METHOD OF INCREASING THE LEAK TIGHTNESS OF A MECHANICAL CONNECTOR

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of increasing the leak tightness of a mechanical connector of an extracorporeal blood treatment machine, wherein the mechanical connector has a pair of connection parts which have corresponding sealing surfaces, with at least one of the two sealing surfaces being wetted at least sectionally by a viscous fluid before the joining together of the connection parts and/or with the connection gap between the connection parts being covered by a sheath after their joining together. The invention further relates to an extracorporeal blood treatment machine comprising a mechanical connector which has a pair of connection parts which have corresponding sealing surfaces, with the sealing surfaces being at least sectionally wetted with a viscous liquid with a closed connector and/or with the connection gap between the connection parts of the closed connector being covered by a sheath.

Claims

1. A method of increasing the leak tightness of a mechanical connector of a medical device, in particular of a dialysis machine, wherein the mechanical connector has a pair of connection parts which have corresponding sealing surfaces, characterized in that at least one of the two sealing surfaces is at least sectionally wetted with a viscous liquid before the joining together of the connection parts; and/or in that the connection gap between the connection parts is covered by a sheath after their joining together.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that one connection part has a male cone and one connection part has a female cone, with at least one section of the outer jacket surface of the male cone and at least one section of the inner jacket surface of the female cone forming the sealing surfaces.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the mechanical connector is a Luer-Lock connector.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that only the sealing surface of a connection part, preferably only the jacket surface of the male cone, is wetted with the viscous liquid before the joining together of the connection parts.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the connector at which the method is implemented connects a liquid-conducting circuit, in particular an extracorporeal blood circuit, to an inflow or to an outflow.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5, characterized in that the liquid-conducting circuit comprises at least one pump and the method is implemented at a connector which is arranged on the intake side of this at least one pump.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the sheath is a flexible sheath, with provision preferably being made that this sleeve is slipped over the connector such that it completely covers the region of the connection gap.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the sheath is a flexible hose piece or a ring.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the sheath is produced from a silicone elastomer.

10. A medical device, in particular a dialysis machine, comprising a mechanical connector which has a pair of connection parts which have corresponding sealing surfaces, characterized in that the sealing surfaces are wetted with a viscous liquid at least sectionally with a closed connector; and/or in that the connection gap between the connection parts of the closed connector is covered by a sheath.

Description

[0024] Further details and advantages result from the FIGURES and embodiments described in the following. The only FIGURE shows an illustration of a Luer-Lock connector in cross-section.

[0025] The connector has a first connection part 1 having a male cone 2 and an internal thread 3. The second connection part 4 has a female cone 5 and a projection 6 which engages into the internal thread. On the joining together of the connection parts 1 and 4, they are screwed and the outer jacket surface of the male cone 2 and the inner jacket surface of the female cone 5 are pressed against one another.

[0026] Provision is made in accordance with the invention that the outer jacket surface of the male cone 2 is wetted with a viscous, sterile and biocompatible liquid before the joining together of the two connection parts 1 and 4.

[0027] Provision is alternatively or additionally made in accordance with the invention that a hose piece of a flexible silicone elastomer is slipped over the connector after the joining together of the connection parts 1 and 4. The inner diameter of the flexible hose piece or of the ring is selected somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of the connector to achieve an airtight termination. The hose piece should in particular completely cover the connection gap which arises at the point marked by reference numeral 7 between the two connection parts after their joining together.