FR2522776A1 - CONNECTOR FOR PERITONEAL DIALYSIS EQUIPMENT AMBULATORY CONTINUES - Google Patents

Abstract

CONNECTOR FOR CONTINUOUS AMBULATORY PERITONEAL DIALYSIS EQUIPMENT. IT IS OF THE TYPE INCLUDING AN EXTERNAL COUPLING ORGAN 36, 202 INCLUDING A MAIN TUBULAR ELEMENT 64 SUITABLE TO TIGHTLY RECEIVE AN INTERNAL COUPLING ORGAN 34, THE MAIN TUBULAR ELEMENT 64 BEING PROVIDED WITH MEANS 62 IN THE FORM OF EXTENDING FLANGE RADIALLY TOWARDS THE EXTERIOR WHICH ARE LIKELY TO COOPERATE WITH A CORRESPONDING THREAD OF THE INTERNAL COUPLING BODY 34, AND IT IS CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THE EXTERNAL WALL OF THE MAIN TUBULAR ELEMENT 64 INCLUDES AN ANNULAR ZONE 82, 204 FAR AWAY FREE END AND EXTERNAL MEANS IN THE FORM OF A RIM, THE SAID ZONE PRESENTING A LARGER DIAMETER AND CONSTITUTING A WATERPROOFING ZONE. APPLICATION ESPECIALLY IN A CONTINUOUS AMBULATORY DIALYSIS EQUIPMENT.

Description

CONNECTOR FOR PERITONEAL DIALYSIS EQUIPMENT

AMBULATORY CONTINUES.

  The invention relates to a connector for a

  continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis equipment

  naked and it is more particularly a new L Uer lock connector usable with a

  container for the dialysis solution or in

very medical applications.

  The invention is particularly applicable to continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis which consists in introducing a dialysis solution into the cavity

  peritoneal patient, allowing him / her to stay

  in several hours then to evacuate it from the peritoneal cavity of the patient, this processusus repeating itself in a substantially continuous manner A means of performing this

  type of dialysis involves connecting a container containing

  dialysis solution to a catheter connected to the peritoneal cavity of the patient, then remove the forceps

  of the tubing connecting the container containing the solution

  dialysis treatment to the patient's peritoneal cavity

  to allow the dialysis solution to

  ler of the container in the peritoneal cavity The tubing is then clamped again, the solution is left

  dialysis in the peritoneal cavity of the patient

  for several hours, for example four hours,

  remove the clamp from the tubing and remove the

  the peritoneal cavity of the patient by

  in the container which is then separated from the

  ter, and then connect the catheter to a container containing

  a new dialysis solution and repeat the operation. We realized that we could improve this

  process by giving the patient greater freedom

  movement if the container containing the solu-

  dialysis treatment in the shape of a bag, especially a

  foldable flexible plastic bag Thus, when

  that the dialysis solution was emptied from the bag, the

  Patient can fold this one up and carry it on him.

  A highly efficient system of connection and separation

  In this way, the transfer tube extending from the bag containing the dialysis solution carries a first connector and the catheter which is located between the bag and the patient's catheter. extends from the peritoneal cavity of the patient carries a complementary locking connector The invention allows to achieve and maintain in the absence of liquid a

  connection free of contamination at the connection

  and whose interest is obvious.

  It is desirable that the green connector

  the rust that is carried by the patient is of relatively permanent type, while the cooperating connector which is carried by the tube leaving the bag can be of relatively non-reusable type.

  In addition, it is necessary that the lock fitting

  is reliable and any leak prevented in order to avoid

  ter contamination that could lead to peritonitis. When the dialysis solution bag carries a transfer tube that connects the bag to the patient's catheter, it may be desirable to prevent the dialysis solution contained in the bag from flowing.

  in the transfer tube carried by the bag.

  With a frangible connector mounted in series in the tubing of the bag, the flow of the dialysis solution from the bag into the tubing can be prevented until

rupture of the frangible connector.

  The object of the invention is to provide a connector for

  rusting that ensures the integrity of the connection and

avoids contamination.

  The connection is established by type engagement

  between male and female connectors,

  singing the leaks and now a waterproof barrier

  bacteria at the connection.

  According to the invention, one of the connectors is relatively permanent tandiâ than the other connector

is relatively non-reusable.

  The subject of the invention is an equipment for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis in which a solution container is connected by a flexible tubing to a catheter which communicates with the peritoneal cavity of the patient.

  container for plastic dialysis solution

  that foldable hose having an outlet port.

  A flexible tube is connected to the orifice of

  outlet and has at its distal end a connection

  connectable to a connector carried by the catheter

ter of the patient.

  In a first embodiment,

  In this case, a frangible element is mounted in the flexible tube. The frangible element normally prevents the flow of fluid into the flexible tube, this flow being possible after rupture of the frangible element.

  In this embodiment, a filter

  In addition, a manually operated clamp is mounted in

series on the flexible tube.

  According to the invention, the flexible tube comprises

  te at its distal end a connector that can be connected to a connector carried by the patient's catheter These connectors include a connector

  male and a female connector The male connector

  carries a central tubular portion defining a

  axial bore, at least part of the tubular portion

  the central section being surrounded by an outer sleeve of substantially circular section.

tapped internally.

  The female connector comprises a tuft element

  main bungee having at its distal end a rim or an outer radial flange of dimensions allowing it to cooperate with the inner screw threads of the outer sleeve of the male connector.

  An elastomeric element carried by the connector

  the female body is of such dimensions that it comes into pressure-tight engagement with the inner wall of the rigid outer sleeve of the male connector for

  to help maintain a bacterial-proof barrier

  In addition, the elastomeric element can be cleaned or the chamber defined by the sterilant-filled patient's outer sleeve, which helps prevent the

system contamination.

  According to a second embodiment, the female connector may comprise a rigid outer wall portion which cooperates with the wall

  inside an elastomeric outer sleeve of the con-

  male connector to establish a sealing engagement

by pressure.

  In this second embodiment, this

  portion of the outer wall is contiguous to the surface

  this outer of the main tubular element and

  has a flare outward and towards the

  As a result, the pressure engagement of the inner wall of the outer sleeve and the outer wall portion increases as

  the male and female connectors are screwed together.

  In the second embodiment,

  felt, the male and female connectors are each formed in one piece The female connector is

  stainless steel or titanium and, more particularly,

  titanium to provide a more durable structure while the male connector is

  elastic plastic material to be discarded after use.

  Of course, it is possible to use for this purpose

  very diverse, without departing from the scope of the invention.

  The invention will be better understood when reading

  detailed description which will follow and to

  attached drawings which represent, by way of non-limiting examples, two embodiments

of the invention.

  Figure 1 shows a container for di-

  permanent ambulatory peritoneal lysis according to

  vention. Figure 2 is a rear view of a

  male locking connector according to the invention.

  Figure 3 is a front view of the connector

  male of Figure-1, with some parts torn off.

  FIG. 4 is a view from the front of the connector

male driver of Figure 1.

  Figure 5 is a front view of a connector

female according to the invention.

  Figure 6 is a front view of the same

  piece with some parts torn off.

  Figure 7 is a much larger view

  scale of a detail of the female connector of the

re 6.

  Figure 8 is a front view, with some

  torn parts of a plugging device of the female connector of FIG.

  Figure 9 is a front view, with some

  torn parts of a device to close the

Male connector of Figure 3.

  Figure 10 is a front view, with some

  torn parts of another embodiment

  of the female connector according to the invention.

  Figure 11 is a larger scale view.

  the cooperating parts of a male connector and the

female connector of Figure 10.

  FIG. 1 shows a bag 10 for dialysis solution, on one side 16 of which outlet orifices 12 and 14 are formed. The orifice 14 is closed in the embodiment shown.

by a tip for injections 20.

  The bag 10 is advantageously made in a

  sheet of flexible plastic material which is thermo

  welded along its edges to form a bag A flexible plastic tube 22 extends between

  the orifice 12 and the inlet orifice 24 of a filter

  ticular 26 whose outlet is connected to a flexible tube 30 on which is mounted a manually operated clamp 32 and whose distal end

  carries a locking male connector 34.

  The male connector 34 is connected to a connector

  female driver 36 which is mounted at the distal end

  a catheter 38 which extends into the peritoneal cavity

  The structure of the male and female connectors 34 and 36 will be described in more detail, in

reference to Figures 2 to 9.

  A frangible element 40 is connected in series with the orifice 12, and the tube 22, inside the bore defined by the orifice and the tube. The frangible element 40 prevents the flow of the orifice 12 in the tube 22 The frangible element 40 is advantageously made of a plastic material which fills the passage of the orifice 12 and the tube 22 but defines in the plastics material

  a central bore which is closed by a French organ

  target 42 When the French organ is manually broken

  42, the dialysis solution contained in the bag can flow through the frangible element 40 and thence into the tube 22 downstream. As a result, the dialysis solution is retained in the orifice 12 until breaking the frangible element 40 and it can not flow downstream of the frangible element before

rupture of it.

  The filter 26 is a particulate type filter.

  With approximately 5 micron openings and a relatively large filtration area, it is advantageous if this area is at least 4 cm and preferably about 7 cm 2. It is also desirable for the filter 26 to be a hydrophilic membrane filter.

  using aeration with hydrophobic membranes.

  The clamp 32 can be of any type

  can be used on a flexible tube, and it is

  a manually operated type by

  grasping between thumb and forefinger.

  In some cases, patients may

  peritoneal dialysis prefer a connection system.

  between the bag containing the solution and the catheter

  Patient who does not require insertion and removal of a bag-side needle connector If a needle connector is not used carefully,

  the needle may cause contamination

  leading to peritonitis.

  that in some cases the use of the connection system

  Luer according to the invention is advantageous and

  a fitting less subject to contamination.

  The male connector 34 is shown in detail in Figures 2 to 4 In these figures, the male connector 34 comprises a central tubular portion 50 which defines an axial bore 52, and extends to

  the back to form a cylindrical tip 50 has the em-

  end 50a is fixed by a solvent inside the flexible tube 30 and has shoulders 54 which

  outside to define an outer sleeve

  56 which surrounds the central tubular portion 50.

  The sleeve 56 has a knurled portion of preheating

  58 and carries internal screw threads 60.

  The sleeve 56 helps to prevent contamination by

  contact during the locking and / or unlocking

  of the connection system and houses screw threads 60 which cooperate with a flange 62 (FIG. 6)

of the female connector 36.

  In FIGS. 5 to 7, which represent in

  detail the female connector 36, we see that the con-

  nector 36 comprises a main tubular element 64 which has at its distal end 66 a rim

  external radial 62 A gripping ring 68

  the main tubular element 64 is formed with which it is advantageously formed in one piece. The ring 68 is also formed integrally with a rear projection projection 70 which is fixed in the bore of the patient's catheter. 68 has on its outer face a knurled portion 72 which facilitates its grip The extension 70 is connected to the ring 68 by a plurality of shoulders

  74 and the central tubular element 64 and extend it

  rearward 70 together define a bore

axial 76.

  The flange 62 has a shape and dimensions-

  such as when the male connector 34 is depressed into the female connector 36, the central tubular portion 50 of the connector 34 enters the bore 76 and the flange 62 is screwed onto the threads 60

  to form a lock fitting.

  The diameter of the bore 76 decreases from its distal end 66 to become narrower

  the outer diameter of the central tubular

  50 to produce an engagement between the outer surface of the central tubular member 50

  and the inner wall of the tubular element 64.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, several

  any projections or ribs 78 surround the tubular member 64 and an elastomeric member 80 surrounds

  the tubular element 64 and covers the projections 78.

  The elastomeric element 80 comprises an annular bead

  outer ring 82 used for sealing purposes.

  Thus, when the male connector 34 and the female connector 36 are nested, the elastomeric element 80 sinks into the outer sleeve 56 and a seal is formed between the annular bead 82 and the inner wall of the sleeve 56 In addition to an effective seal against contamination, the element

  elastomer 80 also constitutes an

  the bacteria which maintains the integrated nature of the

cord by avoiding its contamination.

  If desired, the elastomeric element 80

  can be cleaned or the room defined by the man-

  Outdoors 56 can be filled by the patient with sterilizing agent such as Betadine It is

  advantageous that the female connector 36, except

  of the elastomer element 80, is molded from a

  only one part by injection, and that the elasto-

  mother 80 is formed in a subsequent step of the injection molding operation during the manufacture of the connector.

  embodiment, it is preferable that the totali-

  The tee of the male connector 34 is molded in one piece. In FIGS. 10 and 11, there is shown a variant of a female connector 202. In these figures, the same reference numerals have been retained for the elements of the female connector 202 and of the male connector 210 which are identical to those of the connector.

  female 36 and male connector 34 respectively.

  The connector 202 comprises a tubular element

  The main tubular element 64 is located at its distal end 62 and is adjacent to a rearwardly extending grip ring 204 formed integrally with a rear projection 70 to attach to a flexible plastic tube, for example inside

  of the bore of a patient's catheter in peri-

  Continuous ambulatory tone The ring 204 has on its outer rear surface a knurled portion 72 which facilitates its grip The extension 70 is connected to the ring 204 and the main tubular element 64 and the rear extension 70 define a

coaxial bore 76.

  The male connector 210 used with the connector

  the female connector 202 of FIG. 10 is identical to the male connector 34 of FIG. 3, except that the front end 211 of the outer sleeve 213 or all of it is made of an elastomeric material for this purpose, the sleeve 213 can be molded separately and fixed to a male connector or a unitary structure can be formed in the material

desired elastomer.

  The ring 204 of the female connector 202 has a flared surface 206 outwardly and rearwardly so that the pressure engagement

  of the inner wall 212 of the sleeve 213 of the connector

  Male driver 210 on the ring 204 increases as the male and female connectors are screwed together. The flange 62 has a shape and dimensions such that, when the male connector 210 is engaged in the female connector 202, the tubular portion

  center 50 of the connector 210 sinks into the bore

  ge 76 and the flange 62 is screwed on the nets 60

  to form a locking connection The inner wall

  212 of the sleeve 213 tightly engages the flared surface 206 of the ring 204 and this engagement becomes tighter as the connectors are screwed together.

  of the inner wall of sleeve 213 and the surface

  this 206 of the ring 204 produces a commitment by

  sealing type pressure which prevents leaks and

  tribute to maintain a barrier tight bacteria.

  If the female connector 202 is connected to a catheter that extends into the peritoneal cavity of the patient, it is desirable that the connector be made of a more durable material For this purpose, a stainless steel connector 202 may be used

or in titanium.

  In some cases, the patient may wish to detach the fitting when the dialysis solution has

  was introduced into the peritoneal cavity of the patient.

  For this purpose, a cap 90 (FIG. 8) is used to cap the female connector.

  comprises a closed upper portion 92 and a por-

  The lateral portion 94 defines a bore 96 whose diameter is identical to the opening defined by the sleeve.

  56 and the inner wall of the portion la-

  téral 94 carries screw threads 98 whose dimensions

  settings and configuration are identical to those

  screw threads 60 The cap 90 also comprises

  a central tubular portion 50b A portion

  knurling 100 facilitates the gripping of the hat 90.

  In Figure 9, there is shown a hat

  102 which serves to cap the male connector 36

  skin has a configuration identical to that of

  female driver 36, except that it does not include

  tubular extension 70 The same

  numerical ferences to denote the elements of the cap 102 which are identical to those of the female connector 36 It is seen that the bore 76, instead of extending towards the rear, is closed at its end 104 It should also be noted that the male connector 34

  may be carried by the patient's catheter 38,

  female connector then being connected to the distal end

the tube 30.

  The cooperation of the outer sleeve 56 with the elastomer element 80 or the cooperation of the sleeve

  211 with the flare 206 makes the connection of ver-

  rusting according to the invention has a characteristic

  prevention of contact contamination,

  at the same time that he uses a locking device

  in the connected position to form a bacteria-proof barrier, which further avoids

contamination.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the example described and shown, it is capable of numerous variants accessible to those skilled in the art, depending on the intended applications

  and without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (8)

  1 Connector, especially for flexible tubing   of the type comprising an external coupling member (36, 202) having a main tubular member (64) adapted to sealingly receive an inner coupling member (34), the main tubular member (64) being provided with means ( 62) in the shape of a rim   extending radially outwards which are sus-   able to cooperate with a corresponding thread of the internal coupling member (34), characterized in that   the outer wall of the main tubular element   pal (64) comprises an annular zone (82, 204) away from   its free end and outer means in the form of a rim, said zone having a diameter   larger and constituting a sealing zone.   2 connector according to claim 1,   characterized in that the sealing zone of the element   main tubular is elastically deformable.   3 connector according to one of the claims   1 or 2, characterized in that the sealing zone   is a rigid part of said primary tubular element * Cipal.   4 connector according to one of the claims   1 to 3, characterized in that the external coupling member dull is titanium.   Connector according to one of the claims   1 to 4, characterized in that the external coupling member   dull is connected to a tube (38) of the patient's catheter.   Connector according to claims 1 to 5,   characterized in that the flexible tube and the connector   are a part of an ambulatory peritoneal dialysis equipment in which a solution container is connected by the flexible tube to a patient's catheter which communicates with the peritoneal cavity of the patient.