# US 2017/0284584 A1 · Connector assemblies, fluid systems including connector assemblies, and procedures for making fluid connections > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0284584 A1 - Document ID: US20170284584A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/085,042 - Filed: 2016-03-30 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-30 - Assignees: Pall Corporation - Applicants: Pall Corporation - Inventors: Daniel Kesselaar; Charles N. Rothwell; Richard Ballard; Danniel Bowdery - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170284584A1 ## CPC - F16L 37/252: the male part having lugs on its periphery penetrating into the corresponding slots provided in the female part - A61M 5/5086: {for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile} - A61M 39/1011: {Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties (A61M39/16 takes precedence)} - A61M 39/18: Methods or apparatus for making the connection under sterile conditions, i.e. sterile docking - F16L 17/06: with sealing rings arranged between the end surfaces of the pipes or flanges or arranged in recesses in the pipe ends or flanges - F16L 37/113: the male part having lugs on its periphery penetrating into the corresponding slots provided in the female part - F16L 2201/10: Indicators for correct coupling - F16L 2201/44: sterile - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract Connector assemblies, connector bodies, fluid systems including connector assemblies, and procedures for making fluid connections are disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connector assembly for making fluid connections comprising: (a) a first hollow connector body, the first hollow connector body comprising a first resilient deformable seal having a central aperture and a lip surrounding the central aperture; a first locking mechanism integrally formed with the first hollow connector body, the first locking mechanism comprising at least one lug including a slot, and at least one ramp; a first hollow connector first body end and a first hollow connector second body end; (b) a second hollow connector body, the second hollow connector body comprising a second resilient deformable seal having a central aperture and a lip surrounding the central aperture; a second locking mechanism integrally formed with the second hollow connector body, the second locking mechanism comprising at least one lug including a slot, and at least one ramp; a second hollow connector first body end and a second hollow connector second body end; (i) wherein the first hollow connector body and the second hollow connector body contact each other in a first position, and when subsequently twisted together, the first resilient deformable seal seals against the first hollow connector body, and the second resilient deformable seal seals against the second hollow connector body, in a second position, the second position comprising an actuation position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connector assembly of claim 1, further comprising a removable anti-actuation assembly comprising at least one peel strip, interposed between the first hollow connector first body end and the second hollow connector first body end, wherein, when the first hollow connector body and the second hollow connector body contact each other in the first position, the anti-actuation assembly, when present, prevents forming the actuation position of the connector assembly, and when removed, allows forming the actuation position of the connector assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The connector assembly of claim 2, wherein the anti-actuation assembly comprises a first surface facing the first hollow connector first body end and a second surface facing the second hollow connector first body end; and the connector assembly further comprises an alignment arrangement for mating the anti-actuation assembly with the first connector hollow body and the second hollow connector body, the alignment arrangement comprising protrusions and recesses; wherein the first and second surfaces of the anti-actuation assembly, the first hollow connector first body end, and the second hollow connector first body end each have at least one protrusion and/or at least one recess, such that the first surface of the anti-actuation assembly mates with the first hollow connector first body end, and the second surface of the anti-actuation assembly mates with the second hollow connector first body end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The connector assembly of claim 2, wherein the anti-actuation assembly comprises: a first anti-actuation subassembly comprising the first surface of the anti-actuation assembly, and a first peel strip; and, a second anti-actuation subassembly comprising the second surface of the anti-actuation assembly, and a second peel strip. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The connector assembly of claim 4, wherein the first anti-actuation subassembly and the second anti-actuation subassembly are mated together when the first hollow connector body and the second hollow connector body contact each other in the first position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the first hollow connector body comprises a first connector external surface further comprising a first alignment indicator; and the second hollow connector body comprises a second connector external surface further comprising a second alignment indicator; the first alignment indicator and the second alignment indicator aligning when the first hollow connector body and the second hollow connector body are in the actuation position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The connector assembly of claim 1, comprising a genderless connector assembly. ### Claim 8 A connector body for use in a connector assembly for making fluid connections comprising: a hollow connector body, the hollow connector body comprising a resilient deformable seal having a central aperture and a lip surrounding the central aperture; a locking mechanism integrally formed with the hollow connector body, the locking mechanism comprising at least one lug including a slot, and at least one ramp; a hollow connector first body end and a hollow connector second body end; and an anti-actuation assembly engagement portion comprising at least one recess and/or at least one protrusion; a removable anti-actuation assembly comprising at least one peel strip, and at least one recess and/or at least one protrusion, the at least one recess and/or at least one protrusion being engaged with the anti-actuation assembly engagement portion of the hollow connector body; and, a removable cap, engaged with the hollow connector body, wherein the removable anti-actuation assembly is interposed between the cap and the hollow connector first body end, the cap covering the hollow connector first body end. ### Claim 9 A process for making fluid connections comprising: (a) placing a first hollow connector body, the first hollow connector body comprising a first resilient deformable seal having a central aperture and a lip surrounding the central aperture; a first locking mechanism integrally formed with the first hollow connector body, the first locking mechanism comprising at least one lug including a slot, and at least one ramp; a first hollow connector first body end and a first hollow connector second body end, in contact with a second hollow connector body, the second hollow connector body comprising a second resilient deformable seal having a central aperture and a lip surrounding the central aperture; a second locking mechanism integrally formed with the second hollow connector body, the second locking mechanism comprising at least one lug including a slot, and at least one ramp; a second hollow connector first body end and a second hollow connector second body end, in a first position; and (b) twisting the first hollow connector body and/or the second hollow connector body such that the first locking mechanism engages with the second locking mechanism, the first resilient deformable seal seals against the first hollow connector body, and the second resilient deformable seal seals against the second hollow connector body, in a second position, the second position comprising an actuation position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The process of claim 9, further comprising removing an anti-actuation assembly comprising at least one peel strip, interposed between the first hollow connector first body end and the second hollow connector first body end, after (a) and before (b). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A fluid system comprising a connector assembly of claim 1, in fluid communication with a bioprocessing unit, the bioprocessing unit comprising a biocontainer having at least one wall including at least one port, an interior volume and including an impeller, wherein one of the first and second hollow connector bodies is in fluid communication with the port. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein the anti-actuation assembly comprises: a first anti-actuation subassembly comprising the first surface of the anti-actuation assembly, and a first peel strip; and, a second anti-actuation subassembly comprising the second surface of the anti-actuation assembly, and a second peel strip. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the first anti-actuation subassembly and the second anti-actuation subassembly are mated together when the first hollow connector body and the second hollow connector body contact each other in the first position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein the first anti-actuation subassembly and the second anti-actuation subassembly are mated together when the first hollow connector body and the second hollow connector body contact each other in the first position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The connector assembly of claim 2, wherein the first hollow connector body comprises a first connector external surface further comprising a first alignment indicator; and the second hollow connector body comprises a second connector external surface further comprising a second alignment indicator; the first alignment indicator and the second alignment indicator aligning when the first hollow connector body and the second hollow connector body are in the actuation position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 3) The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein the first hollow connector body comprises a first connector external surface further comprising a first alignment indicator; and the second hollow connector body comprises a second connector external surface further comprising a second alignment indicator; the first alignment indicator and the second alignment indicator aligning when the first hollow connector body and the second hollow connector body are in the actuation position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 4) The connector assembly of claim 4, wherein the first hollow connector body comprises a first connector external surface further comprising a first alignment indicator; and the second hollow connector body comprises a second connector external surface further comprising a second alignment indicator; the first alignment indicator and the second alignment indicator aligning when the first hollow connector body and the second hollow connector body are in the actuation position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 5) The connector assembly of claim 5, wherein the first hollow connector body comprises a first connector external surface further comprising a first alignment indicator; and the second hollow connector body comprises a second connector external surface further comprising a second alignment indicator; the first alignment indicator and the second alignment indicator aligning when the first hollow connector body and the second hollow connector body are in the actuation position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the first hollow connector body comprises a first connector external surface further comprising a first alignment indicator; and the second hollow connector body comprises a second connector external surface further comprising a second alignment indicator; the first alignment indicator and the second alignment indicator aligning when the first hollow connector body and the second hollow connector body are in the actuation position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The connector assembly of claim 13, wherein the first hollow connector body comprises a first connector external surface further comprising a first alignment indicator; and the second hollow connector body comprises a second connector external surface further comprising a second alignment indicator; the first alignment indicator and the second alignment indicator aligning when the first hollow connector body and the second hollow connector body are in the actuation position.