Methods and apparatus for disinfecting and reflux prevention flush syringe assembly

A method of flushing a vascular access device (VAD) comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a flush syringe assembly comprising
• a barrel,
• a sleeve external to the barrel having a distal end and a proximal end, and an inside surface and an outside surface, wherein the sleeve retracts from distal to proximal positions in relationship to a distal movement of the barrel,
• a disinfecting system comprising a disinfectant contained in a hub, the hub connected to the distal end of the sleeve, the disinfecting system comprising a protective cover on a distal end of the flush syringe assembly, and
• a cap, the cap comprising a proximal end for releasably attaching the cap to a distal end of the barrel and a distal end for releasably attaching the cap to the VAD;
• (b) using one hand to remove the protective cover from the distal end of the flush syringe assembly thereby exposing the disinfectant contained in the hub;
• (c) using one hand to apply the disinfectant to a connector on the VAD;
• (d) using the same hand as in (c) to eject the disinfecting system upon proximal motion of the sleeve;
• (e) coupling the distal end of the cap of the flush syringe assembly to the VAD;
• (f) using one hand to hold the flush syringe assembly and depress a plunger rod disposed within the barrel to flush the VAD with a flush solution that is contained in a chamber of the barrel;
• (g) using the same hand to continue to depress the plunger rod after the barrel is empty to embed a stopper tip of the plunger rod into the VAD and retract the sleeve to expose the cap;
• and
• (h) separating the cap including the embedded stopper tip from the barrel of the flush syringe assembly.