Connector for medical tubing and medical solution bag device using the connector

A medical solution bag device, comprising:

• a flexible bag containing a solution and having at least one solution transfer port, a first flexible tube connected to said transfer port and adapted to guide the solution contained in said bag during discharge of the solution from the bag, a second tube adapted to be connected to said first flexible tube, and a connector arrangement for coupling said first and second tubes together,
• said connector arrangement comprising:
• a tubular male connector member made of thermally resistant corrosionproof material, and having a first end adapted to be connected by insertion to a connecting end of one of said first and second tubes, said male connector member having a male engaging portion having a male insertion end shaped in a male form at the end thereof opposite from the aforementioned first end thereof, and further having an inner passage extending therethrough;
• a tubular female connector member made of thermally resistant corrosionproof material, and having a first end adapted to be connected by insertion to the connecting end of the other of said first and second tubes, said female connector member having a female engaging portion having a female insertion end shaped in a female form which is dimensioned for fast insertion into the insertion end shaped in the male form of said male connector member at the end opposite from said other of said first and second tubes and further having an inner passage extending therethrough;
• a first fitting surface portion provided on said male connector member on the outer surface of said male insertion end thereof;
• and
• a second fitting surface portion provided on an inner surface portion of said female insertion end of said female connector member;
• said first fitting surface portion of said male connector member being made of a material having a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than the material of said second fitting surface portion of said female connector member, and said first fitting surface portion of said male connector member and said second fitting surface portion of said female connector member having relative sizes such as to permit the insertion ends thereof to be connected to and separated from each other by shrink fit utilizing a difference between the thermal expansion coefficients thereof;
• wherein the materials forming said male and said female connector members including said first and said second fitting surface portions are capable of withstanding heating to a temperature sufficient for sterilization of both connector members, and said difference between the thermal expansion coefficients is selected to enable both connector members to be joined to and separated from one another at the sterilization temperature.

A connector apparatus for medical tubing for liquid transfusion, the connector apparatus connecting together two flexible tubes, the connector apparatus comprising:

• a tubular male connector member made of thermally resistant corrosionproof material, and having a first end adapted to be connected to one of said two flexible tubes, said male connector member having a second end opposite said first end thereof, said second end having a male engaging portion having a male insertion end shaped in a male form, said male connector member further having an inner passage extending therethrough;
• a tubular female connector member made of thermally resistant corrosionproof material, and having a first end adapted to be connected to the other of said two flexible tubes, said female connector member having a second end opposite said first end thereof, said second end of said female connector member having a female engaging portion having a female insertion end shaped in a female form which is dimensioned for fast insertion into the insertion end shaped in the male form of said male connector member, said female connector member further having an inner passage extending therethrough;
• a first fitting surface portion provided on said male connector member on the outer surface of said second end thereof;
• a second fitting surface portion provided on an inner surface portion of said second end of said female connector member;
• said first fitting surface portion of said male connector member being made of a material having a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than the material of said second fitting surface portion of said female connector member, and said first fitting surface portion of said male connector member and said second fitting surface portion of said female connector member having relative sizes such as to permit the insertion ends thereof to be connected to and separated from each other by shrink fit utilizing the difference between the thermal expansion coefficients thereof;
• said male and female connector members having respective tubular connection tubes provided at said first ends thereof for connection to said flexible tubes, said connection tubes being made of a thermally resistant flexible resin;
• and
• communication means in communication with said inner passage of said male and female connector members and including blocking means for blocking the flow of a solution therethrough, said communication means including means for selectively opening said blocking means to permit flow of a solution through said inner passages of said male and female connector members.

A method for coupling and separating a connector arrangement for medical tubing for liquid transfusion under a sterilized state, using a connector for connecting together two flexible tubes, the method comprising:

• coupling together a tubular male connector member and a tubular female connector member by heating them with a flame to sterilize said male and female connector members, inserting said male connector members into said female connector member, and allowing said male and female connectors to cool to shrink fit to each other to be strongly connected together;
• and then
• separating said coupled together male and female connector members by heating them with a flame to sterilize connector members, and then applying a separating force to said male and female connector members until they separate from each other;
• the tubular male connector member being made of thermally resistant corrosionproof material, and having an end adapted to be connected by insertion to the connecting end of one of said two flexible tubes, said male connector member having a male engaging portion having a male insertion end shaped in a male form at the end thereof opposite from the aforementioned end connected to a tube, and further having an inner pasaage extending therethrough;
• the tubular female connector member being made of thermally resistant corrosionproof material, and having an end adapted to be connected by insertion to the connecting end of the other of said two flexible tubes, said female connector member having a female engaging portion having a female insertion end shaped in a female form which is dimensioned for fast insertion into the insertion end shaped in the male form of said male connector member at the end opposite from said other of said two tubes and further having an inner passage extending therethrough;
• a first fitting surface portion provided on said male connector member on the outer surface of said male insertion end thereof;
• and
• a second fitting surface portion provided on an inner surface portion of said female insertion end of said female connector member;
• said first fitting surface portion of said male connector member being made of a material having a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than the material of said second fitting surface portion of said female connector member, and said first fitting surface portion of said male connector member and said second fitting surface portion of said female connector member having relative sizes such as to permit the insertion ends thereof to be connected to and separated from each other by shrink fit utilizing a difference between the thermal expansion coefficients thereof;
• wherein the materials forming said male and said female connector members including said first and said second fitting surface portions are capable of withstanding heating to a temperature sufficient for sterilization of both connector member, and said dfference between the thermal expansion coefficients is selected to enable both connector members to be joined to and separated from one another at the sterilization temperature.