US 7,611,505 B2 · Sterile docking apparatus and method

Abstract

An improved sterile docking apparatus for a medical-liquid, male connectors includes a holding member having an opening for matably receiving a nozzle end of a medical-liquid, male connector therethrough, and a film member disposed across the opening, wherein the film member is stretchable to envelope and thereby isolate a nozzle end of a medical-liquid, male connector that is inserted into the opening of the holding member. The film member may be elastic, wherein it substantially returns to an initial configuration after removal of a nozzle end of a medical-liquid, male connector from the opening of the holding member. An interconnection surface may be provided on the holding member of the docking apparatus to interface with a complimentary interconnection surface of a medical-liquid, male connector so as to maintain the nozzle end of the medical-liquid, male connector in an enveloped position during docking.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A medical-liquid, male connector docking apparatus, comprising:

a holding member having an opening for matably receiving a nozzle end of a male connector therethrough and a tubular portion, wherein a threaded surface is located on the outside of the tubular portion for receiving a complimentary threaded surface of a collar of a medical-liquid, male connector having a nozzle end insertable through said opening;
and,
a film member disposed across said opening, wherein said film member defines a continuous, outer surface portion across said opening prior to insertion of a nozzle end of a medical-liquid, male connector through said opening of the holding member, and wherein said film member is stretchable so that upon engagement by and relative advancement of a nozzle end of a medical-liquid, male connector inserted through said opening of the holding member the film member stretches to envelop in a tent-like manner and thereby isolate and maintain sterility of the nozzle end of the male connector.

A method for docking a medical-liquid, male connector, comprising:

engaging a nozzle end of a medical-liquid, male connector with a surface of an outer film member disposed across an opening of a holding member comprising a docking apparatus by advancing at least one of said medical-liquid, male connector and said docking apparatus toward the other;
stretching said film member of said docking apparatus to envelop in a tent-like manner and thereby isolate and maintain sterility of said nozzle end of said medical-liquid, male connector by advancing at least one of said medical-liquid, male connector and said docking apparatus toward the other so that said nozzle end engages and stretches the film member as the nozzle end is inserted through said opening of the holding member of the docking apparatus;
and,
interconnecting said medical-liquid, male connector with said docking apparatus by rotatably advancing a threaded interconnection surface on a collar of the medical-liquid, male connector relative to a threaded interconnection surface on a tubular portion of said holding member of the docking apparatus, wherein said nozzle end of the medical-liquid, male connector is maintained in said enveloped position.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sterile docking apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Sterile docking apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27