Luer lock connectors, particularly for use in radioisotope generators

Abstract

The invention is directed to improved containers for pharmaceuticals and any tubing and tubing connectors associated therewith, particularly containers for pharmaceuticals which are irradiated, heated or otherwise subjected to increased pressure. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is directed to an improved container for use in a radioisotope generator, such as a rubidium-82 generator.

1 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . An improved Luer lock comprising a female Luer cap and a male Luer cap, wherein one of the female and male Luer caps contains a flange and the other of the female and male Luer caps contains threads, the female Luer cap and male Luer cap being configured so that the flange and threads cooperate with each other in such a way that the female Luer cap and male Luer cap can be screwed together, wherein the male Luer cap and the female Luer cap each comprises one or more tabs, and wherein the one or more tabs on the male Luer cap and the one or more tabs on the female Luer cap are configured to achieve a desired configuration with respect to each other when the two Luer caps are tightened together. 
     
     
         35 . The improved Luer lock of  claim 34 , wherein the male and female Luer caps each have two tabs. 
     
     
         36 . The improved Luer lock of  claim 34 , wherein the desired configuration comprises each of the one or more tabs on the male Luer cap lining up with a corresponding tab of the one or more tabs on the female Luer cap. 
     
     
         37 . The improved Luer lock of  claim 34 , wherein the desired configuration comprises each of the one or more tabs on the male Luer cap overlapping with a corresponding tab of the one or more tabs on the female Luer cap. 
     
     
         38 - 53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . The improved Luer lock of  claim 37 , wherein each of the one or more tabs on the male Luer cap are configured to click past a corresponding tab of the one or more tabs on the female Luer cap when positioning the one or more tabs on the male Luer cap in an overlapping arrangement with the corresponding tab of the one or more tabs on the female Luer cap. 
     
     
         55 . The improved Luer lock of  claim 34 , wherein the female Luer cap comprises the flange and the male Luer cap comprises the threads. 
     
     
         56 . The improved Luer lock of  claim 55 , wherein the flange is flat. 
     
     
         57 . The improved Luer lock of  claim 55 , wherein the flange contains a groove. 
     
     
         58 . The improved Luer lock of  claim 55 , wherein the flange is configured to engage and mate with the threads. 
     
     
         59 . The improved Luer lock of  claim 34 , wherein the one or more tabs of the female Luer cap and the one or more tabs of the male Luer cap each extend radially outwards from a screw connection between the female Luer cap and the male Luer cap. 
     
     
         60 . A Luer lock comprising:
 a male Luer cap that contains threads and includes one or more tabs; and   a female Luer cap that contains a flange and includes one or more tabs, the flange being configured to engage and mate with the threads of the male Luer cap,   wherein the one or more tabs of the male Luer cap are configured to align with the one or more tabs of the female Luer cap so as to indicate when the male Luer cap is screwed to the female Luer cap to a desired degree of rotation such that a desired tightness between the male Luer cap and the female Luer cap is achieved.   
     
     
         61 . The Luer lock of  claim 60 , wherein the male and female Luer caps each have two tabs. 
     
     
         62 . The Luer lock of  claim 60 , wherein the one or more tabs of the male Luer cap are configured to align with the one or more tabs of the female Luer cap so as to indicate when the male Luer cap is screwed to the female Luer cap to a desired degree of rotation by the one or more tabs of the male Luer cap lining up with a corresponding tab of the one or more tabs on the female Luer cap. 
     
     
         63 . The Luer lock of  claim 60 , wherein the one or more tabs of the male Luer cap are configured to align with the one or more tabs of the female Luer cap so as to indicate when the male Luer cap is screwed to the female Luer cap to a desired degree of rotation by the one or more tabs on the male Luer cap overlapping with a corresponding tab of the one or more tabs on the female Luer cap. 
     
     
         64 . The Luer lock of  claim 60 , wherein the one or more tabs of the female Luer cap and the one or more tabs of the male Luer cap each extend radially outwards from a screw connection between the female Luer cap and the male Luer cap.