Connectors for fluid containers

• US 8,336,587 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2012
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carmel Pharma AB (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Carmel Pharma AB (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Lindstrom, Johanna, Leffler, Jonas, Rosenquist, Tobias, Cederschiöld, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Maust, Timothy L
• Assistant Examiner(s): KELLY, TIMOTHY PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US13/453,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20120209238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 246 Days
• Field of Search: 141/311.R, 141/313, 141/326, 141/367, 141/383, 141/384, 285/91, 285/92, 285/86, 285/85, 604/411, 604/414, 604/415
• US Class Current: 141/384
• 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

Abstract

This document provides connectors such as a connector for enabling fluid transfer between a first fluid container and a second fluid container, which connector comprises a first component that is arranged to be connected to a first fluid container and a second component that is arranged to be connected to a second fluid container. The first component can be non-rotatably connected to the second component before a second fluid container is connected to the second component and/or before a first fluid container is connected to the first component. The connector can comprise a locking and rotation-enabling element that is arranged to be activated once a second fluid container has been connected to the second component, and/or once a first fluid container has been connected to the first component, which locking and rotation-enabling element enables the first component and the second component to rotate freely with respect to one another.

Claims

1. A connector for enabling fluid transfer between a first fluid container and a second fluid container, which connector comprises a first component that is arranged to be connected to a first fluid container and a second component that is arranged to be connected to a second fluid container, whereby the first component is arranged to be reversibly connected to the second component, wherein the connector comprises a locking and rotation-enabling element that is arranged to be activated once a second fluid container has been connected to the second component, or once a first fluid container has been connected to the first component, which locking and rotation-enabling element enables the first component and the second component to rotate freely with respect to one another.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the locking and rotation-enabling element is arranged to be automatically activated when said second fluid container is connected to the second component.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the locking and rotation-enabling element is arranged to be automatically activated when the first fluid container has been connected to the first component.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the locking and rotation-enabling element is arranged to be manually activated by a user after the second fluid container has been connected to the second component.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the locking and rotation-enabling element is arranged to be manually activated by a user after the first fluid container has been connected to the first component.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a snap fit mechanism to reversibly connect the first component to the second component or the fluid enabling element.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first component is arranged to be reversibly screwed into the second component.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first component is arranged to be reversibly slid into the second component.

9. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first component is arranged to be screwed into the first fluid container.

10. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first component is arranged to be slid into the first fluid container.

11. The connector of claim 1, wherein the second component is arranged to be screwed into the second fluid container.

12. The connector of claim 1, wherein the second component is arranged to be slid into the second fluid container.

13. The connector of claim 1, wherein the second component comprises a membrane.

14. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first component comprises a membrane.

15. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a sealing element to ensure that a fluid-tight, leak-free connection is made between the first fluid container and the second fluid container.

16. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a spring-loaded mechanism to prevent the first component and the second component to rotate freely with respect to one another.

17. A fluid container comprising an integrally formed first component of a connector for enabling fluid transfer between the fluid container and a second fluid container, which connector comprises a second component that is arranged to be connected to the second fluid container, whereby the first component is arranged to be reversibly connected to the second component, wherein the connector comprises a locking and rotation-enabling element that is arranged to be activated once the second fluid container has been connected to the second component, which locking and rotation-enabling element enables the first component and the second component to rotate freely with respect to one another.