Cleaning cap for medical implement
View Patent ↗The disclosed cap for attachment to a medical implement having a male protrusion includes a movable plunger and a depth stop for limiting the translational movement of the plunger. Typically, the cap will include a cleaning solution that is displaced by the movable plunger. The depth stop controls of the displacement of the plunger such that a consistent air-tight seal is made between the surface of the plunger and a surface of the male luer.
1 . A cleaning cap for a medical implement having a male protrusion, the cleaning cap comprising:
a housing having an inner wall that defines an inner cavity and an opening, the housing having a distal end and a proximal end;
a plunger disposed within the inner cavity of the housing, wherein the plunger is movable between a first position and a second position;
a depth stop extending from the inner wall at the distal end toward the proximal end within the inner cavity; and
wherein at the first position the plunger is free to move translationally away from the opening toward the distal end, and at the second position the plunger abuts the depth stop preventing translational movement of the plunger away from the opening;
wherein the cleaning cap further comprises an annular step extending from the inner wall toward the inner cavity.
2 . The cleaning cap of claim 1 , wherein the depth stop comprises an abutment face configured to abut the plunger when the plunger is in the second position.
3 . The cleaning cap of claim 1 , wherein the plunger comprises an annular ridge, and wherein the annular step is configured to abut the annular ridge when the plunger is in the second position.
4 . The cleaning cap of claim 1 , wherein the housing contains a cleaning solution, and wherein movement of the plunger toward the second position by the male protrusion forces the cleaning solution into contact with an outer wall of the male protrusion.
5 . The cleaning cap of claim 1 , wherein the depth stop extends along a central longitudinal axis of the housing.
6 . A cleaning cap for a medical implement having a male protrusion, the cleaning cap comprising:
a housing having an inner wall that defines an inner cavity, an opening, and a step extending from the inner wall; and
a plunger disposed within the inner cavity of the housing, wherein the plunger is movable between a first position and a second position, and wherein the plunger comprises a ridge;
wherein at the first position, the plunger is free to move translationally away from the opening;
wherein at the second position, the ridge abuts the step, thereby preventing translational movement of the plunger away from the opening; and
wherein the ridge is an annular ridge and the step is an annular step.
7 . The cleaning cap of claim 6 , wherein a cleaning solution is retained within the inner cavity of the housing, and wherein translational movement of the plunger toward the second position forces the cleaning solution into contact with an outer wall of the male protrusion.
8 . The cleaning cap of claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of vents disposed along the inner wall, wherein the cleaning solution is directed along an outer wall of the male protrusion when the plunger is moved from the first position toward the second position.
9 . The cleaning cap of claim 7 , wherein the housing defines a flexible tab that flexes to release a cleaning solution from the inner cavity when the plunger is moved from the first position toward the second position.
10 . The cleaning cap of claim 6 , wherein the inner cavity includes a first portion exhibiting a first width and a second portion exhibiting a second width different than the first width, and wherein the annular step is located between the first and second portions.
11 . The cleaning cap of claim 6 , wherein the housing comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the ridge is located between the proximal and distal ends.
12 . A cleaning cap for a medical implement having a male protrusion, the cleaning cap comprising:
a housing having an inner wall that defines an inner cavity and an opening;
a plunger disposed within the inner cavity of the housing, wherein the plunger is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the plunger provides an interior wall that includes a protuberance that extends toward the opening, wherein the protuberance defines one or more gaps in the interior wall, and wherein the protuberance is configured to be engaged by the male protrusion to create an air-tight seal between the plunger and the medical implement; and
a cleaning solution retained within the inner cavity of the housing, and wherein translational movement of the plunger toward the second position forces the cleaning solution into contact with an outer wall of the male protrusion.
13 . The cleaning cap of claim 12 , wherein the protuberance is deformable to accommodate surface imperfections of a top surface of the male protrusion.
14 . The cleaning cap of claim 12 , wherein the air-tight seal prevents the cleaning solution from entering the male protrusion as the plunger toward the second position.
15 . The cleaning cap of claim 12 , wherein the plunger comprises a flexible skirt including a flange extending toward the opening.
16 . The cleaning cap of claim 12 , wherein the housing further provides a step extending from the inner wall, wherein the plunger provides a ridge, and wherein, wherein at the second position, the ridge abuts the step, thereby preventing translational movement of the plunger away from the opening.
17 . The cleaning cap of claim 12 , wherein the housing provides a depth stop extending along a central longitudinal axis of the housing, and wherein, in the second position, the plunger abuts the depth stop, thereby preventing translational movement of the plunger away from the opening.