Sterilant cartridge-cap and associated connection

Abstract

A sterilant cartiridge-cap for use in peritoneal dialysis and other inline sterilant delivery applications including an elongated flexible tubular clear body member of substantially uniform cross section closed at one end and having a clear male Luer connector on its opposite end for attachment to an associated female Luer member at the end of the tube such as an extension set connected to a tube protruding form a patient's body, an O-ring on the female Luer member for engagement between such shoulder and a rim of a collar on the mal Luer member, sterilant liquid in the tubular body member, and an air bubble in the sterilant liquid. The male and female portions of the Luer connectors provide an inner seal, and the rim of the male member provides an outer seal with the O-ring. During detachment of the male and female members, the inner seal is broken before the outer seal is broken, and the volume between the male and female members increases as they move apart while the outer seal is maintained. The movement apart creates a vacuum in the female member which causes sterillant to automatically be drawn into it from the cartridge cap while the outer seal prevents air from being drawn into the Luer connector from the environment.