Sterile fluid connection
AssigneeParker-Hannifin Corporation
InventorsGino G. Banco, Andrew D. Sylvester
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid connection device includes a first connector having at least one fluid passage and a second connector having at least one fluid passage. The second connector includes a sealing door that may be opened and closed for sealing the fluid passage when the first connector and the second connector are disconnected. The first connector includes a mechanical or electronic key for actuating the second connector, such that the sealing door opens in response to the key. When the sealing door is opened, the first connector may be joined with the second connector. When the first connector is fully joined with the second connector, the fluid passages may be adjacently aligned and in fluid communication for fluid flow therebetween.
Claims26
A fluid connection device comprising:
- a first connector having at least one fluid passage;
- a second connector having at least one fluid passage, the second connector initially being in a closed position;
- and
- a key associated with the first connector for actuating the second connector;
- wherein the second connector is moveable to an open position when actuated by the key when the first connector is joined with the second connector, and when the second connector is in the open position the at least one fluid passage of the second connector and the at least one fluid passage of the first connector are adjacently aligned and in fluid communication when the first connector is fully joined with the second connector.
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A fluid connection device comprising:
- a first connector having at least one fluid passage;
- a second connector having a housing, at least one fluid passage contained within the housing, and a receiving chamber contained within the housing for receiving the first connector, the receiving chamber being in fluid communication with the at least one fluid passage and having at least one sealing door that may be opened and closed;
- and
- a key associated with the first connector for opening the sealing door of the receiving chamber;
- wherein the sealing door of the receiving chamber is opened when actuated by the key and the first connector is inserted in the receiving chamber when the sealing door is opened, the at least one fluid passage of the second connector and the at least one fluid passage of the first connector being in fluid communication when the sealing door is opened and the first connector is fully inserted in the receiving chamber.
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17-18. (canceled)
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A method of providing fluid communication between fluid passages in a first connector and a second connector comprising:
- arranging the second connector in an initially closed position, the second connector having a sealing door;
- actuating the second connector using a key associated with the first connector, wherein the sealing door of the second connector opens in response to recognition of the key;
- and
- joining the first connector with the second connector when the sealing door is opened, wherein the fluid passages are in fluid communication when the first connector is fully joined with the second connector, when the second connector is in an open position.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.