Dry disconnect/bubble free coupling for blood transfer

Abstract

A dry disconnect device including a first portion defining an outlet and an outlet portion of a fluid pathway and a female valve disposed within the first portion having an extended position, including the female valve being configured to seal the outlet portion, and a retracted position. A second portion defining an inlet and an inlet portion of the fluid pathway is lockingly engageable with the first portion. A male valve is disposed within the second portion including a male valve transition member configured to translate the male valve from an extended position to a retracted position including the male valve being configured to seal the inlet portion. The extended position of the male valve causes the female valve to transition from the extended position to the retracted position and causes the outlet portion and the inlet portion of the fluid pathway to be in fluid communication with each other.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A device comprising:
 a first housing defining an outlet, a first aperture, and a first fluid pathway extending between the outlet and the first aperture;   a first valve disposed within the first housing, the first valve being configured to move between:
 a first valve closed position in which fluid flowing through the first fluid pathway is restricted from flowing past the first valve to the outlet, and 
 a first valve open position in which the fluid flowing through the first fluid pathway is less restricted from flowing past the first valve to the outlet; 
   a second housing configured to be mechanically connected to the first housing, the second housing defining an inlet, a second aperture, and a second fluid pathway extending between the inlet and the second aperture; and   a second valve disposed within the second housing, the second valve being configured to move between:
 a second valve closed position including in which fluid flowing through the second fluid pathway is restricted from flowing past the second valve to the second aperture, and 
 a second valve open position in which fluid flowing through the second fluid pathway is less restricted from flowing past the second valve to the second aperture, 
   wherein the second valve is configured extend into the first housing to move the first valve to the first valve open position and fluidically connect the first and second fluid pathways when the first and second housings are mechanically connected, and   wherein the second valve is biased towards the first housing when the first and second housings are mechanically connected.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein when the first and second housings are mechanically connected and the second valve is in the second valve open position, the second valve is configured to engage with the first valve to hold the first valve in the first valve open position. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , further comprising a spring or a magnetic component configured to counter a force applied to the first valve by the second valve when the second valve is engaged with the first valve. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of a fluid tight or an air tight seal is established between the first and second valves when the first and second valves are engaged with each other. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second valves have complementary shapes. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising a biasing member configured to bias the second valve towards the first housing. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one of a spring or an electromagnet configured to bias the second valve towards the first housing. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the second valve comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion being configured to engage with the valve to move the first valve to the first valve open position, the device further comprising:
 a spring coupled to the distal portion; and   a rotatable member configured to rotate to cause the spring to bias the second valve towards the first housing.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein portions of the first and second housings that define the first and second fluid pathways, respectively, are free of protrusions and sharp edges that cause thrombus or shear stress on blood flowing through the first and second fluid pathways. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising a locking member configured to lock the first and second housings together when the first and second housings are mechanically connected. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising a position sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of at least one of the first valve or the second valve. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the position sensor comprises at least one of an accelerometer, a resistance-based sensor, a capacitive sensor, or an optical sensor. 
     
     
         14 . A device comprising:
 a first housing defining an outlet of the device, a first aperture, and a first fluid pathway extending between the outlet and the first aperture;   a first valve disposed within the first housing, the first valve being configured to move between:
 a first valve closed position in which fluid flowing through the first fluid pathway is restricted from flowing past the first valve to the outlet, and 
 a first valve open position in which the fluid flowing through the first fluid pathway is less restricted from flowing past the first valve to the outlet; 
   a second housing configured to be mechanically connected to the first housing, the second housing defining an inlet of the device, a second aperture, and a second fluid pathway extending between the inlet and the second aperture; and   a second valve disposed within the second housing, the second valve being configured to move between:
 a second valve closed position including in which fluid flowing through the second fluid pathway is restricted from flowing past the second valve to the second aperture, and 
 a second valve open position in which fluid flowing through the second fluid pathway is less restricted from flowing past the second valve to the second aperture, 
   wherein when the first and second housings are mechanically connected and the second valve is the second valve open position, the second valve extends into the first housing to hold the first valve in the first valve open position and fluidically connect the first and second fluid pathways, and   wherein the second valve is biased towards the first housing when the second valve is in the second valve open position.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising at least one of a spring or an electromagnet configured to bias the second valve towards the first housing. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the second valve comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion being configured to engage with the valve to move the first valve to the first valve open position, the device further comprising:
 a spring coupled to the distal portion; and   a rotatable member configured to rotate to cause the spring to bias the second valve towards the first housing.   
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 connecting a first housing to a second housing,
 wherein the first housing defines an outlet, a first aperture, and a first fluid pathway extending between the outlet and the first aperture, 
 wherein the second housing defines an inlet, a second aperture, and a second fluid pathway extending between the inlet and the second aperture; and 
   after connecting the first and second housings, moving a second valve disposed within the second housing to a second valve open position to move a first valve within the first housing to a first valve open position and fluidically connect the first and second fluid pathways,   wherein the second valve is biased towards the first housing when the second valve is in the second valve open position,   wherein the second valve is configured extend into the first housing to move the first valve to the first valve open position,   wherein the first valve is movable between:
 a first valve closed position in which fluid flowing through the first fluid pathway is restricted from flowing past the first valve to the outlet, and 
 the first valve open position in which the fluid flowing through the first fluid pathway is less restricted from flowing past the first valve to the outlet, and 
   wherein the second valve is movable between:
 a second valve closed position including in which fluid flowing through the second fluid pathway is restricted from flowing past the second valve to the second aperture, and 
 the second valve open position in which fluid flowing through the second fluid pathway is less restricted from flowing past the second valve to the second aperture. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein moving the second valve to the second valve open position comprises moving the second valve into engagement with the first valve to form at least one of a fluid tight or an air tight seal between the first and second valves. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the second valve into engagement with the first valve causes the first valve to apply a counter force to the second valve. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the second valve comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion being configured to engage with the valve to move the first valve to the first valve open position, wherein a spring id coupled to the distal portion, and wherein moving the second valve to the second valve open position comprises rotating a rotatable member to cause the spring to bias the second valve towards the first housing. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 fluidically connecting the outlet to an external device; and   fluidically connecting the inlet to a patient to enable blood to flow from the patient to the external device through the first and second fluid pathways.