Connector element

• US 6,234,538 B1
• Filed: 06/28/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Inventors: Lauer, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicholson, Eric K.
• Application Number:
  US09/342,006
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 285/3, 285/4, 285/331, 604/905
• US Class Current: 285/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1061 Break-apart tubing connectors or couplings
• 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: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

The present invention concerns a connector element used to connect lengths of tubing, cannulas and catheters, to a second connector element. The connector element has a conduit for conveying a flowing medium, a shut-off element by which the conduit can be sealed off, and an portion for accommodating a puncture element movable relative to the shut-off element, which is designed to open the shut-off element when the connection is established. The connector element is simple to manufacture and ensures a reliable connection, because the shut-off element is of the same material and is integral with the connector element.

Claims

1. A connector element for connecting a fluid line to a second connector element, comprising:

a conduit portion for conveying a flowing medium;

a shut-off element integral with and made of the same material as the connector element, the shut-off element being adapted to seal off the conduit portion;

a socket connector disposed in the conduit portion; and

a puncture element disposed in the conduit portion and movable relative to the shut-off element, the puncture element being adapted to open the shut-off element while establishing a connection to the second connector element, the puncture element being adapted to be inserted into the socket connector and to be releasably secured to the socket connector by a lock.

2. The connector element according to claim 1, wherein the shut-off element is an injection molded membrane.

3. The connector element according to claim 1, wherein the conduit for conveying the medium comprises a chamber for accommodating the puncture element.

4. The connector element according to claim 1, further comprising an outer housing containing the socket connector.

5. The connector element according to claim 1, wherein the lock comprises a circumferential groove formed on an outer surface of the puncture element and a projection extending from an inner surface of the socket connector.

6. The connector element according to claim 1, wherein the puncture element is adapted to be releasable from the lock by a force applied by a corresponding second socket connector of the second connector element, upon connection with the connector element.

7. The connector element according to claim 6, wherein the puncture element comprises a projection disposed on an outside circumference of the puncture element, adapted to be connected to the socket connector of the second connector element.

8. The connector element according to claim 4, wherein the housing and the socket connector of the connector element are dimensioned to fit around at least a portion of respectively a second housing and a second socket connector of the second connector element.

9. The connector element according to claim 1, wherein the socket connector has a tapered end portion.

10. The connector element according to claim 1, wherein the puncture element has a substantially cylindrical shape and has end portions tapered to a point.

11. The connector element according to claim 1, wherein the conduit portion and the puncture element are injection molded parts.

12. The connector element according to claim 1, wherein the connector element, the shut-off element, and the puncture element are formed of polypropylene.

13. The connector element according to claim 4, wherein the housing and the socket connector are substantially cylindrical shells.

14. The connector element according to claim 1, wherein one of the inner and outer surfaces of the socket connector are tapered or conical.

15. The connector element according to claim 1, wherein the socket connector comprises a peripheral projection extending from an end portion of the socket connector, adapted to form a tight connection with a portion of the second connector element.

16. The connector element according to claim 1, wherein the shut-off element and the conduit are adapted to accommodate the puncture element so that the puncture element can be inserted in the connector element from a connection end of the connector element.

17. A method for connecting a first fluid line to a second fluid line, comprising:

attaching a first connector element to the first fluid line and a second connector element to the second fluid line;

pushing a housing of the second connector element into a housing of the first connector element so that a recessed socket connector of the first connector element forms a continuous conduit with a recessed socket connector of the second connector element; and

further pushing the housing of the second connector element into the housing of the first connector element so that a puncture element of the first connector opens shut-off elements of the first and second connector elements.