CONNECTOR, SYSTEM WITH CONNECTOR AND HOSE LINE, AND METHOD FOR CONNECTING A CONNECTOR TO A HOSE LINE

Abstract

A connector for connecting a tube to a connection element. The connector includes a housing, which has a coupling portion. The coupling portion is adapted to be at least substantially fluid-tightly connectable to a complementary connection portion of the connection element. The connector includes a tube connection piece, which is adapted to be connectable on the one hand to a tube and on the other hand to the housing in order to make a fluid connection between the tube and the coupling portion of the housing. The housing includes at least one polyolefin.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting a tube to a connection element, the connector comprising: a housing, which has a coupling portion, wherein the coupling portion is adapted to be at least substantially fluid-tightly connectable to a complementary connection portion of the connection element; and a tube connection piece, which is adapted to be connectable on the one hand to a tube and on the other hand to the housing in order to make a fluid connection between the tube and the coupling portion, wherein the housing comprises at least one polyolefin.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the tube connection piece comprises at least one solvent-bondable material.

3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the housing consists of the polyolefin or a mixture of several polyolefins.

4. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the tube connection piece is made of the solvent-bondable material.

5. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the solvent-bondable material consists of a solvent-bondable plastic or a solvent-bondable mixture of several plastics.

6. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the solvent-bondable material is transparent.

7. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the polyolefin is a polypropylene.

8. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the solvent-bondable material is bondable to the tube using methyl ethyl ketone and/or tetrahydrofuran.

9. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the solvent-bondable material comprises at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of methyl methacrylate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, polyurethane, and styrene-butadiene copolymer.

10. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the tube to be connected comprises polyvinyl chloride and/or polyurethane and/or styrene-butadiene copolymer and/or polyolefin.

11. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the tube connection piece has a connecting portion via which a form-fitting and/or force-fitting connection can be produced between the tube connection piece and the housing, and wherein the tube connection piece has a sealing portion by which the connection between the tube connection piece and the housing can be sealed in an at least substantially fluid-tight manner.

12. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the tube connection piece is configured as a bushing intended to receive in its interior an end of the tube, and wherein the housing has a recess which is intended to receive the bushing in its interior such that there is an at least substantially fluid-tight connection between an outer wall portion of the bushing and an inner wall portion of the recess at least in a sealing region.

13. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the coupling portion is formed as a Luer cone which is intended to form an at least substantially fluid-tight connection with a Luer counter-cone of the connection element.

14. The connector according to claim 13, wherein the Luer cone is an external Luer cone which is adapted to enter into an at least substantially fluid-tight connection with an internal Luer cone.

15. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the tube connection piece is arranged to be connectable to the housing.

16. A system comprising: a connector according to claim 1; and a tube, wherein the tube connection piece is connectable or connected to the tube and to the housing for making an at least substantially fluid-tight connection between the tube and the housing, and wherein the coupling portion is connectable or connected to the complementary connection portion of a connection element in an at least substantially fluid-tight manner.

17. A method for connecting a connector to a tube comprising the steps of: (A) providing a connector with a housing and a tube connection piece; (B) providing a tube; (C) connecting the tube to the tube connection piece; and (D) connecting the tube connection piece to the housing, wherein steps (C) and (D) are performable in any order.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein, wherein step (C) comprises treating at least a portion of the tube connection piece and/or an end of the tube with an organic solvent and bringing the end of the tube into contact with the tube connection piece for solvent bonding.

19. The connector according to claim 10, wherein the tube comprises polyvinyl chloride and/or polyurethane and/or styrene-butadiene copolymer and/or polyolefin.

20. The connector according to claim 15, wherein the tube connection piece is connectable to the housing in a force-fit manner and/or in a form-fit manner.

21. The system according to claim 16, further comprising the connection element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0048] Further features, expediencies, and advantages of the invention are described below by means of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a schematic isometric external view of a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a connector according to the first example of the present invention, which is additionally connected to a tube and a connection element.

[0052] FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show the connector 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a state in which the connector is connected neither to a tube nor to a connection element.

[0055] The connector 1 has a housing 2. The housing 2 is manufactured from a polyolefin. Preferably, the polyolefin used is a polypropylene. In a specific example, a polypropylene marketed by Borealis AG under the trademark BORMED™ 810MO is used. Fillers or excipients may be incorporated into the polyolefin. In alternative embodiments, the housing is only partially made of polyolefin. For example, it may consist of a polyolefin-containing combination material.

[0056] The housing 2 has two ends in the longitudinal direction, which corresponds to the direction of flow of a fluid flowing through the connector 1. At one end, the housing 2 has a coupling portion 21, and at the other end, a recess 23 for receiving a tube connection piece 3, described in detail below. The coupling portion 21 has a shape or structure which is complementary to a connecting portion of the connection element. In the present embodiment, the coupling portion 21 has a male cone 211 that is matched to a female cone of the connection element. In addition, the coupling portion 21 has a threaded structure 212 through which the housing 2 of the connector 1 and the connection element 100 may be screwed together to securely retain the male cone 211 in the female cone. In the present embodiment, the threaded structure 212 is an internally threaded structure. In alternative embodiments, other fastening means may be provided in addition to or as an alternative to the threaded structure, for example a snap-fit fastener. FIG. 3 shows the situation in which a connection element 100 (for example a venous catheter, shown schematically in FIG. 3) is connected to the connector 1 by a connecting structure 121 complementary to the coupling portion 21. The connection element 100 is not part of the connector 1 according to the invention. The connecting structure 121 comprises a female cone 1211 complementary to the male cone 211 of the connector 1. The connecting structure 121 comprises an outer threaded structure 1212 complementary to the inner threaded structure 212 of the connector 1.

[0057] For example, the structure of the coupling portion 21 and the complementary connecting portion is the structure of a “Luer-lock” type connection, the structure of which is standardized, for example, in the ISO 80369-7 standard.

[0058] Due to a standardized structure of the coupling portion 21, it is advantageously ensured that the connector 1 according to the invention may be used together with commercially available venous catheters, cannulas, spikes for connection to an infusion bag or an infusion bottle, urinary catheters, drains, tube connections, and other medical devices and fittings, which have a connection portion that is also standardized and complementary to the coupling portion 21.

[0059] In the present embodiment, the coupling portion 21 has a male cone 211 and an internal thread 212. In alternative embodiments, the connecting portion 21 has a female cone and an external thread, such that a connection with a connection element having a male cone and an internal thread is possible. Preferably, this is again a connection of the “Luer-Lock” type.

[0060] The housing 2 has a grip area 22 on its outside. The grip area 22 is shaped in such a way that the connector 1 may be gripped and handled as easily and safely as possible by hand. According to the present embodiment, this is achieved by providing protrusions 221 in a partial area of the outer surface of the housing 2 in the longitudinal direction, between which concave sections lie. In alternative embodiments, instead of such protrusions or in addition thereto, other structural elements may be provided which improve gripping, for example grooves, knobs, roughening, or non-slip overlays.

[0061] The connector 1 further comprises a tube connection piece 3. The tube connection piece 3 has a bushing-shaped design, i.e. it has a hollow body. The housing 2 has a recess 23 into which the tube connection piece 3 may be inserted to connect the housing 2 and the tube connection piece 3 together.

[0062] The inner wall of the recess 23 and the outer wall of the tube connection piece 3 are adapted to each other. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show a situation in which the tube connection piece 3 is located in the recess 23. Here, the outer wall of the tube connection piece 3 seals against the inner wall of the recess 23 in a sealing area 4, such that the connection between the housing 2 and the tube connection piece 3 is at least substantially fluid-tight. The areas of the inner wall of the recess 23 and the outer wall of the tube connection piece 3 that lie in the sealing area 4 are referred to as “sealing portions”. The sealing area 4 may extend over the entire length of the outer wall of the tube connection piece 3 or the inner wall of the recess 23, or a part of this length. The tightness may be achieved by a conical connection between the housing 2 and the tube connection piece 3 in the sealing area 4. However, housing 2 and tube connection piece 3 may also be cylindrical or have a curved shape in sealing area 4. Preferably, the tube connection piece 3 has an outer diameter (diameter of the outer wall of the tube connection piece 3) in the sealing area 4 which is larger than the inner diameter of the recess 23 (diameter of the inner wall of the recess 23) in the sealing area 4. The tube connection piece 3 then has an oversize (difference in diameter) in the sealing area 4 compared to the recess 23. The oversize achieves a particularly tight connection between the tube connection piece 3 and the housing 2. The amount of the oversize is matched to the structure and material of tube connection piece 3 and housing 2. In specific examples, the oversize is 0.1 to 0.25 mm. Such an oversize has turned out to be particularly useful in the case of a housing 2 made of polypropylene and/or a tube connection piece 3 made of methyl methacrylate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (MABS).

[0063] Furthermore, the housing 2 and the tube connection piece 3 interlock with each other in the form of a connection in a joining area 5. In the present embodiment, this connection is achieved in that a preferably annular recess 233, i.e. a groove, is formed in the region of the end of the housing 2 in the inner wall of the recess 23, and the outer wall of the tube connection piece 3 has a projection 33 corresponding to this recess 233. The projection 33 may run around the entire circumference of the tube connection piece 3 or have interruptions. When the tube connection piece 3 is inserted into the recess 23, the projection 33 engages in the recess 233, since the housing 2 and/or the tube connection piece 3 have at least a certain elasticity. Preferably, the projection 33 has a maximum outer diameter (outer diameter of the projection at its widest location) that is larger than the minimum inner diameter of the recess 23 (inner diameter of the recess 23 at its narrowest location) in the sealing area 4. The projection 33 then has an oversize relative to the recess 233. The oversize additionally achieves a press connection and thus a particularly firm connection overall between the tube connection piece 3 and the housing 2. The size of the oversize is matched to the structure and the material of the tube connection piece 3 and the housing 2 and is preferably selected in such a way that a loose fit is excluded. In specific examples, the oversize is 0.05 to 0.13 mm. Such an oversize has turned out to be particularly useful in the case of a housing 2 made of polypropylene and/or a tube connection piece 3 made of MABS.

[0064] In alternative embodiments, the connection may also be provided by the inner wall of the recess 23 having a projection in the joining area 5 and the outer wall of the tube connection piece 3 having a corresponding recess, wherein preferably again there is an oversize. In further alternative embodiments, a sufficiently strong connection between the inner wall of the recess 23 and the outer wall of the tube connection piece 3 is achieved without providing specific recesses and projections. This is preferably achieved by a surface pressure in the sealing area and/or another area of the inner wall of the recess 23 or the outer wall of the tube connection piece 3.

[0065] In the present embodiment, the plastic material used as material for the tube connection piece 3 is bondable to a tube using an organic solvent, preferably using MEK or THF or a corresponding mixture. For example, a methyl methacrylate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (MABS) may be used. In specific examples, the plastic material marketed by Ineos Styrolution under the registered trademark TERLUX® 2802 is used as material for the tube connection piece 3.

[0066] FIG. 3 shows the situation in which a connection element 100 and a tube 200 are connected to the connector 1. Connection element 100 and tube 200 are not components of connector 1.

[0067] The tube 200 is connected to the inner wall of the tube connection piece 3 by means of a solvent bonding process, wherein the material on the outside of the hose 200 and the material on the inside of the tube connection piece 3 are bonded together at least in a bonding area 6. In addition, there may be a glue connection between the tube 200 and the tube connection piece.

[0068] FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the connector 11 according to the invention. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above only with regard to the coupling portion 71. The other components of the connector 11 according to the second embodiment correspond to those of the connector 1 according to the first embodiment, such that the same reference signs are used for them. In the second embodiment, the coupling portion 71 has a male cone 711. An internal thread is not present. Preferably, the cone 711 is formed as a Luer cone. When this Luer cone 711 is connected to a corresponding female cone, a “Luer-slip” type connection is present. In alternative embodiments, the coupling portion 71 has a female cone, such that a connection with a connection element having a male cone is possible. Preferably, this is again a connection of the “Luer-slip” type. The advantages of the present invention described above may also be achieved with the connector 11 according to the second embodiment.

[0069] FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the connector 21 according to the invention. The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above only with respect to the coupling portion 81. The other components of the connector 21 according to the third embodiment correspond to those of the connector 1 according to the first embodiment, such that the same reference signs are used for them. In the third embodiment, the connecting portion 81 has an abutment surface 811 which may be connected to a corresponding structure of a corresponding connection element. Optionally, connection elements (not shown in FIG. 5) are provided with which the connection element may be connected to the connector 21. Threads, clamps, sleeves, and the like may be considered as connection elements. The advantages of the present invention described above may also be achieved with the connector 21 according to the third embodiment.

[0070] The system according to the invention comprises a connector 1, 11, 21 according to one of the embodiments described above or a variation thereof. Further, the system comprises a tube 200. Optionally, a connection element 100 may be provided. The system comprising a connector 1 according to the first embodiment is shown in FIG. 3. From FIG. 3, it can be seen that the tube connection piece 3 is connected on the one hand to the tube 200 and on the other hand to the housing 2, such that there is an at least substantially fluid-tight connection between the tube 200 and the housing 2. However, a system according to the invention is also present if these connections are not present, but the housing 2, tube connection piece 3 and tube 200 are matched to each other in such a way that these connections may be made. Herein, the connection between tube connection piece 3 and tube 200 is made by solvent bonding.

[0071] Furthermore, it can be seen from FIG. 3 that the coupling portion 21 of the housing 2 of the connector 1 is connected to the complementary connecting portion of the connection element 100 in an at least substantially fluid-tight manner. However, the connection element 100 is considered only as an optional component of the system.

[0072] In operation, the connector 1, 11, 21 may be connected to a tube 200 using the method according to the invention. For the method according to the invention, the housing 2 and the tube connection piece 3 of the connector as well as a tube 200 are provided. First, according to an embodiment of the method, one end of the hose 200 is treated with an organic solvent. For this purpose, it is wetted with the organic solvent, for example by immersion or a spray. Then, the treated end of the tube 200 is inserted into and brought into contact with the tube connection piece 3 to adhere it thereto. According to an alternative embodiment of the method, the tube connection piece 3 is treated with an organic solvent in an area to be connected to the tube 200. Then, the end of the tube 200 is inserted into the tube connection piece 3 and brought into contact with the treated area of the tube connection piece 3 to bond it thereto. According to another embodiment of the method, both an end of the tube 200 and the tube connection piece 3 are treated with an organic solvent in an area to be connected to the tube 200. Then, the treated end of the tube 200 is inserted into the tube connection piece 3 and brought into contact with the treated area thereof to create an adhesive bond.

[0073] In the course of the method according to the invention, the tube connection piece 3 is further connected to the housing 2, wherein this may be done before or after or during making the adhesive connection between the tube connection piece 3 and the tube. Optionally, in the course of the method according to the invention, the connector 1, 11, 21 is connected to the connection element 100, wherein this may be done before or after or during making the adhesive connection between the tube connection piece 3 and the tube.