Locking fluid connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10487968-B2
Application number	US-201414901582-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2014
Priority date	Jun 28, 2013
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

Disclosed is a fluid-connection device for connecting a first wall defining a first fluid space, for example a flexible pipe, to a second wall defining a second fluid space, in the form of a flexible pipe or enclosure, including a first male connector, the first connector including a seal and a snap-fitting collar, the seal extending radially prior to coupling from the axis until a first radial distance R1, a second female connector capable of receiving the first connector, the second connector including at least one flexible tab with one end against which the locking collar abuts in coupling position, in order to prevent retraction from the coupling position, the flexible tab being defined relative to the axis between a second radial distance R2 and a third radial distance R3, which is greater than the second radial distance R2, wherein R2>R1.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fluid-connection device adapted and intended for connecting a first wall defining a first fluid space to a second wall defining a second fluid space, in a biopharmaceutical assembly, so as to ensure a fluid communication between the first fluid space and the second fluid space, comprising:
a first connector, defining a first hollow passage, adapted and intended for connection to the first wall and in fluid communication with the first fluid space, the first connector being of the male type, the first connector comprising at least one seal and a snap-fitting collar, the seal extending radially from the axis to a first radial distance R 1 , this first distance being measured before coupling when the seal is mounted on the first connector; and
a second connector defining a second hollow passage, adapted and intended for connection to the second wall and in fluid communication with the second fluid space, the second connector being of the female type,
the first connector and the second connector being adapted and intended to be coupled together in a relative coupling position, along an axis A,
the second connector comprising at least one flexible tongue with at least one free end against which the snap-fitting collar abuts when in the coupling position, to prevent withdrawal from the coupling position,
the radially innermost portion of the at least one flexible tongue being distanced from the axis, at rest and prior to insertion, by a second radial distance R 2 ,
wherein R 2 >R 1 , namely the second radial distance R 2 is greater than the first radial distance R 1 ,
wherein the at least one flexible tongue is circumscribed, relative to the axis, between the second radial distance R 2 and a third radial distance R 3 which satisfies the relation 1<R 3 /R 2 <1.4.

2. The connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the snap-fitting collar has a maximum radial extension, denoted R 6 , which satisfies the relation 1<R 6 /R 2 <1.3.

3. The connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible tongue comprises two flexible tongues that are diametrically opposed.

4. The connection device according to claim 1 , comprising two O-rings between the front end of the first connector and the snap-fitting collar.

5. The connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the seal is an O-ring or a lip seal of elastomeric material.

6. The connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the second connector comprises an additional auxiliary interface of the female type, formed symmetrically with respect to a first interface of the female type, said auxiliary interface being configured to receive a third connector of the male type.

7. A Biopharmaceutical assembly comprising a fluid-connection device according to claim 1 .

8. A fluid-connection device adapted and intended for connecting a first wall defining a first fluid space to a second wall defining a second fluid space, in a biopharmaceutical assembly, so as to ensure a fluid communication between the first fluid space and the second fluid space, comprising:
a first connector, defining a first hollow passage, adapted and intended for connection to the first wall and in fluid communication with the first fluid space, the first connector being of the male type, the first connector comprising at least one seal and a snap-fitting collar, the seal extending radially from the axis to a first radial distance R 1 , this first distance being measured before coupling when the seal is mounted on the first connector; and
a second connector defining a second hollow passage, adapted and intended for connection to the second wall and in fluid communication with the second fluid space, the second connector being of the female type,
the first connector and the second connector being adapted and intended to be coupled together in a relative coupling position, along an axis A,
the second connector comprising at least one flexible tongue with at least one free end against which the snap-fitting collar abuts when in the coupling position, to prevent withdrawal from the coupling position,
the radially innermost portion of the at least one flexible tongue being distanced from the axis, at rest and prior to insertion, by a second radial distance R 2 ,
wherein R 2 >R 1 , namely the second radial distance R 2 is greater than the first radial distance R 1 ,
wherein each flexible tongue is connected to an unlocking member that is integrally obtained when molding the second connector, and which comprises a connecting member joined to the flexible tongue, a bearing area, a radial arm arranged between the connecting member and the bearing area, the bearing area being intended to be pressed radially inward to urge the flexible tongue radially outward and thereby release the snap-fitting collar.

9. A Biopharmaceutical assembly comprising a fluid-connection device according to claim 8 .

10. The connection device according to claim 8 , wherein the unlocking member comprises a secondary locking means for the bearing area, to prevent radially inward movement of the bearing area, thus doubly locking the connection.

11. The connection device according to claim 10 , wherein the secondary locking means forms an indicator of an unlocking attempt and may comprise a mechanical fuse region.

12. The connection device according to claim 8 , wherein the secondary locking means is a radially-oriented finger which is movable between an inactive position and an active position.

13. A fluid-connection device adapted and intended for connecting a first wall defining a first fluid space to a second wall defining a second fluid space, in a biopharmaceutical assembly, so as to ensure a fluid communication between the first fluid space and the second fluid space, comprising:
a first connector, defining a first hollow passage, adapted and intended for connection to the first wall and in fluid communication with the first fluid space, the first connector being of the male type, the first connector comprising at least one seal and a snap-fitting collar, the seal extending radially from the axis to a first radial distance R 1 , this first distance being measured before coupling when the seal is mounted on the first connector; and
a second connector defining a second hollow passage, adapted and intended for connection to the second wall and in fluid communication with the second fluid space, the second connector being of the female type,
the first connector and the second connector being adapted and intended to be coupled together in a relative coupling position, along an axis A,
the second connector comprising at least one flexible tongue with at least one free end against which the snap-fitting collar abuts when in the coupling position, to prevent withdrawal from the coupling position,
the radially innermost portion of the flexible tongue being distanced from the axis, at rest and prior to insertion, by a second radial distance R 2 ,
wherein R 2 >R 1 , namely the second radial distance R 2 is greater than the first radial distance R 1 ,
wherein the collar comprises an anti-rotation lug which extends radially beyond the rest of the collar.

14. A Biopharmaceutical assembly comprising a fluid-connection device according to claim 13 .

15. A fluid-connection device adapted and intended for connecting a first wall defining a first fluid space to a second wall defining a second fluid space, in a biopharmaceutical assembly, so as to ensure a fluid communication between the first fluid space and the second fluid space, comprising:
a first connector, defining a first hollow passage, a

Assignees

• Sartorius Stedim Fmt Sas

Inventors

• Blake Florian
• Gibelin Jeremy

Classifications

• A61M39/1011

  Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties (A61M39/16 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16L33/025

  tightened by deforming radially extending loops or folds · CPC title

• F16L37/0987 Primary

  the flexible hook being progressively compressed by axial tensile loads acting on the coupling · CPC title

• F16L2201/44

  sterile · CPC title

• A61J2205/60

  using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags · CPC title