Medical connector contamination prevention device
View Patent ↗A system relating to improved medical-connector contamination prevention. More particularly, this invention relates to a reduced-touch contamination system for small-bore fluid connectors, including male and female Luer-type connectors.
1 . An apparatus configured to receive a female Luer connector, the apparatus comprising:
a male Luer connector comprising a conical connector and a circumferential collar oriented about a longitudinal axis, the conical connector comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, the circumferential collar comprising a distal end and an inner surface, wherein:
the inner surface of the circumferential collar surrounds the proximal portion of the conical connector and does not surround the distal portion of the conical connector, and
the inner surface of the circumferential collar is threaded and defined by a plurality of peaks and valleys; and
a shield comprising a distal terminating periphery substantially surrounding the longitudinal axis at a distal end of the shield, the shield oriented about the longitudinal axis and surrounding the distal portion of the conical connector, wherein:
the shield extends beyond the distal portion of the conical connector;
the shield comprises an inner bore extending from the distal portion of the conical connector to the distal end of the shield, the inner bore of the shield having a diameter larger than a diameter of an inner bore of the circumferential collar;
the shield is positionally fixed relative to the circumferential collar;
the shield comprises a continuous inner surface; and
the shield is an adhered film.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shield is fixed to the circumferential collar.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the inner bore of the shield is larger than an outer diameter of the circumferential collar.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the shield is threadless.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the inner bore of the shield is greater than or equal to an outer diameter of the circumferential collar.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shield does not extend beyond a radius of 0.4 inches from a longitudinal axis of the connector.
7 . An apparatus configured to receive a female Luer connector, the apparatus comprising:
a male Luer connector comprising a conical connector and a circumferential collar oriented about a longitudinal axis; and
a shield comprising an inner bore extending from a distal portion of the conical connector to a distal end of the shield and a distal terminating periphery at the distal end of the shield, the shield oriented about the longitudinal axis and surrounding the distal portion of the conical connector, and the distal terminating periphery extending beyond a distal end of the conical connector, wherein the shield comprises a continuous inner surface and the shield is frangible, and wherein the shield extends beyond the circumferential collar a distance of between 2.1 mm and 3.6 mm.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the apparatus is a syringe.
9 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the apparatus is an adapter.
10 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the distal terminating periphery surrounds the longitudinal axis.
11 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the shield further comprises a funnel like guide, wherein the funnel like guide does not extend beyond a distal end of the circumferential collar.
12 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein an inner surface of the shield is ridgeless.