Cleaning device and method for using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11045278-B2
Application number	US-201816223917-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2018
Priority date	Jan 28, 2015
Publication date	Jun 29, 2021
Grant date	Jun 29, 2021

Abstract

A cleaning device for cleaning a connector comprising a lumen and an inner threaded surface. The cleaning device includes a cleaning body and a plunger body operably coupled to each other. The cleaning body includes a plurality of elongated cleaning swabs positioned separately apart from and in parallel to each other. The plurality of elongated cleaning swabs are operably rotatable about a connector lumen and in removable engagement with a connector inner threaded surface. The plunger body includes an elongated plug to removably engage the connector lumen. The cleaning body and the plunger body are translatably coupled along a common operational axis. The cleaning body and the plunger body are rotatably coupled with respect to each other about the common operational axis. The cleaning body is an integral structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cleaning device for cleaning a connector comprising a lumen and an inner threaded surface, the cleaning device comprising:
a cleaning body and a plunger body operably coupled to each other, the cleaning body comprising a plurality of elongated cleaning brushes positioned separately apart from and in parallel to each other, the plurality of elongated cleaning brushes being operably rotatable about a connector lumen and in removable engagement with a connector inner threaded surface, the plunger body comprising an elongated plug to removably engage the connector lumen;
wherein, the cleaning body and the plunger body are translatably coupled along a common operational axis, the cleaning body and the plunger body being rotatably coupled with respect to each other about the common operational axis, and wherein the cleaning body is an integral structure.

2. The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning body and the plunger body are operably coupled to each other with a locking assembly.

3. The cleaning device of claim 2 , wherein the locking assembly comprises a tab engaged with an aperture.

4. The cleaning device of claim 3 , wherein the aperture extends through the cleaning body, and the tab projects outwardly from the plunger body elongated plug.

5. The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning body elongated cleaning brushes comprise an elongated post and a plurality of bristles extending therefrom.

6. The cleaning device of claim 5 , wherein the plunger body elongated plug is oriented in alignment with the common operational axis, and the cleaning body cleaning brush elongated posts are oriented in parallel to and offset from the common operational axis.

7. The cleaning device of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of bristles extend from the elongated posts along a common planar axis.

8. The cleaning device of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of bristles comprise a plurality of inner bristles extending inwardly toward the common operational axis, and a plurality of outer bristles extending outwardly away from the common operational axis.

9. The cleaning device of claim 8 , wherein the outer bristles are longer than the inner bristles.

10. The cleaning device of claim 7 , wherein the elongated plug is operably positioned along the common planar axis between the plurality of bristles.

11. The cleaning device of claim 1 , further comprising a handle portion to cause operational rotation of the plurality of cleaning brushes about the common operational axis.

12. The cleaning device of claim 11 , wherein the handle portion forms part of the cleaning body.

13. The cleaning device of claim 1 , further comprising an anti-rotation assembly to releasably prevent rotation of the cleaning body with respect to the plunger body.

14. The cleaning device of claim 13 , wherein the anti-rotation assembly comprises a non-circular aperture extending through the cleaning body, and a corresponding non-circular region positioned along the plunger body elongated plug.

15. The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning body comprises a handle that defines a generally flat geometry, and the handle, the elongated plug and the plurality of cleaning brushes are positioned along a common planar axis.

16. A cleaning device for cleaning a connector comprising a lumen and a threaded inner surface, the cleaning device comprising:
an elongated plunger comprising a retained end and a free end, the free end being configured to engage a connector lumen; and
a brush body forming a single integral structure, the brush body comprising a gripping portion, a plunger receiver, and a plurality of brushes comprising an elongated post and a plurality of bristles extending therefrom, the plurality of bristles and the elongated plunger being oriented with respect to each other along a common planar axis;
wherein the brush body and the elongate plunger are translatably coupled along a common operational axis, the brush body and the elongated plunger being rotatably coupled with respect to each other about the common operational axis.

17. The cleaning device of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of bristles comprises a plurality of inwardly facing bristles and a plurality of outwardly facing bristles, the plurality of inwardly facing bristles extending towards the elongated plunger.

18. The cleaning device of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of inwardly facing bristles and the plurality of outwardly facing bristles are oriented along the common planar axis.

19. The cleaning device of claim 16 , wherein the brush body gripping portion is generally flat.

Assignees

• Neomed Inc

Inventors

• Davis Benjamin M
• Ingram Aaron N
• Doornbos David A

Classifications

• A61L2103/15

  Laboratory, medical or dentistry appliances, e.g. catheters or sharps · CPC title

• A61B90/70 Primary

  Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments · CPC title

• A46B9/02

  Position or arrangement of bristles in relation to surface of the brush body, e.g. inclined, in rows, in groups · CPC title

• A46B2200/3006

  Brushes for cleaning bottles or hollow containers · CPC title

• A61M39/16

  having provision for disinfection or sterilisation {(A61M39/143 takes precedence)} · CPC title