Disinfecting caps having an extendable feature and related systems and methods
AssigneesCatheter Connections, Inc., University of Utah Research Foundation
InventorsDonald D. Solomon, F. Mark Ferguson, Steven Bandis, James Mercer, Michael Howlett, Robert Hitchcock
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Some assemblies can include a male cap and a female cap, each of which can be used to cover separated medical connectors. In certain arrangements, a male cap can include a movable carriage that transitions from a retracted position when an assembly with which the male cap is associated is in a closed state to an extended position when the assembly is in an open state.
Claims36
A cap configured to disinfect a medical connector, the cap comprising:
- an outer housing that defines a proximal end, a distal end, and a cavity that extends from the proximal end toward the distal end;
- and
- an inner housing disposed within the outer housing, the inner housing comprising a connection interface that is configured to connect the inner housing to a medical connector, the inner housing defining a chamber that comprises an antiseptic therein;
- wherein the cap is configured to transition from a pre-use state, in which the inner housing is in a retracted position relative to the outer housing, to a connection-ready state, in which the inner housing is in an extended position relative to the outer housing, wherein the retracted position of the inner housing is closer to the distal end of the outer housing than is the extended position.
An assembly configured to disinfect one or more medical connectors, the assembly comprising:
- a female cap that comprises a housing that defines a first connection interface;
- and
- a male cap that comprises:
- an outer housing that defines a cavity, wherein the outer housing defines a first connection interface that is configured to cooperate with the first connection interface of the female cap to couple the male and female caps with each other;
- an inner housing positioned within the cavity of the outer housing;
- and
- a first biasing member that is coupled with each of the outer and inner housings, wherein the biasing member is configured to bias the inner housing toward an extended position,
- wherein, when the assembly is in a pre-use state in which the male and female caps are coupled with each other, a portion of the female cap contacts the inner housing of the male cap so as to maintain the inner housing of the male cap in a retracted position relative to the outer housing of the male cap, and
- wherein the assembly is configured such that upon separation of the male and female caps from each other, the biasing member is configured to urge the inner housing to the extended position.
32-53. (canceled)
An assembly configured to disinfect one or more medical connectors, the assembly comprising:
- a female cap that comprises a housing that defines a first connection interface;
- and
- a male cap that comprises:
- an outer housing that defines a cavity, wherein the outer housing defines a first connection interface that is configured to cooperate with the first connection interface of the female cap to couple the male and female caps with each other;
- and
- an inner housing positioned within the cavity of the outer housing and movable relative thereto;
- wherein, when the assembly is in a pre-use state in which the male and female caps are coupled with each other, the inner housing of the male cap is maintained in a retracted position relative to the outer housing, and
- wherein the assembly is configured such that during or after separation of the male and female caps from each other, the inner housing of the male cap can be moved to and retained in an extended position relative to the outer housing.
55-84. (canceled)
A cap configured to disinfect a medical connector, the cap comprising:
- an outer housing that defines a proximal end, a distal end, and a cavity that extends from the proximal end toward the distal end;
- an inner housing disposed within the outer housing, the inner housing comprising a connection interface that is configured to connect the inner housing to a medical connector, the inner housing defining a chamber that comprises an antiseptic therein;
- and
- means for transitioning the inner housing from a retracted position relative to the outer housing to an extended position relative to the outer housing, wherein the retracted position of the inner housing is closer to the distal end of the outer housing than is the extended position.
86-87. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.