Antimicrobial inserts for stopcock medical connectors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11554259-B2
Application number	US-202117358521-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2021
Priority date	Jan 27, 2015
Publication date	Jan 17, 2023
Grant date	Jan 17, 2023

Abstract

Various embodiments of an antimicrobial insert for a stopcock medical connector are provided. More specifically, the present invention relates to an antimicrobial insert that is seated within at least a portion of the annular bore of the connector's tap, wherein fluid within the annular bore contacts the antimicrobial insert, thereby preventing microbial proliferation within the stopcock medical connector.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A stopcock medical connector device, comprising:
a housing comprising a lumen, the housing further comprising:
an upstream port having a hollow interior in fluid communication with the lumen;
a downstream port having a hollow interior in fluid communication with the lumen; and
a middle port disposed between the upstream port and the downstream port, the middle port having a hollow interior in fluid communication with the lumen;

a tap rotatably seated in the lumen of the housing and comprising a shaft, wherein the shaft comprises an annular bore extending through the shaft; and
an antimicrobial ring disposed between the tap and the housing, wherein the antimicrobial ring comprises a first fluid aperture, a second fluid aperture, and a third fluid aperture, wherein the first fluid aperture is configured to be aligned with the upstream port when the second fluid aperture is aligned with the downstream port and the third fluid aperture is aligned with the middle port.

2. The stopcock medical connector device of claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the first fluid aperture, a cross-sectional area of the second fluid aperture, and a cross-sectional area of the third fluid aperture are less than a cross-sectional area of the annular bore.

3. The stopcock medical connector device of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial ring comprises a slit.

4. The stopcock medical connector device of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial ring comprises a resilient material.

5. The stopcock medical connector device of claim 1 , further comprising an antimicrobial ring disposed within the annular bore.

6. The stopcock medical connector device of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid aperture is configured to be aligned with the downstream port when the second fluid aperture is aligned with the upstream port and the third fluid aperture is in contact with an inner surface of the housing opposite the middle port.

7. The stopcock medical connector device of claim 6 , wherein the first fluid aperture is configured to be aligned with the downstream port when the second fluid aperture is aligned with the upstream port, the third fluid aperture is in contact with an inner surface of the housing opposite the middle port, and the middle port is in contact with the antimicrobial ring.

8. The stopcock medical connector device of claim 1 , wherein the tap comprises an annular recess, wherein the antimicrobial ring is disposed within the annular recess.

9. The stopcock medical connector device of claim 8 , wherein the annular bore is disposed within the annular recess.

10. The stopcock medical connector device of claim 8 , wherein a thickness of the antimicrobial ring is less than or equal to a depth of the annular recess.

Assignees

• Becton Dickinson Co

Inventors

• Liu Huibin
• Bihlmaier Bryan Fred
• Lin Janice

Classifications

• A61M39/162 Primary

  with antiseptic agent incorporated within the connector · CPC title

• F16K31/502

  actuating pivotable valve members · CPC title

• A61M2039/229

  Stopcocks · CPC title

• F16K25/005

  Particular materials for seats or closure elements · CPC title

• A61M39/22

  Valves or arrangement of valves {(A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405)} · CPC title