초록 ▼

A pouch connector includes a safety cap having a cap base portion and a main connector disposed opposite the safety cap. The main connector and safety cap are configured to receive a portion of a pouch therebetween. The main connector includes a piercing member for piercing the pouch, an actuating p

A pouch connector includes a safety cap having a cap base portion and a main connector disposed opposite the safety cap. The main connector and safety cap are configured to receive a portion of a pouch therebetween. The main connector includes a piercing member for piercing the pouch, an actuating portion for actuating the piercing member and a main connector base portion. The piercing member is configured to pierce through a portion of the pouch so as to provide fluid communication between a substance inside the pouch and the interior of the main connector. A polymeric membrane is coupled to at least one of the cap base portion and the main connector base portion.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method comprising the following steps: providing an empty, sterile pouch having a first side and a second side;hermetically sealing a first pouch-engaging surface of a pouch connector to the first side of the pouch, and hermetically sealing a second pouch-engaging surface of the pouch connector

1. A method comprising the following steps: providing an empty, sterile pouch having a first side and a second side;hermetically sealing a first pouch-engaging surface of a pouch connector to the first side of the pouch, and hermetically sealing a second pouch-engaging surface of the pouch connector to the second side of the pouch; andmolding the pouch connector in one piece with a penetrable and resealable member that is penetrable by a needle or injection member for aseptically filling the pouch therethrough. 2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the hermetically sealing step is performed by using an adhesive. 3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the adhesive includes an ultraviolet radiation curable adhesive, and the hermetically sealing step includes applying a sufficient amount of ultraviolet radiation to cure the adhesive. 4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein the hermetically sealing step includes applying a sufficient amount of ultraviolet radiation to sterilize with ultraviolet radiation or more of (i) any interface of the first connector and the pouch, (ii) an interior portion defined between the first connector and the pouch by walls of said first connector and the pouch; or (iii) said wall defining said interior portion. 5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the penetrable and resealable member is molded in one piece with the pouch connector prior to the hermetically sealing step. 6. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising: penetrating the penetrable and resealable member with a needle or injection member; andintroducing fluid through the needle or injection member, through the penetrable and resealable member, and into the pouch, and thereby sterile filling the pouch. 7. A method as defined in claim 6, further comprising withdrawing the needle or injection member from the penetrable and resealable member and sealing a penetration aperture in the penetrable and resealable member with one or more of (i) radiation or energy or (ii) a liquid sealant. 8. A method as defined in claim 6, further comprising aseptically withdrawing the filled substance from the pouch through the pouch connector. 9. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising connecting a sterile connector in fluid communication with the pouch connector. 10. A method as defined in claim 9, further comprising dispensing one or more doses of fluid from the interior of the pouch through the sterile connector, and maintaining the remaining fluid within the pouch sterile and sealed with respect to the ambient atmosphere. 11. An apparatus comprising: a sterile pouch;a pouch connector comprising a housing including a first pouch-engaging surface engaged with a first side of the pouch forming a hermetic seal therebetween, and a second pouch-engaging surface, formed integral with the first pouch-engaging surface, and engaged with a second side of the pouch opposite the first side of the pouch and forming a hermetic seal therebetween; anda penetrable and resealable member molded in one piece with the pouch connector, wherein the penetrable and resealable member is penetrable by a needle or injection member to sterile fill the pouch with a substance therethrough and a resulting penetration aperture is resealable to hermetically seal a sterile substance within an interior of the pouch. 12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, further comprising a port coupled in fluid communication between the housing and interior of the pouch for one or more of sterile filling the substance therethrough into the interior of the pouch or dispensing the sterile filled substance therethrough from the interior of the pouch. 13. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, further comprising a conduit coupled to the pouch connector in fluid communication with the interior of the pouch, and a valve coupled in fluid communication with the conduit for controlling one or more of (i) a flow of substance from the pouch therethrough, or (ii) a flow of substance from the valve and conduit therethrough towards the housing. 14. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the penetrable and resealable member is resealable through application of one or more of (i) radiation or energy or (ii) a liquid sealant. 15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the pouch is aseptically filled with a fluid, the penetrable and resealable member is resealed, and the fluid in the pouch is sealed with respect to the ambient atmosphere. 16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the penetrable and resealable member is thermally resealed or is resealed by the application of a liquid sealant thereto. 17. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the interior of the pouch defines an aseptic storage chamber that is empty, sealed with respect to ambient atmosphere, and adapted to receive therein a substance to be stored and dispensed therefrom, and the penetrable and resealable portion is not resealed. 18. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, further comprising a sterile connector connected in fluid communication with the interior of the pouch. 19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the sterile connector is either (i) formed integral with the pouch connector, or (ii) coupled through a conduit in fluid communication with the interior of the pouch. 20. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, further comprising a port in fluid communication between the penetrable and resealable member and the interior of the pouch. 21. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the penetrable and resealable member is over-molded or co-molded in one piece with the pouch connector. 22. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the pouch connector includes a fitting thereon. 23. An apparatus as defined in claim 22, further comprising a tube connected on one end to the fitting and forming a hermetic seal therebetween. 24. An apparatus as defined in claim 23, further comprising a sterile connector or valve coupled in fluid communication to another end of the tube and forming a hermetic seal therebetween. 25. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the housing includes a base portion defining the first and second pouch-engaging surfaces, and a body portion on the base portion, wherein the penetrable and resealable member is co-molded or over-molded to the body portion. 26. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the pouch connector includes one or more of an inflow port, an outflow port, a connector and a valve. 27. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the pouch connector includes an inflow port, and the penetrable and resealable member seals the inflow port with respect to the ambient atmosphere. 28. An apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein the pouch connector further includes an outflow port and another penetrable and resealable member sealing the outflow port with respect to the ambient atmosphere. 29. An apparatus comprising: a sterile pouch;a pouch connector comprising a housing including a first pouch-engaging surface engaged with a first side of the pouch forming a hermetic seal therebetween, and a second pouch-engaging surface, formed integral with the first pouch-engaging surface, and engaged with a second side of the pouch opposite the first side of the pouch and forming a hermetic seal therebetween; andfirst means molded in one piece with the pouch connector for aseptically filling the pouch with a substance therethrough. 30. An apparatus as defined in claim 29, wherein the first means includes either (i) a penetrable and resealable member that is penetrable by a needle or other injection member for aseptically filling the pouch therethrough, or (ii) a sterile connector for aseptically filling the pouch therethrough. 31. An apparatus as defined in claim 29, further including second means for dispensing multiple doses of sterile substance from the pouch and for maintaining the remaining doses of substance in the pouch sterile and sealed with respect to the ambient atmosphere. 32. An apparatus as defined in claim 31, wherein the second means is (i) a sterile connector connected in sterile, fluid communication with the pouch connector, or (ii) a valve connected in sterile, fluid communication with the pouch connector.