Antiseptic applicator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9757551-B2
Application number	US-201314046582-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 4, 2013
Priority date	Oct 4, 2013
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

An applicator assembly may include a body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, an actuator operatively coupled to the body, a container disposed within the body, an application member attached to the distal end portion, and a valve disposed between the container and the application member. Actuation of the actuator opens the valve and places the interior of the container in fluid communication with the application member by way of a compressive force applied to the body. A method of applying a solution to a surface may include actuating the actuator, wherein actuation of the actuator applies a compressive force to the body that opens the valve and places the interior of the container in fluid communication with the application member, and contacting the application member to the surface, thereby applying the solution to the surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An applicator assembly comprising:
a body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;
an actuator operatively coupled to the body;
a container disposed within the body;
an application member attached to the distal end portion; and
a valve disposed between the container and the application member, the valve comprising an outer circumference,
wherein actuation of the actuator imparts compressive force on the outer circumference of the valve and on the container sufficient to open the valve and fracture the container, thereby placing the interior of the container in fluid communication with the application member, and
wherein the actuator is also configured to open the valve without fracturing the container.

2. The applicator assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the actuator comprises a first contact point and a second contact point, and
wherein the actuator is configured such that each contact point contacts the body upon actuation of the actuator.

3. The applicator assembly of claim 2 ,
wherein the actuator is configured such that the first contact point imparts compressive force on the valve upon actuation of the actuator.

4. The applicator assembly of claim 3 ,
wherein the actuator is configured such that the second contact point imparts compressive force on the container upon actuation of actuator.

5. The applicator assembly of claim 4 ,
wherein the actuator is configured such that during actuation of the actuator the first contact point imparts compressive force to the valve prior to the second contact point imparting compressive force to the container.

6. The applicator assembly of claim 3 , wherein the valve comprises a slit separating the valve into first and second valve portions.

7. The applicator assembly of claim 6 , wherein the compressive force is imparted in a direction parallel with a height of the slit.

8. The applicator assembly of claim 6 ,
wherein the valve is configured such that the first and second valve portions move away from each other upon application of the compressive force.

9. The applicator assembly of claim 8 ,
wherein the valve is configured such that the first and second valve portions move toward each other upon removal of the compressive force.

10. The applicator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a Shore durometer from about 40 A to about 60 A.

11. The applicator assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pledget disposed between the valve and the container.

12. The applicator assembly of claim 11 , wherein the pledget comprises a hydrophobic material.

13. The applicator assembly of claim 11 , wherein the pledget is impregnated with at least two dyes, wherein the at least two dyes have different solubilities relative to a solution contained in the container.

14. A method of applying a solution to a surface comprising:
providing an applicator assembly having:
a body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;
an actuator operatively coupled to the body;
a container disposed within the body;
an application member attached to the distal end portion; and
a valve disposed between the container and the application member, the valve comprising an outer circumference;

actuating the actuator, wherein actuation of the actuator applies a compressive force to the outer circumference of the valve and on the container sufficient to open the valve and fracture the container, thereby placing the interior of the container in fluid communication with the application member; and
contacting the application member to the surface, thereby applying the solution to the surface,
wherein the actuator is also configured to open the valve without fracturing the container.

15. The method of claim 14 ,
wherein the actuator comprises a first contact point and a second contact point, and
wherein actuating the actuator comprises contacting each contact point with the body.

16. The method of claim 15 ,
wherein actuating the actuator comprises imparting compressive force on the valve via the first contact point.

17. The method of claim 16 ,
wherein actuating the actuator comprises imparting compressive force on the container via the second contact point.

18. The method of claim 17 ,
wherein actuating the actuator comprises imparting compressive force on the valve prior to imparting compressive force on the container.

19. The method of claim 14 ,
wherein the valve comprises a slit separating the valve into first and second valve portions, and
wherein actuating the actuator causes the first and second valve portions to move away from each other.

20. The method of claim 19 ,
further comprising discontinuing actuation of the actuator,
wherein discontinuing actuation of the actuator causes the first and second valve portions to move toward each other.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the compressive force is imparted in a direction parallel with a height of the slit.

22. The method of claim 14 ,
wherein actuating the actuator comprises compressing the actuator toward the body.

23. The method of claim 14 ,
further comprising discontinuing actuation of the actuator, thereby reducing or substantially terminating a flow rate of solution to the application member.

24. The method of claim 14 ,
wherein the applicator further comprises a pledget disposed between the valve and the container,
wherein the pledget is impregnated with at least two dyes, and
wherein the at least two dyes have different solubilites relative to the solution,
the method further comprising drying the solution after the solution is applied to the surface, thereby producing a colored deposit on the surface,
wherein the color of the deposit changes as the solution dries.

Assignees

• Carefusion 2200 Inc

Inventors

• Degala Satish
• Thurmond Ii Kenneth Bruce
• Dokken Kenneth Michael
• Vaidyanathan Aishwarya
• Magallon Angel
• Parrott David A
• Krupp Benjamin T

Classifications

• A61L2/18

  Liquid substances · CPC title

• A61M35/006 Primary

  using sponges, foams, absorbent pads or swabs as spreading means · CPC title