Luer protection pouch and luer valve/male luer protection method
OwnerLawrence Allan Lynninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A medical swab pouch is disclosed. The inexpensive elastic pouch contains disinfectant and is configured for protecting and swabbing a wide variety of luer systems to prevent and eliminate bacterial contamination. The pouch has a flattened configuration and can be elastically dilated, as by squeezing the pouch between the thumb and index finger and is readily carried in large numbers in nurse's pockets (in a manner similar to that for conventional alcohol swabs). The pouch covers and protects the luer valve at the discretion of the user and without transmission of torsion or longitudinal force which might loosen the luer valve or otherwise be transmitted to the vein.
Claims20
A system for enhancing safety of a patient having an indwelling intravenous catheter comprising:
- a. a luer valve having a swabbable face for receiving a male luer, the luer valve further having a proximal end with an externally threaded portion defining a first diameter for receiving a matching internally threaded shroud of a luer lock connector adjacent the swabbable face, the luer valve further defining a body portion proximal the externally threaded portion, the body portion having an outer wall defining a second diameter greater than the first diameter, and
- b. a sterile cover sized to be mounted over the swabbable face and the entire externally threaded portion, and at least a portion of the body portion, the sterile cover defining an opening, the opening being sized so that the opening is forcibly dilated by the body portion when the sterile cover is mounted over the body portion, to thereby contact said outer wall of the body portion.
A system for enhancing safety of a patient having an indwelling intravenous catheter comprising:
- a. a luer valve having a swabbable face for receiving a male luer, the luer valve further having an proximal end with an externally threaded portion defining a first diameter for receiving a matching internally threaded shroud of a luer lock connector adjacent the swabbable face, the luer valve further defining a body portion proximal the externally threaded portion, the body portion having an outer wall defining a second diameter greater than the first diameter, and
- b. a sterile cover sized to be mounted over the swabbable face and the entire externally threaded portion, and at least a portion of the body portion, the sterile cover defining an elastic opening, the elastic opening being sized so that the elastic opening is elastically dilated when the sterile cover is mounted over the body portion, the elastic opening rebounding to elastically grip the outer wall of the body portion so that the sterile cover is snuggly retained over the swabbable face, the externally threaded portion, and at least a portion of the body portion.
A system for enhancing safety of a patient having an indwelling intraveneous catheter comprising:
- a luer valve, the luer valve being of the type configured to receive a luer lock connector having a threaded shroud, the luer valve having a swabbable face for receiving a male luer, the luer valve further having a proximal end with an externally threaded portion defining an ISO standard first diameter for receiving a matching ISO standard internally threaded shroud of the luer lock connector adjacent the swabbable face, the luer valve further defining a body portion proximal the externally threaded portion, the body portion having an outer wall defining a second diameter greater than the first diameter;
- and
- a device for covering and protecting said luer valve, said device comprising a sterile cover defining an opening sized for receiving the swabbable face, the externally threaded portion, and the body portion, the sterile cover being sized so that outer walls of the sterile cover are forcibly dilated by the body portion when the sterile cover is mounted over the body portion so that the cover grips the outer wall of the body portion and is self-retaining upon the body portion, the sterile cover being further sized so that, in the mounted position, the sterile cover is snugly retained over the swabbable face, the externally threaded portion, and the body portion, with the inside surfaces of the outer walls of the sterile cover in gripping contact with said outer wall of the body portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.