Disinfecting cap
A device for cleaning medical implements is disclosed, in particular a device for cleaning vascular or other fluid access sites. The device includes a cap having an opening to receive an access site. The cap may be used in the following manner: A healthcare worker may, with gloved hands, open the cap packaging and place the cap over the port of a medical implement to be cleaned. The healthcare worker may wipe the site by either applying a turning motion or by simply pushing the cap onto the port. The cap could then remain secured in place by threads other mechanisms. A cap in place on a medical implement may be a positive indication that a desired site of the medical implement is clean. The cap may include a disinfecting substance.
1. A disinfecting cap for attachment to a port of a medical implement,
the cap comprising:
an exterior surface;
a first cavity comprising a top end comprising an opening providing access to the first cavity, a bottom end, and a interior sidewall extending from adjacent to the first cavity top end opening; and
a plurality of second cavities extending from the first cavity bottom end, each second cavity having an open end adjacent to the bottom end of the first cavity and a closed end.
2. The disinfecting cap of claim 1 , wherein each second cavity comprises a conical shape.
3. The disinfecting cap of claim 1 , wherein each second cavity comprises a pyramidal shape.
4. The disinfecting cap of claim 1 further comprising a disinfecting substance filling at least a portion of each second cavity.
5. The disinfecting cap of claim 4 further comprising a foam material infused with the disinfecting substance.
6. The disinfecting cap of claim 1 , wherein the first cavity interior sidewall engages a thread of the port.
7. The disinfecting cap of claim 6 , wherein the interior sidewall engages a thread of the port with a friction fit.
8. The disinfecting cap of claim 1 further comprising a retention element connected with at least a portion of the first cavity interior sidewall.
9. The disinfecting cap of claim 8 , wherein the retention element comprises a resilient material.
10. The disinfecting cap of claim 9 , wherein the resilient material engages a thread of the port.
11. The disinfecting cap of claim 10 , wherein upon attaching the cap to the port, the thread of the port is pushed past at least a portion of the resilient material, and resilient material rebounds into a position in which the retention element engages the thread and retains the cap.
12. The disinfecting cap of claim 1 , wherein the first cavity interior sidewall does not comprise a thread.
13. The disinfecting cap of claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface comprises a rib formed on an exterior surface of the cap.
14. The disinfecting cap of claim 1 further comprising:
a ring having an outer surface and a central bore, wherein the ring central bore is coaxial with the first cavity;
wherein the outside surface of the ring is adjacent to the sidewall of the first cavity;
wherein the port is inserted into the cap through the ring central bore; and
wherein the cap exterior surface comprises a first material having a first durometer, and the ring comprises a second material having a second durometer.
15. The disinfecting cap of claim 14 , wherein the first durometer is harder than the second durometer.
16. The disinfecting cap of claim 14 , wherein the exterior surface comprises polypropylene.
17. The disinfecting cap of claim 16 , wherein the ring comprises a material chosen from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyurethane foam, thermoplastic elastomer, and thermoplastic vulcanizate.
18. A disinfecting cap for attachment to a port of a medical implement,
the cap comprising:
an exterior skin; and
an interior cavity comprising a circular sidewall extending from adjacent an open end to adjacent a closed end, the interior cavity circular sidewall having a varying diameter;
wherein the interior cavity sidewall diameter decreases along a longitudinal axis extending from the closed end to the open end such that the diameter of the sidewall is smaller at the open end than the diameter of the sidewall at the closed end.
19. The disinfecting cap of claim 18 further comprising a resilient material inserted into the interior cavity, wherein the resilient material engages a thread of the port.
20. The disinfecting cap of claim 19 , wherein the resilient material comprises a ring of resilient material having a central bore.