Disinfecting cap for open female luer devices
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsAlan R. Dombrowski, John C. Detloff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A disinfecting cap includes a body comprising an opening, a bottom, and a chamber defined between the opening and the bottom. The chamber is configured to hold a liquid disinfectant. A male post extends from the bottom towards the opening of the body. A wall of the chamber comprises a thread originating proximate the opening and extending into the chamber. At least a portion of the thread has a height that increases as a function of increasing distance from the opening.
Claims21
A cap configured for removable attachment to an open female luer device, the cap comprising:
- a body comprising an opening, a bottom, and a chamber defined between the opening and the bottom;
- a male post in the chamber and projecting from the bottom towards the opening of the body;
- a wall of the chamber comprising a thread originating proximate the opening and extending into the chamber, wherein the male post is spaced from the wall;
- and
- a movable piston positioned about the male post, the movable piston comprising:
- a central opening with an interference fit surrounding the male post;
- a top region extending from the central opening and comprising a sealing surface;
- and a flexible circumferential skirt in slidable contact with the wall of the chamber;
- a liquid disinfectant in the chamber between the bottom of the body and the movable piston.
A cap for removable attachment an open female luer device, the cap comprising:
- a body comprising an opening, a bottom, and a chamber defined between the opening and the bottom;
- a wall of the chamber;
- a male post in the chamber projecting from the bottom towards the opening of the body, wherein the male post is spaced from the wall;
- a movable piston comprising:
- a central opening surrounding the male post;
- a top region extending from the central opening and comprising a sealing surface;
- and
- a flexible circumferential skirt extending laterally from the movable piston at an acute angle relative to the male post, wherein the skirt is a flange with a gap between the flange and the top region, wherein the flange is in slidable contact with the wall of the chamber;
- a liquid disinfectant in the chamber between the bottom of the body and the movable piston.
A disinfecting system comprising:
- an open female luer device having a lumen and an open distal end with a contacting surface surrounding the lumen;
- a cap comprising:
- a body comprising an opening, a bottom, and a chamber defined between the opening and the bottom;
- a wall of the chamber;
- a male post in the chamber projecting from the bottom towards the opening of the body, wherein the male post is spaced from the wall;
- a movable piston comprising:
- a central opening surrounding the male post;
- a top region extending from the central opening and comprising a sealing surface;
- and
- a flexible circumferential skirt extending laterally from the movable piston at an acute angle relative to the male post, wherein the skirt is a flange with a gap between the flange and the top region, wherein the flange is in slidable contact with the wall of the chamber;
- a liquid disinfectant in the chamber between the bottom of the body and the movable piston;
- wherein the contacting surface of the open female, luer engages with the seating surface of the moveable piston.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.