Access assembly with a pierceable sealing member

Abstract

The present invention relates to an access assembly to provide access to the interior of a vessel and comprising: a base to extend through a sidewall of the vessel and having a tubular sealing portion providing a passageway axially extending therethrough, a pierceable sealing member arranged across the sealing portion to obstruct the passageway, at least one closure member axially displaceable relative to the base between a sealing position, in which the closure member completely obstructs and seals the passageway, and a leakage position, in which the closure member leakily obstructs the passageway.

Claims

1. An access assembly to provide access to the interior of a vessel or a fluid guide comprising: a base extending through a sidewall of the vessel and having a first tubular sealing portion defining a passageway axially extending therethrough, a pierceable sealing member arranged across the first tubular sealing portion to obstruct the passageway, at least one closure member axially displaceable relative to the base between a sealing position, in which the closure member completely obstructs and seals the passageway, and a leakage position, in which the closure member leakily obstructs the passageway and in which leakage position the closure member is securely fastened in the passageway, an insert axially slidingly displaceable in the base between a sealing position, a leakage position, and a release position, wherein the insert comprises a second tubular sealing portion, a proximal closure member sealingly engaging with the second tubular sealing portion, and a distal closure member sealingly engaging with the first tubular sealing portion.

2. The access assembly according to claim 1, wherein the closure member is axially displaceable from the sealing position via the leakage position into a release position, in which the closure member is detachable to provide access to the passageway.

3. The access assembly according to claim 1, wherein the closure member comprises an annular groove to receive a correspondingly shaped sealing ring.

4. The access assembly according to claim 1, wherein the insert is rotatably locked to the base by means of at least one radially extending projection engaged with an axially extending groove.

5. The access assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second tubular sealing portion engages with a sealing ring of the proximal closure member, when said closure member is in a sealing position relative to the insert.

6. The access assembly according to claim 5, wherein the insert comprises the radially widening portion axially adjacent to the sealing portion in a proximal direction, such that the sealing ring of the proximal closure member is received in the radially widened portion when the proximal closure member is in the leakage position.

7. The access assembly according to claim 5, wherein the proximal closure member is threadedly engaged with the insert in the sealing position as well as in the leakage position.

8. The access assembly according to claim 5, wherein the insert comprises a distally extending and radially inwardly tapering inside wall portion adjacent to the sealing portion.

9. The access assembly according to claim 5, wherein the insert comprises a radially outwardly extending flange at its outer circumference to engage with a radially inwardly extending flange of a fastening ring threadedly engageable with a proximal outer thread of the base.

10. The access assembly according to claim 1, wherein a distal closure member is slidingly displaceable in the sealing portion of the base, which the sealing portion extends into a radially widened portion in a proximal direction.

11. The access assembly according to claim 10, wherein the distal closure member comprises a proximally opened receptacle to receive the pierceable sealing member.

12. The access assembly according to claim 11, wherein the receptacle of the distal closure member is threadedly engageable with a distal end section of the insert.

13. The access assembly according to claim 10, wherein the distal closure member comprises an annular rim having at least two radially outwardly extending recesses on a distal end of an inside wall portion.

14. A vessel or a fluid guide to receive a liquid medium and further comprising at least one access assembly according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described by making reference to the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a cross-section through the access assembly in a sealing configuration,

(3) FIG. 2 shows the access assembly according to FIG. 1 with the insert displaced in leakage position and

(4) FIG. 3 shows the access assembly according to FIGS. 1 and 2 with a removed or released insert,

(5) FIG. 4 shows the access assembly with the proximal closure member in leakage position and

(6) FIG. 5 shows the access assembly according to FIG. 4 with the proximal closure member in release position,

(7) FIG. 6a provides an isolated view of the distal closure member as seen from the interior of the vessel,

(8) FIG. 6b shows a longitudinal cross-section through the distal closure member according to FIG. 6a,

(9) FIG. 7a shows a planar view of a tool to engage with the distal closure member,

(10) FIG. 7b shows the tool according to FIG. 7a in cross-section,

(11) FIG. 8a schematically illustrates a longitudinal cross-section through the base in an isolated view,

(12) FIG. 8b shows the base in radial cross-section,

(13) FIG. 9 provides an isolated side view of the proximal closure member,

(14) FIG. 10 shows a longitudinal cross-section through the insert and

(15) FIG. 11 depicts an isolated cross-section through a fastening ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(16) The access assembly 10 as illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 is intended to be attached to a sidewall 14 of a vessel 12. As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the access assembly 10 comprises a tubular-shaped base 20, which extends outwardly from the sidewall 14 of the vessel 12. The access assembly 10 and/or its base 20 serves as a discharge nozzle or spout, especially for extracting small sized samples from the liquid medium contained therein and confined by the vessel 12.

(17) As further indicated in FIG. 1, a distal direction 1 points to the interior of the vessel 12 while an opposite proximal direction 2 points away from the outside of the vessel's 12 sidewall 14. Axial displacement of various components or parts of the access assembly 10 typically occurs either in distal-direction 1 or in proximal-direction 2. As shown in FIG. 8a, the base 20 comprises a tubular-shaped sealing portion 28, which in sealing position as shown in FIG. 1 engages with an annular sealing ring 74 of a distal closure member 70. Adjacent to the tubular sealing portion 28 and in proximal-direction 2 there is provided a radially widening frusto-conical or tapered sidewall portion 26 extended into a receiving portion 24, which is also of tubular shape. As illustrated in FIG. 8a, the inner and free diameter of the receiving portion 24 is larger than the diameter of the sealing portion 28.

(18) The base 20 is adapted to sealingly engage with the distal closure member 70, which comprises an annular groove 73 to receive a correspondingly-shaped sealing ring 74, typically in form of an O-ring of elastomeric material. As for instance illustrated in FIGS. 6a and 6b, the distal closure member 70 comprises a sleeve-like geometry and features a proximally extending receptacle 71 to receive a pierceable sealing member 60 extending all over the inner diameter of the distal closure member 70. By means of the pierceable sealing member 60, the passageway 25 through the distal closure member 70 can be substantially obstructed.

(19) At its proximal end, the distal closure member 70 comprises an inner thread 72 by way of which the distal closure member 70 can be releasably engaged with a distal end portion of an insert 30 as illustrated in FIG. 10. Hence, the inner thread 72 of the distal closure member 70 may threadedly engage with an outer thread 31 of the insert 30. Additionally, the distal closure member 70 comprises a stepped down portion or a ledge 79 that serves as a distal abutment for the pierceable sealing member 60. When screwing the distal closure member 70 onto the distal end of the insert 30, the sealing member 60 or septum can be clamped or constrained between said ledge 79 and a distal end face 32 of the insert 30.

(20) In the sealing position as illustrated in FIG. 1, the sealing ring 74 radially abuts with the tubular sealing portion 28 of the base 20. Since the interior or the through opening formed by the distal closure member 70 is obstructed by the pierceable sealing member, the entire passageway 25 extending through the base 20 is obstructed in a sealed and liquid tight way.

(21) The insert 30 comprises a radially outwardly extending flange 37, which engages with a radially inwardly extending flange 86 of a fastening ring 80, which is separately illustrated in FIG. 11. The fastening ring 80 comprises a sidewall 88 provided with an inner thread 82 which is adapted to threadedly engage with a proximally located outer thread 22 of the base 20. In the sealing position as shown in FIG. 1, the fastening ring 86 receives the insert 30 in its through opening 84 and is further threadedly engaged with the base 20. By means of the mutually engaging flange portions 86 and 37, the insert 30 is axially constrained and axially fixed to the base 20. In this configuration, the sealing ring 74 is sealingly engaged with the tubular sealing portion 28 of the base 20.

(22) By at least partially unscrewing the fastening ring 80 as indicated in FIG. 2, the insert can be displaced in proximal direction 2 so that the sealing ring 74 of the distal closure member 70 slides along the frusto-conical sidewall portion 26 to reach the receiving portion 24. In this configuration, the seal is no longer active and a forced leakage may evolve in form of a streamlet 100 extending through the interface of base 20 and distal closure member 70.

(23) However, in the leakage position as indicated in FIG. 2, the insert 30 is still fixed to the base 20 since the mutually engaging threads 82 and 22 of fastening ring 80 and base 20 are still in mutual engagement. In this configuration, the distal closure member 70 and the sealing member 60 still obstruct a major portion of the diameter of the passageway 25 of the base 20. Hence, in the leakage position only a fairly small streamlet 100 may evolve and escape from the access assembly 10 in a rather controlled way.

(24) In addition and as illustrated in FIG. 1 there may be also provided a slide ring 81 at a proximal end of the fastening ring 80. The slide ring 81 may be further engaged with a locking ring 83 which is adapted to radially engage with an annular groove 38 on the outer circumference of the insert 30, as illustrated in FIG. 10. The slide ring 81 and/or the locking ring 83 may be designed as an integral component or portion of the fastening ring 80. Slide ring 81 and/or fastening ring 83 may be also provided as a separate part to be assembled with the fastening ring 80.

(25) Removal of the insert 30 from the base 20 is particularly necessary to replace a pierceable sealing member 60, e.g. a septum. In the event that the vessel 12 is still filled with a liquid substance, an operator will immediately observe the draining streamlet 100 and may return the insert 30 and the fastening ring 80 into the sealing position as indicated in FIG. 1. It is only when no streamlet 100 evolves in the leakage position that it is recommendable to completely unscrew the fastening ring 80 from the base 20 in order to slidingly displace the insert 30 into a release position as indicated in FIG. 3.

(26) In this configuration, the entire insert 30 with the distal closure member 70 assembled thereon can be removed from the base 20 for replacing the pierceable sealing member 60. For this purpose, the distal closure member 70 comprises radially outwardly extending and diametrically oppositely located recesses 76 at an inside wall 78 of a distal rim 75 at its distal end face 77. As indicated in FIGS. 7a and 7b, a tool 90 comprising a correspondingly-shaped projection 92 with lateral and oppositely located rounded end sections 94 can be inserted into the oppositely located recesses 76 in order to transfer an angular momentum to the distal closure member 70 for the purpose of unscrewing the same from the distal end of the insert 30.

(27) The radially outwardly extending recesses 76 are of particular benefit especially for cleaning of the access assembly 10 and/or of the vessel 12 receiving the same. In preferred embodiments, the distal end face 77 of the distal closure member 70 is flush with the inside wall of the vessel 12. Since the outer circumference of the rim 75 is of annular and recess-free shape, no grooves or recesses will be formed in the interface between the rim 75 and the surrounding sidewall 14 of the vessel 12. This way, the interface between distal closure member 70 and sidewall 14 of the vessel 12 can be easily cleaned.

(28) For extracting of a sample from the interior of the vessel 12 by making use of the pierceable sealing member 60, the proximal closure member 50 substantially obstructing the passageway 25 through the insert 30 has to be removed. Also here, a forced leakage mechanism is implemented in a similar way as already described with respect to the distal closure member 70 and the base 20. The insert 30 is also of tubular shape and comprises a tubular-shaped sealing portion 35, which engages with an annular sealing ring 56 located in an annular groove 55 of the proximal closure member 50. Moreover, the passageway 25 also extends through the insert 30.

(29) The proximal closure member 50 comprises a stepped down shaft 54 at its distal end in which the annular groove 55 is located. Adjacent to the shaft 54, there is provided a radially widened flange or disc portion 57 featuring an outer thread 58 to engage with an inner thread 36 located at a proximal end of the insert 30. The proximal closure member 50 further comprises a handle portion or a radially widened grip section 52 at its proximal end allowing to induce a torque for screwing or unscrewing the proximal closure member 52 to and from the insert 30.

(30) Between the proximally located inner thread 36 and the sealing portion 35, the insert 30 comprises a frusto-conical or tapered sidewall portion 34 which serves as a radially widening portion into which the sealing ring 56 is axially shifted when the proximal closure member 50 is axially displaced in proximal direction 2 to reach a leakage position as it is indicated in FIG. 4.

(31) There, the sealing engagement between the sealing ring 56 and the sealing sidewall portion 35 is no longer maintained. In the event that the disc-shaped sealing member 60 is subject to malfunction, a streamlet 102 evolves by way of which a limited amount of the liquid medium may discharge through the non-sealing threaded interconnection of proximal closure member 50 and insert 30. The mutually corresponding threads 58, 36 are of non-sealing type so that the proximal closure member 50 can be kept securely fastened to the insert 30 while the streamlet 102 escapes through the threaded interconnection. Even in case that the septum or sealing member 60 is completely broken, the proximal closure member 50 may withstand a respective fluid pressure which may build up in the interior of the access assembly 20, hence, in its passageway 25.

(32) The geometric shape and dimensions of the distal closure member 50 and the insert 30 are designed such, that a non-sealing but leaking configuration can be attained in which the proximal closure member 50 is still securely fastened to the insert 30.

(33) In the event that a streamlet 102 does not evolve when displacing the proximal closure member 50 into the leakage position as illustrated in FIG. 4, the closure member 50 may be unscrewed further to reach a release position as indicated in FIG. 5.

(34) In this configuration, the proximal closure member 50 may be taken out of the insert 30 for providing free access to the pierceable sealing member 60 located at the distal end of the insert 30. Then, an operator may enter the insert 30 with a tipped piercing element, such like a cannula to penetrate or to puncture the pierceable sealing member 60 and to withdraw a sample from the liquid medium contained in the vessel 12. Here, the distally and radially inwardly tapered sidewall portions 34, 33 of the insert 30 also serve as a deflecting portion to guide the tipped piercing element and to prevent blunting thereof.

(35) Since the exact radial location of the pierceable sealing member 60 may be difficult to determine, it may happen, that the tipped and free end of the piercing member may hit a sidewall portion of the insert 30 when manually inserted into the insert 30. By providing the sidewall portions 33, 34 with a radially inwardly tapered shape, the tipped piercing element may be guided and deflected in order to hit the radially centrally located pierceable sealing member 60 provided at the distal end face 32 of the insert 30.

(36) Furthermore and as indicated in FIGS. 10 and 8b, the insert 30 is rotatably locked to the base 20 by means of three radially outwardly extending projections 41 that engage with correspondingly-shaped and axially extending grooves 21 provided at the inside sidewall 23 of the proximal end of the base 20. Said grooves 21 extend radially outwardly from the inside sidewall 23 of the base 20. By means of mutually engaging or mutually mating projections 41 and grooves 21, the insert 30 is exclusively slidingly displaceable relative to the base 20 in distal and proximal direction 1, 2. By inhibiting a rotation of the insert 30 relative to the base 20, unintentional unscrewing of the distal closure member 70 from the distal end of the insert 30 while the distal closure member 70 is still constrained in the tubular sealing portion 28 of the base 20 can be effectively prevented.