| 摘要 |
This invention relates to a connector (1) for joining a rigid (2), fluid-carrying tube to a flexible tube (4). The present invention is particularly useful for the sterilization of endoscopes, which include such a rigid tube, including a hollow passage for the fluid flow of a sterilization vapor therethrough. This connector assembly comprises a connector body (10) which defines a housing. The housing includes a cavity which is designed to receive a piston (30), capable of back and forth movement within this cavity. This piston (30) includes a biasing element (31) for urging the piston (30) into the forward direction of the cavity. The piston (30) is engaged with the end (30) of an endoscope tube (20) in the front of this cavity. The piston (30) further includes an orifice (33) which fluidly connects the endoscope tube (20) end to a flexible hose (4) in the back of this piston (30). The endoscope tube (2) is held in place by jaws (21) which slide back and forth in channels (13) in the front of the connector body (10), perpendicular to the piston cavity. These jaws (21) also include biasing elements (25) which urge the jaws (21) into mechanical engagement with the rigid tube (2). Since the jaws (21) in the piston are designed to accommodate a variety of endoscope tube sizes, this connector (1) permits fast, convenient coupling of the flexible hose (4) to the rigid endoscope (2), minimizing endoscope handling, and thus insuring a greater degree of sterility. |
