# US 10,871,246 B2 · Universal connector or cap for male and female threaded fittings > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,246 B2 - Document ID: US10871246B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/261,761 - Filed: 2019-01-30 - Published: 2019-08-01 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-30 - Assignees: Becton, Dickinson and Company - Applicants: Becton, Dickinson and Company - Inventors: Paul Marici; Kevin M. Ryan; Chang Jiang; Michael Kwong Chan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871246B2 ## CPC - F16L 15/06: characterised by the shape of the screw-thread - A61M 39/165: {Shrouds or protectors for aseptically enclosing the connector} - A61M 39/20: Closure caps or plugs for connectors or open ends of tubes - F16L 15/002: {with more than one threaded section} - B65D 41/04: Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - 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)} - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract A cap is described for connection to a medical connector, the cap includes a housing having a top wall and sidewall forming a first cavity, and a removable or integrally formed protrusion. The protrusion includes an inner thread on an inner surface, the inner thread being sufficient to interlock with a mating feature of a female needleless connector. The inner surface of the protrusion defines a second cavity. The protrusion includes an outer thread on an outer surface, the outer thread being sufficient to interlock with a mating feature of a male needleless connector. The second cavity configured to define a chamber to contain an absorbent material and disinfectant or antimicrobial agent. The cap may also include a peel seal and/or septum to prevent the disinfectant or the antimicrobial agent from exiting the second cavity. An exterior sidewall surface of the housing may include a plurality of grip members. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cap comprising: a housing comprising a top wall, an essentially cylindrical sidewall forming a first cavity, and an open bottom formed by said cylindrical sidewall with an opening to the first cavity within said housing for receiving a hub of a female needleless connector or a male needleless connector; and a protrusion integrally formed with the housing and positioned within said first cavity, the protrusion having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the protrusion defining a second cavity, an inner thread on said inner surface of the protrusion, said inner thread being sufficient to interlock with a mating feature of said female needleless connector, and an outer thread on said outer surface of the protrusion, said outer thread being sufficient to interlock with a mating feature of said male needleless connector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein when a hub of said female needleless connector is received within said inner surface of said second cavity, said hub is secured within said inner surface of said second cavity by interlocking at least a portion of said inner thread with a mating feature on said hub of said female needleless connector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein when a hub of said male needleless connector is received within said inner surface of said second cavity, said hub is secured within said first cavity by interlocking at least a portion of said outer thread on said outer surface of the protrusion with a mating feature on a collar of said male needleless connector when said collar is received within an outer portion of said second cavity. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein said protrusion comprises one or more cantilevered prongs separated by one or more respective gaps, at least one of said cantilevered prongs configured to bend to facilitate interference fit between said protrusion and said mating feature of said male needleless connector or female needleless connector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein said protrusion extends essentially from an inner surface of said top wall toward said open bottom of said housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein said protrusion extends essentially parallel to said sidewall of the housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein an inner portion of said second cavity extends further into said housing toward said top wall than an outer portion of said second cavity. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein a profile of said inner thread is essentially parallel to, or coincide with, a profile of said outer thread. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein the inner thread and the outer thread have an inclined thread pattern. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein the inner thread and outer thread have a helical-shaped thread pattern. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein the inner thread or the outer thread has one or more gaps in a thread pattern. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein said inner surface of the protrusion is essentially parallel to said outer surface of the protrusion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, further comprising at least one disinfection sponge configured within said second cavity. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The cap of claim 13, further comprising a removable cover sealing said opening to said second cavity to seal said disinfection sponge within said second cavity prior to use of said cap. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein an exterior wall surface of the sidewall of the housing includes a plurality of grip members. ### Claim 16 A cap comprising: a housing comprising a top wall, an essentially cylindrical sidewall forming a first cavity, and an open bottom formed by said cylindrical sidewall with an opening to the first cavity within said housing for receiving a hub of a female needleless connector or a male needleless connector; and a removable insert positioned within said first cavity, the removable insert having closed distal end comprising a distal wall, an open proximal end, a sidewall extending proximally from the distal wall toward the open proximal end, the sidewall having a split-thread protrusion integrally formed with the distal wall, the split-thread protrusion having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the split-thread protrusion defining a second cavity, an inner thread on said inner surface of the split-thread protrusion, said inner thread being sufficient to interlock with a mating feature of said female needleless connector, and an outer thread on said outer surface of the split-thread protrusion, said outer thread being sufficient to interlock with a mating feature of said male needleless connector. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The cap of claim 16, wherein when a hub of said female needleless connector is received within said inner surface of said second cavity, said hub is secured within said inner surface of said second cavity by interlocking at least a portion of said inner thread with a mating feature on said hub of said female needleless connector. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The cap of claim 16, wherein when a hub of said male needleless connector is received within said inner surface of said second cavity, said hub is secured within said first cavity by interlocking at least a portion of said outer thread on said outer surface of the split-thread protrusion with a mating feature on a collar of said male needleless connector when said collar is received within an outer portion of said second cavity. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The cap of claim 16, wherein said split-thread protrusion comprises one or more cantilevered prongs separated by one or more respective gaps, at least one of said prongs configure to bend to facilitate interference fit between said protrusion and said mating feature of said male needleless connector or female needleless connector. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The cap of claim 19, further comprising one or more bridge sections arranged to span between the one or more gaps of the one or more cantilevered prongs of the split-thread protrusion. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The cap of claim 16, wherein the sidewall of the removable insert comprises an upper portion and a lower portion. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The cap of claim 21, wherein the upper portion of the sidewall is tapered outward toward the distal wall and the lower portion of the sidewall is cylindrical. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The cap of claim 16, wherein a profile of said inner thread is essentially parallel to, or coincide with, a profile of said outer thread. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The cap of claim 16, wherein the inner thread and outer thread have an inclined thread pattern. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The cap of claim 16, wherein the inner thread and outer thread have a helical-shaped thread pattern. ### Claim 26 (depends on 16) The cap of claim 16, further comprising at least one disinfection sponge configured within said second cavity. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The cap of claim 26, further comprising a removable cover sealing said opening to said second cavity to seal said disinfection sponge within said second cavity prior to use of said cap. ### Claim 28 (depends on 16) The cap of claim 16, wherein an exterior wall surface of the sidewall of the housing includes a plurality of grip members. ### Claim 29 A cap comprising: a housing comprising a top wall, an essentially cylindrical sidewall forming a first cavity, and an open bottom formed by said cylindrical sidewall with an opening to the first cavity within said housing for receiving a hub of a female needleless connector or a male needleless connector; and a removable insert positioned within said first cavity, the removable insert having closed distal end comprising a distal wall, an open proximal end, a sidewall extending proximally from the distal wall toward the open proximal end, the sidewall having a split-thread protrusion integrally formed with the distal wall, the split-thread protrusion having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the split-thread protrusion defining a second cavity, an inner thread on said inner surface of the split-thread protrusion, said inner thread being sufficient to interlock with a mating feature of said female needleless connector, an outer thread on said outer surface of the split-thread protrusion, said outer thread being sufficient to interlock with a mating feature of said male needleless connector; absorbent material configured within said second cavity; a disinfectant or an antimicrobial agent for disinfecting an outer surface and an inner surface of said female needleless connector or male needleless connector when said female needleless connector or male needleless connector is inserted into the second cavity; and a septum attached to the open bottom of the removable insert thereby forming a seal for maintaining said disinfectant or an antimicrobial agent within said second cavity prior to use of said cap. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The cap of claim 29, wherein when a hub of said female needleless connector is received within said inner surface of said second cavity, said hub is secured within said inner surface of said second cavity by interlocking at least a portion of said inner thread with a mating feature on said hub of said female needleless connector. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The cap of claim 29, wherein when a hub of said male needleless connector is received within said inner surface of said second cavity, said hub is secured within said first cavity by interlocking at least a portion of said outer thread on said outer surface of the split-thread protrusion with a mating feature on a collar of said male needleless connector when said collar is received within an outer portion of said second cavity. ### Claim 32 (depends on 29) The cap of claim 29, wherein said split-thread protrusion comprises one or more cantilevered prongs separated by one or more gaps, at least one of said cantilevered prongs are configured to bend to facilitate interference fit between said protrusion and said mating feature of said male needleless connector or female needleless connector. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The cap of claim 32, further comprising one or more bridge sections arranged to span between the one or more gaps of the one or more cantilevered prongs of the split-thread protrusion. ### Claim 34 (depends on 29) The cap of claim 29, wherein the sidewall of the removable insert comprises an upper portion and a lower portion. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The cap of claim 34, wherein the upper portion of the sidewall is tapered outward toward the distal wall and the lower portion of the sidewall is cylindrical. ### Claim 36 (depends on 29) The cap of claim 29, wherein a profile of said inner thread is essentially parallel to, or coincide with, a profile of said outer thread. ### Claim 37 (depends on 29) The cap of claim 29, wherein the inner thread and outer thread have an inclined thread pattern. ### Claim 38 (depends on 29) The cap of claim 29, wherein the inner thread and outer thread have a helical-shaped thread pattern. ### Claim 39 (depends on 29) The cap of claim 29, wherein an exterior wall surface of the sidewall includes a plurality of grip members. ### Claim 40 (depends on 29) The cap of claim 29, wherein the absorbent material is a foam. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The cap of claim 40, wherein the foam is a polyurethane foam. ### Claim 42 (depends on 29) The cap of claim 29, wherein the absorbent material is a sponge. ### Claim 43 (depends on 29) The cap of claim 29, wherein the absorbent material has slits. ### Claim 44 (depends on 29) The cap of claim 29, wherein a compression of the absorbent material toward the top wall of the housing occurs upon connection to the female needleless connector. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The cap of claim 44, wherein compression of the absorbent material disinfects the female needleless connector. ### Claim 46 (depends on 29) The cap of claim 29, wherein the absorbent material is under radial compression by the inner thread on said inner surface of the split-thread protrusion to retain the absorbent material in the second cavity. ### Claim 47 (depends on 29) The cap of claim 29, wherein the disinfectant or the antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting essentially of isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, 2-propanol, butanol, methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, propyl gallate, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene, t-butyl-hydroquinone, chloroxylenol, chlorohexidine, chlorhexidine diacetate, chlorohexidine gluconate, povidone iodine, alcohol, dichlorobenzyl alcohol, dehydroacetic acid, hexetidine, triclosan, hydrogen peroxide, colloidal silver, benzethonium chloride, benzalkonium chloride, octenidine, antibiotic, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The cap of claim 47, wherein the disinfectant or antimicrobial agent comprises at least one of chlorhexidine gluconate and chlorhexidine diacetate.