# US 10,245,424 B2 · UV sterilizing catheters and catheter connectors

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- Number: US 10,245,424 B2
- Document ID: US10245424B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/573,911
- Filed: 2014-12-17
- Published: 2015-06-18
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2013-12-18
- Applicants: Maria Patricia Cohen; Gordon Alan Cohen
- Inventors: Maria Patricia Cohen; Gordon Alan Cohen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245424B2

## CPC

- A61M 39/16: having provision for disinfection or sterilisation {(A61M39/143 takes precedence)}
- A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation
- A61M 16/0402: {Special features for tracheal tubes not otherwise provided for}
- A61L 2103/05: Living organisms or biological materials
- A61M 16/0463: {combined with suction tubes, catheters or the like; Outside connections}
- A61M 16/0875: {Connecting tubes}
- A61M 2025/0019: {Cleaning catheters or the like, e.g. for reuse of the device, for avoiding replacement}
- A61M 2039/0285: {with sterilisation means, e.g. antibacterial coatings, disinfecting pads, UV radiation LEDs or heating means in the port}
- A61M 2039/167: {with energizing means, e.g. light, vibration, electricity}
- A61M 2205/053: ultraviolet
- A61M 2205/3334: Measuring or controlling the flow rate
- A61M 2209/10: Equipment for cleaning
- A61M 2210/1032: Trachea
- A61M 2210/1085: Bladder
- A61M 2210/12: Blood circulatory system
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)

## Abstract

A catheter connector includes an inner wall that defines an interior of the catheter connector and is transmissive to ultraviolet (UV) light. An outer wall defines an exterior of the catheter connector. One or a plurality of UV light sources is disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall or on the outer wall positioned to emit UV light into the interior of the catheter connector. A flow sensor is provided for sensing a flow of fluid in the interior of the catheter connector, and circuitry electrically connects the UV light sources, the flow sensor and a power source, such that electrical power is supplied to the UV light sources when a fluid flows through the interior of the catheter connector.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A catheter connector system releasably connecting a supply port of an intravenous line to a patient connector of an catheter, comprising:
a connector body having:
(a) an inner wall defining an interior of the connector body, said inner wall being transmissive to ultraviolet (UV) light; and
(b) an outer wall defining an exterior of the connector body;
one or a plurality of UV light sources disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall or on the outer wall and positioned to emit UV light into the interior of the connector body;
a flow sensor for sensing a flow of fluid in the interior of the catheter;
circuitry for electrically connecting the UV light sources, the flow sensor and a power source, such that electrical power is supplied to the UV light sources when fluid flow is sensed through the interior of the catheter;
wherein the supply port and the inner wall of the connector body are both at least partially transmissive to UV light;
wherein the flow sensor comprises electrodes which extend into the interior of the connector body, wherein electrical power is supplied to the UV light sources when the fluid in the interior of the connector body has a conductivity sufficient to conduct electricity between said electrodes; and
a UV light reflector disposed between the outer wall and inner wall of the connector body or on the outer wall of the connector body and positioned to reflect UV light into the interior of the connector body and said connected supply port.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The catheter connector system of claim 1, wherein the UV light reflector comprises an aluminum coating.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The catheter connector system of claim 1, wherein the connector body is configured for use with an intravenous catheter or a bladder catheter.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The catheter connector system of claim 1, wherein the power source is disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The catheter connector system of claim 1, wherein the UV light source comprises one or more UV light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

### Claim 6

A catheter connector for releasably connecting a supply port of a catheter, comprising:
a connector body having:
(a) an inner wall defining an interior of the connector body, said inner wall and said supply port being transmissive to ultraviolet (UV) light; and
(b) an outer wall defining an exterior of the connector body;
one or a plurality of UV light sources disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall of the connector body or on the outer wall of the connector body and positioned to emit UV light into the interior of the catheter and the connector body;
a flow sensor comprising a pair of spaced electrodes adapted to sense a flow of fluid in the interior of the catheter by measuring electrical conductivity of the fluid between the spaced electrodes;
circuitry for electrically connecting the UV light sources, the flow sensor and a power source, such that electrical power is supplied to the UV light sources when fluid flow is sensed through the interior of the catheter; and
a UV light reflector disposed between the outer wall and inner wall or on the outer wall and positioned to reflect UV light into the interior of the connector body and said connected supply port;
wherein the catheter comprises at least one of: an IV catheter and a bladder catheter.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The catheter connector of claim 6, wherein the UV light source comprises one or more UV light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

### Claim 8

A catheter connector system releasably connecting a supply port of an intravenous line to a patient connector of an intravenous catheter, comprising:
a connector body having:
(a) an inner wall defining an interior of the connector body, said inner wall being transmissive to ultraviolet (UV) light; and
(b) an outer wall defining an exterior of the connector body;
a flow sensor for sensing a flow of fluid in the interior of the connector body;
one or more optical fibers for transmitting UV light from a UV light source into the interior of the connector body;
a UV light reflector disposed between the outer wall and inner wall or on the outer wall and positioned to reflect UV light into the interior of the connector body and said connected supply port; and
circuitry for electrically connecting the UV light source, the flow sensor and a power source, such that electrical power is supplied to the UV light source when fluid flow is sensed through the interior of the connector body;
wherein the supply port and the inner wall of the patient connector body are both at least partially transmissive to UV light;
wherein the flow sensor comprises electrodes which extend into the interior of the connector body, wherein electrical power is supplied to the UV light sources when the fluid in the interior of the connector body has a conductivity sufficient to conduct electricity between said electrodes.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The catheter connector system of claim 8, wherein the UV light source comprises one or more UV light-emitting diodes (LEDs).