquid transfusion, the connector apparatus connecting together two flexible tubes, the connector apparatus comprising:

a tubular male connector member made of thermally resistant corrosionproof material, and having a first end adapted to be connected to one of said two flexible tubes, said male connector member having a second end opposite said first end thereof, said second end having a male engaging portion having a male insertion end shaped in a male form, said male connector member further having an inner passage extending therethrough;

a tubular female connector member made of thermally resistant corrosionproof material, and having a first end adapted to be connected to the other of said two flexible tubes, said female connector member having a second end opposite said first end thereof, said second end of said female connector member having a female engaging portion having a female insertion end shaped in a female form which is dimensioned for fast insertion into the insertion end shaped in the male form of said male connector member, said female connector member further having an inner passage extending therethrough;

a first fitting surface portion provided on said male connector member on the outer surface of said second end thereof;

a second fitting surface portion provided on an inner surface portion of said second end of said female connector member;

said first fitting surface portion of said male connector member being made of a material having a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than the material of said second fitting surface portion of said female connector member, and said first fitting surface portion of said male connector member and said second fitting surface portion of said female connector member having relative sizes such as to permit the insertion ends thereof to be connected to and separated from each other by shrink fit utilizing the difference between the thermal expansion coefficients thereof;

said male and female connector members having respective tubular connection tubes provided at said first ends thereof for connection to said flexible tubes, said connection tubes being made of a thermally resistant flexible resin; and

communication means in communication with said inner passage of said male and female connector members and including blocking means for blocking the flow of a solution therethrough, said communication means including means for selectively opening said blocking means to permit flow of a solution through said inner passages of said male and female connector members.

35. The method of claim 25, comprising providing tubular holder members made of heat insulating material, and coupling said holder members to the tube side portions of said connector members such that said tube side portions are covered with respective tubular holder members.

26. A method for coupling and separating a connector arrangement for medical tubing for liquid transfusion under a sterilized state, using a connector for connecting together two flexible tubes, the method comprising:

coupling together a tubular male connector member and a tubular female connector member by heating them with a flame to sterilize said male and female connector members, inserting said male connector members into said female connector member, and allowing said male and female connectors to cool to shrink fit to each other to be strongly connected together; and

then

separating said coupled together male and female connector members by heating them with a flame to sterilize connector members, and then applying a separating force to said male and female connector members until they separate from each other;

the tubular male connector member being made of thermally resistant corrosionproof material, and having an end adapted to be connected by insertion to the connecting end of one of said two flexible tubes, said male connector member having a male engaging portion having a male insertion end shaped in a male form at the end thereof opposite from the aforementioned end connected to a tube, and further having an inner pasaage extending therethrough;

the tubular female connector member being made of thermally resistant corrosionproof material, and having an end adapted to be connected by insertion to the connecting end of the other of said two flexible tubes, said female connector member having a female engaging portion having a female insertion end shaped in a female form which is dimensioned for fast insertion into the insertion end shaped in the male form of said male connector member at the end opposite from said other of said two tubes and further having an inner passage extending therethrough;

a first fitting surface portion provided on said male connector member on the outer surface of said male insertion end thereof; and

a second fitting surface portion provided on an inner surface portion of said female insertion end of said female connector member;

said first fitting surface portion of said male connector member being made of a material having a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than the material of said second fitting surface portion of said female connector member, and said first fitting surface portion of said male connector member and said second fitting surface portion of said female connector member having relative sizes such as to permit the insertion ends thereof to be connected to and separated from each other by shrink fit utilizing a difference between the thermal expansion coefficients thereof;

wherein the materials forming said male and said female connector members including said first and said second fitting surface portions are capable of withstanding heating to a temperature sufficient for sterilization of both connector member, and said dfference between the thermal expansion coefficients is selected to enable both connector members to be joined to and separated from one another at the sterilization temperature.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein at least one of said heating steps comprises placing said male and female connectors near said flame.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein at least one of said heating steps comprises placing said male and female connectors in said flame.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein said male connector member is made of a ceramic material and said female connector member is made of at least one of a thermally resistant corrosionproof metal material and a thermally resistant corrosionproof plastic material.

30. The method of claim 26, comprising providing said first fitting surface of said male connector member and said second fitting surface of said female connector member with matched tapered cylindrical surfaces.

31. The method of claim 26, comprising providing said first fitting surface of said male connector member and said second fitting surface of said female connector member with matched parallelly cylindrical surfaces.

32. The method of claim 26, comprising providing at least one of said male and female connector members with at least one seal member capable of liquid tightly connecting said connecting members together by sealing engaged members with at least one of said male insertion end and said female insertion end.

33. The method of claim 26, further comprising providing a locking mechanism coupled to said male and female connector members for locking said connector members together, thereby enhancing the connection between said male and female connector members.

34. The method of claim 26, comprising providing short tubular connection tubes at the mutually opposite ends of said connector members, said shorty tubular connection tubes being made of a thermally resistant flexible resin, and further comprising coupling said connection tubes to respective tubes made of a flexible thermally nonresistant plastic material.