# US 2014/0150832 A1 · Male medical implement cleaning device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150832 A1 - Document ID: US20140150832A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/910,053 - Filed: 2013-06-04 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-06-04 - Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company - Inventors: Bobby E. Rogers; Paul DiPema; Gino Kang; Christine Arme; John Detloff - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150832A1 ## CPC - A61B 90/70: Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments - A61M 39/16: having provision for disinfection or sterilisation {(A61M39/143 takes precedence)} - A61M 39/162: {with antiseptic agent incorporated within the connector} - 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 - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - 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)} ## Abstract A cleaning cap for a medical implement having a male protrusion. The cleaning cap includes a housing defining an inner cavity defined by an inner wall and distal end that encloses the inner cavity, and an opening opposite the distal end. The inner wall has a recess near the opening to the housing. The recess has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the inner wall near the recess. The cap further includes a movable piston having a forward nose and rearward end surrounded by a flexible flange that extends outward and toward the opening to abut the inner wall near the recess of the housing to maintain a cleaning solution in the inner cavity prior to receipt of the male protrusion into the inner cavity. The rearward end of the movable piston configured to couple with a distal end of the male protrusion to move the piston toward a distal end of the housing opposite the opening of the housing to provide a portion of the cleaning solution to the male protrusion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cleaning device for a medical implement having a male protrusion, the cleaning device comprising: a cap having a housing defining an inner cavity, the housing having an inner wall that encloses the housing and an opening, the inner wall having a recess near the opening to the housing, the opening having a diameter that is less than a diameter of the recess, the diameter of the opening including one or more vents from the recess of the inner wall; a cleaning solution in the inner cavity of the housing; and a movable piston having a forward nose and rearward end surrounded by a flexible skirt that flares outward to abut the inner wall near the recess to maintain the cleaning solution in the inner cavity prior to receipt of the male protrusion into the inner cavity, the rearward end of the movable piston configured to couple with a distal end of the male protrusion to move the piston toward a distal end of the housing opposite the opening of the housing to provide a portion of the cleaning solution to the male protrusion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cleaning device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a removable seal coupled to the opening of the housing to seal the opening and maintain the piston and the cleaning solution within the inner cavity prior to receipt of the male protrusion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cleaning device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the housing further includes one or more threads extending out from an outer surface of the housing proximate the opening. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cleaning device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the housing further includes one or more ridges extending out from an outer surface of the housing near the distal end of the housing opposite the opening. ### Claim 5 A cleaning cap for a medical implement having a male protrusion, the cleaning cap comprising: a housing defining an inner cavity, the housing having an inner wall and distal end that encloses the inner cavity, and an opening opposite the distal end, the inner wall having a recess near the opening to the housing, the opening having a diameter that is less than a diameter of the recess, the diameter of the opening including one or more vents from the inner cavity; a cleaning solution in the inner cavity of the housing; and a movable piston having a forward nose and rearward end surrounded by a flexible flange that extends outward and toward the opening to abut the inner wall near the recess of the housing to maintain the cleaning solution in the inner cavity prior to receipt of the male protrusion into the inner cavity, the rearward end of the movable piston configured to couple with a distal end of the male protrusion to move the piston toward a distal end of the housing opposite the opening of the housing to provide a portion of the cleaning solution to the male protrusion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The cleaning device in accordance with claim 5, further comprising a removable seal coupled to the opening of the housing to seal the opening and maintain the piston and the cleaning solution within the inner cavity prior to receipt of the male protrusion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The cleaning device in accordance with claim 5, wherein the housing further includes one or more threads extending out from an outer surface of the housing proximate the opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The cleaning device in accordance with claim 5, wherein the housing further includes one or more ridges extending out from an outer surface of the housing near the distal end of the housing opposite the opening. ### Claim 9 A cleaning device for a male luer having a male lumen surrounded by a threaded sleeve, the cleaning device comprising: a housing defining an inner cavity, the housing having an inner wall that encloses the housing and an opening, the inner wall having a recess near the opening to the housing, the opening having a diameter that is less than a diameter of the recess; a cleaning solution in the inner cavity of the housing; a movable piston having a forward nose and rearward end surrounded by a flexible skirt that flares outward to abut the inner wall near the recess to maintain the cleaning solution in the inner cavity prior to receipt of the male protrusion into the inner cavity, the rearward end of the movable piston configured to couple with a distal end of the male protrusion to move the piston toward a distal end of the housing opposite the opening of the housing to provide a portion of the cleaning solution to the male protrusion one or more threads extending out from an outer surface of the housing proximate the opening to mate with the threaded sleeve as the cavity receives the male lumen; and a removable seal coupled to the opening of the housing to seal the opening and maintain the piston and the cleaning solution within the inner cavity prior to receipt of the male protrusion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The cleaning device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the opening includes one or more vents from the recess of the inner wall. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The cleaning device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the housing further includes one or more ridges extending out from an outer surface of the housing near the distal end of the housing opposite the opening. ### Claim 12 A cleaning system for a male luer having a male lumen surrounded by a threaded sleeve, the cleaning device comprising: a housing defining an inner cavity, the housing having an inner wall that encloses the housing and an opening, the inner wall having a recess near the opening to the housing, the opening having a diameter that is less than a diameter of the recess; a cleaning solution in the inner cavity of the housing; a movable piston having a forward nose and rearward end surrounded by a flexible skirt that flares outward to abut the inner wall near the recess to maintain the cleaning solution in the inner cavity prior to receipt of the male protrusion into the inner cavity, the rearward end of the movable piston configured to couple with a distal end of the male protrusion to move the piston toward a distal end of the housing opposite the opening of the housing to provide a portion of the cleaning solution to the male protrusion one or more threads extending out from an outer surface of the housing proximate the opening to mate with the threaded sleeve as the cavity receives the male lumen; and a removable seal coupled to the opening of the housing to seal the opening and maintain the piston and the cleaning solution within the inner cavity prior to receipt of the male protrusion.