Disinfecting caps for medical female luer connectors

• US 8,523,830 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2010
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Catheter Connections Incorporated (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.), University of Utah Research Foundation (State of Utah)
• Inventors: Solomon, Donald D., Ferguson, F. Mark, Hitchcock, Robert, Bandis, Steven, Mercer, James, Howlett, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARPENTER, WILLIAM R
• Application Number:
  US12/917,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20110044850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 604/905, 604/29, 604/283, 604/256, 604/403, 604/533, 424/292, 424/28, 424/405, 220/380
• US Class Current: 604/256
• 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 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

Caps can be used to cover and disinfect a male protrusion portion of a medical connector. Some caps can create a seal with the male protrusion to prevent antiseptic from entering a lumen the protrusion. A biasing element can aid in creating or maintaining the seal.

Claims

1. A female-disinfecting cap for applying an antiseptic agent to a needleless injection site, the cap comprising:

a cap body having an inner sidewall defining a chamber having a single opening, the sidewall having threads, the threads being disposed near the opening, and a first segment and a second segment of the sidewall disposed within the chamber between the threads, the first segment extending from near the opening and having a first acute angle with a longitudinal axis, the second segment having a second acute angle with the longitudinal axis, the first acute angle being greater than the second acute angle, both angles being greater than zero, and

an absorbent material for holding the antiseptic agent disposed in the chamber.

2. A cap according to claim 1, further comprising the antiseptic agent.

3. A cap according to claim 1, wherein the cap body further comprises a gripping portion.

4. A cap according to claim 1, further comprising a cover disposed over the opening of the chamber.

5. A cap according to claim 4, wherein the cover comprise an impervious pliable material.

6. A cap according to claim 5, wherein the impervious pliable material is a foil.

7. A cap according to claim 1, wherein the means for engaging threads of the externally threaded needleless injection site is a thread.

8. A cap according to claim 1, further comprising a shoulder on an outer circumference of the cap.

9. A cap according to claim 8, wherein a distance from the shoulder to a transversal plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the cap increases or decreases along the circumference of the cap.

10. A cap according to claim 9, wherein the distance varies forming apexes and valleys.

11. A female-disinfecting cap for applying an antiseptic agent to a needleless injection site, the cap comprising:

a cap body having a sidewall defining a chamber having a single opening, and threads for engaging a needleless injection site, the sidewall having a plurality of segments disposed within the chamber between threads, each segment having an acute angle with a longitudinal axis progressively decreasing from near the opening toward an interior of the chamber, the segments being greater than zero and

an antiseptic agent disposed in the chamber.

19. A cap according to claim 11, wherein a portion of the sidewall is configured to engage with an outer surface on the perimeter of the needleless injection site.

12. An assembly of medical connector caps comprising at least one cap comprising:

a cap body having a sidewall defining

a chamber having a single opening and an interior into which a medical connector can be received, the sidewall having a first segment and a second segment, the first segment having a first acute angle with a longitudinal axis and being nearer to the opening that the second segment, the second segment having a second acute angle with the longitudinal axis, the first acute angle being greater than the second acute angle, both segments being greater than zero,

threads for engaging a medical connector, wherein the first and second segments of the sidewall are disposed between the threads, and

a shoulder disposed on an outer circumference of the cap;

an antiseptic agent disposed in the chamber; and

a sleeve engaging the shoulder of the at least one cap.

13. An assembly according to claim 12, wherein the cap body further comprises a gripping portion.

14. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein the the cap further comprises an absorbent pad disposed in the chamber.

15. An assembly according to claim 12, wherein a distance from the shoulder to a transversal plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the cap increases or decreases along the circumference of the cap.

16. An assembly according to claim 15, wherein the distance varies forming apexes and valleys.

17. An assembly according to claim 12, wherein at least one edge of the sleeve has a geometry that facilitates removal of the cap by a twisting motion.

18. An assembly according to claim 12, wherein a distance from an edge of the sleeve to a transversal plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve increases or decreases along the circumference of the sleeve.