FLEXIBLE PLUG FOR FLUID FLOW PATH
A flexible plug for a medical fluid comprises a sealing member including a flexible cylindrical section that extends to a head; a rigid member holder secured to the sealing member; and a rigid sealing cap including a wall defining an opening, the head of the sealing member sealed within the opening to prevent the flow of medical fluid through the flexible plug. The flexible plug is sealed, e.g., solvent bonded, within a port tube, sleeve port or a Y-connector to form a flexible plug assembly. The user grasps and twists or torques the rigid member holder and the rigid sealing cap through the port tube, sleeve port or a Y-connector to unseal the head from the opening to allow the flow of medical fluid through the flexible plug. A method of manufacturing the flexible plug and associated assembly is also disclosed.
1 : A flexible plug for use with a solution container, the flexible plug comprising:
a sealing member including a flexible section that extends to a beveled head;
a rigid member holder secured to the sealing member; and
a rigid sealing cap including a wall defining a beveled opening, the beveled head of the sealing member sealed within the beveled opening to prevent a flow of medical fluid through the flexible plug.
2 : The flexible plug of claim 1 , wherein the rigid member abuts against the rigid sealing cap.
3 : The flexible plug of claim 1 , wherein the wall defining the beveled opening is an endwall of the rigid sealing cap.
4 . (canceled)
5 . (canceled)
6 : The flexible plug of claim 1 , wherein the beveled opening includes at least one half-round and the beveled head of the sealing member includes at least one mating half-round.
7 : The flexible plug of claim 1 , wherein the beveled head is formed from the same material as the flexible section or is attached to the flexible section.
8 : The flexible plug of claim 1 , wherein the rigid member holder includes an annular seat that accepts a mating flange of the sealing member.
9 : The flexible plug of claim 8 , wherein the flexible section extends from the mating flange of the sealing member through a bore defined by the rigid member holder.
10 : The flexible plug of claim 1 , wherein the flexible section includes a flexible cylindrical section.
11 : A flexible plug assembly for use with a solution container, the flexible plug comprising:
a sealing member including a flexible section that extends to a beveled head;
a rigid member holder secured to the sealing member;
a rigid sealing cap including a wall defining a beveled opening, the beveled head of the sealing member sealed within the beveled opening to prevent a flow of medical fluid through the flexible plug; and
a port tube, sleeve port or Y-connector, at least one of the sealing member, rigid member and rigid sealing cap sealed within the port tube, sleeve port or Y-connector.
12 : The flexible plug assembly of claim 11 , wherein the port tube, sleeve port or Y-connector is flexible so as to allow a user to grasp and twist or torque the rigid member holder and the rigid sealing cap through the port tube, sleeve port or Y-connector to unseal the beveled head from the beveled opening and to allow the flow of medical fluid through the flexible plug.
13 : The flexible plug assembly of claim 11 , wherein the rigid member abuts against the rigid sealing cap, the rigid member and rigid sealing cap sealed within the port tube, sleeve port or Y-connector.
14 - 17 . (canceled)
18 : A method for manufacturing a medical fluid plug comprising:
overmolding or 2K molding a flexible sealing member and a rigid member holder;
inserting a rigid sealing cap over a flexible section of the flexible sealing member, the rigid sealing cap including a wall defining a beveled opening; and
forming or attaching a beveled head to an end of the flexible section of the flexible sealing member so that the beveled head seals the beveled opening in the wall of the rigid sealing cap.
19 : The method of claim 18 , which includes thermoforming the beveled head at the end of the flexible section of the flexible sealing member so that the beveled head seals the beveled opening in the wall of the rigid sealing cap.
20 : The method of claim 18 , which includes adhering the beveled head to the end of the flexible section of the flexible sealing member so that the beveled head seals the beveled opening in the wall of the rigid sealing cap.
21 : The method of claim 18 , which includes sealing at least the rigid sealing cap within a port tube, sleeve port or Y-connector to form a medical fluid plug assembly.