Swabable fluid connectors and fluid connector pairs

• US 7,763,013 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2008
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baxter Corporation Englewood (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BAXA Corporation (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Baldwin, Gregory John, Smith, Randall Wallace, Baldwin, Brian Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): BOCHNA, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/135,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20080264450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 285/354, 285/386, 604/533, 604/241, 604/905, 604/249, 604/256
• US Class Current: 604/533
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/267 having a sealing sleeve around a tubular or solid stem portion of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/26 Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof check valves A61M39/24
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2201/44 sterile
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

A first fluid connector is provided for selective interconnection to and fluid transfer with a second fluid connector. The first connector comprises a fluid passageway, an internal member and an outer collar supportably disposed about the internal member for selective advancement and retraction relative thereto. At least a portion of the fluid passageway may extend through the internal member. The outer collar may be selectively retracted to facilitate cleaning of the internal member. In some embodiments, the outer collar and internal member may be disposed so that a distal portion of the internal member is substantially flush with or a distal portion of internal member projects beyond a distal end of the outer collar when the outer collar is in a retracted position relative thereto. To facilitate cleaning, a distal end or distal portion of the internal member may be substantially closed when the first and second connectors are disconnected. The second connector may be adapted to facilitate fluid interconnection with the first connector, and may also present a cleanable distal end when disconnected.

Claims

1. A method for handling a first fluid connector, comprising:

retracting an outer collar relative to an internal member of a first fluid connector, said outer collar being at least selectively rotatably advanceable and retractable relative to said internal member;

cleaning an outer surface of a distal end of said internal member with said outer collar in a retracted position relative to said internal member, wherein said distal end of said internal member is one of substantially closed and closeable when said fluid connector is disconnected from another fluid connector;

advancing said outer collar of said first fluid connector relative to said internal member thereof to an advanced position;

interconnecting said outer collar of said first fluid connector to a second fluid connector with said outer collar in said advanced position, wherein said second fluid connector includes a tubular member; and

,

opening a distal end of a fluid passageway extending through at least a portion of said internal member of said first fluid connector by forcibly penetrating a distal end of said tubular member through a resilient member of said internal member, wherein a fluid interconnection is established.

2. A method for handling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 1, wherein a distal end of said internal member is at least substantially flush with a distal end of said outer collar when said collar is in said retracted position relative thereto.

3. A method for handling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 2, wherein a distal portion of said internal member projects beyond a distal end of said outer collar and is thereby exposed when said outer collar is in said retracted position relative thereto.

4. A method for handling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 3, wherein the exposed distal portion of the internal member includes the distal end and an adjoining sidewall portion, and wherein said cleaning step includes:

contacting the distal end and adjoining sidewall portion of the exposed distal portion with a disinfectant.

5. A method for handling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 4, wherein said distal end of said internal member includes a substantially continuous surface that extends across the entirety of the distal end when said fluid connector is disconnected from a another fluid connector.

6. A method for handling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said retracting step is completed by a first hand of a user, and wherein said cleaning step is completed by a second hand of said user.

7. A method for handling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said interconnecting step includes:

rotating said outer collar of said first fluid connector relative to said second fluid connector.

8. A method for handling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 7, wherein said rotating step includes:

engaging an internally threaded surface of said outer collar of said first fluid connector with an externally threaded surface of the second fluid connector.

9. A method for handling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 7, wherein said rotating step includes:

engaging an externally threaded surface of said outer collar of said first fluid connector with an internally threaded surface of the second fluid connector.

10. A method for handling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said interconnecting step includes:

rotating said outer collar of said first fluid connector to an initial interconnection position relative to said second fluid connector, wherein a mechanical interconnection is made prior to the opening step; and

,

rotating the outer collar of the first fluid connection from the initial interconnection position to an advanced interconnection position, wherein said fluid interconnection is established.

11. A method for handling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said internal member includes a first member having at least a portion of said fluid passageway extending therethrough, wherein said resilient member is disposed about a distal end of the first member, and wherein said opening step includes:

forcibly penetrating a distal end of the first member through the resilient member.

12. A method for handling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said cleaning step further includes:

cleaning a distal end of said second fluid connector prior to said interconnection step.

13. A method for handling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 12, wherein the distal end of said internal member and the distal end of said second fluid connector are each substantially closed during said cleaning step.

14. A method for handling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 13, wherein a distal portion of the internal member projects beyond a distal end of the outer collar and is thereby exposed when the outer collar is in the retracted position, and wherein said cleaning step includes:

contacting the exposed distal portion with a disinfectant.

15. A method for handling a first fluid connector, comprising:

retracting an outer collar relative to an internal member of a first fluid connector, said outer collar being at least selectively rotatably advanceable and retractable relative to said internal member;

cleaning an outer surface of a distal end of said internal member with said outer collar in a retracted position relative to said internal member, wherein said distal end of said internal member is one of substantially closed and closeable when said fluid connector is disconnected from another fluid connector;

interconnecting the first fluid connector to a second fluid connector by rotatably advancing the outer collar with respect to the internal member; and

disconnecting the first fluid connector from the second fluid connector by rotatably retracting the outer collar with respect to the internal member from an advanced interconnection position to an initial interconnection position, wherein a mechanical interconnection is maintained between the first fluid connector and the second fluid connector and said fluid interconnection between the first fluid connector and the second fluid connector is terminated, and further rotatably retracting the outer collar with respect to the internal member, wherein said first fluid connector and said second fluid connector mechanically disconnect.

16. A method for handling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 15, wherein said interconnecting step includes:

rotating the outer collar of the first fluid connector to said initial interconnection position relative to the second fluid connector, wherein a mechanical interconnection is made prior to establishing a said fluid interconnection; and

rotating the outer collar of the first fluid connection from the initial interconnection position to said advanced interconnection position, wherein said fluid interconnection is established between the first fluid connector and the second fluid connector.

17. A method for handling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

repeating said retracting, cleaning, interconnecting, and disconnecting steps.

18. A method for handling a first fluid connector, comprising:

retracting an outer collar relative to an internal member of a first fluid connector;

cleaning an outer surface of a distal end of said internal member with said outer collar in a retracted position relative to said internal member;

advancing said outer collar of said first fluid connector relative to said internal member thereof to an advanced position;

interconnecting said outer collar of said first fluid connector to a second fluid connector with said outer collar in said advanced position, wherein said interconnecting step includes;

rotating said outer collar of said first fluid connector to an initial interconnection position relative to said second fluid connector, wherein a mechanical interconnection is made prior to establishing a fluid interconnection; and

,

rotating the outer collar of the first fluid connection from the initial interconnection position to an advanced interconnection position, wherein said fluid interconnection is established between said first fluid connector and said second fluid connector.

19. A method for handling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 18, wherein said fluid interconnection includes:

opening a distal end of a fluid passageway extending through at least a portion of said internal member of said first fluid connector.

20. A method for handling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 19, wherein said internal member includes a first member having at least a portion of said fluid passageway extending therethrough, and a resilient second member disposed about a distal end of the first member, and wherein said opening step includes:

forcibly penetrating a distal end of the first member through the second member.

21. A method for handling a first fluid connector, comprising:

retracting an outer collar relative to an internal member of a first fluid connector;

cleaning an outer surface of a distal end of said internal member with said outer collar in a retracted position relative to said internal member;

advancing said outer collar of said first fluid connector relative to said internal member thereof to an advanced position;

interconnecting said outer collar of said first fluid connector to a second fluid connector with said outer collar in said advanced position, wherein said second fluid connector includes a tubular member;

establishing a fluid interconnection between said first fluid connector and said second fluid connector by opening a distal end of a fluid passageway extending through at least a portion of said internal member of said first fluid connector, wherein said opening includes forcibly penetrating a distal end of said tubular member through a resilient member of said first fluid connector.