Protective cap for preventing contamination of a needle-free connector
A protective cap engageable with a needle-free connector includes a frustoconical body member having a first end and a second end, the frustoconical body member defining first and second openings at the first and second ends, respectively, with the first opening having a first circumference and the second opening having a second circumference that is smaller than the first circumference. The frustoconical body member includes a gripper defining the second opening, the gripper including a plurality of flexible legs configured to deflect radially outward when coupled with a needle-free connector, with each of the flexible legs including a first leg portion angled radially inward, a second leg portion formed integrally with the first leg portion, and a clip portion positioned at a location where the first and second leg portions join, the clip portion oriented orthogonally to the second leg portion and extending radially inward into the second opening.
1 . A protective cap engageable with a needle-free connector of an intravenous (IV) catheter assembly, the protective cap comprising:
a frustoconical body member having a first end and a second end, the frustoconical body member defining a first opening at the first end and a second opening at the second end, with the first opening having a first circumference and the second opening having a second circumference that is smaller than the first circumference;
wherein the frustoconical body member includes a gripper defining the second opening, the gripper forms a friction fit with an outer surface of either a male connection or a female connection of the needle-free connector, the gripper comprising a plurality of flexible legs that are configured to deflect radially outward when coupled with the needle-free connector, with each of the plurality of flexible legs including:
a first leg portion angled radially inward;
a second leg portion formed integrally with the first leg portion; and
a clip portion positioned at a location where the first leg portion joins the second leg portion, the clip portion oriented orthogonally to the second leg portion and extending radially inward into the second opening.
2 . The cap of claim 1 , wherein the clip portion of each of the plurality of flexible legs makes contact with the needle-free connector when the protective cap is coupled to the needle-free connector, to form a friction contact with the needle-free connector.
3 . The cap of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flexible legs is positioned equidistantly about the second circumference, with a gap separating each adjacent pair of flexible legs of the plurality of flexible legs.
4 . The cap of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of flexible legs extend from approximately a mid-point of the frustoconical body member between the first end and the second end, down to the second end.
5 . The cap of claim 1 , wherein the second leg portion extends orthogonally out from a plane defined by the second opening.
6 . The cap of claim 1 , wherein the cap is formed as a single piece injection molded component.
7 . The cap of claim 6 , wherein the cap is formed from a thermoplastic polymer material.
8 . The cap of claim 7 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer material is polyester, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
9 . The cap of claim 1 , wherein the frustoconical body member includes an upper portion and a lower portion that are integrally formed.
10 . An intravenous (IV) catheter assembly comprising:
a catheter adapter;
a catheter coupled to the catheter adapter and extending out distally therefrom, so as to be positionable intravenously within a patient;
an extension line coupled to the catheter adapter and extending out proximally therefrom;
a luer hub positioned at a proximal end of the extension line, the luer hub in fluid communication with the catheter through the extension line and the catheter adapter;
a needle-free connector comprising a distal connector end and a proximal connector end, the distal connector end coupled to the luer hub; and
a protective cap, comprising:
a frustoconical body member having a first end and a second end, the frustoconical body member defining a first opening at the first end and a second opening at the second end, with the first opening having a first circumference and the second opening having a second circumference that is smaller than the first circumference,
wherein the frustoconical body member includes a gripper defining the second opening, the gripper comprising a plurality of flexible legs that are configured to deflect radially outward when coupled with the needle-free connector, with each of the plurality of flexible legs including a first leg portion angled radially inward, a second leg portion formed integrally with the first leg portion, and a clip portion positioned at a location where the first leg portion joins the second leg portion, the clip portion oriented orthogonally to the second leg portion and extending radially inward into the second opening;
wherein the protective cap is coupled to the proximal connector end of the needle-free connector.
11 . The cap of claim 10 , wherein the second leg portion extends orthogonally out from a plane defined by the second opening.
12 . The cap of claim 10 , wherein the cap is formed as a single piece injection molded component.
13 . The cap of claim 12 , wherein the cap is formed from a thermoplastic polymer material.
14 . The cap of claim 13 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer material is polyester, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
15 . The cap of claim 10 , wherein the frustoconical body member includes an upper portion and a lower portion that are integrally formed.