Method of disinfecting ports in central venous catheter systems
Inventors
Ready, William Judson • Godbole, Pranav • Nandagopal, Bharathwaj • Adams, Mary Catherine • Gassner, Timothy • Kim, You Keun • Shi, Ruifu
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-10166085-B2
Publication Date
2019-01-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure generally relates to systems for disinfecting Central Venous Catheter (CVC) system ports that use highly-abrasive and highly-conforming foam material in place of wipes or other sponge products, and methods for using such systems. The foam material may be an open-cell microabrasive material such as melamine foam. The foam material may contain disinfecting solutions such as isopropyl alcohol, chlorhexidine gluconate, or povidone-iodine.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a method for disinfecting a Central Venous Catheter (CVC) system port. The method scrubs the CVC system port in a twisting motion using a formaldehyde-melamine-sodium-bisulfite foam material that contains a disinfecting solution. The approach replaces wipe-based scrubbing with an open-cell microabrasive foam used in a conformal manner to promote mechanical biofilm removal.
The method includes listening for an audible feedback resulting from a friction force between the foam material and the CVC system port. The method further includes adjusting the friction force between the foam material and the CVC system port to produce the audible feedback. The described audible feedback is treated as an indicator associated with sufficient friction during scrubbing.
The disclosed disinfecting foam material is formaldehyde-melamine-sodium-bisulfite foam, and the disinfecting solution contains disinfecting agents including 70% isopropyl alcohol, chlorhexidine gluconate, and povidone-iodine. The system is described for use on CVC system port structures including a CVC catheter hub, and the document describes test results indicating improved Escherichia coli removal compared with a non-woven IPA prep pad under STH conditions.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim requires three inventive features: twisting-motion scrubbing with formaldehyde-melamine-sodium-bisulfite foam containing a disinfecting solution, audible feedback from a friction force, and adjusting the friction force to produce the audible feedback. Dependent claims refine the audible feedback/biofilm relationship, specify disinfecting solution components, and narrow the port to a CVC catheter hub.
Twisting-motion scrubbing with formaldehyde-melamine-sodium-bisulfite foam containing a disinfecting solution
Scrubbing a Central Venous Catheter (CVC) system port in a twisting motion with a formaldehyde-melamine-sodium-bisulfite foam material, wherein the foam material contains a disinfecting solution.
Audible feedback from friction force during foam-to-port scrubbing
Listening for an audible feedback resulting from a friction force between the foam material and the CVC system port.
Adjusting friction force to produce audible feedback
Adjusting the friction force between the foam material and the CVC system port to produce the audible feedback.
Across the independent claim, the core inventive coverage is centered on twisting-motion scrubbing of a CVC system port using formaldehyde-melamine-sodium-bisulfite foam containing a disinfecting solution, combined with audible feedback generated by a friction force and adjusting that friction force to produce the audible feedback. Dependent claim refinements further link audible feedback to biofilm removal, specify disinfecting solution components including 70% isopropyl alcohol, chlorhexidine gluconate, and povidone-iodine, and limit the port to a CVC catheter hub.
Stated Advantages
Improved removal of Escherichia coli compared with a non-woven IPA prep pad under STH conditions.
Mechanical biofilm removal supported by the open-cell microabrasive foam during a twisting scrubbing motion.
Audible "squeak" feedback associated with a friction force between the foam material and the CVC system port to indicate sufficient friction.
Documented Applications
Disinfecting a Central Venous Catheter (CVC) system port, including disinfection of a CVC catheter hub, in a disinfecting process associated with STH conditions (including the CDC Scrub the Hub context described in the document).
Interested in licensing this patent?