Fluid flow conduits and apparatus and methods for making and joining fluid conduits
AssigneeFenwal, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Wegener, Kyungyoon Min, Mark Brierton, Benjamin Kusters, James Madsen, William H. Cork
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Fluid flow conduits (14a, 14b) and apparatus (40) and methods for joining the conduits (14a, 14b), preferably in a sterile manner, are disclosed. Each conduit (14, 14b) has a polymeric open end that is sealed by a sealing member (26a, 26b) that may include a heating element (28). The polymeric end material is melted, the sealing members (26a, 26b) are moved to expose the melted open ends of the conduits (14a, 14b) and the ends are brought together to form a fused or welded connection (12) between the conduits (14a, 14b).
Claims28
A method of joining first and second fluid flow circuits to form a fluid flow circuit assembly, each fluid flow circuit including a fluid flow conduit with a lumen and an open end terminating in a polymeric material and a sealing member attached to the flow conduit and sealing the open end thereof, and at least one of the sealing members including at least one single-use heating element as a pre-assembled composite part of the sealing member prior to joining;
- (a) melting the polymeric material of the open ends by heating the at least one heating element;
- (b) relatively separating the sealing members and the respective open ends to which they are sealed to expose the open ends;
- and
- (c) bringing the exposed open ends together while melted to form a junction between the fluid flow circuits that allows fluid flow therebetween.
The method of claim of 2 in which the metallic layer comprises a material that exhibits an antimicrobial property.
A method of joining first and second fluid flow conduits, each having a lumen and an open end terminating in a polymeric material and a sealing member attached to the flow conduit and sealing the open end thereof, and each of the sealing members including at least one single-use heating element as a pre-assembled composite part of the sealing member prior to joining, the method including:
- (a) placing the sealing members in face to face contact;
- (b) melting the polymeric material of the open ends by heating the at least one heating elements of each sealing member;
- (c) separating the sealing members from the respective open ends by withdrawing the sealing members from between the respective open ends of the conduits while pressing the open ends of the conduits toward each other to bring the exposed open ends together while melted to form a junction between the fluid flow conduits that allows fluid flow therebetween.
The method of claim of 22 in which the sealing member comprises a material that exhibits an antimicrobial property.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.