← EPO Patent Bulletin

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF STERILELY CONNECTING FLUID PATHWAYS

Publication EP3501594A2 Kind: A2 Mar 18, 2026

Applicants

Fenwal, Inc.

Inventors

BRIERTON, Mark, WEGENER, Christopher J.

Abstract

A sterile tube connector for a fluid circuit system comprising a housing. A first opening is configured to receive a first length of tubing in communication with a first chamber. A second opening is configured for communicating with the first chamber when the tube connector is in an open configuration but not in a closed configuration. The second opening is configured to reversibly engage a third opening to form a second chamber. The third opening is configured for communicating with a second length of tubing. A first portion of the housing forming the first opening comprises a material at least partially permeable to a sterilization energy source for sterilizing contents of the second chamber.

IPC Classifications

A61M 39/18 20060101AFI20260203BHEP A61M 39/10 20060101ALI20260203BHEP A61M 39/26 20060101ALI20260203BHEP A61M 39/16 20060101ALN20260203BHEP

Designated States

AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM, TR