CONNECTOR FOR A BAG CONTAINING LIQUID SOLUTIONS FOR MEDICAL AND NUTRITIONAL USE

Abstract

A connector (3) which is applicable to a bag (1) for containing liquid solutions for medical or nutritional use comprises a coupling part (11) for coupling to an end of a small tube (2) projecting from the bag (1) and provided with an axial hole (5) closed by a pierceable inner membrane (6). The coupling part (11) includes two coaxial tubes (12, 13) which define an annular space (14) extending axially with a constant cross-section, into which said end of the small tube (2) is forcibly insertable by axial pressure.

Claims

1. A connector applicable to a bag containing liquid solutions for medical or nutritional use, comprising a coupling part for coupling to an end of a small tube projecting from the bag, the coupling part containing an axial hole closed by a pierceable inner membrane, and a closing part placed to close the end of the axial hole and detachable from the coupling part, wherein the coupling part comprises two coaxial tubes which define an annular inner space therebetween, into which an end of the small tube is insertable by axial pressure, wherein the annular inner space extends axially with a constant cross-section, and the coupling part and the closing part form a single body provided with a frangible weakened section for the detachment of the closing part from the coupling part.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the single body comprises gripping fins which extend outwards from the coupling part and the closing part, respectively, and are close to the weakened section of the single body.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a practical embodiment thereof, shown by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a liquid solution bag before coupling it to a dispensing connector according to the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a front view of a connector according to the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the same connector;

[0017] FIG. 4 shows said connector in an axial section according to line IV-IV in FIG. 2;

[0018] FIG. 5 shows said connector in an axial section according to line V-V in FIG. 3;

[0019] FIG. 6 shows said connector in a cross section according to line VI-VI in FIG. 5;

[0020] FIG. 7 shows the bag and the connector once the coupling has taken place;

[0021] FIG. 8 shows an axial section of the coupling obtained between the connector and the small dispensing tube of the bag;

[0022] FIG. 9 shows a cross-section of said coupling according to the line IX-IX in FIG. 8;

[0023] FIGS. 10-12 show the steps of applying an infusion set to the connector in the previous figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] More in particular, FIG. 1 shows a flexible liquid solution bag 1 from which a small plastic tube 2 made in a single piece with the bag itself extends outwards.

[0025] Before or after filling the bag with a liquid solution, a connector 3 according to the present invention is coupled to the small tube 2, having the task of keeping the small tube itself closed until the time of dispensing the liquid solution by means of an infusion set or other dispensing device applied to the connector 3.

[0026] A connector 3 according to the present invention is shown in detail in FIGS. 2-6 and comprises a single body 4 formed by a coupling part 11 with an axial hole 5 normally closed by a pierceable inner membrane 6 and lateral gripping fins 7 and by a closing part 8 which is detachable from the coupling part 11 at a frangible weakened section 9 and in turn provided with lateral gripping fins 10. Both fins 7 and 10 are positioned close to the weakened section 9.

[0027] The coupling part 11, intended to receive the free end of the small tube 2 of bag 1, is formed by two coaxial tubes 12 and 13, inner and outer tubes, respectively, which define an annular space 14 which extends axially with a constant section. Advantageously, the outer surface of the inner tube 12 and the inner surface of the outer tube 13 can have various type of roughness elements, not shown in the drawings.

[0028] FIG. 7 shows the connector 3 coupled to the small dispensing tube 2 of bag 1. The coupling is obtained as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, i.e. by inserting the outer end of the small tube 2 forcibly by axial pressure into the annular space 14 between the two coaxial tubes 12 and 13 of the tubular part 11. Any roughness elements provided for the facing surfaces of the two coaxial tubes can increase the integrity between the small tube 2 and the connector 3 and the stability of the coupling thereof.

[0029] A fluid solution dispensing device can be connected to the bag 1 filled with a fluid solution 15 and having the small dispensing tube 2 and the connector 3 coupled to each other, which device may be of various types, for example an infusion set 16 with an axially hollow piercing terminal 17, as shown in FIG. 10.

[0030] The connection of the infusion set or other dispensing device is carried out after detaching the closing part 8 at the frangible weakened section 9, so that the piercing terminal 17 can be introduced into the axial hole 5 of the main body 4 of connector 3 (FIG. 11) up to pierce the closing membrane 6 (FIG. 12). The liquid solution 15 can thus flow drop by drop from the bag 1 to the infusion set 16.

[0031] It is apparent that the coupling to coaxial tubes described for the dispensing connector 3 of the previous figures can be used for any other type of connector which is associable with a liquid solution bag such as that shown in the drawings. The protection deriving from the present application is thus to be considered as extended to connectors of any type which include a coupling element as defined in the following claims.