Abbott Laboratories Corporation

Jefferey W Stewart

Ganesh Rajagopal

Russell G Coules

One embodiment of the invention provides a joining element for joining a tube with a port. The joining element comprises a seal having a bore for accepting the tube, a nut and a ferrule. The ferrule has a bore for accepting the seal and the tube, a retaining member which retains the tube with the ferrule by engaging the tube, and a positive stop which limits engagement of the retaining member and the tube. The nut has a bore for accepting the ferrule and the tube and a bearing surface which engages the positive stop on the ferrule to positively limit engagement of the retaining member and the tube. Still other embodiments provide methods for forming a connection between a tube and a port. One such method comprises inserting the tube into a first member and a second member. The first member is moved with respect to the second member such that the second member is positioned partially within the first member. The first member, the second member and the tube are placed in the port. A mating structure on the first member is mated with a complementary mating structure on the port. The first member is moved with respect to the second member within the port such that a retention member on the second member engages the tube. The action of at least one of the first member and the retention member is positively limited.

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Bedford, TX, United States of America

Jefferey W Stewart