Disinfecting caps having an extendable feature and related systems and methods
Inventors
Solomon, Donald D. • Ferguson, F. Mark • Bandis, Steven • Mercer, James • Howlett, Michael • HITCHCOCK, ROBERT
Assignees
HEALTH LINE INTERNATIONAL CORP., DBA HEALTH LINE MEDICAL PRODUCTS
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Publication Number
US-8343112-B2
Publication Date
2013-01-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
Some assemblies can include a male cap and a female cap, each of which can be used to cover separated medical connectors. In certain arrangements, a male cap can include a movable carriage that transitions from a retracted position when an assembly with which the male cap is associated is in a closed state to an extended position when the assembly is in an open state.
Core Innovation
Medical-connector disinfecting caps comprise an outer housing and an inner housing with a connector interface, an antiseptic chamber, a sealing member, and a biasing member. Relative to the outer housing, the inner housing is movable from a retracted pre-use position to an extended connection-ready position for medical connector engagement. The sealing member contacts a portion of the connector to limit antiseptic entry into the connector lumen, while the biasing member urges the sealing member toward the chamber opening.
Paired assemblies comprise female and male disinfecting caps that couple together before use to form a closed assembly. A portion of the female cap maintains the inner housing of the male cap in a retracted position while coupled, and the inner housing moves to or is retained in an extended position upon or following cap separation. The female cap compresses an antiseptic pad against needleless injection-site designs, maintaining sterility and enabling ready deployment for connector disinfection.
Claims Coverage
The claims identify seven inventive features across independent claims 1, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34, covering disinfecting caps and coupled-cap assemblies.
Cap with biased inner housing and sealing member
Claim 1 recites an outer housing and an inner housing containing an antiseptic, a sealing member configured to form a seal with an inserted medical connector, a first biasing member urging the sealing member toward the chamber open end, and a second biasing member urging the inner housing from a retracted pre-use position to an extended connection-ready position.
Paired caps with separation-triggered extension
Claim 29 recites female and male disinfecting caps coupled in a pre-use state, wherein a portion of the female cap maintains the male cap inner housing in a retracted position until cap separation enables a second biasing member to urge the inner housing to an extended position.
Closed assembly with retainable threaded inner housing
Claim 30 recites female and male disinfecting caps coupled to form a closed assembly, wherein the male cap comprises an inner housing with a threaded connection interface that is maintained in a retracted position prior to use and movable to and retainable in an extended position upon separation.
Cap with transition mechanism and biased sealing member
Claim 31 recites an outer housing and an inner housing defining an antiseptic chamber, a sealing member configured to form a seal with an inserted medical connector, a biasing member urging the sealing member toward the open end, and means for transitioning the inner housing from a retracted position to an extended position.
Cap with antiseptic chamber and cap-coupling interface
Claim 32 recites an outer housing configured to couple to a second cap to form a closed assembly, and an inner housing defining an antiseptic chamber with a threaded connector interface, configured to transition from a retracted pre-use position to an extended connection-ready position.
Cap with projecting threaded inner housing
Claim 33 recites an inner housing having a proximal projection that defines at least part of an antiseptic chamber with an outwardly disposed threaded connection interface, transitioning from a retracted pre-use position to an extended connection-ready position.
Coupled assembly with antiseptic chamber and projecting interface
Claim 34 recites coupled female and male disinfecting caps forming a closed assembly, wherein the male cap inner housing has an antiseptic chamber and a proximal projection with an outwardly disposed threaded interface, maintained in a retracted position before use and movable to and retainable in an extended position during or after separation.
The claims cover individual disinfecting caps and paired-cap assemblies defined by movable inner housings transitioning between retracted and extended positions, connector interfaces, antiseptic chambers, sealing members, and biasing or transition mechanisms.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Disinfection of one or more medical connectors using a cap or a paired male and female disinfecting-cap assembly.
Disinfection of needleless injection-site designs using a female disinfecting cap.
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