Device for disinfecting and flushing an intravenous connector

A system for disinfecting and flushing an intravenous patient connector, comprising:

• a guide housing having an internal, first, circumferential wall surface, a proximal end wall defining a first through aperture therein, a distal end wall defining a second through aperture therein, and a first internal cavity defined within the first circumferential wall surface and the respective proximal and distal end walls;
• an end cap captured within and translatable within the first internal cavity, a proximal end of the end cap defining an inlet and a first Luer connector, a distal end of the end cap defining a shaft with a spiked tip, the shaft defining an outlet and an internal lumen in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet of the end cap;
• a disinfection cap having an internal, second, circumferential wall surface, a proximal end wall defining a third through aperture for receipt of the shaft of defined by the distal end of the end cap, and a distal open end, the second circumferential wall surface defining a second Luer connector;
• a second internal cavity defined within the circumferential wall surface of the disinfection cap which is structurally connected to the guide housing to facilitate the alignment of the first internal cavity and the second internal cavity;
• the respective first internal cavity and the second internal cavity being aligned with each so that the spiked tip of the end cap is translatable within the third through aperture into the second internal cavity;
• an elastomeric sleeve captured within the second internal cavity, the sleeve having a proximal surface that is pierced by the spiked tip when the shaft defined by the distal end of the end cap is translated through the third through aperture, and a distal surface facing the distal open end of the disinfection cap;
• and
• a disinfection pad captured within the second internal cavity, intermediate the elastomeric sleeve and the distal open end of the disinfection cap, the pad defining a fourth aperture for exposure of the distal surface of the elastomeric sleeve to the distal open end of the disinfection cap, the disinfection pad defining a distal end surface;
• a pre-filled flush syringe having a syringe barrel containing a flushing solution, a translatable plunger within the syringe barrel, and a third Luer connector that is inserted through the first through aperture of the guide housing and coupled to the first Luer connector of the end cap, the inlet of the end cap in fluid communication with the flushing solution contained within the syringe barrel;
• and
• a patient connector including a connector body defining a fourth Luer connector coupled to the second Luer connector within the disinfection cap, with the distal end surface of the disinfection pad in contact with the fourth Luer connector;
• wherein advancement of the flush syringe into the first cavity translates the spiked tip of the end cap, piercing the elastomeric sleeve and enabling fluid communication of the flushing solution between the pre-filled flush syringe and the patient connector, via the inlet, internal lumen and outlet of the end cap, and wherein advancement of the translatable plunger dispenses the flushing solution into the patient connector.