US 12,257,414 B2
Universal cap for male and female connectors
Kevin M. Ryan, Whitehouse Station, NJ (US)
Assigned to Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ (US)
Filed by Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ (US)
Filed on Nov. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/992,169.
Application 17/992,169 is a division of application No. 16/774,853, filed on Jan. 28, 2020, granted, now 11,511,100, issued on Nov. 29, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/798,624, filed on Jan. 30, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0080687 A1, Mar. 16, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61M 39/16 (2006.01); A01N 47/44 (2006.01); A61M 39/10 (2006.01); A61M 39/20 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 39/162 (2013.01) [A01N 47/44 (2013.01); A61M 39/20 (2013.01); A61M 2039/1033 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cap comprising:
a housing comprising
a top wall,
an inner cylindrical sidewall and forming a first cavity, the cavity defining a distal wall, and
an open bottom formed by said inner cylindrical sidewall with an opening to the first cavity within said housing for receiving a hub of a female needleless connector or a male needleless connector; and
a protrusion formed as a split-thread protrusion, the protrusion is integrally formed with the housing and positioned within said first cavity, the protrusion having an inner surface and an outer surface extending proximally from the distal wall toward the open proximal end, the inner surface of the split-thread protrusion integrally formed with the distal wall, the inner surface of the split-thread protrusion defining a second cavity,
an inner thread on said inner surface of the protrusion, said inner thread being sufficient to interlock with a mating feature of said female needleless connector, and
the outer surface of the protrusion being tapered from the distal wall, the taper extending in a proximal direction toward said open bottom of said housing, sized and adapted to engage the male needleless connector in a press-fit connection sufficient to interlock with a mating feature of said male needleless connector; and
at least one absorbent material configured within said the first cavity and second cavity and a disinfectant or an antimicrobial agent retained within the absorbent material.