Medical implement cleaning device

• US 7,985,302 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2010
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company (Solventum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Ivera Medical Corporation (3M Company)
• Inventors: Rogers, Bobby E., Diperna, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Kornakov; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAMPBELL, NATASHA N.
• Application Number:
  US12/860,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20100313366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 340 Days
• Field of Search: 134/6, 134/115.R, 15/971, 151/049.2, 151/049.3, 604/267, 604/533
• US Class Current: 134/115.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/70 Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/162 with antiseptic agent incorporated within the connector

Abstract

A cleaning device for a medical implement is disclosed. The cleaning device includes a cap having an opening to an inner cavity, the opening being adapted to receive a site of the medical implement. The cleaning device further includes a compressible 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 compressible cleaning material is at least partially secured in the inner cavity and adapted to swab and clean the site with the cleaning agent.

Claims

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

a cap having an opening to an inner cavity, the opening for receiving a site of the medical implement;

threading at least partially around an inside surface of the cap near a periphery of the opening to the inner cavity, the threading to engage corresponding threads on the site of the medical implement;

a compressible cleaning material in the inner cavity and containing a cleaning agent, the compressible cleaning material adapted to swab and clean the site with the cleaning agent;

at least one aperture to the inner cavity to allow venting from the inner cavity when the opening receives the site of the medical implement; and

a removable seal attached to the cap at the opening to cover the opening and to maintain the compressible cleaning material and cleaning agent within the inner cavity prior to receipt of the site of the medical implement.

2. The cleaning device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one aperture is transiently formed during receiving the site of the medical implement.

3. The cleaning device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the venting from the inner cavity includes venting of at least a portion of the cleaning agent.

4. The cleaning device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the venting from the inner cavity includes releasing pressure from the inner cavity.

5. The cleaning device in accordance with claim 1, wherein when the site of the medical implement is received into the opening, at least some of the corresponding threads on the site of the medical implement are exposed to the cleaning agent.

6. The cleaning device in accordance with claim 1, wherein when the site of the medical implement is received into the opening, at least some of the corresponding threads on the site of the medical implement extend beyond the threading and into the inner cavity.

7. A cleaning device for a medical implement, the cleaning device comprising:

a cap having an inner cavity for receiving a site of the medical implement;

threading at least partially around an inside surface of the cap near an outer periphery of the inner cavity, the threading to engage corresponding threads on the site of the medical implement;

a compressible cleaning material in the inner cavity and containing a cleaning agent, the compressible cleaning material adapted to swab and clean the site with the cleaning agent;

at least one aperture to the inner cavity to allow venting from the inner cavity when the inner cavity receives the site of the medical implement; and

a removable seal attached to the cap enclosing the inner cavity to seal the at least one aperture and to maintain the compressible cleaning material in the inner cavity.

8. The cleaning device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the at least one aperture is transiently formed when the inner cavity receives the site of the medical implement.

9. The cleaning device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the venting from the inner cavity includes venting of at least a portion of the cleaning agent.

10. The cleaning device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the venting from the inner cavity includes releasing pressure from the inner cavity.

11. The cleaning device in accordance with claim 7, wherein when the inner cavity receives the site of the medical implement, at least some of the corresponding threads on the site of the medical implement are exposed to the cleaning agent.

12. The cleaning device in accordance with claim 7, wherein when the inner cavity receives the site of the medical implement, at least some of the corresponding threads on the site of the medical implement extend beyond the threading and into the inner cavity.

13. A cleaning device for a medical implement, the cleaning device comprising:

a cap for covering a site of the medical implement;

a compressible cleaning material in an inner cavity of the cap, the cleaning material being adapted to swab and clean the site with a cleaning agent when the cap covers the site of the medical implement;

threading at least partially around an inside surface of the cap near an outer periphery of the inner cavity, the threading to engage corresponding threads on the site of the medical implement;

at least one aperture to the inner cavity to allow venting from the inner cavity when the cap covers the site of the medical implement; and

a seal attached to the cap enclosing the inner cavity to seal the at least one aperture and to maintain the compressible cleaning material in the inner cavity, the seal being removable prior to the cap covering the site of the medical implement.

14. The cleaning device in accordance with claim 13, wherein the at least one aperture is transiently formed when the cap covers the site of the medical implement.

15. The cleaning device in accordance with claim 13, wherein the venting from the inner cavity includes venting of at least a portion of the cleaning agent.

16. The cleaning device in accordance with claim 13, wherein the venting from the inner cavity includes releasing pressure from the inner cavity.

17. The cleaning device in accordance with claim 13, wherein when the cap covers the site of the medical implement, at least some of the corresponding threads on the site of the medical implement extend beyond the threading and into the inner cavity and are exposed to the cleaning agent.