US 12,329,924 B2
Universal single-use cap for male and female connectors
Chang Jiang, Butler, NJ (US); and Nichola Charles, Budd Lake, NJ (US)
Assigned to Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ (US)
Appl. No. 17/045,840
Filed by Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ (US)
PCT Filed Apr. 9, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/026536
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 7, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/199788, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 17, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/655,512, filed on Apr. 10, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0138223 A1, May 13, 2021
Int. Cl. A61M 39/16 (2006.01); A61M 39/20 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 39/162 (2013.01) [A61M 39/20 (2013.01); A61M 2205/02 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for connection to a medical connector, the device comprising:
a cap comprising an integral body, a closed end, an annular wall having a length extending from the closed end to an open end and defining a chamber containing an absorbent material and either disinfectant or antimicrobial agent, the open end defining an end face, and defining an engagement surface;
the annular wall having an exterior wall surface and an interior wall surface;
a plurality of inwardly extending, discrete elongated protrusions adjacent to the open end and at least partially extending longitudinally along a length of the interior wall surface to frictionally engage a male luer connector in a press-fit connection, a portion of each of the inwardly extending, discrete elongated protrusions respectively having: a major axis that is axially aligned with a centerline of the chamber of the cap, a minor axis that is perpendicular to the major axis, and a convex-curved, cross-sectional profile along the minor axis whose apex is aligned with the major axis, the major axes of each of the inwardly extending, discrete elongated protrusions symmetrically spaced about a circumference of the annular wall, so that a central axis of the male luer connector inserted within the chamber aligns with the centerline of the chamber, deforming the convex-curved cross-sectional profile of each of the inwardly extending, discrete elongated protrusions;
the interior wall surface comprising internal threads adjacent the closed end and extending from the closed end partially along a length of the interior wall surface towards the plurality of inwardly extending, discrete elongated protrusions, the internal threads adapted and sized to engage corresponding threads of a female luer connector; and
a peelable seal on the end face to prevent the disinfectant or the antimicrobial agent from exiting the chamber.