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 deformable member disposed across the opening, wherein the deformable member is deformable to envelop and thereby isolate a nozzle end of a medical-liquid, male connector that is inserted into the opening of the holding member. The deformable member may be resilient, 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.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.