Disinfecting caps for medical female luer connectors
Inventors
Solomon, Donald D. • Ferguson, F. Mark • HITCHCOCK, ROBERT • Bandis, Steven • Mercer, James • Howlett, Michael W.
Assignees
HEALTH LINE INTERNATIONAL CORP., DBA HEALTH LINE MEDICAL PRODUCTS
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Publication Number
US-8523830-B2
Publication Date
2013-09-03
Expiration Date
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.
Core Innovation
The invention provides female-disinfecting caps and medical connector cap assemblies configured to apply an antiseptic agent to a needleless injection site or receive a medical connector. The cap body defines a single-opening chamber with threads near the opening and internal sidewall segments whose acute angles to the longitudinal axis decrease from near the opening toward the chamber interior. The cap incorporates an outer shoulder and an engaging sleeve.
Embodiments include absorbent material within the chamber, as well as seals, covers, and vents configured to preserve sterility and retain antiseptic prior to use. Male-cap embodiments utilize a biased sealing member and antiseptic-transfer ports to disinfect male protrusions while limiting antiseptic entry into the connector lumen. Complementary recess-and-protrusion separation assists convert cap rotation into axial release upon connector insertion.
Claims Coverage
The claims identify three inventive features across three independent claims covering female-disinfecting cap configurations and medical connector cap assemblies.
Female-disinfecting cap with angled sidewall segments and absorbent material
A female-disinfecting cap includes a cap body defining a single-opening chamber, threads near the opening, first and second internal sidewall segments between the threads where the first segment has a greater acute angle with the longitudinal axis than the second, and absorbent material in the chamber for holding an antiseptic agent.
Female-disinfecting cap with progressively decreasing sidewall angles
A female-disinfecting cap comprises a threaded cap body defining a single-opening chamber containing an antiseptic agent, with a plurality of sidewall segments between the threads whose acute angles with the longitudinal axis progressively decrease from near the opening toward the chamber interior.
Medical connector cap assembly with an engaging sleeve
A medical connector cap assembly comprises at least one cap with a single-opening chamber for receiving a medical connector, threads, two sidewall segments between the threads where the first segment is nearer the opening and has a greater acute angle than the second, an outer shoulder, an antiseptic agent, and a sleeve engaging the shoulder.
The claims cover female-disinfecting caps with angled internal sidewall segments and antiseptic-containing chambers, alongside medical connector cap assemblies having an outer shoulder and an engaging sleeve.
Stated Advantages
The male-cap embodiments limit antiseptic entry into the connector lumen while disinfecting male protrusions.
Seals, covers, and vents help preserve sterility and retain antiseptic before use.
Separation-assist features and sleeve-edge geometry convert cap rotation into axial release and facilitate cap removal by twisting.
Documented Applications
Applying an antiseptic agent to a needleless injection site using a female-disinfecting cap.
Disinfecting medical connector surfaces during coupling, including male protrusions.
Using an assembly of medical connector caps in which a medical connector is received in a cap chamber and engaged by threads while a sleeve engages the cap shoulder.
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