EP1574200B1 - Connector of the perforating type performing a sterile connection - Google Patents

Abstract

The connector has an external coaxial gripping sleeve arranged for axially moving a body (2) and a gate (9) towards another gate (6) according to a drill stroke, and the gate (9) towards the body and the gate (6) according to another drill stroke. The body supporting a needle (1) includes an annular rib that is engaged in a bore of the sleeve to authorize the axial movement of the sleeve around the body.

Description

The present invention relates to perforating connectors for connecting a first container and a second container for the passage of a fluid between the two containers. The containers may be tubes, flasks, flexible walled pouches, having a mouth closed by a cover that a hollow needle can cross.

The invention relates more particularly to such a connector provided with a hollow needle for fluid passage, the needle being adapted to pierce a first cap of the first container and a second cap of the second container, for the passage of fluid through the channel axis of the needle between the two containers.

Such perforating connectors have already been designed, comprising a hollow needle for fluid passage, and with a needle support body sealingly attached around an intermediate portion of the needle and allowing a first and a second section of the needle to pass through. end of the needle for the passage of the lids of the containers.

The ends of the needle are aggressive, and pose a danger to the personnel handling the connector. Such piercing connectors also require the protection of the needle against contaminations to ensure sterility before use. For this, the documents WO 03/082398 A and US 2003/0199846 A1 disclose a connector further comprising a first tubular receptacle surrounding the first end portion of the needle, closed by a first cover, and shaped to receive a first container to be connected, and comprising a second tubular receptacle surrounding the second end portion of the needle, closed by a second cap, and shaped to receive a second container to be connected. The covers are movable axially towards one another by sliding, while the needle is mounted on an inner body which slides freely with respect to one and the other of the covers. By relative approximation of the caps, they are pierced by the respective ends of the needle.

The needle is thus confined in a sealed enclosure which protects it from all risks of pollution until the needle simultaneously pierces the wall of the sealed enclosure and the lids of the containers to be connected. It is thus possible, in practice, to disinfect, locally, before drilling, the external surfaces of the sealed enclosure wall and the lids of the containers that will be pierced by the needle, minimizing the risks of particle entrainment. pollutants during drilling.

Such a perforating connector structure requires simultaneously placing the two receptacles to be connected on either side of the covers. Otherwise, there is a risk that the needle, which is not held axially, pierces too early one of the opercules not yet covered with a container, and sterility would then no longer ensured, and the user could get hurt.

The problem proposed by the invention is, in such a perforating connector, to prevent any risk of inadvertent drilling of the sealed enclosure wall before positioning the containers, drilling which would not only produce the pollution of the needle, but also cause a major risk of injury to the operating personnel.

In particular, it is necessary to avoid a risk of piercing the sealed enclosure by the needle in the absence of a container to be connected.

According to the invention, it also seeks to facilitate the handling of the perforating connector, in particular to ensure the drilling with the aid of simple axial translation movements.

To achieve these and other objects, the invention incorporates the general structure of a perforating connector comprising a hollow fluid passage needle, a needle support body sealingly attached around an intermediate portion of the needle and leaving a first end portion and a second end portion of the needle protruding, a first tubular receptacle surrounding the first end portion of the needle and shaped to receive a first element to be connected, a second receptacle tubular surrounding the second end portion of the needle and shaped to receive a second element to be connected, a first seal closing the first tubular receptacle, a second seal closing the second tubular receptacle, the first seal being axially displaceable relative to the body needle holder according to a first piercing stroke between an initial position away from the body and the needle and an end position close to the body and in which the needle passes through the first cap and its end protrudes outwardly of the connector, the second cap being axially movable relative to the needle support body in a second piercing stroke between a initial position away from the body and the needle and a final position close to the body and in which the needle passes through the second cap and its end protrudes outwardly of the connector.

According to the invention, the perforating connector comprises a coaxial external gripping sleeve arranged to axially move the body and the second cap towards the first cap according to the first piercing stroke, then to axially moving the second cap towards the body and towards the first cap according to the second piercing stroke.

The user can thus control the relative movements producing the piercing of one and the other of the covers, and can in particular definitely inhibit the piercing of the second cap during the piercing of the first cap, and it can not undertake the piercing the second cap after having made sure of the presence of the second container to be connected.

• le manchon comprend des moyens d'engagement unilatéral pour que le manchon pousse axialement le corps et le second opercule vers le premier opercule lorsque le manchon effectue un déplacement axial selon une distance égale à la première course de perçage en direction du corps, et pour que le manchon se dégage axialement du corps et du second opercule lorsque le manchon effectue une course de recul inverse selon une distance égale à la première course de perçage à l'écart du premier opercule,
• le manchon comprend des moyens d'engagement anti-retour pour que le manchon autorise le maintien du second opercule en position fixe par rapport au corps pendant la course de recul inverse du manchon, puis pour que le manchon entraîné le second opercule de sa position initiale vers sa position finale lorsque le manchon effectue une seconde course de perçage en direction du premier opercule.

In practice, according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the gripping sleeve is connected to the body and to the second seal by special mechanical connections allowing the movements and drives above. So :

• the sleeve comprises unilateral engagement means for the sleeve to axially push the body and the second seal towards the first seal when the sleeve makes an axial displacement at a distance equal to the first piercing stroke towards the body, and so that the sleeve disengages axially from the body and the second cap when the sleeve performs an inverse recoil stroke at a distance equal to the first piercing stroke away from the first cap,
• the sleeve comprises non-return engagement means for the sleeve to allow the second cap to be held in a fixed position relative to the body during the reverse stroke of the sleeve, and then for the sleeve to drive the second cap from its initial position. towards its final position when the sleeve performs a second drilling stroke towards the first seal.

• un premier alésage de plus grand diamètre, prévu sur le manchon selon un premier tronçon d'extrémité, limité par un premier épaulement et un second épaulement,
• une nervure annulaire de plus grand diamètre, prévue sur le corps, engagée dans le premier alésage du manchon pour autoriser un déplacement axial relatif du manchon autour du corps selon une course appropriée égale à la première course de perçage entre deux positions limites où la nervure annulaire est en butée sur l'un ou l'autre des épaulements.

For example, the unilateral engagement means of the sleeve may comprise unilateral engagement means on the body, namely:

• a first bore of larger diameter, provided on the sleeve according to a first end section, bounded by a first shoulder and a second shoulder,
• an annular rib of greater diameter, provided on the body, engaged in the first bore of the sleeve to allow relative axial displacement of the sleeve around the body in a suitable stroke equal to the first drilling stroke between two limit positions where the annular rib is abutting on one or the other of the shoulders.

• un second alésage de plus grand diamètre, prévu dans le manchon selon un second tronçon d'extrémité, limité par un premier épaulement et un second épaulement,
• le second opercule étant engagé dans le second alésage pour se déplacer selon une course axiale appropriée égale à la seconde course de perçage.

On the other hand, the unilateral engagement means of the sleeve may comprise unilateral engagement means on the second seal, namely:

• a second bore of larger diameter, provided in the sleeve according to a second end section, bounded by a first shoulder and a second shoulder,
• the second cap being engaged in the second bore to move along an appropriate axial stroke equal to the second piercing stroke.

The non-return engagement means of the sleeve on the second seal may, for example, be such that the second bore comprises an intermediate annular rib with a sawtooth transverse profile having a first right face and a second oblique face, cooperating with the second seal for authorize its movement towards the first seal and to prohibit its return movement in the opposite direction.

To ensure easy and regular movement of the caps in the axial direction, means are preferably provided to ensure their guiding. For example, the first cap is mounted on a first cylinder which slides in the sleeve and which slides on the body with the interposition of sealing means. The first cylinder may constitute said first tubular receptacle.

Also, for the same reasons, the second cap can be mounted on a second cylinder which slides in the sleeve and which slides on the body with the interposition of sealing means. The second cylinder may constitute said second tubular receptacle.

It is preferable to leave accessible from the outside the outer faces of the two lids, to ensure their disinfection before drilling operations. For this, in the initial position, the first cylinder can advantageously protrude out of the sleeve, while the second cylinder can be engaged with the second seal in the vicinity of the second end of the sleeve.

• la figure 1 est une vue de côté en coupe longitudinale d'un connecteur perforant selon un mode de réalisation de la présente invention, en position initiale ou position de transport ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de côté en coupe du connecteur de la figure 1, après la première course de perforation ayant conduit à la perforation du premier opercule ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de côté en coupe du connecteur de la figure 1, après une course de recul inverse ; et
• la figure 4 est une vue de côté en coupe du connecteur de la figure 1, après la seconde course de perçage.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of particular embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a perforating connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, in initial position or transport position;
• FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of the connector of FIG. 1, after the first perforation stroke having led to the perforation of the first seal;
• Figure 3 is a sectional side view of the connector of Figure 1, after an inverse recoil stroke; and
• Figure 4 is a sectional side view of the connector of Figure 1, after the second piercing stroke.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, a perforating connector according to the invention comprises a hollow needle 1 with an axial channel 1a of fluid passage, a needle support body 2 which surrounds and is attached in a sealed manner to a section intermediate needle 1, and which allows to exceed a first end portion 3 and a second end portion 4 of the needle 1.

The first end portion 3 of the needle 1 is surrounded by a first tubular receptacle 5 closed by a first cap 6. In this way, in the initial position or the transport position illustrated in FIG. 1, the first end section 3 of the needle 1 remains confined in a first cavity 7 limited by the first lid 6, the first tubular receptacle 5 and the body 2.

Similarly, a second tubular receptacle 8 surrounds the second end section 4 of the needle 1 and is closed off by a second cap 9. In this way, in the initial position or the transport position illustrated in FIG. 4 end of the needle 1 is confined in a second cavity 10 limited by the second cap 9, the second tubular receptacle 8 and the body 2.

The first tubular receptacle 5 is shaped to be coupled to a first container to be connected, for example by being applied axially against a lid or cap of a first bottle.

Similarly, the second tubular receptacle 8 is shaped to be coupled to a second container to be connected; for example by being applied axially against a second cap or cap of a second bottle.

The assembly formed by the first cap 6 and the first tubular receptacle 5 can slide on the body 2, so that the first cap 6 is axially displaceable relative to the body 2 needle support in a first drilling hole C1: the first piercing stroke C1 is defined as the axial translational movement of the first cap 6 from an initial position, illustrated in Figure 1, wherein the first cap 6 is away from the body 2 and the needle 1, to a final position, illustrated in Figure 2, wherein the first seal 6 is close to the body 2, the needle 1 through the first cap 6 and its end 3a protrudes outwardly of the connector.

Similarly, the assembly formed by the second cap 9 and the second tubular receptacle 8 can slide on the body 2, so that the second cap 9 is axially movable relative to the body 2 needle support in a second piercing stroke C2 (Figure 3). The second drilling stroke C2 is defined as the axial translation movement of the second 9 from an initial position, illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, wherein the second cap 9 is away from the body 2 and the needle 1, to a final position, illustrated in Figure 4, in which the second operculum 9 is close to the body 2, the needle 1 through the second cap 9 and its end 4a protrudes outwardly of the connector.

The two lids 6 and 9 are movable independently of each other to and away from the body 2.

The first cap 6 is thus mounted on a first tubular receptacle 5 itself in the form of a first cylinder which slides on the body 2 with the interposition of first sealed sliding means 5a, for example a plurality of annular ribs provided on the body 2.

Similarly, the second cap 9 is mounted on a second tubular receptacle 8 in the form of a cylinder which slides on the body 2 with the interposition of sealed sliding means 8a, for example a plurality of annular ribs provided on the body 2.

A coaxial outer sleeve 11 is provided to form a gripping means for axially displacing the body 2 towards the first cap 6 at a distance equal to the first piercing stroke C1 by driving the second cap 9, then to move the second cap axially 9 to the body 2 and to the first cover 6 according to the second piercing stroke C2.

The sleeve 11 comprises for this unilateral engagement means for axially pushing the body 2 towards the first cap 6, so that the sleeve 11 performs the first drilling stroke towards the body 2, that is to say the illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 2. During this first piercing stroke, the first cap 6 bears axially against a first container, so that it undergoes a relative movement towards the body 2 according to said first stroke piercing.

Then, the unilateral engagement means allow the sleeve 11 to perform an inverse recoil stroke of the first piercing race, away from the first cap 6 that is to say to move from the position of Figure 2 in the position of FIG. 3. During this recoil stroke, the second cap 9 is in axial abutment against a second receptacle, and non-return engagement means of the sleeve 11 hold the second cap 9 in a fixed position relative to the body 2 allowing its sliding in the sleeve 11.

Then, the unilateral engagement means again allow the axial displacement of the sleeve 11 in the direction of the first cap 6, according to a second drilling stroke passing from the position of Figure 3 to the position of the FIG. 4, during which the sleeve axially drives the second cap 9 from its initial position to its final position for its drilling by the needle 1.

To allow these different movements, the sleeve 11 comprises a first bore 12 of larger diameter, provided in a first end portion of the sleeve 11, and limited by a first shoulder 13 and a second shoulder 14. The body 2 comprises an annular rib 15 of larger diameter, engaged in the first bore 12 of the sleeve 11 to allow the relative axial displacement of the sleeve 11 around the body 2 in a suitable stroke equal to the first drilling stroke C1. In the limit positions of the race, the annular rib 15 abuts on one or other of the shoulders 13 or 14.

Then, again to allow these movements, the sleeve 11 comprises a second bore of larger diameter 16, provided in a second end section of the sleeve 11, and limited by a third shoulder 17 and a fourth shoulder 18.

The second cap 9 remains engaged in the second bore 16 to move in an appropriate axial stroke equal to the second piercing stroke C2.

The second bore 16 comprises an intermediate annular rib 19 having a sawtooth transverse profile having a first right face and a second oblique face 21.

As can be seen in the figures, the first tubular receptacle 5, in the form of a first cylinder, slides in the sleeve 11. Similarly, the second tubular receptacle 8, in the form of a second cylinder, slides in the sleeve 11.

In the initial position, illustrated in Figure 1, the first cylinder protrudes out of the sleeve 11, so that the first seal 6 has a first outer face 6a accessible for disinfection. Similarly, in this same initial position, the second cylinder 8 is engaged in the sleeve 11 while having the second cap 9 in the vicinity of the second end of the sleeve 11, so that the outer face 9a of the second cap 9 is also accessible by the user for disinfection.

In use, the operation of the perforating connector according to the invention is explained below.

For transport, the connector is in the state illustrated in FIG. 1: the first tubular receptacle in the form of a cylinder 5 is away from the body 2 and protrudes outside the sleeve 11, the first end section 3 of the needle 1 being confined in the first recess 7 recessed from the first operculum 6. The second tubular receptacle 8 is engaged in the sleeve 11 in the vicinity of its second end, the second operculum 9 being engaged between the fourth shoulder 18 and the intermediate rib 19, and being away from the body 2. The second end portion 4 of the needle 1 is then confined in the second cavity 10.

After cleaning the two outer surfaces 6a and 9a of the respective lids 6 and 9, the cap or cap of a first container is engaged against the first cap 6, and the perforating connector is pushed by its sleeve 11 against the first vial, c 1, which is then resting on the annular rib 15 of the body 2 by the shoulder 14, pushes the body 2 and the needle 1 downwards, causing the first cap 6 and the cap or plug of the first container to be pierced by the first end portion 3 of the needle 1. It will be noted that the shoulder 18 also drives the second cap 9 in the same stroke, according to the same movement as the body 2, the needle 1 thus remaining always set back from the second operculum 9.

The sleeve 11 is then brought back in a recoil stroke, as illustrated in FIG. 3. During this run, the second cap 9, held in axial abutment against the cap or cap of a second container, allows the rib to pass through. intermediate 19, thanks to the asymmetrical shape of the rib and elastic radial deformation of the rib 19 and / or the cover 9, and is engaged under the right side 20 of the intermediate rib 19.

Then, a second axial movement of the sleeve 11 downwardly drives the second cap 9 downwards, while the body 2 remains stationary bearing its rib 15 against the first tubular receptacle 5 which itself bears on the first bottle. The piercing of the second cap 9 is then produced. Simultaneously, the second receptacle, which bears against the second cap 9, sees its cap or cap pierced by the needle 1.

It is understood that, at no time, the inner atmosphere of the needle has been brought into contact with the outside atmosphere, and the connection has been made under the best conditions of sterilization. In addition, the piercing of the covers, was performed non-simultaneous manner by successive voluntary actions of the user on the sleeve 11, excluding the risk of inadvertent drilling.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been explicitly described, but it includes the various variants and generalizations thereof within the scope of the claims below.

Claims (8)

1. Perforating connector, comprising a hollow fluid passage needle (1), a needle support body (2) fixed in a sealed manner around an intermediate section of the needle (1) and allowing a first end section (3) and a second end section (4) of the needle (1) to project, a first tubular receptacle (5) around the first end section (3) of the needle (1) and conformed to receive a first element to be connected, a second tubular receptacle (8) around the second end section (4) of the needle (1) and conformed to receive a second element to be connected, a first foil (6) closing the first tubular receptacle (5), a second foil (9) closing the second tubular receptacle (8), the first foil (6) being movable axially relative to the needle support body (2) over a first piercing stroke (C1) between an initial position away from the body (2) and the needle (1) and a final position close to the body (2) in which the needle (1) passes through the first foil (6) and its end (3a) projects toward the exterior of the connector, this second foil (9) being movable axially relative to the needle support body (2) over a second piercing stroke (C2) between an initial position away from the body (2) and the needle (1) and a final position close to the body (2) in which the needle (1) passes through the second foil (9) and its end (4a) projects toward the exterior of the connector, characterized in that the perforating connector comprises a coaxial external holding sleeve (11) adapted for moving the body (2) and the second foil (9) axially toward the first foil (6) over the first piercing stroke (C1), and then for moving the second foil (9) axially toward the body (2) and toward the first foil (6) over the second piercing stroke (C2).
2. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that :

   - the sleeve (11) comprises unilateral engagement means (15, 18) to enable the sleeve (11) to push the body (2) and the second foil (9) axially toward the first foil (6) when the sleeve (11) moves axially over a distance equal to the first piercing stroke (C1) in the direction of the body (2), and for the sleeve (11) to be disengaged axially from the body (2) and the second foil (9) when the sleeve (11) effects a return stroke in the opposite direction away from the first foil (6) and over a distance equal to the first piercing stroke (C1),

   - the sleeve comprises non-return engagement means (19-21), in order for the sleeve (11) to allow the second foil (9) to be retained in a fixed position relative to the body (2) during the return stroke in the opposite direction of the sleeve (11), and for the sleeve (11) to entrain the second foil (9) axially from its initial position toward its final position when the sleeve (11) effects a second piercing stroke (C2) in the direction of the first foil (6).
3. Connector according to claim 2, characterized in that the unilateral engagement means (15) of the sleeve (11) comprise :

   - a first larger diameter bore (12) on a first end section of the sleeve (11) delimited by a first shoulder (13) and a second shoulder (14),

   - a larger diameter annular rib (15) on the body (2), engaged in the first bore (12) of the sleeve (11) to allow relative axial movement of the sleeve (11) around the body (2) over an appropriate stroke equal to the first piercing stroke (C1) between two limiting positions in which the annular rib (15) is abutted against one or the other of the shoulders (13, 14).
4. Connector according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the unilateral engagement means (18) of the sleeve (11) comprise :

   - a larger diameter second bore (16) in a second end section of the sleeve (11) delimited by a first shoulder (17) and a second shoulder (18),

   - the second foil (9) being engaged in the second bore (16) to move over an appropriate axial stroke equal to the second piercing stroke (C2).
5. Connector according to claim 4, characterized in that the second bore (16) comprises an annular intermediate rib (19) having a sawtooth transverse profile with a non-inclined first face (20) and an inclined second face (21), and cooperating with the second foil (9) to allow it to move in the direction of the first foil and to prevent any return movement thereof in the opposite direction.
6. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first foil (6) is mounted on a first tubular receptacle (5) in the form of a first cylinder that slides in the sleeve (11) and slides on the body (2) with sealed sliding means (5a) between them.
7. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the second foil (9) is mounted on a second tubular receptacle (8) in the form of a second cylinder that slides in the sleeve (11) and slides on the body (2) with sealed sliding means (8a) between them.
8. Connector according to any one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that, in an initial position, the first cylinder (5) projects out of the sleeve (11), and the second cylinder (8) is engaged with the second foil (9) in the vicinity of the second end of the sleeve (11) to leave the external faces (6a, 9a) of the foils (6, 9) accessible from the outside.

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