Dialysis connector and cap compatible with gas sterilization

• US 8,617,465 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2009
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Patrick Jong, Acikgoz, Serhan, Ding, Yuanpang Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Walter D
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLEVELAND, TIMOTHY C
• Application Number:
  US12/560,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20110064608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 422/28, 422/33, 604533-535, 604/538, 604/539, 138/89, 138/96.R, 138/96.T
• US Class Current: 422/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/081 Gamma radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/206 Ethylene oxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/155 with treatment-fluid pumping means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1561 at least one cassette surface or portion thereof being flexible, e.g. the cassette having a rigid base portion with preformed channels and being covered with a foil
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/159 specially adapted for peritoneal dialysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/169 using chemical substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/28 Peritoneal dialysis ; Other peritoneal treatment, e.g. oxygenation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit

Abstract

A dialysis disposable sterilization method including: fitting a cap to a connector such that a cap/connector interface can hold a pressure; applying a sterilizing gas through an inside of the connector such that the gas flows through (i) the inside of the connector, (ii) around to the outside of the connector, (iii) past a stabilization rib, and (iv) into contact with one side of the cap/connector interface; and applying the sterilizing gas at an outside of the cap such that the sterilizing gas flows around a bottom of the cap and contacts an opposing side of the cap/connector interface.

Claims

1. A dialysis disposable sterilization method comprising:

fitting a cap to a connector such that a cap/connector interface can hold a pressure;

applying a sterilizing gas through an inside of the connector such that the gas flows through (i) the inside of the connector, (ii) around to the outside of the connector, (iii) past a plurality of stabilization ribs, wherein each of the stabilization ribs extends discontinuously along an inner wall of the cap, and (iv) into contact with one side of the cap/connector interface; and

applying the sterilizing gas at an outside of the cap such that the sterilizing gas flows around a bottom of the cap and contacts an opposing side of the cap/connector interface.

2. The sterilization method of claim 1, which includes applying the sterilizing gas through the inside of the connector and at the outside of the cap at the same time.

3. The sterilization method of claim 1, which includes applying the sterilizing gas through the inside of the connector and at the outside of the cap at different times.

4. The sterilization method of claim 1, wherein fitting the cap to the connector includes press-fitting one of the cap or the connector over the cap/connector interface provided by the other of the cap and the connector.

5. The sterilization method of claim 1, which includes providing the plurality of stabilization ribs on one of an inner wall of the cap or an outer wall of the connector.

6. The sterilization method of claim 1, which includes positioning the plurality of stabilization ribs such that the cap is at least substantially prevented from vibrating about the cap/connector interface.

7. The sterilization method of claim 1, wherein flowing the sterilization gas past the plurality of stabilization ribs includes flowing the gas through openings in the ribs.

8. The sterilization method of claim 1, wherein flowing the sterilizing gas past the plurality of stabilization ribs includes flowing the gas along the ribs.

9. The sterilization method of claim 1, wherein flowing the sterilization gas past the plurality of stabilization ribs includes spiraling the gas past a thread-like stabilization rib.

10. The sterilization method of claim 1, wherein flowing the sterilizing gas past the plurality of stabilization ribs includes flowing the gas past multiple stabilization ribs each having an opening.

11. The sterilization method of claim 1, which includes placing the connector and the cap inside a packaging configured to contain the sterilizing gas being applied at the outside of the cap.