Flexible conduit with releasable sealing means
AssigneeCutter Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsJohn E. Shackleford, Willie J. Lewis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A means for releasable sealing a flexible conduit is disclosed, having particular use in a conduit connecting multiple blood bags. The conduit contains within a portion of itself a flexible strip or tubular insert. This portion of the conduit is positively closed by folding it back on itself and the closed portion is maintained by a clamping or restraining member. Upon release of the clamping member following a heat sterilization procedure, the conduit is readily opened for fluid flow therethrough. The conduit, which without the insert would normally be fused together as a consequence of the heat sterilization, is open by virtue of the insert being made of a material which does not fuse together under these conditions.
Claims7
A multiple blood bag system comprising a first bag connected to a second bag by a flexible conduit having an internal diameter for fluid flow communication between the first and second bags and means for releasably sealing the conduit which comprises a flexible insert positioned within a section of the conduit, said flexible insert extending across said internal diameter and comprising a material which does not block said internal diameter when subjected to sterilization temperatures, the section of the conduit being bent back on itself, at least to a position wherein closure is established, and maintained in this position by a releasable clamping means to prevent fluid flow through the conduit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.