Tamper-resistant cap

• US 10,039,913 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2015
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Yeh, Jonathan, Cheng, Marco
• Primary Examiner(s): Pickett, J. Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEINERTH, GIDEON R
• Application Number:
  US14/814,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20170028186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 604263, 604192, 604264, 60416502, 220214, 220DIG 19, 220DIG 20, 138 89, 138 96 R, 215317
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1412 Containers with closing means, e.g. caps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1011 Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties A61M39/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/20 Closure caps or plugs for connectors or open ends of tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3202 Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps A61M5/50 takes precedence; for infusion spikes A61M5/1626; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/50 having means for preventing re-use, or for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile retractable needles or needle protectors with means for preventing re-use A61M5/321
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/5086 for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/16 Snap-on caps or cap-like covers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/002 Closures to be pierced by an extracting-device for the contents and fixed on the container by separate retaining means

Abstract

A cap for coupling to a medical adapter may include a housing with a closed top end and an open bottom end with legs that extend from the housing away from the bottom end. Members may extend from an inner surface of the legs to engage and secure the cap to a medical adapter or an insert configured to mate with a medical adapter. A cap may include angular ridges between a cap housing and an insert to permit rotation of the cap in single direction and prevent removal of the cap from a medical adapter. A cap may include hinged legs to permit the cap to be secured to a medical adapter by rotating the legs toward each other until a portion of a collar on each leg may be matingly joined around the medical adapter.

Claims

1. A tamper-resistant cap for a medical adapter, the cap comprising:

a housing having (i) an closed top end, (ii) an opposing open bottom end, and (iii) a side wall between the top end and the bottom end, the housing defining an axis extending between the top end and the bottom end; and

a plurality of first legs that extend from the bottom end of the housing, and a plurality of second legs that extend from the bottom end of the housing, wherein each leg of the plurality of first legs is spaced apart from an adjacent leg of the plurality of first legs by a leg of the plurality of second legs;

wherein each of and only the plurality of first legs comprises a member extending radially from an inner surface of each leg of the plurality of first legs, the member comprising a ramp surface, an engagement surface extending transversely to the ramp surface, and an apex area that transitions between the ramp surface and the engagement surface;

wherein each leg of the plurality of first and second legs are configured to flex radially in relation to the axis of the housing.

2. The tamper-resistant cap of claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional width between each radially-extending member is less than a cross-sectional width of an outer surface of a port.

3. The tamper-resistant cap of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first and second legs combine to define an opening.

4. The tamper-resistant cap of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a first cross-sectional width at the bottom end that is greater than a second cross-sectional width at the top end.

5. The tamper-resistant cap of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the side wall is tapered from the bottom end to the top end.

6. The tamper-resistant cap of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the side wall comprises a plurality of ribs disposed from the bottom end to the top end.

7. The tamper-resistant cap of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of first and second legs are pivotable about a hinge.

8. The tamper-resistant cap of claim 7, wherein the hinge is a living hinge.

9. The tamper-resistant cap of claim 1, further comprising:

an insert configured to mate within the housing between an inner surface of the top end and the engagement surface of each member, the insert comprising;

a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the first end defines a cavity;

wherein the inner surface of the top end and the second end are configured such that (i) the insert is configured to move a distance between the top end and each engagement surface, and (ii) the housing and insert engage to rotate together in one direction and disengage from each other when rotated in an opposite direction.

10. The tamper-resistant cap of claim 9, wherein an inner surface of the cavity comprises a thread.

11. The tamper-resistant cap of claim 9, wherein the inner surface of the top end and the second end together comprise a ratchet and pawl.

12. The tamper-resistant cap of claim 9, wherein the cavity comprises a protrusion extending toward the first end.

13. The tamper-resistant cap of claim 9, wherein the first end further comprises a radial flange.

14. The tamper-resistant cap of claim 1, comprising a plurality of apertures that extend through the top end, wherein each aperture of the plurality of apertures is aligned about the axis with a member of the plurality of first legs.

15. A tamper-resistant cap comprising:

a housing having (i) an closed top end, (ii) an opposing open bottom end, and (iii) a side wall between the top end and the bottom end, the housing defining an axis extending between the top end and the bottom end;

a plurality of legs that extend from the bottom end of the housing and along the axis in a direction opposite the top end, wherein the side wall of the housing and at least one leg define at least one window;

a tab extending from a bottom of each window toward the top end; and

a member extending radially from an inner surface of each tab, wherein each member comprises a ramp surface, an engagement surface extending transversely to the ramp surface, and an apex area that transitions between the ramp surface and the engagement surface.

16. The tamper-resistant cap of claim 15, wherein the legs combine to define an opening.

17. The tamper-resistant cap of claim 15, wherein a portion of an outer surface of the side wall is tapered toward the top end.

18. The tamper-resistant cap of claim 15, wherein the housing comprises a first cross-sectional width at the bottom end that is greater than a second cross-sectional width at the top end.

19. A tamper-resistant cap for a medical adapter, the cap comprising:

a housing having (i) an closed top end, (ii) an opposing open bottom end, and (iii) a side wall between the top end and the bottom end, the housing defining an axis extending between the top end and the bottom end;

a plurality of first legs that extend from the bottom end of the housing, wherein only the plurality of first legs comprise a member extending radially from an inner surface of each leg of the plurality of first legs, the member comprising a ramp surface, an engagement surface extending transversely to the ramp surface, and an apex area that transitions between the ramp surface and the engagement surface; and

a plurality of second legs that extend from the bottom end of the housing, wherein the plurality of second legs do not comprise the member;

wherein each leg of the plurality of first legs is spaced apart from an adjacent leg of the plurality of first legs by a leg of the plurality of second legs.