Cleaning device and method for fluid transfer connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016214142-A1
Application number	US-201615009073-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 28, 2016
Priority date	Jan 28, 2015
Publication date	Jul 28, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A cleaning swab device and method for cleaning a fluid coupling or connector. The device includes a generally elongate cylindrical tubular swab body, and a channel formed at an end thereof to define at least one cleaning finger for insertion into a housing and/or port of the connector to remove residual fluids, clean and disinfect the connector. The cleaning device optionally further includes a guide stem or plunger configured to extend through the tubular body of the swab, having a plug at one end for sealing debris out of a lumen of the connector during cleaning.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A cleaning device for cleaning a connector comprising:
a generally elongate cylindrical swab member comprising a first end and a second end, the first end generally opposite the second end, a lumen defined within the cylindrical swab member and extending from the first end to the second end, and at least one channel formed in the second end of the cylindrical swab member to define at least one cleaning finger, the at least one cleaning finger at least partially comprising a cleaning material to access a void within a connector.

2 . The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel formed in the cylindrical member defines two cleaning fingers.

3 . The cleaning device of claim 1 , further comprising a generally elongate plunger comprising an actuating end and a plug end.

4 . The cleaning device of claim 3 , wherein the plunger is configured to extend through the lumen of the cylindrical member.

5 . The cleaning device of claim 3 , wherein the actuating end is larger than the opening of the cylindrical member.

6 . The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the plunger is rod-shaped.

7 . The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cleaning finger comprises an interior surface, an exterior surface, an intermediate surface and an end surface.

8 . The cleaning device of claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of at least one of the interior, exterior, intermediate and end surfaces are at least partially covered with a cleaning material to provide for cleaning and disinfecting at least portions of the connector.

9 . The cleaning device of claim 9 , wherein the cleaning material further comprises with a cleaning agent in the form of isopropyl alcohol.

10 . A cleaning device for cleaning voids of a vented connector, the cleaning device comprising:
an elongate cylindrical swab member comprising a first end and a second end, the first end generally opposite the second end, an lumen defined within the cylindrical member and extending from the first end to the second end, and at least one channel formed in the second end of the cylindrical swab member to define at least two cleaning fingers configured for passage at least partially into the voids of the vented connector; and a plunger configured to extend through the lumen of the cylindrical swab member, the plunger comprising an actuating member at a first end and a plug at a second end.

11 . The cleaning device of claim 10 , wherein the at least two cleaning fingers comprise interior surfaces, exterior surfaces, intermediate surfaces and end surfaces.

12 . The cleaning device of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of at least one of the interior, exterior, intermediate and end surfaces are at least partially covered with a cleaning material to provide for cleaning the voids of the vented connector.

13 . The cleaning device of claim 12 , wherein the cleaning material further comprises an isopropyl alcohol cleaning agent.

14 . A cleaning device for cleaning a connector, the connector having a stem with a lumen extending therethrough, an outer housing, threads positioned on an internal portion of the outer housing, the cleaning device comprising a generally elongate tube extending from a first end to a second end and comprising a lumen axially extending therethrough, wherein at least one end of the cleaning device is adapted to be inserted between the stem and the threads of the outer housing to clean and disinfect the connector.

15 . The cleaning device of claim 14 , further comprising a plunger comprising an actuating end and a plug end, the cleaning device being movably mounted to traverse along the plunger, wherein the plug end is preferably capable of removably coupling within the lumen of the stem.

16 . The cleaning device of claim 15 , wherein the plug end sealingly engages the lumen of the stem such that contamination of the lumen from debris and/or a cleaning agent of the at least one end of the swab is prevented during cleaning the connector.

17 . The cleaning device of claim 14 , wherein the connector comprises at least one vent opening.

18 . The cleaning device of claim 14 , wherein at least one end of the generally elongate tube comprises a channel formed with a portion thereof to define at least one cleaning finger, the at least one cleaning finger comprising an interior surface, an exterior surface, an intermediate surface and an end surface, wherein one or more of the surfaces are at least partially covered with a cleaning material to provide for cleaning portions of the connector.

19 . The cleaning device of claim 18 , wherein the at least one cleaning finger can be inserted through the at least one vent opening.

20 . A cleaning device for cleaning and/or disinfecting a connector, the connector comprising a stem having a lumen extending therethrough, an outer housing, threads positioned on an internal portion of the outer housing, the connector further comprising a cap having a generally rib-like body, a seal plug extending from the rib-like body, and a tether connecting the cap to the connector, the seal plug generally provided for sealingly engaging the lumen of the stem, the cleaning device comprising a generally elongate tube extending from a first end to a second end and comprising an opening axially extending therethrough, the cleaning device further comprising a channel formed with a portion of the cylindrical member to define at least one finger, wherein the at least one finger can be inserted between the stem and the threads of the outer housing to clean the connector with or without the seal plug sealingly engaging the lumen of the stem.

21 . A method of cleaning and/or disinfecting a connector, the connector comprising a stem having a lumen extending therethrough, an outer housing, and threads positioned on an internal portion of the outer housing, the method comprising:
providing a cleaning device comprising generally elongate cylindrical member comprising a first end and a second end, the first end generally opposite the second end, and an opening defined within the cylindrical member and extending from the first end to the second end; engaging an end of the cleaning device with the connector, the end of the cleaning device generally being positioned between the stem and the threads of the connector; actuating the cleaning device to move relative to the connector while the end of the cleaning device is engaged with the connector; and disengaging the swab from the connector.

22 . A cleaning device for cleaning a connector comprising:
a housing defining a longitudinal central axis; at least one brush mounted to the housing, the at least one brush being positioned generally parallel and laterally offset from the central axis; and a plunger translationally mounted within the elongate housing along the central axis.

23 . The cleaning device of claim 22 , wherein the housing is generally cylindrical in shape and comprises a pair of flanges formed at an end thereof, and wherein a pair of diametrically opposed channels are defined between the flanges.

24 . The cleaning device of claim 23 , wherein the at least one brush is mounted to the housing and is recessed within an orifice defined by the flanges, and wherein the channels defined between the flanges allow for the application of a cleaning agent to the at least one brush when a portion of the plunger is engaged with a portion of the c

Assignees

• Neomed Inc

Inventors

• Davis Benjamin M
• Ingram Aaron N

Classifications

• A61L2103/15

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

• A61M5/001

  Apparatus specially adapted for cleaning or sterilising syringes or needles · CPC title

• A61M39/16

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

• B08B9/027

  Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages · CPC title

• A61M2209/10

  Equipment for cleaning · CPC title