Methods and apparatus for disinfecting and reflux prevention flush syringe assembly
AssigneeBecton, Dickinson and Company
InventorGirum Yemane Tekeste
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention are directed to flush syringe assemblies comprising an integrated contamination-prevention device integrated with device connector flushing positioned so that the practitioner cannot forget to apply disinfectant. The flush syringe assemblies comprise a barrel with an elongate plunger rod disposed therein and a cap comprising a passageway. The plunger rod includes a stopper of which at least a portion can be embedded in the passageway of the cap to form a plug in the cap. Methods of flushing a vascular access device (VAD) while providing a flush syringe assembly described herein are also disclosed.
Claims17
A method of flushing a vascular access device (VAD) comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a flush syringe assembly comprising
- a barrel,
- a luer tip
- a threaded connection on the barrel surrounding the luer tip,
- a sleeve external to the barrel having a distal end and an inside surface and an outside surface,
- a hub comprising
- a disinfecting system comprising a disinfectant contained in the hub,
- a proximal end for releasably attaching the hub to a distal end of the sleeve and a distal end having a protective cover for releasably covering the disinfecting system
- wherein the sleeve in combination with barrel and the hub form a sealed chamber, the sealed chamber housing the luer tip and the threaded connection
- (b) removing the protective cover from the distal end of the hub thereby exposing the disinfectant contained in the hub;
- (c) applying the disinfectant to a connector of the VAD;
- (d) engaging the outside surface of the sleeve to eject the hub from the distal end of the sleeve;
- (e) coupling the luer tip of the flush syringe assembly to the VAD;
- (f) holding the flush syringe assembly and depressing a plunger rod disposed within the barrel to flush the VAD with a flush solution that is contained in a chamber of the barrel;
- (g) decoupling the flush syringe from the VAD.
A flush syringe assembly comprising:
- a barrel including a side wall having an inside surface defining a chamber for retaining fluid, an outside surface having stops, an open proximal end, a distal end;
- an elongate plunger rod disposed within the barrel, the plunger rod comprising a distal end including
- a stopper slidably positioned in fluid-tight contact with the inside surface of the barrel for driving fluid out of the chamber by movement of the stopper relative to the barrel;
- a threaded connection surrounding a luer connection on the distal end of the barrel, the luer connection having a distal end tip for releasably fluidically attaching the flush syringe to a vascular access device (VAD);
- a sleeve external to the barrel having a sleeve distal end and a sleeve proximal end, and an inside surface and an outside surface,
- a hub releasably attached to the sleeve having a proximal face of the hub sealing the luer tip and a distal portion having a disinfecting system comprising a disinfectant,
- wherein the sleeve in combination with barrel and the hub form a tip chamber at the distal end of the barrel, the tip chamber housing the luer tip and the threaded connection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.