CA1153035A

CA1153035A - Connector for connecting cannulae, catheters, flexible tubes or the like

Info

Publication number: CA1153035A
Application number: CA000367211A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Victor Krutten; Arend Kripke; Stefan Tauschinski (Deceased)
Original assignee: Dr Eduard Fresenius Chemisch Pharmazeutische Industrie KG
Current assignee: Dr Eduard Fresenius Chemisch Pharmazeutische Industrie KG
Priority date: 1980-01-11
Filing date: 1980-12-19
Publication date: 1983-08-30
Also published as: BR8100133A; GB2067075B; GB2067075A; IT8026623A0; IT1134716B

Abstract

S P E C I F I C A T I O N

Connecter for connecting cannulae, catheters, flexible tube or the like ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
In a coupling for medical purposes comprising coupling members with intercommunicating passages and protected from contamination through contact by the hinds, means are provided to close off the passage in that coupling member which is connected by conduit to the patient so as to avoid the entry of air or escape of blood if the coupling as inadvertently undone. The coupling members are provided with respective interacting internal and external conical portion.
The passage of the coupling member having the internal conical portion contains an elastomeric closure disc with a normally closed slit. The external conical portion of the other coupling member is insertable in the internal conical portion so that it passes at least partially through the slit in the disc to permit fluid flow through the passages.

Description

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- 2 -m e invention rel~t~s to a co~necter for the oonne~tio~ of ca~nulae, ca~heteIs, flexible tube~ or the lika~ comp~ising two coupl~ng member~ proYided with n$pples or ~ube~ ~nd ~d~pted to be positively interconnectea ~g a xespecti~e e~ternal ~a inte~nal oo~e thereon.
Such a ¢on~scter, in which complementaxy e~ternal and intarnal cones are inserted $n one another for the purpose of a ~ealed connec-. tion, i~ k~own in the ~orm of a so-called luer connecter. When mak~lyg the connection, however, there i'8 ~he~da~ger that the part3 to be coupled to e~ch oth3r are touched by haQd or become unsterile i~

... .
: ` ~ome other wa~. ~urther, alr contamination can occur ~hrough the ; entry of z~r.
In the ca~e of the ~nown connecter~, it can al~o not be guara~
teed that tha ¢OlliGal coup~ing members will become unintention 11 detached from ~ach other. If the connectar i~ for example usea to connect an ~n~usion tube to a vei~ catheter, there will then be the aanger of ~n air embolism or ~he escape cf blood which could result in ) ` bs~terial infections during long-te~ treatments if the di~connectlon batween the in~usion tube and the vein c~the~er remains RnnotiCe~-~0 It ~8 therefore a~ object o~ the pre~ent invant~on to pIovide a connaeter of the aforementionad kind in whioh the couplin~mem~èr~ are ~ ` protected ~rom GOntaminatiOn through contact by the hands or unsterile objects beforop during and a~ter m~kin~ the connectlon snd ~n whi~h t~e coupl~ng member communicating with the patient i8 ~tomaticall~ closed if the connectioIl i8 inaa~erteIltly UllaOne, ao that t~e ent~ of a~r or eacape of blood will be ~voided with o~rtainty.

~i3035 _ 3 A¢cordi~g ~o the invention, the inner surXace of the throu~h-.
passa~a of the first coupling member with the internal cone iB
pro~ided wi~h a radially circumferential groove ~n wh~ch there i~ -held a ~al~e plat~ of elastomeric material whioh blooks the throu4~
passaga and has 8 central slit, that the other coupllng member i~ .-connacted to a protectiva ~leeve ~hich concentrically su~rounds tha external cone, has 2n internal diameter larger than the external dl~meter of ~he part of the fir~t coupling member which ~8 provided with the internsl cona, and i8 connaoted to the conneoting nipple 10 oarryin~ the external cone to define an ennular groo~re aeeper than the length of insert~on of the inte~nal cone, and that, when the ex~ern~l .
cone is in its couploa condition insorted in the 1~ternal cona, it passes a~ leasb partly thloug~ the ~alYe plate to open ~he ~l~t.-Aocording to a further form o~ ~he inve~tion, ~t i8 pro~ided thab 15 the inner surface of the throughpass~ga of the fir~b coupllng mem~er~ith the internal cone i a provided with a radially circumferential grooYe in which there i~ held a ~alYe plate of e1astomexic material which blocks the ~hroughpassagQ and has ~ centxal ~lit~ that betw~en the Yalve plate and inbernal cone there is a guide for a tubular member which i8 axially displac~able therein, has its front disposed in ~ront of the planar plate i~ its retracted po~itio~ and at lea~b paI~ially passes therethrough in its projected positio~ to open the slit~ thatg when the e~ternal cone i8 inserted in the internal cone to be couplea thereto, it pro~ects into the guide by the distance th ~ ugh which the tubular member ha~ bo ~e pro~ected to open the val~e plate, ana that th~
other coupllng member i8 connected by way uf a oollax on ~he out~ide sf .

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the tube section havin~ the e~ternal cone to a proteotive ~leeve which concentrlcally suxrounds sald tube ~ection at a spacing ana pro~ects thereover. In the connecter according to'the inve~tio~7 ~h~
conical couplin~ m~mber~ are protected from contact by ~hs hand or .- :
5 unsteIile ob~ect~ in that the oonical coupling membere are on the one ' ' hand co~sxed b~ the protectiva ~leev~ and o~ the othar hand di~po3Q~
in the interio~ o~ a tuba sactionO In the oouplea condition ~he . `couplin~ member~ are pxotected from contamination by the,encap~ul~ting protective 81eev~ the coupling i8 undone or ~ecome~ undone~ ~h~
displaceable membsr will be in it8 retracted po~ition,in whlch the slit in the ~alve plate i8 closed, ~o that the assooiated ooup}ing member i~ closed by a he~metic and fluid-tigW ~aal. If the conn~ctsr , ' inadvert~ntly falls apart, the valve plate automatically as~umes the ClOB~ng po8itioD in ~hat it pushes the axi~ di6placeable m~ber lnto . ~15 ' i~9 retraoted position.
According to a particularly advantageou~ foIm of the in~en~io~
) , ~he tube secb1o~ pushed into the prate¢t~ve 81ee~e and having the internal cone i~ pro~ided with ~n outer annular groove in which there ' is'insertea an 0 ring of elastomeric material over which7 when tha '' external and"internal cone are intercoupled, the protective sleeve engages to deform.sam~ ela~tic~lly.' Ihi~ 0 xin~ not only con~ibute~
to a be~ter connection between the intercoupled part~ but al~o ~e~ls the space between uame and the coni¢al connection 80 that thl8 ~pace can be filled w~th a d~infectant ~hlch remain~ ibls from the,out-' side if the protecti~e ~leeve a~d the ~oupling members Qre m&da o~
.

~53035 ' transparent material~ It i~ al~o imposHible for tha di~infactant toe~cape, whereby sterility will be maintalned with cer~ainty.
Desirably, the tube 9eot~0n havin~ the internal cone has in its end portion ~ cylindrical portion wh~ch has a diameter lar~er than the lar~est di~meter of the internal cone and i~ con~e~tea to the internal oon~ by way of a ~houlder. ~hi8 ConBtrUCtion ~n~ure~
. that the internal cone will likewise ba disposed within the tube sectio~
to such a depth that thQ hand Ga:rlllOt reach i~ ~nd i~ will nob beoom~
uninten~ionally contaminated.
In a further form of the invention, before the tube section with ths intexnal oone iB OOUplea~ a protective cap ~o plaoed on it haYin~
a cylindrioal portion correspondin~ to the prote~tlva sleeve. ~ere~
agaln, the O ring m~ntains the sterility of the inwardly dispos~d parta of the conne¢ter during it8 production znd subsequent atorag~
until it i8 used. lo establ~sh the conneotion, it is merely neaeaaarr .to remove the proteoti~e cap ana replace it with the~coupling membar ) havin~ the protective sleeve~ Obviou~ly th~ ooupling membe~ with the e~ternal cone ana the protective sleeve can likewise be protectea ~rom contamination pr~or to coupling by means of a cap pla¢ed ~hereon or a closure member.
~ he ~xially diaplaceable member ma~ be a tube section haYin~
ribs uniformly distributed over itB perlpher~ and ext0nding along lin on the sur~aoeO 5he member will then be supported on it~ guide by meana of theae riba 80 that friction will be r~du~ed. Further, ~ha ~5 part of the member r8cin~ the ~alve p1ate ~eairably oonYerges conically ~o that spreaain6 of the 81it in the valYe plate wil1 be faoilitated by .

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_ 6 _ the member mal~ng mora centrall~ located engagement"
E~smples of the ~vention will now be de~cribed in moxe de~ail wlth reference to the accomp~i~g ~rawlngs, wherei2l:~
~ B. 1 is ~ lon~i~udinal sect~on :~hrou~h th~ coupled coupl~g membsrs of t;he co~ecter;
~ g~ ~ is a sectlon on ~he liIle C-D i~ ~g. 1 through the fira~
. aou~ member ha~ the internal ¢on~;
. 3 is a section on the line ~-B i~ ~g. 1 tbrou~ h3 ~irsb coupling member o~ the connectsr haYin~ the inte~nal cone;
~ig. 4 i8 a longitudinal section through ~he coupling member with the-inte::nal cone in a di~erent embodiment of the connecter acco~ding ~o the inYention9 the proteeti~e ¢ap being ~hown in p~s~-tion~
~nd ~ig. 5 iB a lon~tudinal ~ctio; throu~ the eoupl~ member ~lth 15 the external cone and the protective sleeve of the N g~ 4 connecter.
~ ~ill be eY~dent from ~$~. 1, the coupling member 1 which in ) provided with bhe internal cone 5 and, during an infusion~ conneoted to a ¢atheter or 02nnula leading to the patienb comprises a front portion 2 provided with the co~neGting nipplo 3 and a rear portion 4 20 provlded ~ith ~he inter~al cone 5, ~aid portions being plugged into each other and welded together. In the a~gembled condit~on of tha portions 2 ànd 4, æ r~iall~ circwmferential dovetailed groo~
defined in the ~eglon of their ~un~tion and retain~ a ciroular diao-shaped ~alve plate 7 Or elastomerio ma~erial proYlded with a ~tar-0 25 shaped slit 8 whi~ih ter~nate~ in front o~ the xim of tbe ~ e plate7.`

~i3~35 ma front port$on 2 e~ the coupl$n~ member 1 has a centrel throughpassage 9 which is o large~t diame~er in the re~on of th~ -e p}~te 7~ . -qhe connecting nippia 3 onto whioh a flexible tube can be pu~hea 5 ~ proYidsd with a frangible portion 11 which clo~es the throu~h-passaæs 9~. ~he connectin~ nippl~ ~ i8 conical on tha out~ids 80 th~
- a conneo~ tuba can be puahea onto it~ qhe cormeotin~ r~ipple ~ 1u pa~ially surrounded bg a tu~ member 12 between w~ich and the ~ aonneoting nipple 3 a~ sn3~1ar groove 13 ~ denned~
Ihe rear portion 4 is sub3t~tially tubular. It compri~es a rear cylindrical ~ection 15 which is adjo~ned by the inte~nally co~io61 - port~on 5 b~ way o a shoulaer. -8n tho outside of the portlon 2 there i8 a radially cis~um~eren-tial groove 21 in which zn O ring 22 of elastomexiq ma-te~ial i~
~n~ertad. ` -,, Lug~ 2~ ~orming part o~ a locking oonneotlon ar3 providea on theoutside of the portion 4.
Ihe coupling member 24 is conne¢ted to the coupling member 1.
~he couplin~ member 24 consist~ of a tube section 27 whlch iB pro~ided at ~he front with the couplin~ e~ternal cone 28~ The ~xont ena of tho external cone 28 compri~e~ a conioally converging tip 20 which passe~
paIt~ally through the valve plate 7 i~ the coupled condition. qhe rear ena of the tube section 27 ie in the ~o~m oî a conneotl~g mem~er 2~ he tube eeGtion 27 compri~es a th20u~hpa~sa~e 30 which, in the 25 illu~trated coupled condition, extenda th~ throu~hpas~e 9 of the . couplin~ member 1.

.. . .

3~35 _ 8 --.
Ihe protective sleeYo 32 i8 connected to the tube 27 at 31.
Betwean the pxoteotiYa aleeve 32 and th~ ex~ernal cona 28 an annular.
6pace 33 i~ defined in which the tube ~ection with tho ~nternsl cone . 5 iB disposed after coupl~ng the coupl~ member~.
~n insext member 16 of star shapa in-cro~s-~ectio~ and connec-ted to an axial guias ~in 17 i~ retained ln tha thro~4hpassage 9 of the ooupling member 1. qhe guide pin 17 iQ a press fit in the central : ) recess 18 of the franæible portion 11. qhe ~r~ng~ble portion 11 i~
: connected to the connecting nipple 3 by the ~rangible line 19.
If the frangible portion 11 i8 eeparated from the connecti~
. .
nipple ~ by bending it along the frangible line l9,.the guiae pi~ 17 - will be pulled 80 far out o~ the recese 18 thak an annular outlet aperture will be foxmed~ -. A~ will be e~ident from Fig. 4, the couplin~ member 101 which is provided with the internal cone 105 and1 durinæ an inf~sion, i9 co~nected to a catheter or cannula leadin~ to the patlent comprises a ` front portion 102 provided with the con~ecting nipple 103 and a rear ) ` ~05 . portion 104 provided with the internal oone ~, the~e portions being plugged into each other and welded together. I~ the a~sembled condi-tion of the portiona 102 and 1049 a radiall~ oircumferential aove-` tailed gx~ove 106 is def~ned a~ their ~unction and retains a ¢ircul~r disc-shaped ~alv~ plate 107 of elastomeric material pro~ided with a central slit 108 which te~mlnate~ ln ~ro~t of the ri~ o~ the plate 107 at both ends.
lha front portio~ 102 of the coupling member 101 ha~ ~ central - throughpa~eag~ 109 which has ita 1Pr&e~t diameter in ~he ~olnity of .

~3~35 - . g _ .

the ~alve plate 107 and, by mean9 of a fru6toconical connect~n~ member ln ~he Yicinity of ths nippla 103, i~ ~educed to a diameter ~hich corre3pond~ for example to the diameter o~ a oannula tha~ i~ to be connsote~.
Iha nipple 103 iB p~ovided with a frangibl~ portion 111 whioh clo3eg ths throughpa3szge 109~ ~hs connecti~g nipple 103 iB conical on the outside 80 that a flexible connecting tube can be pu6h~d onto . it. Ihe ¢onneoting nipple 103 iB partia~y 3uIroundea by a tubular membsr 112 and an annular gToova 113 iB defined between thiB and tha conneoting nipple 103. me outside of the surToundinæ tube section 112 is provided with longitudinal grooves 114. ~or the purpo~e of connect~
.` lng a flexible tube, tho portion 102 c~n be securely gra6ped at the part providea with the longitudinal groo~ea and ~he ~ube can be pushed . - -onto the nipple 103 until its froD~ ena i~ ineide the annular grooYc 113. ~ptionally, the rear portion of thi~ tube ~ection 112 can be pro~ided with two or our flat~ or land~ whi~h likewlse ~acilita~e a good grip.
The rear portion 104 ~9 sub~tant~ally tubular. It comprises a rear cylindrical eection 115 ad~oined by the internally conioal portlo~
105 by way of a shoulder. lh~ internal cone 105 i~ ad~acent the cylindrical gy~de eectio~ 116 of whioh the dlameter i~ larger than the emalle~t diameter of the internal cone 10~ ~o that a ctep 117 ~8 fOrmea at the transition. Ihis ~tep 117 def~nea a~ abutme~t for the tu~ular member 118 which ie axially di~placeable in the gu$de ~ction 116 and 2S i8 pro~ided on the outside ~i~h long~tudinally extending ribR 119 r .. . . . . . . .
. .

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, .
.
.
di~trlbuted at equal ~paoings over i~ oircumference. Ihe member 11 is supported on the cylindrical wall of the guide seotion 116 by means of the longitudinally ex~endlng ribs 119D ~he ~ember 118 has a ~onically con~rgi~g tip 120 with whioh lt touohee the ~al~e plet0 5 107.
` On the out3~d~ of ~hs portlo~ 104 th~re 1~ a radially circu~-.`~ ferentisl groove 121 ~nto whloh a~ O rin~ 122 o~ elastom~rl~ material ) ~ in3ertea~ ~ur~her, the out~ido of the port~on 104 ~ provided ~ith oppo3ed lugs 123 which form paXtB of a loc~ing connectlon. Optionall~, . 10 the front of thc tube section i8 provided with a ecro~hrsaa which produoe3 a se¢ura lo¢kil4g oonneotion.to the complementary aou~ter m~mber.

.
slee~e-like p ffl tec~i~e oap 124 i8 placed on the port~Qn 104 ` and is provided with two i~ternal helical tr~ck~ 125, 126 which .
co-operate wi~h the lugs 123 to pro~ide the lockin~ connection.

` ~fter removing ~he protecti~e cap 124, a coupling member wi~h a .) complementary extern~l cone can be pushed into ~he ~nternal oone 105 . ~ ` and it will pr~ss the axially displaceable member 118 ~gain~t the Yalve plate 107 to such aa e~*ent that ~he centr&l slit 108 w~ll be .
opanea and establish co ~ oatio~ to the ~hrou~hpassag~ lOg~ Ihe proteotive sleeYe 5UIrQUlldin~ the ex~ernal sone i8 likewise proYidad .
w~th thè heiical rings o~ the looking conneetion 80 that it can be ~crewea onto the lu3s 123 ~n the aams way as the proteo~e ea~ unt~}

it eDgag~s over the 0 ring 122 whioh ensurea a ~ecure 9eBl~
25 - - Fi~o 5 illustra~e3 a coupling member w~th external oone Or a different embodiment that c~n be conn~ct~d to R ~oupl~ng msmber of ths ~i3(~3~

~igo 4 type if it i8 not provided with the luge 123 of ~ lo~kin~
conneotion. Ibi8 coupling member compri~es a tube ~ection 127 .
proyided with the cou~ling external cone 129 at it8 ~ront ena. qhe rear end of the ~ube sectlon 127 i~ in the form of a conneoting nipple 129. Ihe ~ube 127 has a throughpassag~ 130 ~hich~ in ths - coupled condition, extends the throu4~1pa~age 109 of the coupling member sho~n in ~ig. 4.
I~he pxotective sleeva 1~2 i8 connected to the tube 127 by way of the collar 131. ~etween the protec~ive sleeve 132 and the e~ter-1~ nal cone 128 of the tube sect~on 127 there i~ fo~med an annular sp~ce 1~3 in which the ~ube section havin~ the ~nternal cone 105 wlll be disposed after the other coupling member ~ been connected.
Near the front~ the protective ~lee~e 132 i8 provided with an i~ternRl cone 134 to facilitate pushing onto the O ring 122.

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Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A connecter for the connection of cannulae, catheters, flexible tubes or the like, comprising two coupling members provided with nipples or tubes and adapted to be positively interconnected by a respective external and internal cone thereon, characterised in the the inner surface of the throughpassage of the first coupling member with the internal cone is provided with a radially circumfential groove in which there is held a valve plate of elastomeric material which blocks the throughpassage and has a central slit, that the other coupling member is connected to protective sleeve which conentri-cally surrounds the external cone, has an internal diameter larger the the external diameter of the part of the first coupling member which is provide with the internal cone, and is connected to the connecting nipple carrying the external cone to define an annular groove deeper the the length of insertion of the internal cone, and that, when the external cone is in its coupled condition inserted in the internal cone, it passes at least partly through the valve plate to open the slit.

2. The connecter of claim 1, characterised in that the central slit is star-shaped.

3. The connecter of claim 1, characterised in that the part of the first coupling member having the internal cone is provided at its rear portion with a circumferential bead onto which the front portion of protective sleeve can be pushed.

4. The connecter of claim 1, characterised in that the tube section pushed into the protective sleeve and having the internal cone is provided with an outer annular groove in which there is inserted an O ring of elastomeric material over which, when the external and internal cone are intercoupled, the protective sleeve engages to deform same elastically.

5. The connecter of claim 1, characterised in that the inside of the protective sleeve or the outside of the tube section over which it engages is provided with a screwthread and a mating screw-thread or with lugs of a locking connection.

6. The connecter of claim 1, characterised in that the tube section having the internal cone has in its end portion a cylindrical portion with a diameter larger than the largest diameter of the internal cone and that said cylindrical portion is connected to the internal cone by way of a shoulder.

7. The connecter of claim 1, characterised in that, before the tube section with the internal cone is coupled, a protective cap is placed on it having a cylindrical portion corresponding to the protec-tive sleeve.

8. The connecter of claim 1, characterised in that the first coupling member is provided on the side opposite the internal cone with a closed frangible member which is in the form of an extension joined by a frangible point and, after breaking inside a flexible conduit, opens a flow aperture.

9. The connecter of claim 8, characterised in that an insert member bounding flow apertures is dispose in the throughpassage of the first coupling member, which insert member has a central pin of flexible material which is a press fit in an axial recess of the frangible member, has] a diameter less than the diameter of the through-passage at the frangible point and is inserted in the axial recess at least to an extent substantially corresponding to the diameter of the frangible member at the frangible point.

10. The connecter of claim 1, characterised in that an insert member bounding flow apertures is disposed in the throughpassage of the first coupling member, which inset member has a central pin of flexible material which is a press fit in an axial recess of the fran-gible member, has a diameter less than the diameter of the through-passage at the frangible point and projects beyond the frangible point to an extent that, on bending, the broken-off portion is pulled down.

11. A connecter for the connection of cannulae, catheters, flexible tubes or the like, comprising two coupling members provided with nipples or tubes and adapted to be positively interconnected by a respective external and internal cone thereon, characterised in that the inner surface of the through passage of the first coupling member with the internal cone is provided with a radially circum-ferential groove in which there is held a valve plate of elastomeric material which blocks the throughpassage and has a central slit, that between the valve plate and internal cone there is a guide for a tubular member which is axially displaceable therein, has its front disposed in front of the planar plate in its retracted position and at least partially passes therethrough in its projected position to open the slit, that, when the external cone is inserted in the internal con to be coupled thereto, it projects into the guide by the distance through which the tubular member has to be projected to open the valve plate, and that the other coupling member is connected by way of a collar on the outside of the tube section having the external cone to a protective sleeve which concentrically surrounds said tube section at a spacing and projects thereover.

12. The connecter of claim 11, characterised in that the tube section pushed into the protective sleeve and having the internal cone is provided with an outer annular groove in which there is inserted an O ring of elastomeric material over which, when the external and internal cone are intercoupled, the protective sleeve engages to deform same elastically.

13. The connecter of claim 11 or claim 12, characterised in that the inside of the protective sleeve or the outside of the tube section over which it engages is provided with a screwthread and a mating screwthread or with lugs or a locking connection.

14. The connecter of claim 11, characterised in that the tube section having the internal cone has in its end portion a cylindrical portion with a diameter larger than the largest diameter of the internal cone and that said cylindrical portion is connected to the internal cone by way of a shoulder.

15. The connecter of claim 11, characterised in that, before the tube section with the internal cone is coupled, a protective cap is placed on it having a cylindrical potion corresponding to the protective sleeve.

16. The connecter of claim 11, characterised in that the axially displaceable member is a tube section having ribs uniformly distributed over its periphery and extending along lines on the surface.

17. The connecter of claim 11, characterised in that the part of the member facing the valve plate converges conically.

18. A connector for the connection of cannulae, catheters, flexible tubes or the like, comprising first and second coupling members provided with nipples or tubes and adapted to be positively interconnected by an axially extend-ing internal cone on the first coupling member and an axially extending external cone on the second coupling member, said first and second coupling members each including an axially aligned throughpassage extending entirely therethrough, the first coupling member internal cone having large and small end portions and a cylindrical portion adjacent the large end portion, the cylindrical portion having a diameter larger than the largest diameter of the internal cone, said cylin-drical portion is connected to the internal cone by way of a shoulder, the throughpassage of the first coupling member adjacent the internal cone small end being provided with a radially circumferential groove in which there is held a valve plate of elastomeric material which blocks the throughpassage and has a central slit, the second coupling member being connected to a protective sleeve which concentrically sur-rounds the external cone, the protective sleeve having an internal diameter larger than the external diameter of the part of the first coupling member which is provided with the internal cone, the protective sleeve being connected to the nipple or tube carrying the external cone to define an outer annular groove between the protective sleeve and the external cone, said outer annular groove being deeper than the length of insertion of the internal cone, and the external cone when in its coupled condition inserted in the internal cone, passing at least partly through the valve plate to open the slit.

19. The connector of claim 18, characterized in that the outside of the first coupling member is provided with a screw thread and the second coupling member is provided with a mating screw thread of a locking connection.

20. The connector of claim 18, characterized in that the first coupling member is provided with an outer annular groove in which there is inserted sealing means over which, when the external and internal cone are intercoupled, the protective sleeve engages to deform same elastically.

21. The connector of claim 18, characterized in that the central slit is star-shaped.

22. The connector of claim 18, characterized in that the part of the first coupling member having the internal cone is provided at its rear portion with a circumferential bead onto which the front portion of the protective sleeve can be pushed.

23. The connector of claim 18, characterized in that the other coupling member that is pushed into the protective sleeve and having the internal cone is provided with an outer annular groove in which there is inserted an O ring of elastomeric material over which, when the external and in-ternal cone are intercoupled, the protective sleeve engages to deform same elastically.

24. The connector of claim 18, characterized in that the inside of the protective sleeve of the second coupling member is provided with a screw thread, and the first coup-ling member is provided with lugs which are lockable with the screw thread.

25. The connector of claim 18, characterized in that, before the first coupling member is coupled, a protective cap is placed on it having a cylindrical portion correspond-ing in size and configuration to the protective sleeve of the second coupling member.

26. The connector of claim 18, characterized in that the first coupling member is provided on the side opposite the internal cone with a closed frangible member which is in the form of an extension joined by a frangible point and, after breaking inside a flexible conduit, opens a flow aperture.

27. The connector of claim 26, characterized in that an insert member is disposed in the throughpassage of the first coupling member, which insert member has a central pin of flexible material which is a press fit in an axial recess of the frangible member, has a diameter less than the diameter of the throughpassage at the frangible point and is inserted in the axial recess at least to an extent substantially corresponding to the diameter of the frangible member at the frangible point.

28. The connector of claim 18, characterized in that an insert member is disposed in the throughpassage of the first coupling member, which insert member has a central guide pin of flexible material and a frangible member having a frangible point with an axial recess, said guide pin being press fit in the axial recess of the frangible member, said guide pin having a diameter less than the diameter of the throughpassage of the first coupling member at the frangible point and projects beyond the frangible point to an extent that, on bending, the frangible member breaks and the broken-off portion is pulled down by the guide pin but cannot be flushed back in front of the aperture.

29. A connector for the connection of connulae, cath-eters, flexible tubes or the like, comprising first and second coupling members provided with nipples or tubes and adapted to be positively interconnected by an axially ex-tending internal cone on the first coupling member and an axially extending external cone on the second coupling member, said first and second coupling members each including an axially aligned throughpassage extending entirely therethrough, said connector being characterized in that the inner surface of the throughpassage of the first coupling member with the internal cone is provided with a radially circumferential groove in which there is held a valve plate of elastomeric material which blocks the throughpassage and has a central slit, that between the valve plate and the internal cone there is a guide for a tubular member which is axially dis-placeable therein, said tubular member being spaced from the valve plate in its retracted position and at least partially passes therethrough in its projected position to open the slit, that, when the external cone is inserted in the internal cone to be coupled thereto, it projects into the guide by a distance through which the tubular member has to be projected to open the valve plate, and that the first coupling member is connected by way of a collar on the outside of the second coupling member to a protective sleeve which concentrically surrounds said second coupling member at a spacing and pro-jects thereover.

30. The connector of claim 29, characterized in that the first coupling member is provided with an outer annular groove in which there is inserted an O ring of elastomeric material over which, when the external and internal cones are intercoupled, the protective sleeve engages to deform same elasticity.

31. The connector of claim 30, characterized in that the inside of the protective sleeve of the second coupling member is provided with a screw thread, and the first coupling member is provided with lugs which are lockable with the screw thread.

32. The connector of claim 29, characterized in that the first coupling member has in its end portion a cylindrical portion with a diameter larger than the largest diameter of the internal cone and that said cylindrical portion is con-nected to the internal cone by way of a shoulder.

33. The connector of claim 29, characterized in that, before the first coupling member is coupled, a protective cap is placed on it having a cylindrical portion corresponding in size and configuration to the protective sleeve.

34. The connector of claim 29, characterized in that the axially displaceable member is a tube section having ribs uniformly distributed over the periphery and extending along lines on the surface.

35. The connector of claim 29, characterized in that the part of the member facing the valve plate converges coni-cally.