Connection device

• US 4,655,753 A
• Filed: 11/27/1985
• Issued: 04/07/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baxter Travenol Laboratories Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Baxter Travenol Laboratories Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Bellotti, Marc C., Schnell, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US06/802,787
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 604/283, 604/29, 604/411, 604/410, 604/905, 604/244, 250/455.1
• US Class Current: 604/534
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/18 Methods or apparatus for making the connection under sterile conditions, i.e. sterile docking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

A device automatically uncouples two connectors and forms a new coupling between one of the connectors and another connector in a aseptic manner, without touch contamination from the user. The device automatically readies itself for use after every operation.

Claims

1. A device for sequentially uncoupling two mating connectors and then forming a new coupling between one of the connectors and another mating connector, said device comprising

a housing,

a first holder on said housing for carrying a first connector,

a second holder on said housing for carrying a second connector,

a third holder on said housing for carrying a third connector which mates with either of the first or second connectors, said third holder being movable between an advanced position adjacent to said first and second holders and a retracted position spaced away from said first and second holders,

first means for normally biasing said third holder toward a first position in operative alignment with said first holder when said third holder is in said advanced position so that the first and third connectors can be carried in said first and third holders in a coupled relationship,

second means operative in response to movement of said third holder from said advanced position toward said retracted position for uncoupling the first connector carried in said first holder from said third connector carried in said third holder and for moving said third holder against the action of said first means into a second position in operative alignment with said second holder so that, when said third holder is in said retracted position, the third connector carried in said third holder is positioned in a spaced apart and operatively aligned relationship with the second connector carried in said second holder, and

third means operative in response to movement of said third holder from said retracted position toward said advanced position for maintaining said third holder against the action of said first means in said second position to couple the second connector carried in said second holder with the third connector carried in said third holder and for automatically returning said third holder to said first position upon removal of the now-coupled second and third connectors from said respective holders.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2

wherein said housing includes sidewalls, and

wherein said first and second holders are located on one of said sidewalls.

4. A device according to claim 3

wherein said first and second holders each includes an axis, and

wherein said first holder axis is located at an angle relative to said second holder axis.

5. A device according to claim 1 or 2

wherein said housing includes two oppositely spaced sidewalls,

wherein said first and second holders are located on one of said oppositely spaced sidewalls, and

wherein said third holder is movable transversely between said oppositely spaced sidewalls, said advanced position being generally adjacent to said one oppositely spaced sidewall and said retracted position being generally adjacent to the other one of said oppositely spaced sidewalls.

6. A device according to claim 1 or 2

and further including a shuttle movable between said advanced and retracted positions,

wherein said third holder is carried by said shuttle between said advanced and retracted positions, and

wherein said third holder is movable relative to said shuttle between said first and second positions.

7. A device according to claim 6

wherein said third holder rotates about a rotational axis between said first and second positions.

8. A device according to claim 7

wherein said shuttle is movable in a linear direction transverse of said rotational axis of said third holder between said advanced and retracted position.

9. A device according to claim 1 or 2

wherein said third holder rotates about a rotational axis between said first and second positions.

10. A device according to claim 9

wherein said third holder is movable in a linear direction transverse of said rotational axis between said advanced and retracted position.

11. A device according to claim 1 or 2

wherein said first means includes a spring.

12. A device according to claim 1 or 2

wherein said second means includes spring means for making operative contact with said third holder to move said third holder from said first position to said second position as said third holder is moved into said retracted position.

13. A device according to claim 12

wherein said second means includes pin means operatively associated with said spring means for preventing said operative contact between said spring means and said third holder until after said third holder has been advanced sufficiently toward said retracted position to uncouple the first and third connectors.

14. A device according to claim 1 or 2

wherein said third means includes spring means for making operative contact with said third holder to maintain said third holder in said second position as said third holder is moved from said retracted position toward said advanced position.

15. A device according to claim 14

wherein said third means includes pin means operatively associated with said spring means for terminating said operative contact between said spring means and said third holder when said third holder has been advanced sufficiently toward said advanced position to cause contact between the second and third connectors, whereupon said contact between the second and third connectors maintains said third holder in said second position.

16. A device according to claim 15

wherein said third means includes bias spring means for automatically moving said third holder from said second position to said first position upon removal of the coupled second and third connectors from said respective holders.

17. A device according to claim 16

wherein said first means and said bias spring means of said third means comprise the same spring.

2. A device for sequentially uncoupling two mating connectors and then forming a new coupling between one of the connectors and another mating connector, said device comprising

a housing,

a first holder on said housing for carrying a first connector,

a second holder on said housing for carrying a second connector,

a third holder on said housing for carrying a third connector which mates with either of the first or second connectors, said third holder being movable between an advanced position adjacent to said first and second holders and a retracted position spaced away from said first and second holders,

first means for retaining said third holder in a first position in operative alignment with said first holder when said third holder is in said advanced position so that the first and third connectors can be carried in said first and third holders in a coupled relationship,

second means operative in response to movement of said third holder from said advanced position toward said retracted position for uncoupling the first connector carried in said first holder from said third connector carried in said third holder and for moving said third holder into a second position in operative alignment with said second holder so that, when said third holder is in said retracted position, the third connector carried in said third holder is positioned in a spaced apart and operatively aligned relationship with the second connector carried in said second holder, and

third means operative in response to movement of said third holder from said retracted position toward said advanced position for maintaining said third holder in said second position to couple the second connector carried in said second holder with the third connector carried in said third holder and for automatically returning said third holder to said first position upon removal of the coupled second and third connectors from said respective holders.

18. A device for sequentially uncoupling two mating connectors and then forming a new coupling between one of the connectors and another mating connector, said device comprising

a housing,

a first holder on said housing for carrying a first connector,

a second holder on said housing for carrying a second connector,

a third holder on said housing for carrying a third connector which mates with either of the first or second connectors, said third holder being movable between an advanced position adjacent to said first and second holders and a retracted position spaced away from said first and second holders,

first spring means for normally biasing said third holder toward a first position in operative alignment with said first holder when said third holder is in said advanced position so that the first and third connectors can be carried in said first and third holders in a coupled relationship,

second spring means operative during movement of said third holder from said advanced position into said retracted position for operatively contacting said third holder to move said third holder against the action of said first spring means from said first position into a second position in operative alignment with said second holder so that, when said third holder is in said retracted position, the third connector carried in said third holder is positioned in a spaced apart and operatively aligned relationship with the second connector carried in said second holder, said second spring means being further operative during movement of said third holder from said retracted position toward said advanced position for maintaining said third holder in said second position against the action of said first spring means,

pin means operatively associated with said second spring means for preventing said operative contact between said second spring means and said third holder during movement of said third holder from said advanced position toward said retracted position until after said third holder has been advanced sufficiently toward said retracted position to uncouple the first and third connectors and for terminating said operative contact between said second spring means and said third holder during movement of said third holder from said retracted position toward said advanced position when said third holder has been advanced sufficiently toward said advanced position and to cause contact between the second and third connectors, whereupon said contact between the second and third connectors maintains said third holder in said second position as the second and third connectors are coupled together, and

said first spring means being operative, upon removal of the coupled second and third connectors from said second and third holders, for automatically returning said third holder to said first position.

19. A device according to claim 18

wherein said housing includes two oppositely spaced sidewalls,

wherein said first and second holders are located on one of said oppositely spaced sidewalls, and

wherein said third holder is movable transversely between said oppositely spaced sidewalls, said advanced position being generally adjacent to said one oppositely spaced sidewall and said retracted position being generally adjacent to the other one of said oppositely spaced sidewalls.

20. A device according to claim 19

and further including a shuttle movable between said advanced and retracted positions,

wherein said third holder is carried by said shuttle between said advanced and retracted positions, and

wherein said third holder is movable relative to said shuttle between said first and second positions.

21. A device according to claim 20

wherein said third holder rotates about a rotational axis between said first and second positions.

22. A device according to claim 21

wherein said shuttle is movable in a linear direction transverse of said rotational axis of said third holder between said advanced and retracted position.

23. A device according to claim 20

wherein said pin means is carried by said shuttle.