Abstract:
The invention relates to a secure connector set for a liquid circuit, including: a male connector and a female connector, each including a proximal coupler and a distal coupler, the distal coupler of each connector defining a passage and including a tubular part, in which a connection member fixedly mounted on the proximal coupler extends coaxially, and an elastically deformable membrane which is substantially tubular, closed at a distal end by a membrane body, and movable between a downstream plugging position, in which the membrane sealingly covers a free end of the connection member, and an upstream connection position, in which the connection member passes through the membrane, in which the tubular part of the distal coupler of the male connector is designed to be inserted, upon connection, into the tubular part of the distal coupler of the female connector, and wherein, in a downstream plugging position, for the male and the female connectors, the membrane sealingly blocks the passage in the distal coupler.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a national phase entry under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2011/052315 filed on Feb. 16, 2011, which claims priority from French Application No. 1051136, filed Feb. 17, 2010 and French Application No. 1054539, filed Jun. 9, 2010, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a connector for a liquid circuit, especially for medical use. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Document EP 0 544 581 discloses such a secure connector comprising a distal entry cone of female Luer type designed to be connected to a device having a connector of compatible and complementary male Luer type. The distal entry cone is blocked by a septum or membrane having a flush surface which is easily cleaned for removal of germs or bacteria before eventual connection is made. The septum protects a tube which, once the connection is made, extends in part in the hole of the connector of male Luer type to which it is connected. Once connected, the connector of document EP 0 544 581 presents a straight tubular passage and reduced dead volume. Document EP 0 544 581 describes a secure female connector. 
     However, it becomes necessary to have a male connector having the same properties to benefit from the same security of use as the female connector of document EP 0 544 581. In addition, in cooperation with the connector of document EP 0 544 581, use of such a secure male connector would produce a secure universal connection. 
     French patent application FR 2 931 363 has therefore proposed a connector for a liquid circuit, especially for medical use, comprising a proximal coupler, a distal coupler defining a passage, a hollow tube mounted fixed on the proximal coupler, extending in the passage of the distal coupler and comprising a free distal end, and an elastically deformable membrane, substantially tubular, closed at a distal end by a membrane thickness and designed to cover the free end of the hollow tube substantially tightly at rest, the distal coupler being mounted to slide relative to the proximal coupler between a distal rest position and a proximal position of use in which the hollow tube can be selectively disengaged from said membrane thickness. 
     The use of such a distal coupler mounted to slide relative to the proximal coupler especially disengages the free distal end from the hollow tube protected by the membrane for cleaning of the latter to remove all germs or bacteria prior to connection, the hollow tube playing the role of male part of the connector. 
     However, the applicant has realised that the male and female connectors were difficult to clean, especially at the level of their respective distal parts comprising the membrane. Now, especially in the domain of chemotherapy where drugs are very aggressive during their preparation by personnel or when injected into patients, the property of the material used is fundamental to the extent where patients are very sensitive to nosocomial diseases. 
     Also, connection and disconnection of the set of connectors is difficult and requires several steps on the part of the operator. 
     Finally, current locking means do not guarantee the user that the connectors are effectively properly connected. In particular, when threadings are used at the level of the ends of the male and female connectors to be connected, the operator often cannot know if he has sufficiently screwed the connectors together and if the connection of the tubes has been completed correctly. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aim of the invention therefore is to propose an improved male and female connection. 
     For this, the invention proposes a secure connection set for a liquid circuit, comprising:
         a male connector and a female connector, each comprising a proximal coupler and a distal coupler,   the distal coupler of each of the connectors defining a passage and comprising a tubular part, in which a connection element mounted fixed on the proximal coupler extends coaxially, and an elastically deformable membrane, substantially tubular, closed at a distal end by a membrane thickness and mobile between a downstream blocking position, in which the membrane tightly covers a free end of the connection element, and an upstream connection position, in which the connection element passes through the membrane,       

     in which the tubular part of the distal coupler of the male connector is adapted to be inserted, during connection, into the tubular part of the distal coupler of the female connector, and in that, in a downstream blocking position, for each of the male and female connectors the membrane sealingly blocks the passage of the distal coupler. 
     Some preferred, though non-limiting, aspects of the connection set according to the invention are the following:
         the external surface of the tubular part of the female connector is devoid of threading,   the external surface of the tubular part of the male connector comprises threading so as to constitute a connectable entry of “Luer-Lock” type,   the male connection element and the female connection element are hollow tubes, and in that the hollow tube of the male connector is adapted to be inserted into the hollow tube of the female connector,   the external surface of the tubular part of the distal coupler of each male connector and female is smooth and has an unvarying axial cross-section over a substantially continuous part and comprises holding means extending transversally, said surface and said holding means forming male locking means or female,   the holding means of the male locking means comprises at least one pin extending transversally from the smooth surface relative to the longitudinal axis of the coupler,   the male locking means comprise two pins extending on either side of the coupler, in opposite directions,   the holding means of the female locking means comprise at least one groove formed in the surface of a collar and designed to receive the pin of the male locking means,   the groove is bent,   the collar extends over part of the coupler only,   the threadings extend over the surface of the tube which is not covered by the collar,   the collar is open-work at the level of a proximal end,   the membrane comprises a slot in the membrane thickness arranged such so as to be passed through by the connection element in an upstream connection position.       

     According to a second aspect, the invention proposes the use of a set of a male connector and a female connector described herein, comprising the steps consisting of:
         cleaning the membrane;   putting in place the proximal ends of the male and female connectors, such that their respective membranes are in contact and the two connectors have their longitudinal axes joined to create a tight seal of the two connectors;   inserting the male connector into the female connector such that the connection element of the male connector is connected in the connection element of the female connector; and   locking the assembly.       

     The connector for a liquid circuit, especially for medical use, and having a longitudinal axis, comprises:
         a proximal coupler;   a distal coupler defining a passage extending along the longitudinal axis;   a hollow tube mounted fixed on the proximal coupler, extending in the passage of the distal coupler and comprising a free distal end; and   an elastically deformable membrane, substantially tubular, closed at a distal end by a membrane thickness and designed to cover the free end of the hollow tube substantially tightly at rest,       

     in which the surface of the distal coupler is smooth and of unvarying axial cross-section over a substantially continuous part of the distal coupler and comprises holding means extending transversally, said smooth surface and said holding means forming male or female locking means. 
     Some preferred, though non-limiting, aspects of this connector are the following:
         the holding means of the male locking means comprise at least one pin extending transversally from the smooth surface relative to the longitudinal axis of the distal coupler;   the male locking means comprise two pins extending on either side of the distal coupler, in opposite directions;   the holding means of the female locking means comprise at least one groove formed in the surface of a collar and designed to receive the pin of the male locking means;   the groove is bent;   the end of the groove serving as stop for the pin comprises a recess forming a restraint for the pin in a locked position;   the collar extends over part of the distal coupler only; and   a central part of the distal coupler not covered by the collar comprises threadings so as to constitute a connectable entry of “Luer-Lock” type.       

     A set of at least two connectors in keeping with the above, designed to cooperate together to create a circuit for fluids, especially in the medical domain, presents the fact that the locking means of one of the connectors are male, and the locking means of the other of the connectors are female. 
     Some preferred, though non-limiting, aspects of such a set are the following:
         one of the locking means comprises at least one pin extending transversally from the smooth surface relative to the longitudinal axis of the distal coupler; and   the other of the locking means comprises a smooth surface ( 260 ) in which at least one groove bent designed to receive the pin of the first locking means is formed   the smooth surface from which the pin extends is the external surface of the distal coupler of the male locking means; and   the smooth surface in which the groove is formed is the internal surface of a collar, arranged on the distal end of the female locking means;   the width of the groove is substantially equal to the diameter of the pin taken in a direction transversal to a direction of insertion of the pin in the groove, and the length of the groove is substantially equal to the relative distance traversed by the connectors when they are coupled; and   the distal couplers of the two connectors are structurally similar, outside of their respective locking means, their respective membranes flush with the distal ends of said distal couplers such that coupling/uncoupling of the male connector and of the female connector is completed in a single axial movement.       

     Use of such a set comprises the steps consisting of:
         cleaning the membrane and the respective locking means of the connectors;   putting in place the distal ends of the connectors such that their respective membranes are in contact and the two connectors have their longitudinal axes joined, to produce a tight seal of the two connectors;   angularly positioning the connectors such that the at least one pin is placed in the longitudinal axis of the corresponding groove;   supporting the two connectors against each other until the pin abuts against the end of the groove; and   turning the connectors relatively one relative to the other so as to lock the pin in the groove.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following detailed description, and with reference to the attached diagrams given by way of non-limiting examples and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a three-dimensional view off a connector comprising male locking means according to the invention, at rest; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b    are three-dimensional views of two embodiments of a connector comprising female locking means according to the invention, at rest; 
         FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b    are sectional views of the connectors of  FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b    respectively, at rest; 
         FIG. 5 a    is a side elevation of a set of connectors according to the invention corresponding to  FIGS. 3 a  and 4 a   , put in contact; 
         FIG. 5 b    is a side elevation of a set of connectors according to the invention corresponding to  FIGS. 3 b  and 4 b   , put in contact; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the set of  FIG. 5   a.    
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the set of  FIG. 5 a   , when the connectors are locked together; 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevation of the set of  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of a third embodiment of a sectional view of a set of connectors comprising female locking means according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In reference to  FIGS. 1 to 2 , a female connector  100  according to the invention will now be described. 
     The female connector  100  comprises a proximal coupler  120 , an elastically deformable membrane  130 , substantially tubular, and a distal coupler  140 . 
     The proximal coupler  120  is of generally tubular in shape and comprises a proximal end which here comprises a connectable entry  121  of female “Luer-Lock” type. By way of variant embodiment, this connectable entry  121  is of “Luer-Lock” type male. It is extended in a distal direction by a hollow body  122  which comprises near the proximal end an annular bulge  126  projecting and extending on a radially external circumference of the hollow body  122  of the proximal coupler  120 , designed to cooperate with a complementary annular groove  142  provided on the distal coupler  140 , to block the proximal  120  and distal  140  couplers in translation one relative to the other, as will be explained hereinbelow. The hollow body  122  of the proximal coupler  120  terminates, in a distal direction, by a rim  123  of circular shape surmounted coaxially by a hollow tube  124  which projects from the proximal coupler  120  in a distal direction. The hollow tube  124  terminates by a free distal end  125 . The hollow tube forms a connection element. The distal coupler  140  has a tubular shape and defines a passage  141 . 
     As a variant, the proximal coupler  120  comprises at least one picot, preferably two, which cooperates with as many orifices provided on the distal coupler  140 . 
     The membrane  130  of the connector  100  will now be described in greater detail. 
     This membrane  130  comprises elastic means  131 , here a spring  131 , for example of helicoidal compression spring type, forming a membrane body, extending as far as a distal end  132  closed by a membrane thickness. These elastic means  131  are designed to bear on the proximal coupler  120  and thrust the distal end  132  of the membrane such that the latter reaches a stable downstream blocking position of a distal end of the passage  141 . 
     By way of variant, the body of the membrane  130  is undulating, and is in the form of bellows. 
     A slot  133  passing through said membrane thickness is made in this membrane thickness. 
     Optionally, on a radially external circumference the distal end  132  of the membrane  130  has a groove designed to receive reinforcement/constriction means  134 , here in the form of a cup which encloses the slot  133  and, in a rest position, ensures that the latter is closed tightly to prevent any loss of pressurised fluid which might be present in the hollow tube  124  during use of the connector  100  mounted on a fluid circuit. 
     In addition, the particular form of the body  131  of the membrane  130  enables the latter to be able to deform elastically in a longitudinal direction and to act as recoil spring allowing the membrane  130  to resume its initial rest form, such as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , during disconnection of the connector  100 . 
     The female connector  100  accordingly comprises a membrane  130  which is encapsulated in the tubular part of the distal coupler  140 . In a stable downstream blocking position this also allows radial clamping of the membrane  130 , and in particular of the distal end  132  of the latter, made by a wall of the tubular part of the distal coupler  140 : this results in better sealing and improved resistance to pressure. 
     The membrane  130  is made of elastomer material, such as polyisoprene, silicone, or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). 
     During mounting, the spring  131  forming the body of the membrane  130  is threaded onto the hollow tube  124  of the proximal coupler  120 . 
     On its periphery, preferably in the proximal part, the distal coupler  140  comprises male or female locking means  150 . These locking means  150  will be detailed hereinbelow in the description. 
     The distal coupler  140  also comprises handling means  143  of the connector  100 . Here, there are two of them and project radially and centrifugally on either side of the distal coupler  140 . These handling means  143  firmly hold the connector  100  during its connection with a male connector. 
     During mounting, the distal coupler  140  is mounted on the proximal coupler  120  such that the annular projection  126  is positioned in the corresponding annular groove  142 . The distal coupler  140  is then fixed according to usual processes on the proximal coupler  120 , for example by adhesion of their respective contact surfaces to produce a monobloc casing, or by ultrasound welding. 
     A male connector  200  according to the invention will now be described. 
     In reference to  FIGS. 3 a , 3 b , 4 a  and 4 b   , a male connector  200  comprises a proximal coupler  210  and a casing  220  mounted on the proximal coupler  210 . Assembly of the casing  220  on the proximal coupler  210  delimits a substantially tubular chamber  211  forming a passage. The proximal coupler  210  comprises a connectable entry  212 , here, of male “Luer-Lock” type. By way of variant embodiment, this connectable entry  212  is of female “Luer-Lock” type. Nested in this proximal coupler  210 , the connector  200  comprises a connection element  213 , here in the form of a hollow tube  213  extending into the passage substantially tubular  211  in a distal direction. 
     The casing  220  is formed by a distal coupler  240  and comprises a tubular part. 
     The proximal coupler comprises a membrane or septum  230  which comprises a slot  233  in its thickness. The slot  233  is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the connector  200 . 
     The connector  200  finally comprises elastic means  231 , here a spring  231 , for example of helicoidal compression spring type, but which can also take any other shape known to the expert. The spring  231  is designed to be supported on the proximal coupler  210  and to thrust the septum  230  so that the latter reaches a stable downstream blocking position of a distal end of the passage  211 . 
     A more detailed description of a connector similar to the connector  200  is provided in document EP 0 544 581 which can be referred to for this purpose. 
     The septum  230  is here an elastomer membrane of general cylindrical shape in revolution comprising a substantially plane slot  233  perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the septum  230 . This slot  233  extends from a downstream surface as far as into an upstream opening of substantially cylindrical shape in revolution designed to tightly receive a free end of the hollow tube  214 . 
     The septum  230  is mounted in a rigid cup  234  forming reinforcement/constriction means. By way of variant embodiment, this cup is surmounted by an elastically deformable ring, forming part of reinforcement/constriction means. 
     A more detailed description of the reinforcement/constriction means  234  is provided in document FR 2 929 123 which can be referred to for this purpose. 
     In this way, the male connector  200  comprises a septum (or membrane)  230  which is encapsulated in the tubular part of the distal coupler  240 . In a stable downstream blocking position this also allows radial clamping of the septum  230 , and in particular at the level of the slot  233  of the latter, made by a wall of the tubular part of the distal coupler  240 : this results in better sealing and improved resistance to pressure. 
     On its periphery, preferably at the level of a distal end, the distal coupler  240  comprises female or male locking means  250 . 
     Throughout the description, the embodiment according to which the female connector  100  comprises male bayonet locking means, whereas the male connector  200  comprises female bayonet-locking means will be described in greater detail. This is in no way limiting, to the extent where the embodiment consisting of providing female locking means on the female connector  100  and male locking means on the male connector  200  is equivalent and also covered by the invention. 
     The locking means  250  of the male connector  200  is preferably complementary to the locking means  150  of the female connector  100 . 
     According to the invention, when the locking means  250  are female, they are formed by a smooth surface  260  having a unvarying axial cross-section over part substantially continue of the distal coupler  240 , and a holding means  252  extending transversally. 
     The male locking means  150  are also constituted by a smooth surface  160  and having holding means  151  extending transversally, of a shape complementary to the shapes of the smooth surface  260  and of the holding means  252  of the female locking means  250  respectively. 
     Such an embodiment therefore makes cleaning of the locking means easier, to the extent where it reduces projecting edges on the surfaces  160 ,  260  to be cleaned, by opposition to the locking means by threading, which has wide use in the prior art. 
     The bayonet locking means respond especially to this definition, and are therefore covered by the invention, by clipping (i.e. by deformation elastic of a holding element projecting from the surface of the distal part of one of the locking means, then penetration into a complementary orifice provided in the surface of the distal part of the other of the locking means, see for example  FIG. 9 ), etc. 
     In the case of bayonet locking means, the holding means  151  of the male locking means comprise at least one pin extending transversally to the exterior from the external smooth surface  160 . The holding means  151  preferably comprise two pins, extending on either side of the distal coupler  140  of the female connector  100 . 
     Each pin  151  can have a circular, square, elliptical, or any other cross-section adapted to effectively keep the female connector  100  in position relative to the male connector  200 . 
     The holding means of the female locking means  250  as such comprise at least one groove  252  formed in a surface  260  of a collar  251 . The groove  252  can be continuous to form a slot as illustrated in the attached figures, or blind. 
     The collar  251  is made of material with the casing  220 . By way of variant embodiment, it is attached to the casing, for example by adhesion or welding or by any other means enabling such assembly. Illustrated here, the collar  251  is in the form of a tube attached at the level of a proximal end by grooves  260  to the casing  220 . Passages  261  are consequently made between the grooves  261 . Here, there are four grooves  260  and uniformly distributed over a circumference of the collar  251 . As a consequence, there are also four passages and uniformly distributed over said circumference of the collar  251 . Such a structure allows optimal cleaning of the collar and therefore of the male connector  200 . 
     The female locking means  250  preferably comprises at least as many grooves  252  as there are pins  151  on the male locking means  150 . 
     Each groove  252  preferably has a free end terminating on a distal end of the collar  251 , the other end being closed and provided to form a longitudinal stop for the pin  151 . 
     Also, the grooves  252  are arranged on the collar  251  such that their respective free end is opposite a pin  151  when the distal ends  140 ,  240  of the male  200  and female  100  connectors are put in contact prior to connection, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     In this way, during connection of the male  200  and female  100  connectors, each pin  151  of the male locking means  150  penetrates respectively into a groove  252  of the female locking means  250 . 
     By way of variant (illustrated in  FIGS. 3 b  and 4 b   ), the central part  270  of the distal coupler, enclosed by the collar, is threaded so as to constitute a connectable entry of female Luer-Lock type. For this, the distal part of the collar  251  is shortened such that the face of the central part  270  is accessible radially. The result is female locking means which can be connected either to male locking means  150  such as those described in reference to  FIG. 2 , or to locking means of complementary male “Luer-Lock” type. 
     The interest in this embodiment is that it especially enables connection of the connector  200  with an injector comprising locking means of Luer-Lock type. 
     This embodiment also has the advantage of being easy to clean to the extent where the internal surface  260  of the collar  251  and the external surface  160  comprising the pins  151  are smooth, whereas the central threaded part  270  is accessible directly by a manipulator for cleaning it. 
     In another variant, (not shown in the figures), the female locking means can comprise a collar comprising at least one pin projecting from its internal surface, complementary to male locking means comprising an external smooth surface in which a groove (discontinuous) is formed. 
     Advantageously, these embodiments ensure the operator that the male  200  and female  100  connectors are effectively properly connected. 
     In fact, the operator can verify visually and mechanically if the pin  151  is right at the bottom of the groove  252 , which implies that the tubes  124  and  215  are effectively properly connected, as opposed to conventional connectors comprising threaded locking means which disallow such verification. 
     The length of a groove  252  is preferably at least equal to the relative maximal distance travelled by the connectors  100 ,  200  when they are connected by an operator. This relative distance will also be detailed hereinbelow. 
     The width of a groove  252  is substantially equal to the diameter of the corresponding pin  151 , taken in the direction transversal to the direction of insertion of the pin  151  in the groove  252 . In this way, the pin  151  can shift longitudinally in the groove  252  while being blocked transversally during its insertion in the groove  252 . 
     If needed, the groove  252  is also shaped bent so that it can hold the fixed pin  151  longitudinally when the latter arrives at a stop. For example, the groove  252  has a longitudinal part  252   a , in length at least equal to the relative distance travelled by the connectors  100 ,  200  during their connection, and a transversal part  252   b  extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the pins  151 . 
     By way of variant, the angle formed between the transversal part  252   b  and the longitudinal part  252   a  of the groove  252  is acute so as to accentuate the holding of the pin  151  and therefore the locking of the set of connectors  100 ,  200 . 
     However, irrespective of the embodiment, the grooves  252  formed in a given collar  251  are identical. In particular, they have an identical size, shape and orientation so that the pins  151  can easily penetrate the groove  252  to which they are linked. 
     By way of variant, the associated grooves  252  and pins  151  can be of different width in pairs, so that a given pin  151  (having a given transversal diameter) may not penetrate a groove  252  having a lesser width, ensuring an undeceiving function. 
     According to an embodiment, the closed end of each groove  252  is also provided with a recess or seat  253  positioned in the end of the groove  252  acting as stop for the pin  151 . Where necessary, the recess  253  is offset relative to the axis of the groove  252  to transversally block the pin  151  in the groove  252 , and therefore further improve the locking of the set of connectors  100 ,  200 . For example, when the groove  252  is bent, as illustrated especially in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the recess  253  is placed in the closed end of the transversal part  252   b  of the groove  252  and is offset in the direction of the distal end relative to the axis of said transversal part  252 . 
     In reference to  FIGS. 5 a -5 b    to  7 , the interactions of the different elements described hereinabove will now be described. 
       FIGS. 5 a , 5 b    and  6  represent female  100  and male  200  connectors in a stable downstream blocking position. In this position, the membranes  130 ,  230 , tightly blocks the passages  141 ,  211 , such that downstream surfaces of the membranes  130 ,  230 , are flush with the downstream ends of said passages. 
     For information, in this position, a manipulator of the connector  100 ,  200  can easily clean said downstream surface of the membrane to reduce the risk of nosocomial infections which could result in poor cleaning or difficult cleaning of this surface. 
     Because of locking means  150 ,  250  and the structure of the male  200  and female  100  connectors according to the invention, counterpressure sealing is strongly increased without destroying performance in terms of repeated connections/disconnections. Also, the use of rigid cups  134 ,  234  prevents any expulsion of the septums  130 ,  230  outside the connectors  100 ,  200  according to the invention under the effect of strong pressure. 
     During initial use, the operator cleans the distal end of the membranes  130 ,  230  to remove any presence of germs or bacteria, as well as the bayonet locking means  150 ,  250  (and where required the central part  270 ). 
     It should also be noted that replacing conventional threadings by the bayonet locking means  150 ,  250  (and where required the central part  270 ) according to the invention greatly eases this cleaning. 
     Once cleaning is complete, the operator puts in contact the respective septums of the male connector  200  and of the female connector  100 , as is illustrated in  FIG. 5 a ,5 b   , then connects the set. This connection between the connector  100  and the connector  200  is done by locking the pins  151  of the distal coupler  140  of the female connector  100  in the corresponding grooves  252  of the distal coupler  240  of the male connector  200 . 
     It is remarkable that, as the distal couplers  140  and  240  of the two female  100  and male  200  connectors are structurally similar (naturally outside their respective locking means), their respective membranes  130 ,  230  are flush at the level of the distal end of their distal coupler  140 ,  240 . In this way, the coupling/uncoupling of the male connector  200  and of the female connector  100  is completed in a single axial movement only. In fact it is no longer necessary to fix the distal couplers  140 ,  240  of the female  100  and male  200  connectors before starting to push the connectors towards each other, these two operations being performed simultaneously on the one hand due to the structure of the distal couplers  140 ,  240  and on the other hand to the locking means according to the invention. 
     More precisely, the operator places the pins  151  of the female connector  100  opposite the corresponding grooves  252 , then slides the connectors  100 ,  200  relatively one relative to the other by pushing the female connector  100 , supported on the handling means  143  of the distal coupler  140 , towards the male connector  200 . 
     During this handling the distal end of the male connector  200  pushes on the distal end of the membrane  130  of the female connector  100 , which on the one hand stresses the membrane body  131  to compress, and on the other hand forces the distal end  125  of the hollow tube  124  to pass through, by means of the slot  133 , the membrane thickness located at the distal end of the membrane  130 . 
     Once the distal end  125  of the tube  124  has passed through the membrane thickness of the distal end of the membrane  130 , this distal end  125  of the tube  124  comes in supported contact with the septum  230  of the connector  200 . The distal end  125  of the tube  124  then pushes the septum  230 , on the one hand, against the underlying spring  231  and, on the other hand, against the tube  214  which passes through the septum  230  via the slot  233  which is made in it. 
     The thrust continues until the distal end  125  of the tube  124  of the female connector  100  receives the distal end of the tube  214  of the male connector  200 . Therefore the connection and a liquid passage are made between the male  200  and female  100  connectors. 
     The relative distance travelled by the connectors  100 ,  200  during handling is defined by the length of the longitudinal part  252   a  of the grooves  252 . In this final position, in which the connectors  100 ,  200  are connected and in fluidic communication, the pins  151  are therefore stopped at the bottom of the longitudinal part  252   a  of the grooves  252 . 
     The operator rotates the connectors  100 ,  200  one relative to the other so as to position the pins  151  in the closed end of the transversal part  252   b  of the grooves  252  until they reach their siege  253  and locks the set of connectors  100 ,  200 . 
     On disconnection, the operator rotates the connectors  100 ,  200  one relative to the other in the direction opposite that of locking to withdraw the pins  151  from the transversal part  252   b  of the grooves  252 , then takes away the connectors  100 ,  200  by means of the thrust of the two springs. The pins  151  exit from the longitudinal part  252   a  of the grooves  252 , the membranes  130 ,  230  again progressively cover the tube  124 ,  214  respectively tightly and the membranes  130 ,  230  now tightly block the respective distal ends of the connectors  100 ,  200 . 
     During connection or disconnection, sealing is assured throughout operation. In fact, sealing is first assured by contact of the distal end of the membrane  130  on the septum  230 , then by contact of the distal end  125  of the hollow tube  124  on the septum  230  of the male connector  200 —said contact being maintained by the locking of the set of connectors—and finally by insertion of the tube  214  into the hollow tube  125 . 
     Numerous modifications can of course be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the latter.