Method of joining conduits with a connecting piece and connecting piece for use in the method
AssigneeGambro AB
InventorKaj O. Stenberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Conduits (3a, 3b, 3c) are joined with a one-piece tubular connecting piece (1) by inserting support members (5a, 5b, 5c) through a sealable opening (6) in the connecting piece to support the conduit ends while said ends are secured to the connecting piece to communicate with openings (4a, 4b, 4c) in the connecting piece. After securing the conduit ends to the connecting piece, the support members are withdrawn through the sealable opening and that opening is then sealed. The support members can also act as electrodes for welding the conduit ends to the connecting piece, especially when the conduit ends and connecting piece are formed of thermoplastics. The method has particular, but not exclusive, application to smoothly connecting tubes for conveying blood.
Claims20
A method of joining two or more conduits by employing a one-piece tubular connecting member, said connecting member including at least two conduit-receiving openings and a separate sealable opening which includes flaps, comprising the steps of:
- locating one end of each conduit at respective ones of said conduit-receiving openings in said connecting member;
- inserting support means through said separate sealable opening in said connecting member to support at least one conduit end at a respective conduit-receiving opening;
- securing said at least one conduit end to said connecting member while said at least one conduit end is being supported by said support means;
- withdrawing said support means from said sealable opening;
- and
- sealing said sealable opening by sealing said flaps to each other.
A one-piece tubular connecting member for joining two or more conduits, comprising:
- said connecting member including at least two conduit-receiving openings, each for receiving one end of a conduit;
- said connecting member including a separate sealable opening for receiving support means for supporting at least one conduit end at a respective conduit-receiving opening while said at least one conduit end is being secured to said connecting member and for permitting withdrawal of said support means;
- and
- said sealable opening including means for sealing the sides thereof together after the withdrawal of said support means,
- said means for sealing including flaps formed integrally with said connecting member for sealing the opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.