Sterile connection process, apparatus and system

A process for forming a sterile connection between a first and a second closed-end tube, both formed of thermoplastic resin, comprising (a) mounting said tubes in a pair of mounting means which holds said tubes in a flattened, closely adjacent, substantially parallel position, (b) urging an edge of a hot cutting means having substantially flat surfaces through the flattened part of each said tubes at a rate such that the thermoplastic resin from which said tubes are formed and which is in contact with said cutting means becomes molten, thereby temporarily sealing together the inside walls of each tube and providing molten tube ends, (c) aligning said tubes with each other, (d) urging the desired molten tube ends together to form a joint between said tubes, and (e) cooling said joint and then applying stress to the joint to open the temporary seal in each tube, thereby providing fluid communication between the joined tubes.

An apparatus for forming a sterile connection between thermoplastic tubes comprising a cutting means, means adapted to heat said cutting means, a pair of mounting blocks adapted to receive, hold and flatten the tubes to be joined, means to provide movement between said blocks and said cutting means to a position such that the cutting means is between said blocks and traversing where the blocks are adapted to receive said tubes, means adapted to realign said blocks to a position where two different tube ends are aligned with and facing each other for each pair of tubes to be joined, means to separate said blocks and said cutting means, and means for urging said mounting blocks together.

An apparatus for forming a sterile connection between thermoplastic tubes comprising a cutting means;

• means adapted to heat said cutting means, a pair of mounting blocks adapted to receive, hold and flatten the tubes to be joined;
• means for movement of the mounting blocks to first, second and third positions, the cutting means being between the mounting blocks in the first position, said mounting blocks being relatively displaced in said second position to align two different tube ends facing each other for each pair of tubes to be joined, said mounting blocks being separated from said cutting means in said third position, and means for urging said mounting blocks together when in the third position.

A sterile connection system for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis in which a dialysis solution container with a transfer port that includes a segment of tubing is coupled to a tube extending from a patient's peritoneal cavity, wherein the improvement comprises a pair of mounting blocks adapted to receive, hold and flatten the transfer port tube and the patient's tube, cutting means, means adapted to heat said cutting means, means to provide movement between said blocks and said cutting means to a position such that the cutting means is between said blocks and traversing where the blocks are adapted to receive said tubes, means to realign said blocks to a position where the resulting different tube ends to be joined are aligned with and facing each other, means to separate said blocks and said cutting means, and means for urging said blocks together.

A sterile connection system for urinary drainage in which a first drainage container is connected to a drainage tube extended from a catheter implanted in a patient's urethra, wherein the improvement comprises (a) a second drainage container having a connector-free tube specifically for sterile connection and with a sealed distal end, both containers being disposable;

• and (b) a pair of mounting blocks adapted to receive, hold and flatten the drainage tube and the connector-free tube, cutting means, means adapted to heat said cutting means, means to provide movement between said blocks and said cutting means to a position such that the cutting means is between said blocks and traversing where the blocks are adapted to receive said tubes, means to realign said blocks to a position where the resulting different tube ends to be joined are aligned with and facing each other, means to separate said blocks and said cutting means, and means for urging said blocks together.

A reweldable connector system for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis wherein a silastic catheter is surgically implanted in a patient's peritoneal cavity, comprising (a) said catheter, (b) a polyvinyl chloride tube optionally having a spike, (c) a thermoplastic connector tube having threaded ends, said connector tube being sterilely connected to said catheter on one end and to said polyvinyl chloride tube on the other end, (d) a polyvinyl chloride tube with a spike on one end and a connector tube portion on the other end, said connector tube portion being sealed on its distal end by fusion of its material, (e) a pair of mounting blocks adapted to receive, hold and flatten the thermoplastic connector tube and the thermoplastic connector tube portion, (f) a cutting means, (g) means adapted to heat said cutting means, (h) means to provide movement between said blocks and said cutting means to a position such that the cutting means is between said blocks and traversing where the blocks are adapted to receive said thermoplastic connector tube and said thermoplastic connector tube portion, means to realign said blocks to a position where different connector tube ends are aligned with and facing each other, means to separate said blocks and said cutting means, and means for urging said blocks together.