Devices, assemblies and methods for controlling fluid flow

An apparatus for delivering fluid into a fluid line, comprising:

• a container having an enclosed interior with fluid therein and an outlet communicating with the interior;
• and
• a valve assembly coupled to the container adjacent the outlet and defining a fluid path from the container when the valve assembly is in an open condition and preventing flow of fluid from the container when the valve assembly is in a closed condition;
• the valve assembly comprising an outer shell having a proximal end coupled to the container and a distal end, an inner housing disposed within the outer shell and having a hollow central boss with a distal end opening and a connector portion configured for connecting the valve assembly to a connector of a fluid line, and a sealing pin coupled to the outer shell and extending into the central boss to define a passageway in the central boss around the sealing pin forming at least part of the fluid path through the valve assembly;
• the inner housing being movable rotationally and axially relative to the outer housing and the sealing pin between a first, closed position and a second, open position on connection of the connector portion to a connector of a fluid line, wherein axial movement of the inner housing towards the second, open position is in a distal direction;
• the sealing pin having a distal tip which is configured for sealing engagement in the distal end opening of the central boss through bore to prevent fluid flow through the distal end opening in the first, closed position of the inner housing and which is spaced from the open distal end of the central boss to define the open condition of the valve assembly in the second, open position of the inner housing, whereby a fluid path is provided from the container through the central boss around the sealing pin and out of the distal end opening in the open condition;
• and
• a torque limiting mechanism between the inner housing and outer shell which resists rotation and axial movement of the inner housing relative to the outer shell from the first, closed position until a first torque level is reached.

A method for opening a fluid path in a fluid line using a valve having a proximal end in communication with a proximal part of a fluid line and comprising an outer shell, an inner housing movably disposed within the outer shell and having a connector portion surrounding a boss at a distal end portion and a passage through the boss to a distal end opening, and a backing member coupled to the outer shell having a sealing pin disposed within the passage through the boss, comprising:

• moving the connector portion of the valve into engagement with a connector of a distal part of the fluid line downstream of the valve with the valve closed and the inner housing in a first position in which a distal tip of the sealing pin is in sealing engagement with the distal end opening to close a fluid path through the valve and a torque limiter mechanism between the inner housing and outer shell is engaged to resist movement of the inner housing to the first position;
• and
• securing the connector portion to the connector, whereby the attachment of the connector portion to the connector comprises application of force to the inner housing at a sufficient torque level to disengage the torque limiter mechanism between the inner housing and outer shell and allow the inner housing to move distally from the first position to a second position in which the distal end of the boss is moved away from the corresponding end of the sealing pin and a fluid passage is formed between the boss and sealing pin and out through the outlet end of the passage through the boss, opening a fluid path from the proximal part of the fluid line through the valve to the distal part of the fluid line.