Sterile, cold cut 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) cutting through the flattened part of each of said tubes, (c) separating and aligning said tubes with each other, (d) heating the cut tube ends to effect sterilization and melt the tube ends, (e) urging the desired molten tube ends together to form a joint between said tubes, and (f) 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 connection between thermoplastic tubes comprising a 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 separate and 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 the cutting means from the tubes that have been cut, means for heating the cut ends of the tubes, and means for urging together the tubes to be joined.

An apparatus for forming a sterile connection between thermoplastic tubes comprising a cutting means, a heating 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 separate and align two different tube ends facing each other in the location of the heating means, said mounting blocks being separated from said cutting means in said second 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, cold-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 the cutting means from the tubes that have been cut, means for heating the cut ends of the tubes, and means for urging together the tubes to be joined.

The 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, cold-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 separated and aligned with and facing each other, means to separate the cutting means from the tubes that have been cut, means for heating the cut ends of the tubes, and means for urging together the tubes to be joined.