Dialysis connector and cap compatible with gas sterilization
A dialysis disposable sterilization apparatus includes a connector and a protective cap fitted to the connector. The apparatus also includes a sealing ring provided by one of the protective cap or the connector, the sealing ring forming a seal between the cap and the connector, the seal capable of holding pressure. The apparatus further includes a stabilization rib provided by the connector, the stabilization rib positioned and arranged to (i) tend to prevent the protective cap from vibrating about the sealing ring and (ii) enable a sterilizing gas to flow past the stabilization rib to contact the sealing ring.
1. A disposable dialysis apparatus comprising:
a connector;
a protective cap fitted to the connector;
a sealing ring provided by one of the protective cap or the connector, the sealing ring forming a seal between the cap and the connector, the seal capable of holding pressure; and
a stabilization rib provided by the connector, the stabilization rib (i) positioned and arranged to tend to prevent the protective cap from vibrating about the sealing ring, and (ii) discontinuous to define an opening enabling a sterilizing gas to flow past the stabilization rib to contact the sealing ring.
2. The disposable dialysis apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connector is at least one of: (i) a spike connector; (ii) a port connector extending from a disposable pumping cassette; or (iii) fitted to an end of a tube.
3. The disposable dialysis apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sealing ring and the stabilization rib are provided on the connector.
4. The disposable dialysis apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the protective cap is a tip protector.
5. The disposable dialysis apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stabilization rib is at least one of: spiraling, or aligned with a central axis of the connector.
6. The disposable dialysis apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sterilizing gas flows past the stabilization rib to contact a first side of the sealing ring, and wherein the sterilizing gas is caused to further contact a second side of the sealing ring from a different direction.
7. The disposable dialysis apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stabilization rib is a first stabilization rib, and which includes at least one second stabilization rib provided by either the connector or the cap.
8. The disposable dialysis apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first stabilization rib is positioned radially along an outer wall of the connector, while the second stabilization rib is positioned axially along the outer wall of the connector.
9. The disposable dialysis apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the second stabilization rib is positioned radially along an inner wall of the protective cap, while the first stabilization rib is positioned axially along an outer wall of the connector.
10. The disposable dialysis apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first stabilization rib is positioned radially along an outer wall of the connector, while the second stabilization rib is positioned axially along an inner wall of the protective cap.
11. A disposable dialysis apparatus comprising:
a connector;
a protective cap fitted to the connector;
a sealing ring provided by one of the cap or the connector, the sealing ring forming a seal between the cap and the connector, the seal capable of holding pressure; and
a stabilization rib provided by the protective cap, the stabilization rib (i) positioned and arranged to tend to prevent the protective cap from vibrating about the sealing ring, and (ii) discontinuous to define an opening enabling a sterilizing gas to flow past the stabilization rib to contact the sealing ring.
12. The disposable dialysis apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the sealing ring and the stabilization rib are provided on the protective cap.
13. The disposable dialysis apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the sterilizing gas flows past the stabilization rib to contact a first side of the sealing ring, and wherein the sterilizing gas is caused to further contact a second side of the sealing ring from a different direction.
14. The disposable dialysis apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the stabilization rib is a first stabilization rib, and which includes at least one second stabilization rib provided by the protective cap,
wherein one of the first or second stabilization ribs is positioned radially along an inner wall of the protective cap, while the other of the first or second stabilization ribs is positioned axially along the inner wall of the protective cap.
15. A disposable dialysis apparatus comprising:
a cassette including at least one of a pump chamber and a valve chamber;
a port connector extending from the cassette;
a protective cap fitted onto the port connector;
a sealing ring provided by one of the port connector or the protective cap, the sealing ring forming a seal between the port connector and the protective cap, the seal capable of holding a pressure; and
a stabilization rib provided by one of the port connector or the protective cap, the stabilization rib (i) positioned and arranged to tend to prevent the cap from vibrating about the sealing ring, and (ii) segmented to enable a sterilizing gas to flow past the stabilization rib to contact the sealing ring.
16. The disposable dialysis apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the cassette is in fluid communication with at least one of: (i) a heater bag or (ii) a drain bag.
17. The disposable dialysis apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the port connector is a first port connector and the protective cap is a first protective cap, and wherein the cassette includes a second port connector and a second protective cap fitted onto the second port connector, at least one of the second port connector or the second protective cap providing a second stabilization rib.
18. The disposable dialysis apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the sterilizing gas flows past the stabilization rib to contact a first side of the sealing ring, and wherein the sterilizing gas is caused to further contact a second side of the sealing ring from a different direction.
19. The disposable dialysis apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the segmented stabilization rib defines openings that enable the sterilizing gas to flow past the stabilization rib to contact the sealing ring.
20. A disposable dialysis apparatus comprising:
a connector;
a protective cap fitted to the connector;
a sealing ring provided by one of the protective cap or the connector, the sealing ring forming a seal between the cap and the connector, the seal capable of holding pressure; and
a stabilization rib provided by one of the connector or the protective cap, the stabilization rib spiraling about the connector so as to (i) tend to prevent the protective cap from vibrating about the sealing ring, and (ii) spiral a sterilizing gas to flow past the stabilization rib to contact the sealing ring,
wherein the stabilization rib is segmented.
21. The disposable dialysis apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the spiraled sterilizing gas contacts a first side of the sealing ring, and wherein the sterilizing gas is caused to further contact a second side of the sealing ring from a different direction than the spiraled sterilizing gas.