Connector, connector system, and use thereof

Abstract

A connector (10) is provided for sterile connection to a complementary connector (12). The connector (10) has a housing (14) with an engagement device (16) to engage a complementary engagement device (18) of the complementary connector (12) along an engagement direction (44). The connector (10) is displaceable relative to the complementary connector (12) along the engagement direction (44) after the engagement device (16) engages the complementary engagement device (18). The housing (14) has a feed-through opening (24) for receiving a sensor (34) and a cover (22). The cover (22) is displaced relative to the connector (10) along the engagement direction (44) to close the feed-through opening (24) in a sterile manner. The connector (10) also has a sterile sensor (34) that is movable along a sensor displacement direction (52) that differs from the engagement direction (44).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a preferred connector and of a complementary connector.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of a preferred connector and of a complementary connector according to FIG. 1, but rotated through 90°.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view according to FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view according to FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional view according to FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic sectional view according to FIG. 2.

Claims

1. A connector (10) for sterile connection to a complementary connector (12), wherein the connector (10) comprises a connector housing (14) with an engagement device (16), which is designed such that it can enter into engagement with a complementary engagement device (18) of the complementary connector (12) essentially along an engagement direction (44), andthat, after the engagement device (16) enters into engagement with the complementary engagement device (18), the connector (10) is displaceable relative to the complementary connector (12) essentially along the engagement direction (44);a feed-through opening (24), for feeding a sensor device (34) through;a displaceable, sterile covering device (22), which is designed to close the feed-through opening (24) in an essentially sterile manner, andthat, when the connector (10) is displaced relative to the complementary connector (12), the covering device (22) is displaced relative to the connector (10) essentially along the engagement direction (44),and with an essentially sterile sensor device (34), wherein the sensor device (34) is movable essentially along a sensor displacement direction (52), and whereinthe engagement direction (44) differs from the sensor displacement direction (52).

2. The connector (10) of claim 1, wherein the sensor (34) is arranged within a sensor chamber (38) having an essentially sterile interior, and the sensor chamber (38) contains the feed-through opening (24).

3. The connector (10) claim 2, wherein the connector housing (14) is at least partially composed of a flexible material, and the connector housing (14) is designed in such a manner that the volume of the sensor chamber (38) can be varied.

4. The connector (10) of claim 3, wherein the connector housing (10) is at least partially designed such that it is compressible and/or extendible.

5. The connector (10) of claim 2, wherein the connector (10) is designed, after arrangement of the connector (10) with the complementary connector (12), to connect the sensor chamber (38) to an interior space of the complementary connector in an essentially sterile manner.

6. The connector (10) of claim 1, wherein the connector housing (14) is at least partially composed of a material capable of being reset.

7. The connector (10) of claim 1, wherein the connector housing (14) is designed to exert a force on the sensor device (34).

8. The connector (10) of claim 7, wherein the connector housing (14) is designed, after connection of the connector (10) to the complementary connector (12), to move the sensor device (34) at least partially into the complementary connector (12).

9. The connector (10) of claim 1, wherein, after removal of the covering device (22) and of the complementary covering device (30), the sensor device (34) is movable through the feed-through opening (24) into the interior space of the complementary connector (12).

10. The connector (10) of claim 1, which is designed such that a fluid can flow through it.

11. The connector (10) of claim 1, wherein the connector (10) has a further opening (54) for the passage of fluid.

12. A connector system for sterile connection of a feed-through opening (24) of the connector (10) of claim 1 to a fluid inlet and/or fluid outlet (50) of a conventional connector (12).

13. A method for connecting a connector (10) and a complementary connector (12) for sterile connection of a feed-through opening (24) of the connector (10) to a fluid inlet and/or fluid outlet (50) of the complementary connector (12), with the following steps: providing the connector (10) and the complementary connector (12);bringing an engagement device (16) of the connector (10) into engagement with a complementary engagement device (18) of the complementary connector (12);displacing the connector (10) relative to the complementary connector (12) along an engagement direction (44),displacing the sensor device (34) along a sensor displacement direction (54).

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensor device (34) is pushed along the sensor displacement direction (52) through the feed-through opening (24) and at least partially into the fluid inlet and/or fluid outlet (50) of the complementary connector (12).

15. The method of claim 13, wherein, when the connector (10) is displaced relative to the complementary connector (12), the covering device (22) of the connector (10) and the complementary covering device (30) of the complementary connector (12) are displaced along the engagement direction (44).

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensor device (34) is removed again from the complementary connector (12).

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the connector (10) is separated from the complementary connector (12), and the connector (10), by means of the covering device (22), and the complementary connector (12), by means of the complementary covering device (30), are closed again in a fluidtight and sterile manner.