METHOD AND DEVICE FOR OVERMOLDING UV-CURABLE MATERIAL OVER POLYMER INSERTS

1 . A fluid management assembly comprising:

a connector having at least one inlet and at least one outlet and a lumen extending there between, wherein the connector comprises a plastic material;

a first silicone tubing connected to the at least one inlet at a first interface;

a second silicone tubing connected to the at least one outlet at a second interface;

a silicone overmolding surrounding the connector, the first interface, and the second interface, wherein the silicone overmolding comprises a UV-curable silicone.

2 . The fluid management assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a Tee connector.

3 . The fluid management assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a Wye connector.

4 . The fluid management assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a union.

5 . The fluid management assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a coupler.

6 . The fluid management assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises an elbow.

7 . The fluid management assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a reducer.

8 . The fluid management assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a clamp surrounding the first silicone tubing at the first interface and another clamp surrounding the second silicone tubing at the second interface.

9 . (canceled)

10 . The fluid management assembly of claim 1 , wherein the burst pressure of the assembly exceeds 50 psi.

11 . The fluid management assembly of claim 1 , wherein the burst pressure of the assembly exceeds 100 psi.

12 . The fluid management assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet comprise barbed ends.

13 . A method of forming a fluid management assembly comprising:

coupling first and second silicone tubing portions to a plastic material connector having at least one inlet and at least one outlet and a lumen extending there between, wherein the at least one inlet is coupled to the first silicone tubing portion at a first interface and wherein the at least one outlet is coupled to the second silicone tubing portion at a second interface;

inserting the connector into a cavity of a mold;

injecting a liquid silicone rubber into the mold cavity; and

applying UV radiation to the liquid silicone rubber to cure the silicone.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the liquid silicone rubber is cured at substantially room temperature.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the connector is inserted into the cavity of the mold prior to coupling the first and second silicone tubing portions to the plastic material connector.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the connector is inserted into the cavity of the mold after coupling the first and second silicone tubing portions to the plastic material connector.

17 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising securing a clamp around the first silicone tubing portion at the first interface.

18 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising securing a clamp around the second silicone tubing portion at the second interface.

19 . A fluid management assembly comprising:

a connector having at least one inlet and at least one outlet and a lumen extending there between, wherein the connector comprises a plastic material;

a first tubing portion connected to the at least one inlet at a first interface;

a second tubing portion connected to the at least one outlet at a second interface;

a polymer-based overmolding surrounding the connector, the first interface, and the second interface, wherein the polymer-based overmolding comprises a UV-curable material.

20 . A method of forming the fluid management assembly of claim 19 comprising:

coupling first and second tubing portions to the connector, wherein the at least one inlet is coupled to the first tubing portion at a first interface and wherein the at least one outlet is coupled to the second tubing portion at a second interface;

inserting the connector into a cavity of a mold;

injecting an un-cured liquid polymer into the mold cavity; and

applying UV radiation to the un-cured liquid polymer to cure the polymer into a solid material.

21 . The fluid management assembly of claim 19 , wherein the polymer-based overmolding comprises silicone.