Method for providing a bubbleless connection between filling tubes for blood or the like and a container used for said connection

Claim 1

A container for connecting filling tubes for blood or the like, comprising: a container body having an upper opened-portion defining a fluid receiving interior chamber and an external surface; said container body being formed of a high molecular weight substance that is flexible, elastic, and wholly or partly deformable; said container body having opposed confronting sidewalls; each of said opposed confronting sidewalls of said container body having a through-hole of a predetermined dimension through which the end of each of two tubes to be connected are respectively insertable into said container body; a skirt formed with each of said opposed sidewalls and outwardly projecting from said external surface of said container body defining a flange-like appurtenance surrounding an associated one of said tube insertable through-holes; and a flange integrally formed along the periphery of said opened-portion of said container body for strengthening said container body.

Claim 7

A method for connecting filling tubes for blood or the like, wherein a tube such as the connecting tube of a blood pump or humor circulating circuit is connected to a tube such as a cannula mounted on a circulatory system organ in such a way that bubbles are effectively removed from the tubes, comprising the steps of: using a container having a top and formed of a high molecular weight substance which has flexibility, elasticity, and which is deformable wholly or in part; inserting the ends of said tubes into said container in such a way that each extends through an opposed side wall of the container and with their ends in spaced-apart confronting relation; filing the container with a liquid to such a level therein that the ends of said tubes are below the level of the liquid in the container and in fluid communication therewith; angling the inserted ends of the spaced-apart tubes while immersed in the liquid so as to face towards the top of the container; commoving said container and inserted tubes while the tube ends are submerged within the liquid and angled toward the top so as to induce any bubbles present within the tubes to be moved out of the ends of the tube and raise through the liquid; and collapsing said container into itself so as to connect the open ends of said tubes together while said tube ends are still submerged within said liquid.

Claim 8

A method for connecting filling tubes for blood or the like, wherein a tube such as the connecting tube of a blood pump or humor circulating circuit is connected to a tube such as a cannula mounted on a circulatory system organ in such a way that bubbles are effectively removed from the tubes, comprising the steps of: using a container having a top and formed of a high molecular weight substance which has flexibility, elasticity, and which is deformable wholly or in part; inserting the ends of said tubes into said container in such a way that each extends through an opposed side wall of the container and with their ends in spaced-apart confronting relation; filing the container with a liquid to such a level therein that the ends of said tubes are below the level of the liquid in the container and in fluid communication therewith; angling the inserted ends of the spaced-apart tubes while immersed in the liquid so as to face towards the top of the container; commoving said container and inserted tubes while the tube ends are submerged within the liquid and angled toward the top so as to induce any bubbles present within the tubes to be moved out of the ends of the tube and raise through the liquid; and collapsing said container into itself so as to connect the open ends of said tubes together while said tube ends are still submerged within said liquid.