Cleaning Tool for Attachment Surfaces

Abstract

A tool that is useful for cleaning and disinfecting the attachment surfaces of a fluid connector device used in medical applications, the tool having a housing with an opening of defined shape and a chemically treated flexible insert disposed inside the housing that substantially conforms to the inside wall of the housing and, when placed over the attachment surfaces of a fluid connector device, can be manipulated axially and rotationally relative to the attachment surfaces to contact, clean and disinfect the surfaces.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]This invention relates to a tool that is useful for mechanical cleaning and / or application of fluids to an exposed or accessible attachment surface of a fluid connector device used in medical applications.[0003]2. Description of Related Art[0004]A significant problem that exists today in the delivery of healthcare services is the accidental transmission of pathogens and diseases from one patient to another, or from a patient or healthcare worker to another, by improperly or inadequately cleaned connectors such as those used in fluid infusion or extraction therapies. Proper and thorough cleaning of fluid connector devices and ports is essential, for example, in reducing the incidence of methycillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections.[0005]Fluid connectors of medical devices are commonly cleaned using wipes that are saturated with alcohol or another similarly effective disinfectant. The wipes are manufactur...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing of the subject cleaning tool is molded, thermoformed or stamped from a suitable material, most preferably a polymeric material. A flexible insert such as a chemically treated sponge is preferably disposed inside the housing and can further comprise a centrally disposed opening having interior side and end wall sections configured to receive and contact external portions of the free end of a frontal attachment as the cleaning tool is manipulated by a user. Where the flexible insert is a sponge, the sponge desirably contains an amount of cleaner or disinfectant and, optionally, one or more other additives, that is adequate for decontaminating the frontal attachment with which it is used. Both the housing and the sponge portion of the cleaning tool are desirably latex-free to avoid possible allergic reactions with either the user or a patient.

[0012]According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a cleaning tool for attachment surfaces of fluid connector devices used in medical applications is provided that comprises a housing containing a flexible insert as described above, and has an attached polymeric handle with flexible side walls, a closed end and a hollow interior cavity with an open end that is in fluid communication with the flexible insert. The frangible ampule or another similarly effective fluid reservoir is desirably disposed inside handle and preferably contains an amount of cleaning and disinfecting fluid that is sufficient to partially saturate flexible insert and effectively clean and disinfect the exposed free end of a frontal attachment inserted into surrounding contact by the insert. A lever arm with a blunt edge is desirably provided on the outside of the handle to facilitate the selective application of manual force against the side wall of handle, causing it to flex sufficiently to cause fracturing of the relatively rigid sidewalls of the ampule, thereby releasing cleaning and disinfecting fluid to flow downwardly by gravity into the flexible insert.

Problems solved by technology

A significant problem that exists today in the delivery of healthcare services is the accidental transmission of pathogens and diseases from one patient to another, or from a patient or healthcare worker to another, by improperly or inadequately cleaned connectors such as those used in fluid infusion or extraction therapies.

Also, because fluid connectors of the attachment devices frequently comprise a plurality of differing surfaces having various contours and degrees of exposure, a conventional wipe may not reach all portions of the surfaces when manipulated by the user.

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