Chemical and biological clean air connector

A connector for carrying a fluid having a coupled state and an uncoupled state, comprising:

• first and second subassemblies, wherein the first and second subassemblies are engaged in the coupled state and disconnected in the uncoupled state;
• first and second elastomer face seals formed on the first and second subassemblies, respectively, wherein the first and second elastomer face seals are exposed to the surrounding environment when the connector is in the uncoupled state, and wherein the first and second elastomer face seals are compressible;
• a fluid path through the first and second subassemblies, wherein the fluid path is sealed from the surroundings in the coupled state;
• and
• an isolating structure isolating the elastomer face seals from the fluid path in the coupled state.

A connector for carrying a fluid having a coupled state and an uncoupled state, comprising:

• first and second subassemblies, wherein the first and second subassemblies are engaged in the coupled state and disconnected in the uncoupled state and wherein the first and second subassemblies have contaminable surfaces in the uncoupled state;
• a fluid path through the first and second subassemblies, wherein the fluid path is sealed from the surroundings in the coupled state;
• an isolating structure isolating the contaminable surfaces from the fluid path in the coupled state;
• and
• an antimicrobial compound formed on internal passages of the connector.

A connector for carrying a fluid having a coupled state and an uncoupled state, comprising:

• first and second subassemblies, wherein the first and second subassemblies are engaged in the coupled state and disconnected in the uncoupled state, and wherein the first and second subassemblies have contaminable surfaces in the uncoupled state;
• an aperture to vent to the atmosphere during engagement of the first and second subassemblies;
• a fluid path through the first and second subassemblies, wherein the fluid path is sealed from the surroundings in the coupled state;
• and
• an isolating structure isolating the contaminated surfaces from the fluid path in the coupled state.

A method for coupling a first subassembly and a second subassembly of a connector, comprising:

• removing first and second removable caps from the first and second subassemblies, the first and second removable caps covering contaminable surfaces of the first and second subassemblies, respectively;
• engaging the first and second subassemblies;
• forming a fluid path through the first and second subassemblies;
• and
• isolating the contaminable surfaces from the fluid path.

A method for coupling a first subassembly and a second subassembly of a connector, comprising:

• engaging the first and second subassemblies having first and second elastomer face seals, respectively, wherein the elastomer face seals are contaminable surfaces;
• forming a fluid path through the first and second subassemblies;
• and
• isolating the contaminable surfaces from the fluid path.

A method for coupling a first subassembly and a second subassembly of a connector, comprising:

• treating internal passages of the first and second subassemblies with an antimicrobial compound;
• engaging the first and second subassemblies;
• forming a fluid path through the first and second subassemblies;
• and
• isolating the contaminable surfaces from the fluid path.

A method for coupling a first subassembly and a second subassembly of a connector, comprising:

• engaging the first and second subassemblies;
• venting to the atmosphere during the engagement of the first and second subassemblies;
• forming a fluid path through the first and second subassemblies;
• and
• isolating the contaminable surfaces from the fluid path.