IP Library › Granted Patent US 12661419
Granted Patent B2
US 12661419 · App. 17/594,177 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Sterilisation device for sterilising a section of a catheter tube and a method for sterilising a section of a catheter tube

Inventors: Kasper Koppen (Valby, DK); Mads Orbæk Andersen (Frederiksberg, DK); Andrim Halili (Copenhagen S, DK)
Assignee: VIOBAC ApS
A61L2/10A61L2103/15A61L2202/11A61L2202/122A61L2202/123
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12661419
App. No.
17/594,177
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sterilisation device for sterilising a section of a catheter tube includes a casing including a proximal end, a distal end, an attachment portion, a sterilisation chamber, and a through hole extending through the attachment portion and the sterilisation chamber, the through hole having a distal opening positioned at the distal end of the casing and leading into the sterilisation chamber, the attachment portion being configured to retain a section of a catheter tube in the through hole; and at least one light source configured to emit germicidal light into the sterilisation chamber of the casing. A diameter of the distal opening of the through hole is greater than a diameter of the through hole at the attachment portion, so that when the catheter tube is retained in the through hole, an air gap is formed between the sterilisation chamber at the distal opening and the catheter tube.

Claims (49)

1 . A sterilisation device for sterilising a section of a catheter tube, the sterilisation device comprising:

a casing including a proximal end, a distal end, an attachment portion, a sterilisation chamber, and a through hole extending through both the attachment portion and the sterilisation chamber, the through hole having a distal opening positioned at the distal end of the casing and leading into the sterilisation chamber, the attachment portion being configured to retain a section of a catheter tube in the through hole; and

at least one light source configured to emit germicidal light into the sterilisation chamber of the casing;

wherein the sterilisation chamber comprises a wall surface extending between the at least one light source and the distal opening, the wall surface forming an interior circumferentially and axially extending surface of the through hole;

wherein the wall surface includes a tapered portion such that an inner diameter of the through hole defined by the wall surface decreases along the tapered portion in a direction from the distal opening toward the attachment portion; and

wherein a diameter of the distal opening of the through hole is greater than a diameter of the through hole at the attachment portion of the casing, so that when the catheter tube is retained in the through hole by the attachment portion of the casing, an air gap is formed between the sterilisation chamber at the distal opening and the catheter tube, the air gap extending completely axially around the catheter tube.

2 . The sterilisation device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source is positioned at a distance to the distal opening so that light directly emitted by the at least one light source is received by at least one of the sterilisation chamber of the casing, and a catheter tube positioned in the through hole of the casing.

3 . The sterilisation device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the distal opening forms a border of the wall surface, so that when the catheter tube is positioned in the through hole, a tubular air gap is formed between the wall surface and the catheter tube; and

the tubular air gap extends from the distal opening and into the sterilisation chamber.

4 . The sterilisation device according to claim 3 , further comprising a centring member configured to centre the catheter tube in the sterilisation chamber.

5 . The sterilisation device according to claim 1 , further comprising a centring member configured to centre the catheter tube in the sterilisation chamber.

6 . The sterilisation device according to claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the distal opening is at least 1.1 times the diameter of the through hole at the attachment portion or of the diameter of the catheter tube that can be positioned in the through hole.

7 . The sterilisation device according to claim 1 , wherein the sterilisation device is configured to alternate between:

an open position in which a catheter tube can be attached to the casing by the attachment portion of the casing, and

a closed position in which a section of a catheter tube already present in the attachment portion of the casing can be retained.

8 . The sterilisation device according to claim 7 , wherein:

the casing comprises two portions interconnected by a hinge, the hinge being settable to the open position and the closed position;

a radial access way to the through hole is provided in the open position, so that a section of the catheter tube can be radially inserted into the through hole; and

the two portions of the casing surround the through hole in the closed position, so that the section of the catheter tube already present in the attachment portion of the casing can be at least radially retained.

9 . The sterilisation device of claim 8 , wherein the hinge is a living hinge, a pin-and-knuckle, or a floating hinge.

10 . The sterilisation device according to claim 7 , wherein:

the casing comprises two portions interconnected by a hinge, the hinge being settable to the open position and the closed position;

a radial access way to the through hole is provided in the open position, so that a section of the catheter tube can be radially inserted into the through hole; or

the two portions of the casing surround the through hole in the closed position, so that the section of the catheter tube already present in the attachment portion of the casing can be at least radially retained.

11 . The sterilisation device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the sterilisation device comprises a control device and a detection device;

the control device is configured to cause the at least one light source to start emitting germicidal light when the detection device detects that the casing is in a closed position; and

the control device is configured to cause the at least one light source to stop emitting germicidal light when the detection device detects that the casing is in an open position.

12 . The sterilisation device according to claim 1 , wherein the casing has an outer surface configured to face an exterior of the sterilisation device, the outer surface having a streamlined, curved shape.

13 . The sterilisation device according to claim 1 , wherein a maximum axial length of the sterilisation device from the proximal end to the distal end is at least 1.1 times a maximum outer diameter of the sterilisation device.

14 . The sterilisation device according to claim 1 , further comprising a proximal part consisting of a soft, resilient material.

15 . The sterilisation device according to claim 14 , wherein the soft, resilient material is foam or silicone.

16 . The sterilisation device according to claim 1 , further comprising an antibacterial or bacteria-repellent coating.

17 . The sterilisation device according to claim 1 , wherein a UV reflection zone is provided in the sterilisation chamber.

18 . The sterilisation device of claim 1 , wherein the germicidal light is ultraviolet light.

19 . The sterilisation device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the sterilisation device comprises a control device and a detection device;

the control device is configured to cause the at least one light source to start emitting germicidal light when the detection device detects that the casing is in a closed position; or

the control device is configured to cause the at least one light source to stop emitting germicidal light when the detection device detects that the casing is in an open position.

20 . A method for sterilising a section of a catheter tube, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a sterilisation device, comprising:

a casing including a proximal end, a distal end, an attachment portion, a sterilisation chamber, and a through hole extending through both the attachment portion and the sterilisation chamber, the through hole having a distal opening positioned at the distal end of the casing and leading into the sterilisation chamber, the attachment portion being configured to retain a section of a catheter tube in the through hole; and

at least one light source configured to emit germicidal light into the sterilisation chamber of the casing;

wherein the sterilisation chamber comprises a wall surface extending between the at least one light source and the distal opening, the wall surface forming an interior circumferentially and axially extending surface of the through hole;

wherein the wall surface includes a tapered portion such that an inner diameter of the through hole defined by the wall surface decreases along the tapered portion in a direction from the distal opening toward the attachment portion, thereby defining a generally funnel-shaped portion of the through hole; and

wherein a diameter of the distal opening of the through hole is greater than a diameter of the through hole at the attachment portion of the casing, so that when the catheter tube is retained in the through hole by the attachment portion of the casing, an air gap is formed between the sterilisation chamber at the distal opening and the catheter tube, the air gap extending completely axially around the catheter tube;

positioning a section of the catheter tube in the through hole of the sterilisation device; and

actuating the at least one light source to emit germicidal light onto a section of the catheter tube, thereby sterilising said section of the catheter tube.