Fluid delivery system and an aseptic connector for use therewith

Abstract

A fluid delivery system includes a valve device, a pump system operable to pressurize a fluid and a patient interface. The valve device includes a sealing element and defines at least a first outlet and a second outlet. The first outlet includes a first member of a connector. The pump system is operably associated with the second outlet of the valve device. The patient interface includes a second member of the connector and a tube in fluid connection with the second member. The second member of the connector is adapted to be removably connected to the first member of the connector. The first member preferably includes a resilient septum, and the second member preferably includes a penetrating member. The connector further comprises a resilient sealing element that contacts the penetrating member and one of an inner wall of the first member and an inner wall of the second member to create a seal between the penetrating member and one of the inner wall of the first member and the inner wall of the second member.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fluid delivery system comprising: 
 a valve device comprising a sealing element and defining at least a first outlet and a second outlet, the first outlet comprising a first member of a connector;    at least one pump system operably associated with the second outlet of the valve device, the at least one pump system operable to pressurize a fluid; and    a patient interface comprising a second member of the connector and a tubing in fluid connection with the second member, the second member of the connector adapted to be removably connected to the first member of the connector.    
     
     
         2 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the patient interface further comprises a unidirectional flow device in fluid connection with the tubing between the second member and the patient.  
     
     
         3 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 2  wherein the unidirectional flow device comprises a check valve.  
     
     
         4 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the valve device is a dual check valve.  
     
     
         5 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the valve device further defines a first inlet.  
     
     
         6 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 5 , further comprising a source of fluid in fluid connection with the first inlet of the valve device.  
     
     
         7 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 6  wherein the source of fluid comprises a fluid container and a conduit in fluid connection with the fluid container.  
     
     
         8 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 7  wherein the source of fluid is adapted to be removably connected to the first inlet.  
     
     
         9 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 8  wherein the first inlet comprises a first member of a second connector and the conduit comprises a second member of the second connector, the first member and the second member of the second connector adapted to be removably connected to one another to removably connect the source of fluid to the valve device.  
     
     
         10 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 9  wherein the first member of the second connector comprises a resilient septum and the second member of the second connector comprises a penetrating member adapted to penetrate the resilient septum.  
     
     
         11 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 10  wherein the second connector further comprises a resilient sealing element that contacts the penetrating member and one of an inner wall of the first member and an inner wall of the second member to create a seal between the penetrating member and one of the inner wall of the first member and the inner wall of the second member.  
     
     
         12 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 11  wherein the resilient sealing element comprises an elastomeric member that is compressed when the first member and the second member are brought together to form the seal between the penetrating member and one of the inner wall of the first member and the inner wall of the second member.  
     
     
         13 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the first member of the connector comprises a resilient septum and the second member of the connector comprises a penetrating member adapted to penetrate the resilient septum.  
     
     
         14 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 13  wherein the connector further comprises a resilient sealing element that contacts the penetrating member and one of an inner wall of the first member and an inner wall of the second member to create a seal between the penetrating member and one of the inner wall of the first member and the inner wall of the second member.  
     
     
         15 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 14  wherein the resilient sealing element comprises an elastomeric member that is compressed when the first member and the second member are brought together to form the seal between the penetrating member and one of the inner wall of the first member and the inner wall of the second member.  
     
     
         16 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the first member of the connector comprises a first threaded section and the second member of the connector comprises a second threaded section, the first threaded section and the second threaded section being adapted to cooperate to releasably connect the first member to the second member.  
     
     
         17 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one pump system comprises a first member of a luer connection and the second outlet of the valve device comprises a second member of the luer connection, the first and second members of the luer connection being adapted to cooperate to removably connect the at least one pump system to the valve device.  
     
     
         18 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one pump system comprises a syringe.  
     
     
         19 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the patient interface is discarded after an injection procedure for a patient is completed to prevent cross-contamination between patients.  
     
     
         20 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 1  wherein one or both of the at least one pump system and the valve device can be reused for a number of injection procedures.