Patient fluid line access valve antimicrobial cap/cleaner
First Claim
1. A device for cleaning a patient fluid line access valve having an access portion with a distalmost end face and an external thread on at least a portion of an outer surface of a sidewall, the device comprising:
- a housing having an opening with an inner circumference and a maximum inner cross-sectional area greater than a maximum cross-sectional area of the access portion including the external thread, and an inner cavity for receiving the access portion of the patient fluid line access valve via the opening;
a pad including a cleaning solution;
an internal threading configured within the inner cavity of the housing to accommodate the external thread of the access portion of the patient fluid line access valve, the access portion providing an access to a fluid line via the access valve when connected to the fluid line, such that a gap providing an air cavity is formed at least between the inner circumference of the opening and the outer surface of the sidewall including the external thread of the access portion of the patient fluid line access valve when the internal threading provides a secured attachment of the cap to the access valve,wherein a threading action comprising rotating the housing relative to the patient fluid line access valve causes the external thread and the internal threading to cooperate compressing the pad by the distalmost end face of the access portion of the patient fluid line access valve, thereby allowing the cleaning solution to disinfect at least the distalmost end face of the access portion of the patient fluid line access valve; and
a removable lid enclosing the inner cavity, the pad and the cleaning solution being in the inner cavity, prior to receiving the access portion of the patient fluid line access valve.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Cap and cleaning devices antiseptically maintain patient fluid line access valves to minimize the risk of infection via catheters. The devices have a cap that may contain a dry pad impregnated with an antimicrobial agent. The cap covers the access portion of the access valve when not in use. The devices have a hood that contains a wet pad impregnated with a cleaning solution and, optionally, an antimicrobial agent. The wet pad cleans the access portion of the access valve prior to and optionally, after the access valve is utilized to access the patient fluid line.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A device for cleaning a patient fluid line access valve having an access portion with a distalmost end face and an external thread on at least a portion of an outer surface of a sidewall, the device comprising:
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a housing having an opening with an inner circumference and a maximum inner cross-sectional area greater than a maximum cross-sectional area of the access portion including the external thread, and an inner cavity for receiving the access portion of the patient fluid line access valve via the opening; a pad including a cleaning solution; an internal threading configured within the inner cavity of the housing to accommodate the external thread of the access portion of the patient fluid line access valve, the access portion providing an access to a fluid line via the access valve when connected to the fluid line, such that a gap providing an air cavity is formed at least between the inner circumference of the opening and the outer surface of the sidewall including the external thread of the access portion of the patient fluid line access valve when the internal threading provides a secured attachment of the cap to the access valve, wherein a threading action comprising rotating the housing relative to the patient fluid line access valve causes the external thread and the internal threading to cooperate compressing the pad by the distalmost end face of the access portion of the patient fluid line access valve, thereby allowing the cleaning solution to disinfect at least the distalmost end face of the access portion of the patient fluid line access valve; and a removable lid enclosing the inner cavity, the pad and the cleaning solution being in the inner cavity, prior to receiving the access portion of the patient fluid line access valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for cleaning a patient fluid line access valve having an access portion with a distalmost end face and an external thread on at least a portion of an outer surface of a sidewall, the method comprising:
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providing a cap having a housing having an opening with an inner circumference and a maximum inner cross-sectional area greater than a maximum cross-sectional area of the access portion including the external thread, an inner cavity for receiving the access portion of the patient fluid line access valve via the opening, the access portion providing an access to a fluid line via the access valve when connected to the fluid line, and an internal threading configured within the opening of the housing; removing a removable lid enclosing the inner cavity thereby exposing a pad including a cleaning solution disposed in the inner cavity prior to receiving the access portion of the patient fluid line access valve; rotating said cap onto the patient fluid line access valve, wherein the internal threading of the cap accommodates the external thread of the access portion of the patient fluid line access valve such that a gap providing an air cavity is formed at least between the inner circumference of the opening and the outer surface of the sidewall including the external thread of the access portion of the patient fluid line access valve when the internal threading provides a secured attachment of the cap to the access valve; and seating said cap onto the patient fluid access valve by a threaded engagement between the internal threading and the external thread thereby forcing the pad to be compressed by the distalmost end face of the access portion of the patient fluid line access valve, thereby allowing the cleaning solution to disinfect at least the distalmost end face of the access portion of the patient fluid line access valve. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification