Port closure system for intravenous fluid container
A port closure system for use with a fluid container having fluid ports includes administrative and additive port closure assemblies. The administrative assembly receives a piercing pin and includes an administrative housing which seals closed one fluid port. A sleeve extends from an interior surface past a base surface in the administrative housing. The sleeve has an upper portion and a lower portion, of differing diameters. A cap assembly mates with the administrative housing, sealing the interior surface of the administrative housing. A removable cap provides access to the interior surface. The additive assembly receives a needle and includes a reseal housing which seals closed another fluid port. Another cap assembly mates with the reseal housing, sealing an interior face of the reseal housing. Another removable cap provides access to the interior face. A reseal element is mechanically retained between the reseal housing and cap assembly.
1. A port closure system for use with a fluid container having a fluid port, comprising:
a port housing adapted to seal the fluid port in closed condition;
a cap assembly connected to the port housing, the cap assembly being of unitary construction and having a crown connected to a removable cap by a frangible area;
the crown having an outer shell, an under shell mateably connected with the port housing, and a sealed opening extending between the outer and under shells; and
the removable cap including a cover sealed over the sealed opening by the frangible area and a pull element connected to the cover to allow a user to manually tug on the pull element to sever the frangible area and separate the cover from the crown.
2. The port closure system of claim 1 , wherein the port housing and cap assembly form a port assembly adapted to be assembled and presterilized as a subassembly prior to association and use with the fluid container, and wherein the port closure system is adapted to be heat sterilized with the fluid container after the fluid container is filled.
3. The port closure system of claim 1 , wherein the cap assembly has a notch area formed thereon operatively associated with the frangible area to weaken the frangible area.
4. The port closure system of claim 1 , wherein the crown has a retaining rim extending from the under shell around the sealed opening, the retaining rim securing a reseal element between the crown and port housing.
5. The port closure system of claim 1 , wherein the cover changes shape during heat sterilization allowing a user to discern the sterilized state of the cover due to its shape.
6. The port closure system of claim 3 , wherein the pull element includes a pull ring, a pull tab, and a lever, the lever being connected to one side of the cover adjacent to the crown, the pull tab being connected to the lever by the pull ring and positioned opposite the lever on the pull ring, the pull tab providing an area for manual gripping of the pull element.
7. The port closure system of claim 6 , wherein the lever is positioned adjacent the notch area and focuses the force of a user tugging on the pull element at the notch area.
8. The port closure system of claim 6 , wherein the lever includes a pull force concentrator defined by an area of narrowed cross section in the lever adjacent to the frangible area and near the notch area so as to focus the force of a user tugging on the pull element at the notch area.
9. The port closure system of claim 6 , wherein the pull element further includes at least one pivot element spaced circumferentially from the lever on the pull ring, the pivot element contacting the crown to permit the pull element to pivot if impacted to limit inadvertent damage to the frangible area.
10. The port closure system of claim 1 , wherein the port housing is formed of a material comprising a blend of two polypropylene copolymers, the cap assembly is formed of a material comprising a blend of two polypropylene copolymers.
11. A port closure system for use with a fluid container having a fluid port, comprising:
a port housing adapted to seal the fluid port in closed condition;
a cap assembly connected to the port housing, the cap assembly being of unitary construction and having a crown sealingly connected to a removable cap by a frangible area;
the crown having an outer shell, an under shell mateably connected with the port housing, and a sealed opening extending between the outer and under shells; and
the removable cap including a cover sealed to the crown over the sealed opening of the crown by the frangible area and a pull element connected to the cover to allow a user to manually tug on the pull element to sever the frangible area and separate the cover from the crown.