Abstract: A system for sterilizing an object including a hollow cassette for containing the object, a sealable opening in the cassette for ingress and egress of the object, a seal for forming a fluid-tight seal around the opening, input and output ports in the cassette for receiving and exhausting a sterilizing fluid and a sealing check valve in the input and output ports for providing a fluid-tight seal when no connections are made to the input and output ports such that when the object is sterilized within the cassette, the cassette will maintain a sterilized atmosphere for the object until the cassette is opened to allow use of the object.

Abstract: This connector assembly comprises a connector body which defines a housing. The housing includes a cavity which is designed to receive a piston, capable of back and forth movement within this cavity. This piston includes a biasing element for urging the piston into the forward direction of the cavity. The piston is engaged with the end of an endoscope tube in the front of this cavity. The piston further includes an orifice which fluidly connects the endoscope tube end to a flexible hose in the back of this piston. The endoscope tube is held in place by jaws which slide back and forth in channels in the front of the connector body, perpendicular to the piston cavity. These jaws also include biasing elements which urge the jaws into mechanical engagement with the rigid tube.