Sanitized tubing termination method and assembly
First Claim
1. A catheter termination assembly comprising an elongated connector of the type having a coupling stem at one end, a tubing connection nipple at the opposite end and an axial lumen extending, between said stem and said nipple, said connector also including a lateral enlargement between said stem and said nipple, and a cup-like end cap, said end cap including an end wall, a skirt extending from the end wall and an open end, said skirt being sized to engage around said enlargement, said enlargement and said skirt having interfitting surfaces enabling the end cap to be releasably coupled to the enlargement so as to define therewith a fluid-tight chamber surrounding said stem, and an injection site in a wall of the end cap by which a sanitizing agent may be introduced into said chamber so as to immerse the stem in said agent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter termination assembly includes a catheter connection of the type having a coupling stem at one end, a catheter connection nipple at the opposite end, an axial lumen extending between those ends, and a transverse enlargement between the stem and the nipple. The assembly also includes cup-like end cap, the end cap having an end wall, and a skirt extending from the end wall. The skirt is sized to engage around the enlargement and interfitting surfaces on the enlargement and interior wall of the skirt enable the skirt to be releasably coupled to the enlargement so as to define a fluid-tight chamber encircling the stem. The end cap has a fluid injection site by which a sanitizing agent may be present in or introduced into the chamber so as to immerse the stem in the sterilizing agent. A method of sanitizing a tubing connector fitted with the end cap is also disclosed.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A catheter termination assembly comprising
an elongated connector of the type having a coupling stem at one end, a tubing connection nipple at the opposite end and an axial lumen extending, between said stem and said nipple, said connector also including a lateral enlargement between said stem and said nipple, and a cup-like end cap, said end cap including an end wall, a skirt extending from the end wall and an open end, said skirt being sized to engage around said enlargement, said enlargement and said skirt having interfitting surfaces enabling the end cap to be releasably coupled to the enlargement so as to define therewith a fluid-tight chamber surrounding said stem, and an injection site in a wall of the end cap by which a sanitizing agent may be introduced into said chamber so as to immerse the stem in said agent.
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15. A catheter termination assembly comprising
a catheter connector of the type having a coupling stem at one end, a catheter connection nipple at the opposite end and an axial lumen extending between said stem and said nipple, said connector also including a circular enlargement between said stem and said nipple, said enlargement having a threaded circumferential surface, and a cup-like end cap including an end wall and a cylindrical skirt extending from the end wall, said skirt having an interiorly threaded end segment sized to threadedly engage around said enlargement so that the end cap may be screwed to the enlargement to form therewith a fluid-tight chamber encircling said stem, and a fluid injection site in said end wall by which a sanitizing agent may be introduced into said chamber so that said stem is immersed in said agent.
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29. A catheter termination assembly comprising
an elongated connector of the type having a coupling stem at one end, a tubing connection nipple at the opposite end and an axial lumen extending between said stem and said nipple, said connector also including a lateral enlargement between said stem and said nipple, and a cup-like end cap, said end cap including an end wall and a side wall extending from the end wall, said side wall defining an end opening and being sized to engage around said enlargement, said enlargement and said side wall having interfitting surfaces enabling the end cap to be releasably coupled to the enlargement so as to define therewith a fluid-tight chamber surrounds a portion of which said stem, means for providing a sanitizing agent in the end cap so that when the end cap is coupled to the enlargement, said agent may be introduced into said chamber portion, and means in the end cap for engaging and end of said coupling stem and blocking said lumen.
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35. A method of sanitizing a connector of the type having a coupling stem at one end, a tubing connection nipple at the opposite end, an axial lumen extending between the stem and the nipple and a lateral enlargement between the stem and the nipple, said method comprising the steps of
providing an end cap having a closed end and an open end sized to engage around said enlargement so as to define with said enlargement a fluid-type chamber surrounding said stem: -
introducing a sanitizing agent into the portion of said chamber occupied by said stem, and blocking said lumen so as to prevent said agent from entering said connector. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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Specification