Various connectors are known for the connection of external components to medico-technical apparatuses. The access to the medico-technical apparatuses generally takes place by means of plugs, which are inserted into matching sockets of the medico-technical apparatuses. In this regard, the medico-technical apparatuses, which will be referred to generally below as medical apparatuses, comprise a corresponding socket unit, whilst the external components comprise a plug unit.
For the treatment of patients with kidney disease, use is made of blood treatment apparatuses, which include in particular the known extracorporeal dialysis apparatuses or apparatuses for peritoneal dialysis. The preparation of medical treatment fluids is required for cleaning the patient's blood. These include, for example, dialysing fluid or substitution fluid. In so-called automatic peritoneal dialysis (APD) or acute dialysis, the medical treatment fluids are automatically processed in the blood treatment apparatuses. The treatment fluids are prepared in fluid reservoirs, which are connected to the blood treatment apparatuses.
The fresh dialysing fluid is pumped from the fluid reservoir into the blood treatment apparatus. The fluid reservoir can already contain a concentrate which is diluted with water. In this case, the fluid reservoir only has to be filled with water. In this connection, therefore, water is understood to mean a medical fluid. It is also possible for a plurality of fluid reservoirs to be connected to a blood treatment apparatus, if a treatment fluid ready for use is produced in the treatment apparatus by mixing a plurality of fluids. The connection of the fluid reservoir to the blood treatment apparatuses again takes place with a plug unit, which is inserted into a socket unit of the blood treatment apparatus.
For the filling of devices for supplying dialysing fluid, apparatuses are known to which the devices for supplying dialysing fluid can be connected. The apparatuses for the filling therefore in turn comprise a socket unit which can be connected to the plug unit of the device for supplying dialysing fluid.
A device for supplying a treatment fluid is described for example in European Application No. EP 0 575 970 A2. The known device for supplying dialysing fluid comprises a bag for accommodating the fluid, to which a hose line is connected, which at its free end is connected to a plug. The dialysis apparatus comprises a socket into which the plug is inserted. Two flow connections can be produced with the plug and the socket, in order to convey fresh dialysing fluid from the bag into the dialysis apparatus and used dialysing fluid back into the bag. To secure the plug in the socket against slipping out, the plug comprises latching noses which engage in the recesses of the socket when the plug is fully inserted into the socket.
The connection of the device for supplying medical fluids to the blood treatment apparatus or an apparatus for the filling of the device for supplying medical fluids should be as straightforward and reliable as possible for the medical personnel. The socket unit should be able to be rinsed with a rinsing fluid for the purpose of disinfection.
A socket unit for a dialysis apparatus is described in International Patent Publication No. WO 2009/074588 A1, said socket unit being able to be rinsed with a rinsing fluid. The socket of the socket unit comprises a cylindrical housing body, in which a connection piece for a connector of a plug unit is disposed. For the purpose of rinsing, the housing body of the socket unit is closed by a closure piece, so that the cylindrical recess in the housing body forms a rinsing chamber through which the rinsing fluid flows. The closure piece is guided displaceably on the housing body of the socket unit between a first position in which the rinsing chamber is closed and a second position in which the rinsing chamber is open.