STERILE DOCKING APPARATUS AND METHOD
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an inventive apparatus and method for docking of a male luer connector fluidly interconnected or interconnectable to a medical liquid source during one or repeated periods. As such, the invention has particular application to multiple-dose medication therapy procedures. The docking apparatus comprises a holding receptacle having a single access opening and a depressible member disposed in the holding receptacle. The holding receptacle is adapted for retentive engagement with a male luer connector (e.g. via complementary threading), wherein upon docking a nozzle of the male luer connector is isolated within the holding receptacle. An anti-bacterial material may be readily applied to a top surface of the depressible member prior to docking so that the forward edge of the nozzle of the male luer connector contacts the anti-bacterial material when docked. The docking apparatus may be provided with lateral and rearward handling members to facilitate docking procedures. Additionally, slots may be provided for interconnecting the docking apparatus to a tubing line at a patient site.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1-26. -26. (canceled)
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27. A medical liquid administration method, comprising:
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administering a medical liquid to a patient from a medical liquid source through a fluidly-interconnected male luer connector, including; attaching the male luer connector to a female luer connector fluidly connected to a vascular catheter fluidly interconnected to the patient'"'"'s vascular system; passing the medical liquid from the medical liquid source through the male luer connector and vascular catheter to the patient; and
,detaching the male luer connector from the vascular catheter; docking the detached male luer connector to a docking apparatus having a holding receptacle with a single access opening, after the administering step, including; contacting a nozzle of a male luer connector with a top surface of a resilient depressible member disposed within the single access opening of the holding receptacle; and
,interconnecting the male luer connector with the holding receptacle, wherein said the nozzle depresses the depressible member within and displaces all of the top surface of the depressible member relative to the single access opening of the holding receptacle, and wherein the nozzle is isolated within the holding receptacle of the docking apparatus throughout the docking step. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A medical liquid administration method, comprising:
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administering a medical liquid to a patient from a medical liquid source through a fluidly-interconnected male luer connector, including; attaching the male luer connector to a female luer connector fluidly connected to a vascular catheter fluidly interconnected to the patient'"'"'s vascular system; passing the medical liquid from the medical liquid source through the male luer connector and vascular catheter to the patient; and
,detaching the male luer connector from the vascular catheter; docking the detached male luer connector to a docking apparatus having a holding receptacle with a single access opening, after the administering step, including; contacting a nozzle of a male luer connector with a top surface of a resilient depressible member disposed within the single access opening of the holding receptacle; and
,interconnecting the male luer connector with the holding receptacle, wherein said the nozzle depresses the depressible member within the single access opening of the holding receptacle, and wherein the nozzle is isolated within the holding receptacle of the docking apparatus; and slidably engaging an outer tapered surface of the nozzle at said single access opening of the holding receptacle; and disconnecting the male luer connector from the holding receptacle of the docking apparatus after the docking step, wherein the depressible member resiliently returns to said initial configuration upon said disconnection. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification