FEMALE LUER CONNECTOR DISINFECTING CAP

• US 20110265825A1
• Filed: 05/02/2011
• Published: 11/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company (Solventum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Ivera Medical Corporation (3M Company)
• Inventors: Kang, Gino, Rogers, Bobby E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,259,284 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/70 Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/16 having provision for disinfection or sterilisation A61M39/143 takes precedence; methods or apparatus for disinfection or sterilisation A61L2/00
• 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: B08B 1/145 Swabs
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/08 the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect substances used, see the relevant classes

Abstract

A cleaning device for a site of a medical implement is disclosed, as are methods for using such devices. The cleaning device can include a cap having an opening to an inner cavity, and the opening can be adapted to receive a site of the medical implement. The inner cavity can include a male luer protrusion that extends up from an inner wall toward the opening, and can be sized and adapted for insertion into a female luer when the cap is provided on the medical implement. The cleaning device can further include a cleaning material that contains a cleaning agent prior to receipt of the site of the medical implement, i.e. the cleaning material is pre-loaded with the cleaning agent. The cleaning material can be at least partially secured in the inner cavity and adapted to swab and clean the site with the cleaning agent. The cap can further include a friction-forming member for creating a friction-based fitting of the cap onto the site of the medical implement.

Claims

1. A cleaning device for a female port of a medical implement, the cleaning device comprising:

a cap having an outer surface including a plurality of vertical ridges on the outer surface, and having an opening to a single inner cavity, the single inner cavity including a male luer protrusion extending up from an inner wall of the inner cavity toward the opening, the opening being adapted to receive a site of the medical implement, the cap further including threading around a periphery of the single inner cavity, the threading including a friction-forming member for creating a friction-based fitting of the cap onto the site of the medical implement; and

a cleaning material provided in the single inner cavity surrounding the male luer protrusion, the cleaning material containing a cleaning agent, the cleaning material adapted to clean surfaces of the female port near a septum of the female port with the cleaning agent upon receipt of the site of the female port into the single inner cavity and the insertion of the male luer protrusion into the septum of the female port.

2. The cleaning device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cleaning material is a thixotropic fluid.

3. The cleaning device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the friction forming member is a tab extending out from a thread on an inside surface of a threaded ring that is attached to the periphery of an opening of the single inner cavity, the threaded ring forming the threading.

4. The cleaning device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the friction-forming member includes the threading having a gauge that increases inwardly from the opening toward an inside roof of the cap.

5. The cleaning device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the friction forming member includes a decreasing diameter of the threading inwardly from the opening toward an inside roof of the cap.

6. The cleaning device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the opening of the cap is oval-shaped.

7. The cleaning device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising one or more protrusions extending up from a top inner surface of the cap toward the opening to the single inner cavity.

8. A method comprising:

receiving, in an opening of a cap, a site of a medical implement having a female port, the cap having an outer surface including a plurality of vertical ridges on the outer surface, the opening providing access to a single inner cavity, the single inner cavity including a male luer protrusion extending up from an inner wall of the inner cavity toward the opening, the cap further including threading around a periphery of the single inner cavity, the threading including a friction-forming member for creating a friction-based fitting of the cap onto the site of the medical implement; and

cleaning, with a cleaning material provided in the single inner cavity surrounding the male luer protrusion upon receipt of the site of the female port into the single inner cavity and the insertion of the male luer protrusion into the septum of the female port, at least one surface of the female port near a septum of the female port, the cleaning material comprising a cleaning agent.

9. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the cleaning material is a thixotropic fluid.

10. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the friction forming member is a tab extending out from a thread on an inside surface of a threaded ring that is attached to the periphery of an opening of the single inner cavity, the threaded ring forming the threading.

11. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the friction-forming member includes the threading having a gauge that increases inwardly from the opening toward an inside roof of the cap.

12. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the friction forming member includes a decreasing diameter of the threading inwardly from the opening toward an inside roof of the cap.

13. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the opening of the cap is oval-shaped.

14. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the cap further comprises one or more protrusions extending up from a top inner surface of the cap toward the opening to the single inner cavity.