SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO MONITOR PROPER DISINFECTION OF NEEDLELESS CONNECTORS

• US 20130323117A1
• Filed: 05/29/2013
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Ma, Yiping, Isaacson, S. Ray
• Granted Patent: US 9,216,440 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/16 using chemical substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/17 Combination with washing or cleaning means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• 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: B08B 1/143 Wipes
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/32 using rotary cleaning members
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/08 the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect substances used, see the relevant classes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A device and method for disinfecting a needleless connector, the device including a housing comprising a hub rotationally coupled to a motor, the motor being operably connected to a power source, the hub further comprising a receptacle configured to receive a cleaning head, wherein the device is configured to detect achievement of one or more minimum thresholds which are recommended to achieve proper disinfection of the needleless connector. Various devices and methods are further provided to permit tracking and reporting of disinfection events.

Claims

1. A device for disinfecting a needleless connector, the device comprising:

a housing comprising a hub rotationally coupled to a motor, the motor being operably connected to a power source, the hub further comprising a receptacle configured to receive a cleaning head; and

a switch to activate the motor;

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a timer to monitor the duration of disinfection.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising a disinfection status indicator operably connected to the timer.

4. The device of claim 2, where the said timer also monitor the time it takes for the motor to reach a minimum operating speed to ensure proper engagement of the cleaning head and the needleless connector.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor to monitor the current of the motor as an indication of proper engagement between the cleaning head and the needleless connector.

6. The device of claim 1, where the said switch is an axial load sensitive switch.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising an input device for receiving an identification of at least one of the needleless connector, the cleaning head, and the patient.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising an output for communicating the identification of at least one of the needleless connector, the cleaning head, and the patient.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the output comprises at least one of a wireless antenna, an electrical connector, an RFID transmitter, and a Bluetooth transmitter.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the input device comprises at least one of a barcode scanner, an optical camera, a magnetic card reader, and a RFID reader.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the needleless connector further comprises a computer readable code that identifies at least one of the needleless connector and a patient, and wherein the computer readable code is at least one a barcode, a QR code, an RFID chip, and a magnetic stripe.

12. The device of claim 8, further comprising a network operably connected to the output.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising an electronic medical record operably connected to the output via the network.

14. The device of claim 7, further comprising memory whereby to store the identification and the disinfection status of the needleless connector.

15. A method for monitoring and recording disinfection information of a needleless connector, the method comprising:

receiving a disinfection status from a disinfection device;

receiving an identification of the needleless connector;

sending the disinfection status and the identification of the needleless connector to a remote computer system; and

storing the disinfection status and the identification of the needleless connector in an electronic medical record.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising a step for receiving an identification of a patient associated with the needleless connector.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of sending the disinfection status and the identification of the needleless connector to a remote computer system is achieved using at least one of a wireless antenna, an electrical connection, an RFID transmitter, a Bluetooth transmitter, a audio speaker, and a manual input device.

18. A method for monitoring and recording a disinfection event of a needleless connector, the method comprising steps for:

attaching a disposable cleaning head to a rotor of a disinfection device;

using the disinfection device to record an identification of the needleless connector;

using the disinfection device to record an identification of a patient;

disinfecting the needleless connector;

recording completion of the disinfection of the needleless connector; and

updating an electronic medical record of the patient to include the disinfection event.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising a step for tracking the disposable cleaning head to ensure that the disposable cleaning head is used for only one disinfection event.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

internally recording the disinfection event onto a memory of the disinfection device; and

linking the cleaning event to the identity of the patient.