Sterile connectors

Claim 1

A sterile connector having enhanced sterility protection and simplified operating capability comprising: (a) a male connector member having a conduit extending therethrough, said conduit adapted to position a male luer fitting section therein; (b) a female connector member having a conduit extending therethrough, said conduit comprising a companion female luer fitting section; (c) means to secure said male connector member to said female connector member in matingly engaged position with the conduits in said members in alignment so as to permit communication therebetween; (d) shield plates positionable so as to cover and isolate the conduits in said male and female connector members from the atmosphere, said shields being positioned intermediate the male and female connector members when said members are in said matingly engaged position, with one shield plate being affixed to the male connector member and the other shield plate being affixed to the female connector member, said shield plates being movable so as to uncover the respective conduits in said male and female connector members; (e) a male luer fitting section positioned in the conduit of the male connector member, said section being adapted to isolate the end of the male connector member conduit opposite that covered by said male member shield plate from the atmosphere, said male luer fitting section being movable so as to engage and lock with female luer fitting section when said shield plates are positioned so as to uncover said conduits in the male and female connector members; and (f) compressible seals positioned intermediate said male and female connector members and their respective shield plates, said seals being adapted to maintain isolation of said conduits from the atmosphere as said shield plates are moved so as to uncover said conduits, said seals expanding and contacting one another behind the trailing edge of said shield plates, thus forming a seal-line that advances as the shield plates are moved and preventing the sterile conduits within said male and female connected members from being exposed to the atmosphere, whereby said luer fittings may be readily and effectively engaged and locked in a sterile environment preserved by the seal-line of said compressible seals during the convenient moving of said shield plates to expose the conduit openings through which said luer fittings are engaged, said seals providing an added assurance against contamination of fluid passing through the engaged luer fitting within the connector without exposure of said seals to contact by said fluid passing through the connector.