Patent US4340097A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4340097A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connector member for sealed conduits
Assignee: Baxter International Inc
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Filing: 1981-01-05
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Granted: 1982-07-20
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Expires: 2001-01-05
Abstract
Abstract An improved connector member is provided for providing sealed and preferably sterile connection between a pair of conduits which each terminate in a hollow, transparent housing where some of the wall portion of each housing comprises an opaque wall portion sealed to the remainder of the housing. The opaque wall portions of each housing are positioned in facing contact with each other and are held in sealed, retentive relationship so that exposure to radiant energy causes them to fuse and open an aperture therethrough. In accordance with this invention, improved retention means are provided to permit the respective housings to be moved together in a path which is generally parallel to the opaque walls into sliding retaining relation. Also, the conduit communicating with the housings may be internally sealed, being openable from the exterior.
Inventors
- 👤 David W. Ammann
- 👤 Daniel B. Granzow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:30
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M39/00; A61M39/10; A61M39/14; A61M39/143; B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/14; B29C65/1429; B29C65/1435; B29C65/1477; B29C65/148; B29C65/74; B29C65/747; B29C65/7473; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/116; B29C66/1162; B29C66/12; B29C66/126; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/52; B29C66/522; B29C66/5221; B29C66/5223; B29C66/5229; B29C66/52298; B29C66/53; B29C66/534; B29C66/54; B29C66/70; B29C66/73; B29C66/733; B29C66/7336; B29C66/73361; B29C66/73362; B29C66/80; B29C66/84; B29C66/857; F; F16; F16L; F16L37/00; F16L37/24; F16L37/244; F16L37/252; F16L37/26; A61M2039/1027; B29C35/00; B29C35/02; B29C35/08; B29C35/0805; B29C2035/0822; B29C65/1403; B29C65/1406; B29C65/1409; B29C65/1412; B29C65/16; B29C66/71; B29C66/73365; B29C66/73366; B29C66/739; B29C66/7392; B29C66/73921; B29K; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0018; B29K2995/0025; B29K2995/0026; B29K2995/0027; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S604/00; Y10S604/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A member for sealing the end portion of a conduit, said member comprising transparent housing means having a hollow interior and including passage means communicating with said hollow interior and adapted for communication with the end portion of the conduit, and meltable opaque wall means extending across said hollow interior in a generally nonparallel direction relative to the axis of said passage means and being operative for normally sealing said hollow interior from communication with the atmosphere and for forming, in response to the subsequent application of radiant energy to melt said opaque wall means, an opening communicating with said hollow interior and the atmosphere.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A member for sealing the end portion of a conduit, said member comprising transparent housing means having a hollow interior and including passage means communicating with said hollow interior and adapted for communication with the end portion of the conduit, and meltable opaque wall means extending across said hollow interior in a generally nonparallel direction relative to the axis of said passage means and being operative for normally sealing said hollow interior from communication with the atmosphere and for forming, in response to the subsequent application of radiant energy to melt said opaque wall means, an opening communicating with said hollow interior and the atmosphere.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
148 words
A member for sealingly connecting the end portions of a pair of conduits, said member comprising housing means having transparent walls enclosing a hollow interior and including spaced first and second passage means each communicating with said hollow interior and each adapted for communication with a respective conduit end portion, and meltable opaque wall means extending across said hollow interior in the interval between said spaced first and second passage means and in a generally nonparallel direction relative to the axis of at least one of said first and second passage means, said opaque wall means 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 subsequent application of radiant energy to melt said opaque wall means, an opening establishing flow communication between said first and second passage means through said hollow interior.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
148 words
A member for sealingly connecting the end portions of a pair of conduits, said member comprising housing means having transparent walls enclosing a hollow interior and including spaced first and second passage means each communicating with said hollow interior and each adapted for communication with a respective conduit end portion, and meltable opaque wall means extending across said hollow interior in the interval between said spaced first and second passage means and in a generally nonparallel direction relative to the axis of at least one of said first and second passage means, said opaque wall means 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 subsequent application of radiant energy to melt said opaque wall means, an opening establishing flow communication between said first and second passage means through said hollow interior.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
204 words
An assembly for sealingly connecting the end portions of a pair of conduits, said assembly comprising first and second transparent housing means, each of said housing means having a hollow interior and including passage means communicating with said hollow interior and adapted for communication with one of the conduit end portions, meltable opaque wall means extending across said hollow interior of each of said first and second transparent housing means in a generally nonparallel direction relative to the axis of said associated passage means and operative for normally sealing said respective hollow interior from communication with the atmosphere and for forming, in response to the subsequent application of radiant energy to melt said opaque wall means, an opening communicating with said respective hollow interior and the atmosphere, and means for joining said first and second transparent housing portions together with said respective opaque wall means in abutting contact to normally block flow communication between said respective passage means through said joined hollow interiors and to form, in response to the application of radiation energy to melt each of said abutting wall means, a common opening in each of said wall means establishing flow communication between said respective passage means through said joined hollow interiors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
204 words
An assembly for sealingly connecting the end portions of a pair of conduits, said assembly comprising first and second transparent housing means, each of said housing means having a hollow interior and including passage means communicating with said hollow interior and adapted for communication with one of the conduit end portions, meltable opaque wall means extending across said hollow interior of each of said first and second transparent housing means in a generally nonparallel direction relative to the axis of said associated passage means and operative for normally sealing said respective hollow interior from communication with the atmosphere and for forming, in response to the subsequent application of radiant energy to melt said opaque wall means, an opening communicating with said respective hollow interior and the atmosphere, and means for joining said first and second transparent housing portions together with said respective opaque wall means in abutting contact to normally block flow communication between said respective passage means through said joined hollow interiors and to form, in response to the application of radiation energy to melt each of said abutting wall means, a common opening in each of said wall means establishing flow communication between said respective passage means through said joined hollow interiors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 wherein said opaque wall means forms essentially an acute angle with said passage means axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 4 wherein said acute angle is approximately 45°.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
123 words
A member for sealing the end portion of a conduit, said member comprising transparent housing means having a hollow interior and including passage means communicating with said hollow interior and adapted for communication with the conduit end portion, frangible wall means in said passage means for normally preventing fluid flow therethrough, means operatively connected with said frangible wall means for manually fracturing said frangible wall means to permit fluid flow through said passage means, and meltable opaque wall means extending across said hollow interior for normally sealing said hollow interior from communication with the atmosphere and for forming, in response to the subsequent application of radiant energy to melt said opaque wall means, an opening communicating with said hollow interior and the atmosphere.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
123 words
A member for sealing the end portion of a conduit, said member comprising transparent housing means having a hollow interior and including passage means communicating with said hollow interior and adapted for communication with the conduit end portion, frangible wall means in said passage means for normally preventing fluid flow therethrough, means operatively connected with said frangible wall means for manually fracturing said frangible wall means to permit fluid flow through said passage means, and meltable opaque wall means extending across said hollow interior for normally sealing said hollow interior from communication with the atmosphere and for forming, in response to the subsequent application of radiant energy to melt said opaque wall means, an opening communicating with said hollow interior and the atmosphere.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A member according to claim 6 wherein said opaque wall means extends in a generally nonparallel direction relative to the axis of said passage means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
167 words
A member for sealingly connecting the end portions of a pair of conduits, said member comprising housing means having transparent walls enclosing a hollow interior and including spaced first and second passage means each communicating with said hollow interior and each adapted for communication with a respective conduit end portion, frangible wall means in at least one of said first and second passage means for normally preventing fluid flow therethrough, means operatively connected with said frangible wall means for manually fracturing said frangible wall means to permit fluid flow through said respective passage means, and meltable opaque wall means extending across said hollow interior in the interval between said spaced first and second passage means and operative for normally blocking flow communication between said first and second passage means through said hollow interior and for forming, in response to the subsequent application of radiant energy to melt said opaque wall means, an opening establishing flow communication between said first and second passage means through said hollow interior.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
167 words
A member for sealingly connecting the end portions of a pair of conduits, said member comprising housing means having transparent walls enclosing a hollow interior and including spaced first and second passage means each communicating with said hollow interior and each adapted for communication with a respective conduit end portion, frangible wall means in at least one of said first and second passage means for normally preventing fluid flow therethrough, means operatively connected with said frangible wall means for manually fracturing said frangible wall means to permit fluid flow through said respective passage means, and meltable opaque wall means extending across said hollow interior in the interval between said spaced first and second passage means and operative for normally blocking flow communication between said first and second passage means through said hollow interior and for forming, in response to the subsequent application of radiant energy to melt said opaque wall means, an opening establishing flow communication between said first and second passage means through said hollow interior.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A member according to claim 8 wherein said opaque wall means extends in a generally nonparallel direction relative to the axis of at least one of said first and second passage means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
238 words
An assembly for sealingly connecting the end portions of a pair of conduits, said assembly comprising first and second transparent housing means, each of said housing means having a hollow interior and including passage means communicating with said hollow interior and adapted for communication with one of the conduit end portions, frangible wall means in said passage means of at least one of said first and second housing means for normally preventing fluid flow therethrough, means operatively connected with said frangible wall means for manually fracturing said frangible wall means to permit flow fluid through said respective passage means, meltable opaque wall means extending across said hollow interior of each of said first and second transparent housing means and operative for normally sealing said respective hollow interior from communication with the atmosphere and for forming, in response to the subsequent application of radiant energy to melt said opaque wall means, an opening communicating with said respective hollow interior and the atmosphere, and means for joining said first and second transparent housing portions together with said respective opaque wall means in abutting contact to normally block flow communication between said respective passage means through said joined hollow interiors and to form, in response to the application of radiant energy to melt each of said abutting wall means, a common opening in each of said wall means establishing flow communication between said respective passage means through said joined hollow interiors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
238 words
An assembly for sealingly connecting the end portions of a pair of conduits, said assembly comprising first and second transparent housing means, each of said housing means having a hollow interior and including passage means communicating with said hollow interior and adapted for communication with one of the conduit end portions, frangible wall means in said passage means of at least one of said first and second housing means for normally preventing fluid flow therethrough, means operatively connected with said frangible wall means for manually fracturing said frangible wall means to permit flow fluid through said respective passage means, meltable opaque wall means extending across said hollow interior of each of said first and second transparent housing means and operative for normally sealing said respective hollow interior from communication with the atmosphere and for forming, in response to the subsequent application of radiant energy to melt said opaque wall means, an opening communicating with said respective hollow interior and the atmosphere, and means for joining said first and second transparent housing portions together with said respective opaque wall means in abutting contact to normally block flow communication between said respective passage means through said joined hollow interiors and to form, in response to the application of radiant energy to melt each of said abutting wall means, a common opening in each of said wall means establishing flow communication between said respective passage means through said joined hollow interiors.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
An assembly according to claim 10 wherein said opaque wall means extends in a generally nonparallel direction relative to the axis of said associated passage means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 7 or 9 or 11 wherein said opaque wall means forms essentially an acute angle with said passage means axis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 12 wherein said acute angle is approximately 45°.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device according to claim 6 or 8 or 10 wherein said frangible wall means includes a closed end wall in said passage means, and wherein said fracturing means includes a break-away member projecting outwardly from said closed end wall and forming a part thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
123 words
An assembly adapted for connection with a container having an interior and an opening communicating with the interior and with the atmosphere, said assembly comprising transparent conduit means adapted for communication with the container opening to establish flow communication with the container interior, said conduit means including a meltable opaque portion operative for forming, in response to the application of radiant energy to melt said opaque portion, an opening through said opaque portion and communicating with the interior of said conduit means, and flow control means in said conduit means between said opaque portion and the container opening for normally blocking flow communication through said conduit means between the container interior and said opaque portion and selectively operative for permitting said flow communication.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
123 words
An assembly adapted for connection with a container having an interior and an opening communicating with the interior and with the atmosphere, said assembly comprising transparent conduit means adapted for communication with the container opening to establish flow communication with the container interior, said conduit means including a meltable opaque portion operative for forming, in response to the application of radiant energy to melt said opaque portion, an opening through said opaque portion and communicating with the interior of said conduit means, and flow control means in said conduit means between said opaque portion and the container opening for normally blocking flow communication through said conduit means between the container interior and said opaque portion and selectively operative for permitting said flow communication.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
135 words
An assembly adapted for connection with a container having an interior and an opening communicating with the interior and with the atmosphere, said assembly comprising transparent housing means having a hollow interior, conduit means communicating with said hollow interior and adapted for communication with the container opening to establish flow communication between the container interior and said hollow interior, flow control means disposed in said conduit means for normally blocking said flow communication between the container interior and said hollow interior and selectively operative for permitting said flow communication, and meltable opaque wall means extending across said hollow interior for normally sealing said hollow interior from communication with the atmosphere and for forming, in response to the subsequent application of radiant energy to melt said opaque wall means, an opening through said opaque wall means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
135 words
An assembly adapted for connection with a container having an interior and an opening communicating with the interior and with the atmosphere, said assembly comprising transparent housing means having a hollow interior, conduit means communicating with said hollow interior and adapted for communication with the container opening to establish flow communication between the container interior and said hollow interior, flow control means disposed in said conduit means for normally blocking said flow communication between the container interior and said hollow interior and selectively operative for permitting said flow communication, and meltable opaque wall means extending across said hollow interior for normally sealing said hollow interior from communication with the atmosphere and for forming, in response to the subsequent application of radiant energy to melt said opaque wall means, an opening through said opaque wall means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assembly according to claim 16 wherein said opaque wall means extends in a generally nonparallel direction relative to the axis of said conduit means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
An assembly according to claim 17 wherein said acute angle is approximately 45°.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-07-19 | 1986-01-18 | 1986-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-07-19 | 1990-01-18 | 1990-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-07-19 | 1994-01-18 | 1994-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |