U.S. patent number RE32,056 [Application Number 06/271,907] was granted by the patent office on 1985-12-24 for method of forming a connection between two sealed conduits using radiant energy.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc.. Invention is credited to David W. Ammann, Garry L. Carter, Daniel B. Granzow.
United States Patent |
RE32,056 |
Granzow , et al. |
December 24, 1985 |
Method of forming a connection between two sealed conduits using
radiant energy
Abstract
A connection may be formed between sealed conduits in which each
conduit carries an opaque, thermoplastic wall portion preferably
having a melting range above essentially 200.degree. C., preferably
with the opaque thermoplastic wall portions being carried on the
conduit about their periphery by transparent wall portions of the
conduit. The opaque wall portions of the conduits are brought
together into facing contact, and then exposed to sufficient
.Iadd.electromagnetic .Iaddend.radiant energy to cause the opaque
wall portions to fuse together, and to open an aperture through the
fused wall portions. This provides sealed communication between the
interiors of the conduits.
Inventors: |
Granzow; Daniel B. (Ingleside,
IL), Carter; Garry L. (Racine, WI), Ammann; David W.
(Longmount, CO) |
Assignee: |
Baxter Travenol Laboratories,
Inc. (Deerfield, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
26955184 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/271,907 |
Filed: |
June 9, 1981 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
843608 |
Oct 19, 1977 |
04157723 |
Jun 12, 1979 |
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/1; 141/311R;
156/272.2; 156/304.6; 250/432R; 600/573 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
39/143 (20130101); B29C 66/73921 (20130101); B29C
65/1445 (20130101); B29C 65/1467 (20130101); B29C
65/58 (20130101); B29C 65/72 (20130101); B29C
66/1122 (20130101); F16L 29/005 (20130101); F16L
37/098 (20130101); F16L 37/26 (20130101); F16L
37/30 (20130101); B29C 66/5223 (20130101); B29C
65/148 (20130101); B29C 65/7473 (20130101); B29C
66/857 (20130101); A61M 2039/1027 (20130101); F16L
2201/44 (20130101); B29L 2031/7148 (20130101); B29C
65/1412 (20130101); B29C 66/71 (20130101); B29C
2035/0822 (20130101); B29K 2027/06 (20130101); B29K
2069/00 (20130101); B29K 2071/00 (20130101); B29K
2105/16 (20130101); B29L 2031/712 (20130101); B29L
2031/753 (20130101); B29L 2031/7542 (20130101); B29C
66/71 (20130101); B29K 2081/06 (20130101); B29C
66/71 (20130101); B29K 2069/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
39/14 (20060101); A61M 39/00 (20060101); B29C
65/14 (20060101); B29C 65/00 (20060101); B29C
65/72 (20060101); F16L 37/28 (20060101); F16L
37/00 (20060101); F16L 37/098 (20060101); F16L
37/30 (20060101); B29C 35/08 (20060101); B29C
65/56 (20060101); B29C 65/58 (20060101); B65B
003/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;141/1,98,114,311R,382-388,392 ;222/541 ;285/3,4,67
;156/272,289,272.2,304.6,272.4,272.8 ;219/85BA,349,85BM,354
;250/432 ;128/362,760 ;220/89B |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2452858 |
|
May 1975 |
|
DE |
|
2639584 |
|
Apr 1977 |
|
DE |
|
2331687 |
|
Sep 1977 |
|
DE |
|
801162 |
|
Nov 1955 |
|
GB |
|
1027528 |
|
Apr 1966 |
|
GB |
|
1428391 |
|
Mar 1976 |
|
GB |
|
Other References
Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia, 1968, pp. 582, 583, 1458
and 1459. .
Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, 1979, p. 583. .
The International Dictionary of Physics, 1961, pp. 239-241. .
DHEW Publication No. (NIH) 76-1004, "Frozen Red Cell Outdating",
Mar. 14, 1975, Bethesda, Maryland, pp. 43-51. .
B. A. Myhre et al., "An Aseptic Fluid Transfer System for Blood and
Blood Components", Transfusion, Sep.-Oct., 1978, pp. 546-553. .
F. J. Tenczar, Transfusion, Sep.-Oct. 1976, pp. 477-482, entitled
"Sterile Connector". .
William W. Cooper et al., pp. 31-41 of DHEW Publication No. (NIH
76-1004, Mar. 14, 1975, entitled, "A Two-Stage Heat Sterilizable
Connector For Use In Processing Frozen Blood". .
R. E. Trotman, "Sterilization by Radio Frequency Induction Heating:
A Method for the In Situ Sterilization of Vessels in Automatic
Bacteriological Apparatus", Journal of Applied Bacteriology 32, pp.
2, 9, 7-300, (1960)..
|
Primary Examiner: Schmidt; Frederick R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Ryan; Daniel D. Flattery; Paul C.
Price; Bradford R. L.
Claims
That which is claimed is:
1. The method of forming a connection between sealed conduits, each
conduit carrying an opaque, thermoplastic wall portion, which
method comprises:
bringing said opaque wall portions of said conduits together into
facing contact, and .[.exposing said opaque wall portions to
sufficient.]. .Iadd.applying sufficient electromagnetic
.Iaddend.radiant energy to cause said opaque wall portions to fuse
together and to open an aperture through said fused wall portions,
providing sealed communication between the interiors of said
conduits.
2. The method of claim 1 in which said opaque, thermoplastic wall
portions are carried about their peripheries on said conduits by
transparent, rigid housing portions of said conduits.
3. The method of claim 2 in which the interiors of said conduits
are sterile.
4. The method of claim 3 in which the melting temperature of said
thermoplastic wall portion is at least 200 degrees C.
5. The method of claim 4 in which said housing portion defines
means for generally permanent connection with an identical housing
portion in a position to bring the respective opaque wall portions
of said housing portions together into facing contact, to protect
the fused, opaque wall portions from mechanical stress.
6. The method of claim 5 in which said .Iadd.electromagnetic
.Iaddend.radiant energy is infrared radiation.
7. The method of claim 6 in which .[.the opaque, thermoplastic wall
portions are exposed to.]. said infrared radiation .Iadd.is applied
.Iaddend.for ten to twenty seconds.
8. A connector member for providing sealed sterile connection
between containers, which connector member comprises a hollow,
transparent housing adapted for connection to a first container,
the hollow interior of said housing member being sealed from the
exterior by housing walls, some of said housing wall comprising an
opaque wall portion separating the hollow housing interior from the
exterior, said opaque wall portion being sealed to the remainder of
the transparent housing, said opaque wall portion being made of a
thermoplastic material, and means for connecting said housing to a
corresponding second, hollow, transparent, sealed housing which
carries, as a part of .[.a.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.second
housing.[.,.]. walls separating the second housing interior from
the exterior, .Iadd.a .Iaddend.second opaque wall portion, said
connection between the respective housings being adapted to bring
the respective opaque wall portions together into facing contact,
said opaque wall portions being adapted to facilitate the opening
of an aperture upon heating said wall portions to the melting
temperature by .[.means.]. .Iadd.the application .Iaddend.of
.Iadd.electromagnetic .Iaddend.radiant energy.
9. The sterile connection member of claim 8 in which said
transparent housing defines an asymmetrically positioned bayonet
member and an asymmetrically positioned slot member, said bayonet
member being adapted to pass into a corresponding slot member of
said second housing and said slot member being proportioned to
receive a corresponding bayonet member from said second housing, to
provide generally permanent connection between said housings.
10. The connector member of claim 9 in which said bayonet member
carries a barb on one side thereof, and a reinforcement member is
provided to restrict the movement of said bayonet member in the
direction away from said one side.
11. The connector member of claim 10 in which said opaque,
thermoplastic wall portion is made of material having a melting
temperature of at least 200 degress C.
12. The connector member of claim 11 in which said transparent
housing is in sealing communication with the end of flexible tubing
for connection to a medical liquid container.
13. A blood bag which carries the connector member of claim 12.
14. A connector member which comprises first and second hollow,
transparent, generally rigid housings connected in sealed,
communicating relation with the ends of hollow, flexible tubing,
the walls of said housings sealing the hollow interiors thereof
from the exterior except through said flexible tube, a portion of
each of the housing member walls comprising .Iadd.an
.Iaddend.opaque wall .[.portions.]. .Iadd.portion .Iaddend.sealed
to the remainder of said transparent .[.housings.]. and in abutting
contact with each other, said opaque wall .[.portions.].
.Iadd.portionof said first housing .Iaddend.being adapted to be
brought into abutting relation with .[.an.]. .Iadd.said
.Iaddend.opaque wall portion of .[.a similar connector member.].
.Iadd.said second housing .Iaddend.and adapted to facilitate the
opening of an aperture through said abutting opaque wall portions
upon heating said wall portions to the melting temperature by
.[.means.]. .Iadd.the application .Iaddend.of .Iadd.electromagnetic
.Iaddend.radiant energy.
15. The connector member of claim 14 in which said opaque
thermoplastic wall portions are made of a material having a melting
temperature of at least 200 degrees C.
16. The connector member of claim 15 in which each transparent
housing defines an asymmetrically positioned bayonet member and an
asymmetrically positioned slot member, each bayonet member passing
through the corresponding slot member of the other housing in
retaining relationship thereto, to provide generally permanent
connection between said housings.
17. The connector member of claim 16 in which each bayonet carries
a barb on one side thereof, and a reinforcement member is provided
to restrict the movement of said bayonet member in the direction
away from said one side.
18. The connector member of claim 17 in which said opaque wall
portions are stressed to facilitate the opening of an aperture
through said wall portions upon heating said opaque wall portions
to the melting temperature by .[.means.]. .Iadd.the application
.Iaddend.of .Iadd.electromagnetic .Iaddend.radiant energy.
19. The connector member of claim 8 in which said opaque wall
portions are stressed to facilitate the opening of an aperture
through said wall portions upon heating said opaque wall portions
to the melting temperature by .[.means.]. .Iadd.the application
.Iaddend.of .Iadd.electromagnetic .Iaddend.radiant energy.
20. The method of opening a connection between sealed conduits
within a transparent housing, said conduits being separated by
opaque wall means positioned within said housing, comprising
.[.exposing said opaque wall means to a source of.]. .Iadd.applying
electromagnetic .Iaddend.radiant energy .Iadd.from a source
.Iaddend.positioned outside of said transparent housing of an
intensity and duration sufficient to cause said opaque wall means
to fuse and to open an aperture therethrough, providing
communication between the interiors of said sealed conduits.
21. The method of forming a connection between sealed conduits in
which each conduit is positioned within a separate, generally
transparent housing which carries an opaque wall portion separing
the interior of said housing from the exterior, which method
comprises:
bringing the opaque wall portions of the housing into facing
contact, in which the facing opaque wall portions are surrounded by
the respective housings, and .[.exposing said opaque wall portions
to sufficient.]. .Iadd.applying sufficient electromagnetic
.Iaddend.radiant energy to cause said opaque wall portions to fuse
together and to open an aperture through said fused wall portions,
providing sealed communication between said conduits.
22. The method of claim 21 in which said opaque wall portions are
made of a thermoplastic material, and are attached about their
peripheries to said transparent housings, the .Iadd.electromagnetic
.Iaddend.radiant energy being adapted to pass through said
transparent housings to said opaque wall portions.
23. The method of claim 22 in which the melting range of said
thermoplastic wall portions includes a temperature of at least
200.degree. C.
24. The method of claim 23 in which each generally transparent
housing defines means for generally permanent connection with an
identical housing in a position to bring the respective opaque wall
portions of said housings together into said facing contact, to
protect the fused opaque wall portions from a mechanical
stress.
25. The method of claim 24 in which said .Iadd.electromagnetic
.Iaddend.radiant energy is infrared radiation.
26. A connector member for providing sealed connection between a
pair of conduits which comprises transparent housing means
enclosing a portion of said pair of conduits, and opaque wall means
positioned within said housing means in communication with and to
separate the respective conduits, said opaque wall means being
adapted to facilitate the opening of an aperture upon heating said
opaque wall means to the melting temperature by .[.means.].
.Iadd.the application .Iaddend.of .Iadd.electromagnetic
.Iaddend.radiant energy.
27. A connector member for providing sealed, sterile connection,
said connector member comprising a pair of hollow, transparent
housings, the hollow interiors of each of said housings being
sealable from the exterior, some of the walls of each housing
comprising an opaque wall portion separating the hollow housing
interior from the exterior, said opaque wall portions being sealed
to the remainder of said transparent housing, and means for
connecting said housings together, said connection between the
respective housings being adapted to bring the respective opaque
wall portions together into facing contact, the opaque wall
portions being adapted to facilitate the opening of an aperture
upon heating said opaque wall portions to the melting temperature
by .[.means.]. .Iadd.the application .Iaddend.of
.Iadd.electromagnetic .Iaddend.radiant energy to fuse said opaque
wall portions together to provide a connection between the
interiors of the respective housings.
28. The connector member of claim 8 in which said thermoplastic
material from which the opaque wall portions is made is a filled
organic plastic formulation. .Iadd.
29. A member comprising body means attachable to the end portion of
a conduit, said body means being made of a material which is
generally transparent to the passage of electromagnetic radiant
energy, and means defining a meltable wall sealingly disposed on
said body means and being made of a material which is generally
opaque to the passage of electromagnetic radiant energy for
normally sealing the conduit from communication with the atmosphere
and for forming, in response to the application of electromagnetic
radiant energy to melt said wall, an opening in said wall.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.30. A member according to claim 29
and further including means for bringing said meltable wall into
facing contact with a corresponding meltable wall of a second
member as defined by claim 29, and
wherein said opening in each of said meltable walls which is formed
in response to said application of eletromagnetic radiant energy is
disposed generally along the point of facing contact between said
meltable walls. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. A member comprising body means
attachable to the end portion of a conduit and being made of a
material which is generally transparent to the passage of infrared
radiation, and means defining a meltable wall sealingly disposed on
said body means and being made of a material which is generally
opaque to the passage of infrared radiation for normally sealing
the conduit from communication with the atmosphere and for forming,
in response to the application of infrared radiation to
melt said wall, an opening in said wall. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. A
member according to claim 31
wherein the opaque material of said meltable wall is black in
color. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33. A member according to claim 31
and further including means for bringing said meltable wall into
facing contact with a corresponding meltable wall of a second
member as defined in claim 32, and
wherein said opening in each of said meltable walls which is formed
in response to said application of infrared radiation is disposed
generally along the point of facing contact between said meltable
walls. .Iaddend. .Iadd.34. A member according to claim 30 or 33
wherein said meltable wall includes at said point of facing contact
a generally outwardly bowed portion to facilitate said facing
contact. .Iaddend. .Iadd.35. A member according to claim 29 or
31
wherein said body means includes body wall means defining a hollow
interior adapted for communication with the conduit end portion,
and
wherein said meltable wall extends in said hollow interior and is
operative for normally sealing said hollow interior, and thus said
conduit end
portion, from communication with the atmosphere. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.36. A member according to claim 35
wherein said body means includes passage means communicating with
said hollow interior and adapted for attachment to the end portion
of the conduit. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. A member according to claim
35
wherein said meltable wall includes a disc-shaped member having a
center portion which is thinner than its peripheral portions.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.38. A member according to claim 37
wherein said meltable wall is sealed about said peripheral portions
to said body wall means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.39. A member according to
claim 29 or 31 wherein said meltable wall is made of material
having a melting temperature of at least 200.degree.C. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.40. A member according to claim 39 wherein said meltable wall
is made of thermoplastic
material. .Iaddend. .Iadd.41. A member comprising body means being
made of a material which is generally transparent to the passage of
electromagnetic radiant energy and which defines a fluid passage
attachable to a conduit for normally sealing the conduit from
communication with the atmosphere and including means for forming
on said body means a meltable surface made of a material which is
generally opaque to the passage of electromagnetic radiant energy,
said means being further operative for creating in response to the
application of electromagnetic radiant energy to melt said surface,
an opening in said body means through said surface. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.42. A member comprising body means being made of a material
which is generally transparent to the passage of infrared radiation
and defining a fluid passage attachable to a conduit for normally
sealing the conduit from communication with the atmosphere and
including means for forming on said body means a meltable surface
being made of a material which is generally opaque to the passage
of infrared radiation, said means being further operative for
creating in response to the application of infrared radiation to
melt said surface, an opening in said body means through said
surface. .Iaddend. .Iadd.43. A member according to claim 42
wherein the material of said meltable surface is black in color.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.44. A member according to claim 41 or 42
wherein said wall means includes means for forming in said fluid
passage a closed end portion, and
wherein said meltable surface is disposed generally adjacent to
said closed end portion of said fluid passage. .Iaddend. .Iadd.45.
An assembly for sealing and connecting the end portions of a pair
of conduits, said assembly comprising
housing means having walls enclosing a hollow interior, said walls
being made of a material having a first rate of absorption of
electromagnetic radiant energy, said housing means further
including spaced first and second passage means each communicating
with said hollow interior and each adapted for communicating with a
respective conduit end portion; and
meltable wall means extending across said hollow interior in the
interval between said spaced first and second passage means, said
meltable walls being made of a material having a second rate of
absorption of electromagnetic radiant energy greater than said
first rate and being operative for normally blocking flow
communication between said first and second passage means through
said hollow interior and for forming, in response to the
application of electromagnetic radiant energy through said housing
means walls to melt said meltable wall means, an opening
establishing flow communication between said first and second
passage
means through said hollow interior. .Iaddend. .Iadd.46. A container
comprising
wall means defining an interior,
means defining a port communicating with said interior, and
conduit means communicating with said port and including body means
being made of a material which is generally transparent to the
passage of electromagnetic radiant energy and means defining a
meltable wall sealingly disposed on said body means and being made
of a material which is generally opaque to the passage of
electromagnetic radiant energy for normally sealing said port, and
thus said container interior, and for forming, in response to the
application for electromagnetic radiant energy melt said wall, an
opening in said wall. .Iaddend. .Iadd.47. A container according to
claim 46
and further including means for bringing said meltable wall into
facing contact with a corresponding meltable wall associated with a
second container having conduit means as defined by claim 46,
and
wherein said opening in each of said meltable walls which is formed
in response to said application of electromagnetic radiant energy
is disposed generally along the point of facing contact between
said meltable walls. .Iaddend. .Iadd.48. A container comprising
wall means defining an interior,
means defining a port communicating with said interior, and
conduit means communicating with said port and including body means
being made of a material which is generally transparent to the
passage of infrared radiation and means defining a meltable wall
sealingly disposed on said body means and being made of a material
which is generally opaque to the passage of infrared radiation for
normally sealing said ort, and thus said container interior, and
for forming in response to the application of infrared radiation to
melt said wall, an opening in said
wall. .Iaddend. .Iadd.49. A container according to claim 48
and further including means for bringing said meltable wall into
facing contact with a corresponding meltable wall associated with a
second container having conduit means as defined by claim 62,
and
wherein said opening in each of said meltable walls which is formed
in response to said application of infrared radiation is disposed
generally along the point of facing contact between said meltable
walls. .Iaddend. .Iadd.50. A container according to claim 47 or
49
wherein said meltable wall includes at said point of facing contact
a generally outwardly bowed portion to facilitate said facing
contact. .Iaddend. .Iadd.51. A container according to claim 46 or
48 wherein said meltable wall is made of material having a melting
temperature of at least
200.degree. C. .Iadd.52. A blood collection system comprising
a blood collection subassembly for collecting blood from a
donor,
a blood transfer subassembly for receiving a portion of the
contents of said blood collection subassembly,
connector means communicating with each of said blood collection
and said blood transfer subassemblies, each of said connector means
including
means defining a meltable wall made of an electromagnetic radiant
energy absorbing material for normally sealing said associated
subassembly from communication with the atmosphere and for forming,
in response to the application of electromagnetic radiant energy to
melt said wall, an opening in said wall,
means for coupling said connector means associated with said blood
collection subassembly with said connector means associated with
said blood transfer subsassembly with said respective meltable
walls in facing contact,
said meltable walls being further operative, in response to the
application of electromagnetic radiant energy when said connector
means are coupled together, for jointly melting to form a common
opening defining a fluid path between said blood collection and
transfer subassemblies. .Iaddend. .Iadd.53. A blood collection
system according to claim 52
wherein the electromagnetic radiant energy applied includes
infrared radiation, and
wherein the material of said meltable wall of each said connector
means is generally opaque to the passage of infrared radiation.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.54. A blood collection system according to claim 52
or 53
wherein said meltable wall of each of said connector means is made
of material having a melting temperature of at least 200.degree. C.
.Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The need to form a sterile, sealed connection between a pair of
conduits arises particularly in the field of blood and blood
component handling, as well as in other areas where a sterile
connection between containers is desired.
In the blood handling field, it may be desired to make use of only
one half of a unit of blood in a bag or the like. When this
happens, it is customary to discard the nonused portion of the
blood unit within a day after the access to the bag was made, even
when efforts are made to maintain sterility by using conventionally
accepted aseptic methods of access to the blood bag. This is so
because only one or two air-borne bacteria could multiply in the
stored blood to create the danger of septicemia, if the bacteria
were allowed to multiply over a period of more than a very few
hours, and the blood was then administered to a patient.
Accordingly, to eliminate the need for disposing of the remainder
of a unit of blood when only a partial unit is needed, or for the
many other reasons why sealed, sterile access between various
containers would be desired, a considerable amount of research has
taken place in developing aseptic fluid transfer systems. For
example, Berkman, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,256, discloses a
sterile connection means in which a heat-fusable tube carries an
inner layer of plastic material which is nonmeltable at the
temperature used. An allegedly-sterile connection is made by the
use of a heating die pressing the nonmeltable layer through the
melting outer layers of the tube, to provide a sterile connection
between the two tubes, with the melted layers of the tube forming a
single, perforated layer.
The invention of the Berkman patent requires a special heating die
to press the nonmelting layer of material through the meltable
layers of the conduits. Also, in the embodiment shown in the
Berkman patent, the meltable material presses against the heating
die. Any adhesion of the meltable material to the heating die when
the die is pulled apart after the pressing step could cause the
connection to rip open, or at least be seriously weakened.
In accordance with this invention, the use of a heating and
pressing die for obtaining a sterile connection between two
conduits is eliminated. Instead, .Iadd.electromagnetic
.Iaddend.radiant energy is used to selectively melt a portion of
the conduit wall without providing any physical contact of a die or
the like to the melting portion. Also, in this invention,
mechanical connection means may be provided between the two
conduits to protect the fused, sterile connection area from being
mechanically ripped apart.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention, a connection, and particularly a
sterile connection, may be formed between sealed conduits. Each
conduit carries a thermoplastic wall portion preferably having a
melting temperature of at least essentially 200.degree. C., and
which is opaque to the particular radiant energy intended for use
herein. Such melting temperature, which may be a range of
temperatures, may be determined, for example, by differential
thermal analysis.
To make the sterile connection, the opaque wall portions of the
conduits are brought together into facing contact. The opaque wall
portions are exposed to sufficient .Iadd.electromagnetic
.Iaddend.radiant energy to cause them to fuse together, and to open
an aperture through the fused wall portions. This provides sealed
communication between the interiors of the conduits.
Preferably, the opaque thermoplastic wall portions are carried
about their peripheries by a transparent, rigid housing which
typically defines the end of a conduit. The remainder of the
conduit may be flexible, if desired. The rigid housing is
transparent, and is made of a material which is not materially
softened under the specific .Iadd.electromagnetic .Iaddend.radiant
energy conditions used in the process. Instead, the
.Iadd.electromagnetic .Iaddend.radiant energy can pass through the
transparent housing, which preferably surrounds and protects the
opaque wall portions as they are placed together in facing contact,
so that primarily it is the opaque facing wall portions that are
heated to their melting point rather than the transparent housing,
which supports and protects the opaque wall portions.
As the opaque wall portions melt, they preferably fuse together
into a single sealed mass, and, due to the melting, a central
aperture is formed in the melted, opaque, thermoplastic wall
portion. Any bacteria residing upon the exterior surfaces of the
opaque wall portions are entrapped in the melted mass and
preferably killed by exposure to the melting temperature of the
opaque wall portions, which melting temperature is preferably on
the order of 220.degree. to 250.degree. C.
The .Iadd.electromagnetic .Iaddend.radiant energy can be provided
to the system by means of visible, infrared, ultraviolet, or radio
frequency energy as may be desired. The term "opaque" implies that
the opaque wall portions are adapted to absorb a high percentage of
the particular .Iadd.electromagnetic .Iaddend.radiant energy to
which it is exposed. The term "transparent" implies that a lower
percentage of the .Iadd.electromagnetic .Iaddend.radiant energy
applied is absorbed. Focused, infrared radiant energy is
particularly desirable for use.
Lasers may also be used as desired to provide the
.Iadd.electromagnetic .Iaddend.radiant energy.
The opaque wall portions may be prestressed by uniaxial or biaxial
orientation, or with radial stress patterns, to facilitate the
formation of the central aperture as the opaque wall portions seal
together. Also, unstressed wall portions may be used, with the
central aperture formation taking place by cohesion.
Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a pair
of conduit ends, the other ends of which may be connected to a pair
of blood bags or the like, each terminating in a pair of housings
which carry an opaque, thermoplastic wall portion in accordance
with this invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view, taken partly in longitudinal section,
of one of the conduit ends as shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an elevational view showing the two conduit ends of FIG.
1 after they have been joined together to bring the opaque wall
portions into facing contact, further showing schematically the
step of exposing the opaque wall portions to sufficient
.Iadd.electromagnetic .Iaddend.radiant energy to cause them to fuse
together and open an aperture.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view, taken in longitudinal section, of the
structure of FIG. 3 prior to the step of exposure to
.Iadd.electromagnetic .Iaddend.radiant energy as described
above.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged, longitudinal sectional view of a portion of
the structure of FIG. 3, taken after the step of exposure to
.Iadd.electromagnetic .Iaddend.radiant energy.
Referring to the drawings, conduits 10,12, are shown to include
flexible sections 14, 16, one end of each which may be connected to
a conventional blood bag 17, 19 or other container.
Housings 18, 20 are shown being made of a transparent, high melting
plastic material such as Lexan, a polycarbonate material sold by
General Electric. Each housing defines a hollow interior chamber 21
in communication with the bore of tubes 14 or 16, plus a bayonet
member 22 and a slot 24. Both bayonet 22 and slot 24 are positioned
asymmetrically on the housing so that each bayonet 22 can fit into
a corresponding slot 24 of an identical housing in a generally
permanent, snap-fit relation. Each bayonet 22 may be retained in
slot 24 by the hooking action of barbs 26.
Accordingly, upon connection of a pair of housings 18, 20, they are
only disconnected again with a great deal of effort. Preferably,
enlarged portions 28 of each bayonet 22 are proportioned to bear
against the inner wall of the slot 24 of the mating housing, to
make the disconnection of the housings yet more difficult by
reducing the capability of bayonets 22 to flex rearwardly.
Each housing 18, 20 carries an opaque wall portion 30, which may be
made out of a thermoplastic material having a melting temperature
of preferably at least 200.degree. C.
For example, polycarbonate materials such as Lexan may be used, or
polysulfone material such as Union Carbide's Udel or Radel. Also,
polyethersulfone materials may be used.
The thermoplastic opaque wall portion 30 generally contains a
filler such as carbon black to render it opaque, although other
desired fillers which are absorbent of the type of
.Iadd.electromagnetic .Iaddend.radiant energy to be used may be
provided as a substitute for carbon black, for example, iron oxide,
manganese dioxide, or the like.
Opaque, thermoplastic wall portion 30 is shown to be a disc which
is preferably thinner at its central portion 32 than at its
peripheral portions. Disc 30 may be retained by ultrasonic sealing
or the like about its periphery to its housing in a recess 34
thereof, and is shown to bulge slightly outwardly, to facilitate
good, pressurized contact between facing pairs of opaque wall
portions, as shown in FIG. 4. Annular groove 33 provides room for
the plastic of wall portion to flow as the opaque disc is assembled
into the transparent housing.
FIG. 4 also shows how bayonets 22 fit into the opposed slots 24 of
the mating housings, to provide permanent connection between the
respective housings, with the opaque wall portions 30 being pressed
togehter, and surrounded in protective manner by the respective
housings.
After housings 18, 20 have been connected, they are irradiated with
.Iadd.electromagnetic .Iaddend.radiant energy of a type which is
absorbed by the particular opaque wall portions used. Specifically,
infrared radiations is one preferred form of .Iadd.electromagnetic
.Iaddend.radiant energy. It may be provided, for example, by the
use of two 150 Watt Sylvania lamps .Iadd.35 .Iaddend.with
elliptical reflector type (model DJL). This provides focused,
infrared light which can be focused at the centers of abutting wall
portions 30 to rapidly heat them over a period of preferably ten to
twenty seconds to essentially the melting point, resulting in the
fusing of the respective wall portions 30 together, and the
formation of aperture 36, by relief of stress or by simple cohesive
forces, through wall portions 30.
Bacteria trapped on the wall portion are killed by heating of wall
portion 30 to its melting temperature, and are further entrapped
upon rehardening of the melted material of wall portions 30. This
results in the formation of a connection between the sterile flow
channels 21, while the continued maintenance of sterility in the
channels is assured.
The fused wall portions 30 fuse together to form a hermetic seal
about aperture 36, to prevent a break in the sterility of the flow
path. At the same time, the seal line 38 between the respective
membrane wall portions 30 is protected from mechanical rupture by
the generally permanent connection between respective housings 18,
20.
Alternatively, if it is desired to utilize radio frequency eneregy
or the like as the .Iadd.electromagnetic .Iaddend.radiant energy,
opaque wall portions 30 may be made out of a plasticized
polyvinylchloride, while the remainder of housings 18, 20 may be
made of a plastic material which is relatively inert to R.F.
energy, for example polypropylene, polyethylene, or a similar
material which does not heat significantly when it is exposed to
radio frequency or other high energy, high frequency radiant
electrical fields.
Accordingly, by this invention a sterile connection can be made,
for example, between a full and an empty blood bag by simply
connecting a conduit from each of the bags which carries a
respective housing 18, 20 in accordance with this invention. The
connected housings can be briefly exposed, for example for about
fifteen seconds to focused infrared radiation, to melt the opaque
wall sections, fusing them together and forming an aperture through
the sections. The sterile connection is thus achieved, through
which a portion of the blood of the full blood bag can be passed to
the empty bag for use. Thereafter, the bags may be disconnected in
conventional manner by heat sealing one or both of the flexible
conduits 14, 16 leading from the blood bag to the housings 18,
.[.29.]. .Iadd.20 .Iaddend.in a HEMATRON.RTM. heat sealer, sold by
the Fenwal Division of Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc. Then the
blood bags may be conveyed to their desired site of use, or back to
long-term storage.
The above has been offered for illustrative purposes only, and is
not intended to limit the scope of the invention of this
application, which is as defined in the claims below.
* * * * *