# US 9,750,929 B2 · IV access port cap for providing antimicrobial protection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,750,929 B2 - Document ID: US9750929B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/041,931 - Filed: 2016-02-11 - Published: 2016-06-09 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-20 - Assignees: Becton, Dickinson and Company - Applicants: Becton, Dickinson and Company - Inventors: Yiping Ma; Siddarth Shevgoor - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750929B2 ## CPC - A61M 39/162: {with antiseptic agent incorporated within the connector} - A61M 25/0017: {specially adapted for long-term hygiene care, e.g. urethral or indwelling catheters to prevent infections} - A61M 39/20: Closure caps or plugs for connectors or open ends of tubes - A61M 39/0208: {Subcutaneous access sites (implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276; transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247)} - A61M 39/165: {Shrouds or protectors for aseptically enclosing the connector} - A61M 2025/0056: {provided with an antibacterial agent, e.g. by coating, residing in the polymer matrix or releasing an agent out of a reservoir} - 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 cap is configured to provide antimicrobial protection to a female luer port of an intravenous device. The cap distributes an antimicrobial solution within the intraluminal surfaces of the port when the cap is connected to the port. A cap may also be designed to distribute an antimicrobial solution around the exterior surfaces of the port. Once connected to a port, the cap can form a seal that minimizes the evaporation of the antimicrobial solution from within the lumen of a port. The cap can therefore provide antimicrobial protection against another device that is connected to the port once the cap is removed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cap for a port of an intravenous device, the cap comprising: a body having a cavity; an actuator positioned in contact with the cavity, the actuator having a proximal opening, a distal opening, and a lumen extending therebetween, the lumen configured to allow fluid to freely flow between the proximal opening and the distal opening; and an absorbent material containing an antimicrobial solution, the absorbent material being contained within the body such that it is compressible; wherein when the cap is connected to a port of an intravenous device, the actuator is advanced into the cavity and compresses the absorbent material causing the antimicrobial solution to automatically flow through the lumen of the actuator and onto an intraluminal surface of the port. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a male luer in which the lumen is formed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial solution flows through a gap between the body and an exterior surface of the actuator and onto an exterior surface of the port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein the body includes a seal that the actuator contacts when the cap is connected to the port thereby forming a seal between the actuator and the body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein the concentration of an antimicrobial agent within the antimicrobial solution is selected such that when the antimicrobial solution mixes with fluid contained within the lumen of the port, the concentration of the antimicrobial agent remains higher than the minimum inhibitory concentration of the antimicrobial agent. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein the port is a female luer into which the actuator inserts. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein the port is a needleless connector into which the actuator inserts. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a protrusion that is positioned within a lumen in the body, the protrusion having a lumen through which the antimicrobial solution flows. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The cap of claim 8, wherein the actuator includes a plurality of prongs that extend through corresponding openings in the body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The cap of claim 9, wherein the antimicrobial solution flows through the openings when the actuator is forced into the cavity. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a lumen, the lumen having an antimicrobial coating. ### Claim 12 A cap for a port of an intravenous device, the cap comprising: a body having a cavity; an actuator positioned within the cavity, the actuator having a lumen extending therethrough; and an absorbent material containing an antimicrobial solution, the absorbent material being contained within the cavity between the actuator and an inner surface of the body; wherein prior to the cap being connected to a port of an intravenous device, the absorbent material remains uncompressed, and when the cap is connected to a port of an intravenous device, the actuator compresses the absorbent material causing the antimicrobial solution to flow through first and second flow pathways, wherein the first flow pathway extends through the lumen of the actuator into a lumen of the port, wherein the second flow pathway extends around an exterior of the actuator. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The cap of claim 12, wherein the actuator is sized such that a gap exists between an outer edge of the actuator and a wall of the cavity, wherein the second flow pathway extends through the gap such that antimicrobial solution flows onto an exterior surface of the port. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The cap of claim 13, wherein the actuator includes a plurality of prongs which extend through corresponding openings in the body, the antimicrobial solution flowing through the openings onto the exterior surface of the port. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The cap of claim 12, wherein the body includes a seal for sealing the lumen of the actuator. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The cap of claim 12, wherein the actuator comprises a male luer. ### Claim 17 A cap for a needleless connector of an intravenous device, the cap comprising: a body having a cavity; an absorbent material positioned within the cavity, the absorbent material containing an antimicrobial solution; and an actuator positioned within the cavity against the absorbent material, the actuator being moveable within the cavity to compress the absorbent material such that upon the cap being connected to a needleless connector, the needleless connector causes the actuator to compress the absorbent material releasing the antimicrobial solution through first and second flow pathways, wherein the actuator comprises a lumen, wherein the first flow pathway extends through the lumen of the actuator into a lumen of the port, wherein the second flow pathway extends around an exterior of the actuator, wherein only the second flow pathway is blocked in response to a proximal end of the actuator contacting a seal disposed in the cavity of the body.