Disinfecting caps having sealing features and related systems and methods

• US 8,523,831 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2010
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• 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., Bandis, Steven, Mercer, James, Howlett, Michael, Hitchcock, Robert, Kennedy, James, Lasher, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARPENTER, WILLIAM R
• Application Number:
  US12/957,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20110213341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 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 medical connectors. Some caps can create a seal with the medical connectors to prevent antiseptic from entering a fluid paths defined by a connector. Support members can aid in creating or maintaining the seal.

Claims

1. A female-disinfecting cap for applying an antiseptic agent to an open female luer hub, the cap comprising:

a cap body defining a chamber having only a single opening, a back wall opposite the opening and a sidewall, the chamber having means for engaging threads of an externally threaded female luer hub having an open lumen, the means being disposed near the opening,

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

a sealing component disposed within the chamber configured to sealingly engage with the lumen when the female luer hub is received into the chamber to prevent flow of the antiseptic agent into the lumen of the female luer hub while permitting the flow of the antiseptic agent past the sealing member to outwardly facing surfaces of the female luer hub, the sealing component traveling within the chamber when engaged with the female luer hub in a motion concordant with the motion of the female luer hub; and

a biasing component disposed between the back wall of the chamber and the sealing member, the biasing component biasing the sealing component towards the opening of the chamber.

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

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

4. A cap according to claim 3, wherein the cover comprise an impervious pliable material.

5. A cap according to claim 4, wherein the impervious pliable material comprise a foil.

6. A cap according to claim 1, wherein the chamber comprises at least one frustoconical sidewall.

7. A cap according to claim 1, wherein a perimeter of the sidewall decreases from the opening to the interior of the chamber with a first slope.

8. A cap according to claim 7, wherein the perimeter of the sidewall defines a second slope different from the first slope.

9. A cap according to claim 7, wherein the second slope is disposed distally in the chamber and is steeper than the first slope.

10. A cap according to claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the sealing component conforms with ISO luer specification.

11. A cap according to claim 1, wherein the means for engaging threads of the externally threaded female luer hub is a thread.

12. A cap according to claim 1, further comprising a recess on an outer surface of the cap near the opening for receiving a sleeve.

13. A cap according to claim 12, wherein the recess has a geometry that facilitates removal of the sleeve by a twisting motion.

14. A cap according to claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the sealing component is smaller than an outer diameter of the biasing component.

15. A cap according to claim 1, wherein a proximal portion of the sealing member is a cone.

16. A cap according to claim 1, wherein the biasing component forms an integral part with the back wall of the chamber and the sealing component.

17. A cap according to claim 16, wherein the biasing component and the sealing component have a differing wall thickness.

18. A cap according to claim 1, wherein the biasing component is a spring.

19. A female-disinfecting cap for applying an antiseptic agent to an open female luer hub, the cap comprising:

a cap body defining a chamber having only a single opening, a back wall opposite the opening and a sidewall, the chamber having means for engaging threads of an externally threaded female luer hub having an open lumen, the means being disposed near the opening,

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

a sealing component disposed within the chamber configured to sealingly engage with the lumen when the female luer hub is received into the chamber to prevent flow of the antiseptic agent into the lumen of the female luer hub while permitting the flow of the antiseptic agent past the sealing member to outwardly facing surfaces of the female luer hub, the sealing component traveling within the chamber when engaged with the female luer hub in a motion concordant with the motion of the female luer hub; and

a collapsible component disposed between the back wall of the chamber and the sealing member.

20. A cap according to claim 19 wherein the collapsible component forms an integral part with the back wall of the chamber and the sealing member.

21. A female-disinfecting cap for applying an antiseptic agent to an open female luer hub, the cap comprising:

a cap body defining a chamber having only a single opening, a back wall opposite the opening and a sidewall, the chamber having means for engaging threads of an externally threaded female luer hub having an open lumen, the means being disposed near the opening,

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

a sealing component disposed within the chamber configured to sealingly engage with the lumen when the female luer hub is received into the chamber to prevent flow of the antiseptic agent into the lumen of the female luer hub while permitting the flow of the antiseptic agent past the sealing member to outwardly facing surfaces of the female luer hub, the sealing member being integral with the body of the cap at an end distal to the opening, the sealing component having a variable wall thickness between a distal end a proximal end, wherein the proximal end is closer to the single opening of the chamber than the distal end and the wall thickness decreases from the proximalend towards the interior of the chamber.