US 11,672,967 B2
Self-cleaning needleless connector
Nathan Gish, Calhoun, KY (US); Ross Hudson, Calhoun, KY (US); and Josh Luttrell, Gallatin, TN (US)
Assigned to GROVE GROUP, LLC, Calhoun, KY (US)
Filed by Grove Group, LLC, Calhoun, KY (US)
Filed on Jun. 12, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/439,127.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/684,405, filed on Jun. 13, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2019/0381306 A1, Dec. 19, 2019
Int. Cl. A61M 39/16 (2006.01); A61L 2/18 (2006.01); A61M 39/18 (2006.01); A61M 39/00 (2006.01); A61M 5/00 (2006.01); A61M 39/10 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 39/162 (2013.01) [A61L 2/18 (2013.01); A61M 39/165 (2013.01); A61M 39/18 (2013.01); A61L 2202/24 (2013.01); A61M 5/001 (2013.01); A61M 2039/009 (2013.01); A61M 2039/1066 (2013.01); A61M 2039/1072 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A self-cleaning needleless connector, comprising:
a connector body defining a fluid passageway including an inlet and an outlet;
a cover disposed over at least the inlet of the connector body;
an access point disposed at an inlet end of the cover and is movable between a first position and a second position and
wherein in the first position the inlet is within the cover, and
wherein in the second position the inlet is extended beyond the cover and configured to receive a male luer;
a reservoir containing a cleaning agent;
wherein the reservoir includes an internal stop configured to prevent the cover from extending beyond the internal stop, the internal stop including one or more openings configured to allow fluid to flow through the internal stop;
an internal seal configured to abut proximate to the internal stop and the one or more openings when the access point is in the second position; and
an abrasive surface enclosed within an area generated by the cover and the access point and in fluid communication with the cleaning agent, wherein the abrasive surface and the cleaning agent are configured to contact an exterior surface of the inlet.