Closed system catheter vent cap

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020009366-A1
Application number	US-201716315044-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 6, 2017
Priority date	Jul 6, 2016
Publication date	Jan 9, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A self activating vent cap configured to be operably coupled to a needleless connector and automatically shifted relative to the needleless connector from the first, storage position to a second, activated position upon rotation of the vent cap relative to the needleless connector. The self activating vent cap including a threaded portion, an activation portion and a biasing mechanism, wherein shifting of the activation portion to the second, activated position is selectively precluded by the interference of at least one ridge of the threaded portion with a ledge of the activation portion.

First claim

1 . A self activating vent cap configured to be operably coupled to a needleless connector and automatically shifted relative to the needleless connector from a first, storage position to a second, activated position upon rotation of the vent cap relative to the needleless connector, the vent cap comprising:
a threaded portion configured to be selectively threadably coupled to the needleless connector, such that the threaded portion is coupled to the needleless connector during use, and is uncoupled from the needleless connector after use; an activation portion at least partially surrounding the threaded portion and shiftable relative to the threaded portion between the first, storage position, in which the needleless connector remains sealed, and the second, activated position, in which a wall defining a vent path is at least partially inserted into the needleless connector, thereby enabling gas within the needleless connector to vent therefrom; and a biasing mechanism positioned between the threaded portion and the activation portion and configured to bias the activation portion to the second, activated position, wherein shifting of the activation portion to the second, activated position is selectively precluded by the interference of at least one ridge of the threaded portion with a ledge of the activation portion, and wherein the activation portion is configured to rotate relative to the threaded portion to reduce interference between the at least one ridge and the ledge, thereby enabling the activation portion to shift to the second, activated position.

2 . The self activating vent cap of claim 1 , wherein the biasing mechanism is a coil spring.

3 . The self activating vent cap ( 320 ) of claim 1 , wherein the threaded portion is configured to be selectively threadably coupled to a Luer lock connector of the needleless connector.

4 . The self activating vent cap of claim 1 , wherein an initial rotation of the activation portion enables the activation portion to shift to the second, activated position, and continued rotation of the activation portion causes the threaded portion to become uncoupled from the needleless connector.

5 . The self activating vent cap of claim 1 , wherein the vent path is plugged at a proximal and by a flash plug.

6 . A self activating vent cap configured to be operably coupled to a needleless connector and automatically shifted relative to the needleless connector from a first, storage position to a second, activated position upon the removal of a blocking member, the vent cap comprising:
a threaded portion configured to be selectively threadably coupled to the needleless connector, such that the threaded portion is coupled to the needleless connector during use, and is uncoupled from the needleless connector after use; an activation portion at least partially surrounding the threaded portion ( 244 ) and shiftable relative to the threaded portion between the first, storage position, in which the needleless connector remains sealed, and the second, activated position, in which a wall defining a vent path is at least partially inserted into the needleless connector, thereby enabling gas within the needleless connector to vent therefrom; and a biasing mechanism positioned between the threaded portion and the activation portion and configured to bias the activation portion to the second, activated position, wherein shifting of the activation portion to the second, activated position, is inhibited by a blocking member inserted into an aperture defined within the activation portion; wherein upon removal of the blocking member, the biasing mechanism biases the activation portion to the second, activated position.

7 . The self activating vent cap of claim 8 , wherein the biasing mechanism is a coil spring.

8 . The self activating vent cap of claim 8 , wherein the threaded portion is configured to be selectively threadably coupled to a Luer lock connector of the needleless connector.

9 . The self activating vent cap of claim 8 , wherein rotation of the activation portion causes the threaded portion to become uncoupled from the needleless connector.

10 . The self activating vent cap of claim 8 , wherein the vent path is plugged at a proximal and by a flash plug.

11 . The self activating vent cap of claim 8 , wherein the blocking member is operably coupled to packaging material.

12 . A vent cap configured to be coupled to a needleless connector and shiftable relative to the needleless connector between a storage position and an actively depressed, venting position, the vent cap comprising:
a threaded portion configured to be selectively threadably coupled to the needleless connector, such that the threaded portion is coupled to the needleless connector during use, and is uncoupled from the needleless connector after use; an activation portion at least partially surrounding the threaded portion and shiftable relative to the threaded portion between the storage position, in which the needleless connector remains sealed, and the actively depressed, venting position, in which a wall defining a vent path is at least partially inserted into the needleless connector, thereby enabling gas within the needleless connector to vent therefrom; and wherein the vent cap is configured such that actively depressing the activation portion distally to the actively depressed, venting position enables the threaded portion to be threadably uncoupled from the needleless connector.

13 . The vent cap of claim 12 , further comprising a biasing mechanism positioned between the threaded portion and the activation portion and configured to bias the activation portion to the storage position.

14 . The self activating vent cap of claim 8 , wherein the threaded portion is configured to be selectively threadably coupled to a Luer lock connector of the needleless connector.

15 . The self activating vent cap of claim 14 , wherein depressing the activation portion distally relative to the threaded portion and rotating the activation portion causes the threaded portion to become threadably uncoupled from the Luer lock connector.

Assignees

• Smiths Medical Asd Inc

Inventors

• Abitabilo James Edward
• Blackwell Michael
• Breindel Jay T
• Chheda Harsh D
• Felicito Kathryn
• Goral David J
• Roehl Christopher

Classifications

• A61M39/20 Primary

  Closure caps or plugs for connectors or open ends of tubes · CPC title

• A61M2039/205

  comprising air venting means · CPC title

• A61M25/0606

  "Over-the-needle" catheter assemblies, e.g. I.V. catheters · CPC title

• A61M39/10

  Tube connectors; Tube couplings {(A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014)} · CPC title

• A61M25/06 Primary

  Body-piercing guide needles or the like · CPC title