NESTABLE STERILITY-PROTECTING CAPS WITH FLUID RESERVOIR FOR SEPARATED CONNECTORS

• US 20090008393A1
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: University of Utah (State of Utah)
• Inventors: Howlett, Michael W., Mercer, James V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,177,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/380
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1033 Swivel nut connectors, e.g. threaded connectors, bayonet-connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/162 with antiseptic agent incorporated within the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/20 Closure caps or plugs for connectors or open ends of tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/282 by compression of deformable ampoule or carpule wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/347 rotatable, e.g. bayonet or screw A61M5/344 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

A pair of nestable caps are disclosed, each of the caps being sized and shaped to provide a protective union about a separated medical connector. The pair comprises a male cap and a female cap, each of which is configured to be adjoined to a complimentary cap to form a nested pair. The nested pair is sealed until separated for use, thereby maintaining sterility of the internal surfaces of the nested pair. One of the caps may have a fluid chamber joined thereto filled with medicine or antiseptic. The cap can have a channel extending therethrough to provide fluid communication between the fluid chamber and a fluid pathway. The fluid chamber can be adapted to diffuse the fluid into the fluid pathway over time, or the fluid chamber can be adapted to evacuate the fluid out of the fluid chamber without reflux.

Claims

1. A nestable pair of caps for use in protecting separated medical connectors, comprising:

a male cap comprises an internal surface, an external surface, an interface, and a connecting geometry whereby the male cap may be selectively coupled to the female cap or a separated female medical connector; and

the female cap comprising an internal surface, an external surface, an interface, and a connecting geometry whereby the female cap may be selectively coupled to the male cap or a separated male medical connector, the female cap also comprising a post extending from the internal surface thereof, the post being adapted to sealingly engage an internal surface of a separated male medical connector to substantially reduce fluid leakage from the connection between the female cap and the male medical connector; and

wherein the interfaces of the male cap and the female cap provide a seal when adjoined together to aseptically partition the internal and external surfaces to insure perpetuated sterility of the internal surfaces.

2. A nestable pair of caps according to claim 1, wherein the post comprises a generally frustoconical shaped cone.

3. A nestable pair of caps according to claim 1, wherein the post comprises an orifice extending at least partially therein to receive a portion of a male medical connector therein.

4. A nestable pair of caps according to claim 1, wherein the post comprises a channel extending therethrough.

5. A nestable pair of caps according to claim 4, wherein the female cap further comprises a fluid reservoir coupled thereto, the fluid reservoir being adapted for fluid communication with the channel.

6. A nestable pair of caps according to claim 5, further comprising a seal or valve disposed within the channel to retain fluid within the fluid reservoir prior to the female cap being coupled to the separated medical connector and prevent reflux into the fluid reservoir.

7. A nestable pair of caps for use in protecting separated medical connectors, comprising:

a cap assembly, comprising;

a first cap having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a post extending from the interior surface, the exterior surface having an opening therein for access to the interior surface, the interior surface having a threaded portion, and the post having a channel extending therethrough; and

a fluid reservoir coupled to the first cap, the fluid reservoir being adapted to communicate fluid through the channel of the first cap to a separated medical connector; and

a second cap having an exterior surface and a frustoconical portion extending from the exterior surface, an outer surface of the frustoconical portion having a threaded portion adapted to engage the threaded interior portion of the first cap to enable the second cap to be selectively secured at least partially within the first cap, the second cap also being adapted to be selectively coupled to a separated female medical connector to protect the sterility of the separated female medical connector.

8. A nestable pair of caps according to claim 7, wherein the cap assembly further comprises a valve adapted to selectively retain fluid within the fluid reservoir and prevent reflux of fluid into the fluid reservoir.

9. A nestable pair of caps according to claim 7, wherein the cap assembly is adapted to diffuse fluid within the fluid reservoir into a fluid pathway associated with a patient.

10. A nestable pair of caps according to claim 7, wherein the fluid reservoir further comprises a primer bulb adapted to be compressed to evacuate air from within the fluid reservoir prior to the cap assembly being coupled to a separated medical connector.

11. A nestable pair of caps for use in protecting separated medical connectors, comprising:

a first cap having an exterior surface defining an opening to a threaded interior portion, a post extending from the interior surface, and an evacuable fluid reservoir coupled thereto, the first cap being adapted for selective coupling to a separated medical connector, wherein the post is adapted to sealingly engage an interior surface of the separated medical connector when coupled thereto, the post comprising a channel extending therethrough to provide a fluid pathway between the fluid reservoir and the separated medical connector; and

a second cap having an exterior surface and an elongated portion extending therefrom, the elongated portion being adapted to engage the threaded interior portion of the first cap to enable the second cap to be selectively secured at least partially within the first cap, the second cap also being adapted to be selectively coupled to a separated female medical connector to protect the sterility of the separated female medical connector, wherein the first cap and the second cap are adapted to maintain the sterility of interior portion of the first cap and the elongated portion of the second cap when coupled together.

12. A nestable pair of caps according to claim 11, further comprising a valve disposed within the channel, the valve being adapted to prevent reflux of fluid into the fluid reservoir.

13. A nestable pair of caps according to claim 11, wherein the fluid reservoir comprises an elastomeric fluid bulb adapted to evacuate fluid from the fluid reservoir when the first cap is securely coupled to a separated medical connector.

14. A nestable pair of caps according to claim 11, wherein the fluid reservoir comprises a fluid bulb having a fixed wall, a collapsible wall, and a hinge joining the fixed wall and the collapsible wall.

15. A nestable pair of caps according to claim 14, wherein the collapsible wall is adapted to be to inverted within the fixed wall to evacuate fluid from the fluid reservoir.

16. A nestable pair of caps according to claim 11, wherein the fluid reservoir further comprises a primer bulb adapted to be compressed to evacuate air from within the fluid reservoir prior to the cap assembly being coupled to a separated medical connector.

17. A nestable pair of caps according to claim 11, wherein the cap assembly further comprises a secondary post extending partially into the fluid reservoir, the secondary post and an internal surface of the fluid reservoir cooperating to trap air within the fluid reservoir and substantially prevent air from being introduced into a fluid pathway associated with a patient.

18. A nestable pair of caps according to claim 11, wherein the fluid reservoir comprises a barrel and a plunger, the plunger having a first end sealingly disposed within the barrel, the barrel, the plunger, and the cap defining a fluid chamber, wherein the first end of the plunger is adapted to be move into the barrel to force fluid out the fluid chamber through the channel.

19. A nestable pair of caps according to claim 18, wherein the plunger and the barrel are threadably engaged such that rotation of the plunger relative to the barrel decreases the volume of the fluid chamber and forces fluid out of the fluid chamber through the channel.

20. A nestable pair of caps according to claim 11, wherein the fluid reservoir further comprises indicator means for identifying the amount of fluid within the fluid reservoir.