Closed system connector assembly
First Claim
1. A closed system connector assembly comprisinga first connector having a tubular portion defining a first lumen for a fluid and a first membrane at one end of said tubular portion sealing said lumen;
- anda second connector having a housing defining a second lumen for a fluid, a second membrane for coaxially abutting said first membrane, a hollow needle mounted in said housing in facing relation to said second membrane and having an opening in communication with said second lumen and collapsible means maintaining said needle and said second membrane in opposed spaced relation and being collapsible to permit said needle to pierce through said second membrane and said first membrane to communicate said first lumen and said second lumen with each other.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The closed system connector assembly is formed with a male connector and a female connector. Both connectors have rubber membranes which can be pierced by a hollow needle disposed within the female connector. In some embodiments, the membrane of the female connector is mounted on a collapsible tube disposed about the hollow needle. During insertion of the male connector, this tube collapses and, upon withdrawal, the tube expands. In another embodiment, the female connector has a housing which carries the needle and is slidable within a sleeve which carries the membrane.
476 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A closed system connector assembly comprising
a first connector having a tubular portion defining a first lumen for a fluid and a first membrane at one end of said tubular portion sealing said lumen; - and
a second connector having a housing defining a second lumen for a fluid, a second membrane for coaxially abutting said first membrane, a hollow needle mounted in said housing in facing relation to said second membrane and having an opening in communication with said second lumen and collapsible means maintaining said needle and said second membrane in opposed spaced relation and being collapsible to permit said needle to pierce through said second membrane and said first membrane to communicate said first lumen and said second lumen with each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A closed system connector assembly comprising
a male connector having a tubular portion defining a first lumen for a fluid and a membrane at one end of said tubular portion sealing said lumen; - and
a female connector having a housing defining a second lumen for a fluid, a tubular portion for receiving said one end of said male connector therein, a hollow needle mounted in said housing, a collapsible tube secured to said housing and extending coaxially of said needle and a second membrane secured to said tube in spaced relation to said needle for abutting said first membrane in response to insertion of said end of said male connector into said tubular portion of said female connector. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A closed system connector assembly comprising
a male connector having a tubular portion defining a first lumen and a first membrane at one end of said tubular portion sealing said lumen; - and
a female connector having a housing defining a second lumen, a second membrane for sealing said second lumen and for abutting said first membrane, a hollow needle mounted in said housing in communication with said second lumen, said needle facing said second membrane and being of a length to pierce through said second membrane and said first membrane to communicate said first lumen with said second lumen, and biasing means for maintaining said second membrane in spaced relation to said needle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A closed system connector assembly comprising
a first connector having a tubular portion defining a first lumen for a fluid and a first membrane at one end of said tubular portion sealing said lumen; - and
a second connector having a housing defining a second lumen for a fluid, a second membrane at one end for coaxially abutting said first membrane, a hollow needle mounted in said housing in facing relation to said second membrane and an opening in communication with said second lumen and means for moving-said needle relative to said second membrane to pierce through said second membrane and said first membrane to communicate said first lumen and said second lumen with each other. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A closed system connector assembly comprising
a first connector having a tubular portion defining a first lumen for a fluid and a first membrane having an exposed surface at one end of said tubular portion sealing said lumen; - and
a second connector having a housing defining a second lumen for a fluid, a tubular portion extending from said housing for receiving said first connector therein, a second membrane having an exposed surface at one end of said tubular portion for coaxially abutting said first membrane, a hollow needle mounted in said housing in facing relation to said second membrane and having an opening in communication with said second lumen and collapsible biasing means maintaining said needle and said second membrane in opposed spaced relation and being collapsible in response to reception of said tubular portion of said first connector in said tubular portion of said second connector to permit said needle to pierce through said membrane and said first membrane to communicate said first lumen and said second lumen with each other. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification