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EP-4304673-B1 - CONNECTOR SYSTEM

EP4304673B1EP 4304673 B1EP4304673 B1EP 4304673B1EP-4304673-B1

Inventors

  • CHELLI, NICCOLO
  • VISCIANO, Angela

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20220308

Claims (15)

  1. A connector (102) for establishing a fluid connection between a medical machine and a container that stores material for use by the medical machine, the connector comprising: a plug (122) defining a channel (138) extending between a plug inlet (139) defined by the plug and a plug outlet (140) defined by the plug, wherein the plug inlet is configured to mechanically and fluidically engage a first conduit (108); and wherein the plug is configured to insert into a socket well to mechanically connect with said socket; and a socket comprising: a socket body (128) defining a socket well (134), wherein the socket is configured to mechanically and fluidically engage a second conduit which is part of or fluidly connected to a hydraulic line of the medical machine; and a socket membrane (130) biased to a closed position in which the socket membrane blocks fluid flow through the socket well, wherein when the plug is inserted into the socket well, the socket membrane is configured to open to enable fluid flow through the socket well, and wherein the membrane is configured to return to a closed position upon removal of the plug.
  2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the socket membrane is positioned within the socket well.
  3. The connector of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a dialysis machine housing, wherein the socket membrane is connected to the dialysis machine housing.
  4. The connector of any preceding claim, wherein the socket is configured to fluidly couple the plug inlet and the second conduit when the plug mechanically mates with the socket and the socket mechanically and fluidically engages the second conduit.
  5. The connector of any preceding claim, wherein the plug further comprises a rim (144) extending from an outer surface (127) of the plug, and wherein the rim is configured to contact the socket body to control a depth of insertion of the plug into the socket well.
  6. The connector of claim 5, wherein one of the socket body or a housing of a dialysis machine comprises a flange (146) configured to contact the rim when the plug is fully inserted in the socket well.
  7. The connector of any preceding claim, wherein the plug and the socket comprise respective visible indications to indicate that the plug is configured to mechanically mate with the socket body.
  8. The connector of any preceding claim, wherein the socket membrane is formed using one or more of an elastic polymer, a shape memory material, or harmonic steel.
  9. A medical system comprising: a plug (122) defining a channel (138) extending between a plug inlet (139) defined by the plug and a plug outlet (140) defined by the plug, wherein the plug inlet is configured to mechanically and fluidically engage a first conduit (108); a dialysis machine comprising a hydraulic line and a socket fluidically connected to the hydraulic line, wherein the socket comprises: a socket body (128) defining a socket well (134), wherein the plug is configured to insert into the socket well to mechanically mate with the socket and to fluidically connect the plug inlet and the hydraulic line; and a socket membrane (130) positioned within the socket well, wherein the socket membrane is biased to a closed position in which the socket membrane blocks fluid flow through the socket well, wherein when the plug is inserted into the socket well, the socket membrane is configured to open to enable fluid flow through the socket well, and wherein the membrane is configured to return to a closed position upon removal of the plug.
  10. The connector or medical system of any preceding claim, wherein the socket membrane is deformable and configured to position between an outer surface (127) of the plug and an inner surface (129) of the socket well in response to insertion of the plug into the socket well.
  11. The connector or medical system of any preceding claim, wherein the socket membrane is further configured to undeform and assume the closed position in response to one or more of a removal of the plug from the socket well or an application of a physical stimulus to the socket membrane.
  12. The connector or medical system of any preceding claim, wherein the socket membrane comprises at least two leaflets (136) configured to coapt to define the closed position.
  13. The connector or medical system of claim 12, wherein the leaflets define free edges configured to move distally away from the plug when the plug is inserted into the socket well.
  14. A medical system according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the socket is configured to fluidically couple the plug inlet and the hydraulic line when the plug mechanically mates with the socket and the socket mechanically and fluidically engages the hydraulic line, and wherein the hydraulic line is in fluid communication with a dialysis cycler.
  15. A medical system according to any one of claims 9 to 14, further comprising the tubing, wherein the tubing is configured to fluidically connect to a container (106) including a dialysate component.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure is related to a medical fluid system connector. BACKGROUND Dialysis machines may be used to remove waste products from blood of a patient when the kidneys of the patient are no longer able to adequately do so. During dialysis, the dialysis machine may generate or regenerate dialysate using specified concentrations of solute buffers, osmotic agents, cations, and/or other concentrates for biocompatibility with the patient. The dialysis machine may provide the dialysate to a cycler for delivery to the patient. The generation or regeneration of dialysate may require a patient or another user to perform physical connections between disposable elements and the dialysis machine. EP0575970B1 (Fresenius Medical Care DE GMBH) describes a connector for a system for generating dialysate, wherein the connector is configured to establish a connection between a container containing a concentrate solution and a mixing system comprising: a plug and a socket comprising an occluding element biased to a closed position in which it blocks fluid flow until the plug is inserted in the socket. SUMMARY The invention provides a connector and a medical system as defined in the appended claims. This disclosure describes a connector configured to establish a connection between a container configured to store a material, such as a medical solution in fluid form, solid form, or any other suitable form, and a machine line of a medical machine (e.g., a dialysis machine) configured to utilize the material to provide therapy to a patient. The connector is configured to establish the connection through the mechanical mating of a plug and a socket. The plug is configured to fluidically engage the container and the socket is configured to fluidically engage the machine line. In some examples, the plug is configured to insert into a socket well defined by the socket to provide the mechanical mating. The socket includes a socket membrane positioned within the socket well that is biased to a closed position in which the socket membrane blocks entry into the socket well and into the machine line. When the plug is inserted into the socket well, the plug moves the socket membrane to open the membrane and enable fluid flow through the socket well and into the machine line. In some examples, a connector comprises a plug defining a channel extending between a plug inlet defined by the plug and a plug outlet defined by the plug, wherein the plug inlet is configured to mechanically and fluidically engage a first conduit; a socket includes a socket body defining a socket well, wherein the socket is configured to mechanically and fluidically engage a second conduit, and wherein the plug is configured to insert into the socket well to mechanically mate with the socket; and a socket membrane biased to a closed position in which the socket membrane blocks fluid flow through the socket well, and wherein, when the plug is inserted into the socket well, the socket membrane is configured to open to enable fluid flow through the socket well. In some examples, the socket membrane may be positioned within the socket well or connected to a dialysis machine housing. The details of one or more examples are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example medical system configured to deliver a medical fluid such as dialysate.FIG. 2 is a conceptual cross-sectional diagram of an example connector including a plug and a socket, where the cross-section is taken through a central longitudinal axis of the connector.FIG. 3 is a conceptual cross-sectional diagram of the connector of FIG. 2 with the plug mechanically mated with the socket.FIG. 4A is a conceptual plan diagram of the socket of FIG. 2 when a socket membrane of the socket is in a closed position.FIG. 4B is a conceptual plan diagram of the socket of FIG. 2 when the socket membrane is in an open position.FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of an example technique of using a connector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION This disclosure describes a connector configured to establish a fluid connection between a medical machine and a container that stores material for use by the medical machine in a medical treatment of a patient. In some examples, the connector is configured to provide a fluid connection between a materials source, such as a medical solution container (e.g., a bag) holding a medical solution (e.g., in a solid and/or a liquid state), and a medical machine configured to utilize the medical solution to provide therapy to a patient. In some examples, the container stores a concentrate solution for dialysis therapy and the medical machine includes a dialysis machine configured to utilize the concentrate solution to deliver dialysate to the patient. The connector includes a plug configured to