Universal Single-Use Cap For Male And Female Connectors

• US 20190308006A1
• Filed: 04/08/2019
• Published: 10/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Erekovcanski, Nicholas, Jiang, Chang, Marici, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 11,273,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1033 Swivel nut connectors, e.g. threaded connectors, bayonet-connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1038 Union screw connectors, e.g. hollow screw or sleeve having external threads
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1077 Adapters, e.g. couplings adapting a connector to one or several other connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1083 having a plurality of female connectors, e.g. Luer connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1088 having a plurality of male connectors, e.g. Luer connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/162 with antiseptic agent incorporated within the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/165 Shrouds or protectors for aseptically enclosing the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/20 Closure caps or plugs for connectors or open ends of tubes

Abstract

A device for connection to a medical connector, the device includes an outer cap, an inner cap and a peelable seal. The outer cap configured to define a chamber to contain an absorbent material and disinfectant or antimicrobial agent. The outer cap including one or more threads adapted to engage with a female luer connector. The inner cap including one or more thread-tabs adapted to engage a male luer connector. The peelable seal prevents the disinfectant or the antimicrobial agent from exiting the chamber.

Claims

1. A device for connection to a medical connector, the device comprising:

an outer cap comprising an integral body, a closed end, an outer cap annular wall having a length L_O1 extending from the closed end to an open end and defining a chamber containing an absorbent material and disinfectant or antimicrobial agent, the open end defining an end face;

the outer cap annular wall having an outer cap exterior wall surface and an outer cap interior wall surface, the outer cap interior wall surface having one or more threads;

an inner cap comprising an integral body having an inner cap annular wall having an exterior wall surface and an interior wall surface with a first end of the inner cap facing the closed end of the outer cap, a second end of the inner cap facing the open end of the outer cap, exterior wall surface of the first end of the inner cap having one or more threads to engage with the threads on the interior wall surface of the outer cap, the exterior wall surface of the second end of the inner cap having one or more threads adapted to engage a male luer connector; and

a peelable seal on the end face to prevent the disinfectant or the antimicrobial agent from exiting the chamber.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the inner cap annular wall having an inner cap length L_I1 extending from the first end to the second end and being less than the length L_O1 of the outer cap.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more threads on the interior wall surface of the outer cap having threads adapted to engage a female luer connector.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the open end of the outer cap is situated on approximately a same horizontal plane P as the second end of the inner cap in an initial state.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein when a male luer connector is engaged to the one or more threads of the exterior wall surface of the second end of the inner cap and rotated in a clockwise direction, the inner cap partially protrude out from the open end of the outer cap.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein when a male luer connector is engaged to the one or more threads of the exterior wall surface of the second end of the inner cap and rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, the inner cap retracts into the chamber of the outer cap.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein when a female luer connector is engaged to the device, the inner cap slips and retracts into the chamber of the outer cap.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the disinfectant or antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, 2-propanol, butanol, methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, propyl gallate, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene, t-butyl-hydroquinone, chloroxylenol, chlorohexidine, chlorhexidine diacetate, chlorohexidine gluconate, povidone iodine, alcohol, dichlorobenzyl alcohol, dehydroacetic acid, hexetidine, triclosan, hydrogen peroxide, colloidal silver, benzethonium chloride, benzalkonium chloride, octenidine, antibiotic, and mixtures thereof.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the disinfectant or antimicrobial agent is a fluid or a gel.

10. The device of claim 3, wherein a compression of the absorbent material toward the closed end of the chamber upon connection to the female luer connector or the male luer connector.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the compression of the absorbent material disinfects the female luer connector or the male luer connector.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the outer cap exterior wall surface includes a plurality of grip members.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the female luer connector is selected from the group consisting essentially of needle-free connectors, stopcocks, and hemodialysis connectors.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the male connector is an intravenous tubing end or stopcock.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the peelable seal comprises an aluminum or multi-layer polymer film peel back top.

16. A device for connection to a medical connector, the device comprising:

an outer cap comprising a body, a closed end, an outer cap annular wall having a length L_O2 extending from the closed end to an open end and defining a chamber containing an absorbent material and disinfectant or antimicrobial agent, the open end defining an end face;

the outer cap annular wall having an outer cap exterior wall surface and an outer cap interior wall surface, the outer cap interior wall surface having one or more grooves and one or more threads adapted to engage with a female luer connector;

an inner cap slidably engaged with the outer cap comprising a body having an annular wall having an exterior wall surface and an interior wall surface with a first end of the inner cap facing the closed end of the outer cap, a second end of the inner cap facing the open end of the outer cap, exterior wall surface of the first end of the inner cap includes two shaft-like wings to fit into the one or more grooves of the outer cap interior wall surface and facilitate a slide motion without allowing significant relative rotation between the inner cap with respect to the outer cap, the exterior wall surface of the second end of the inner cap having one or more thread-tabs adapted to engage a male luer connector, wherein the inner cap is in a slidable arrangement with the outer cap; and

a peelable seal on the end face to prevent the disinfectant or the antimicrobial agent from exiting the chamber.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the open end of the outer cap is situated on approximately a same horizontal plane as the second end of the inner cap in an initial state.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein when a male luer connector is engaged to the one or more threads of the exterior wall surface of the second end of the inner cap, the inner cap slides against the outer cap to partially protrude out from the open end of the outer cap.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein when a female luer connector is engaged to the device, the inner cap slides against the outer cap and retracts into the chamber of the outer cap to allow the female luer connector to engage the one or more threads on the interior wall surface of the outer cap.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the disinfectant or antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting essentially of isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, 2-propanol, butanol, methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, propyl gallate, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene, t-butyl-hydroquinone, chloroxylenol, chlorohexidine, chlorhexidine diacetate, chlorohexidine gluconate, povidone iodine, alcohol, dichlorobenzyl alcohol, dehydroacetic acid, hexetidine, triclosan, hydrogen peroxide, colloidal silver, benzethonium chloride, benzalkonium chloride, octenidine, antibiotic, and mixtures thereof.

21. The device of claim 16, wherein the disinfectant or antimicrobial agent is a fluid or a gel.

22. The device of claim 16, wherein compression of the absorbent material toward the closed end of the chamber upon connection to the female luer connector or the male luer connector.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the compression of the absorbent material disinfects the female luer connector or the male luer connector.

24. The device of claim 16, wherein the outer cap exterior wall surface includes a plurality of grip members.

25. The device of claim 16, wherein the female luer connector is selected from the group consisting essentially of needle-free connectors, stopcocks, and hemodialysis connectors.

26. The device of claim 16, wherein the male connector is an intravenous tubing end, stopcock or male lock luer.

27. The device of claim 16, wherein an outer-most diameter of the one or more thread-tabs of the inner cap having minimum interference with the threads of the outer cap to allow for relative linear motion.