Cleaner for Medical Device

Abstract

A cleaner assembly ( 10 ) for cleaning a medical device such as a luer connector. The assembly includes a cup-shaped housing ( 12 ) having a cavity ( 18 ) extending from an open first end ( 14 ) to a closed second end ( 16 ), and a first scrubber ( 22 ) affixed at the bottom and along side surfaces of the cavity ( 18 ) and saturated with antimicrobial fluid. The first scrubber ( 22 ) includes compressible fingers ( 26 ) co-extending toward the open first end ( 14 ) engageable by the medical device end portion inserted into the cavity whereupon the fingers ( 26 ) scrub the exterior and interior surfaces of the end of the device and applying the antimicrobial fluid thereto by being compressed by the device end. A second scrubber ( 30,30 ′) is affixed to cavity side walls ( 32 ) adjacent the open first end and has flexible projections ( 34 or 36 ) extending radially inwardly to scrub exterior surfaces of the device upon insertion.

1 . A cleaner device for cleaning an end portion of a medical device, comprising:
 a housing having an open first end and a closed second end and a device-receiving cavity therein extending from the open first end toward the closed second end; and   a first scrubber component affixed to the cup-shaped housing at the closed second end and within the cavity, the scrubber component being of compressible material capable of containing antimicrobial fluid and including an array of compressible fingers co-extending at least toward the open first end, whereby the fingers are engaged and compressed by an end portion of the medical device upon its insertion into the cavity so that the fingers scrub the adjacent surface portions of the device end portion and that antimicrobial fluid imbued in the scrubber component sanitizes the device end portion; and   a second scrubber component affixed to the cup-shaped housing adjacent the open first end and axially along a substantial length of the interior side walls of the housing, the second scrubber defining an array of flexible projections along the length and extending radially inwardly to be engaged by exterior surfaces of an end portion of the medical device upon its insertion into the device-receiving cavity, for scrubbing the exterior device surfaces adjacent to the flexible projections when the device is manipulated within the cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaner device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is cup-shaped. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaner device of  claim 1 , wherein the first scrubber component is adhered to a transverse wall defined at the closed second end and the interior side surfaces. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaner device of  claim 1 , whereby the first scrubber component is saturated with the antimicrobial fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaner device of  claim 4 , wherein the first scrubber component is formed of foam material. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaner device of  claim 5 , whereby the first scrubber component is formed of open-celled foam material. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaner device of  claim 4 , wherein the foam material is polyurethane material. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaner device of  claim 1 , wherein the fingers are of a common length. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaner device of  claim 1 , wherein the fingers adjacent the side walls of the cavity are shorter than the fingers toward the center of the cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The cleaner device of  claim 1 , further including a peelable lid affixed to the cup-shaped housing and peelable therefrom to access the device-receiving cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The cleaner device of  claim 10 , wherein the peelable lid is semipermeable to permit infusion therethrough of sanitizing gas upon completion of manufacture of the cleaner device. 
     
     
         12 . The cleaner device of  claim 11 , wherein the housing is of polyethylene terephthalate glycol material and the peelable lid is of high density polyethylene material. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaner device of  claim 1 , wherein the second scrubber component is an integral flat, thin member defining the array of flexible projections along a first surface thereof, and wherein the second surface thereof is affixed to the interior surfaces of the housing cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaner device of  claim 13 , wherein the flexible projections extend to blunt ends. 
     
     
         15 . The cleaner device of  claim 13 , wherein the flexible projections extend to pointed ends. 
     
     
         16 . The cleaner device of  claim 13 , wherein the second scrubber member is of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         17 . The cleaner device of  claim 16 , wherein the material is silicone elastomer. 
     
     
         18 . A cleaner device for cleaning an end portion of a medical device, comprising:
 a housing having an open first end and a closed second end and a device-receiving cavity therein extending from the open first end toward the closed second end; and   at least a scrubber component affixed to the housing at least adjacent the open first end and axially along a substantial length of the interior side walls of the housing, the scrubber component defining an array of flexible projections along the length and extending radially inwardly to be engaged by exterior surfaces of an end portion of the medical device upon its insertion into the device-receiving cavity, for scrubbing the exterior device surfaces adjacent to the flexible projections when the device is manipulated within the cavity.   
     
     
         19 . The cleaner assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the housing is cup-shaped. 
     
     
         20 . The cleaner assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the scrubber component is an integral member of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         21 . The cleaner device of  claim 18 , wherein the scrubber component is an integral flat, thin member defining the array of flexible projections along a first surface thereof, and wherein a second opposite surface thereof is affixed to the interior surfaces of the housing cavity. 
     
     
         22 . The cleaner device of  claim 18 , wherein the flexible projections extend to blunt ends. 
     
     
         23 . The cleaner device of  claim 18 , wherein the flexible projections extend to pointed ends. 
     
     
         24 . The cleaner device of  claim 18 , wherein the scrubber component is of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         25 . The cleaner device of  claim 24 , wherein the material of the scrubber component is silicone elastomer. 
     
     
         26 . A scrubber component for a cleaner assembly for cleaning a medical device, the assembly including a housing defining a device-receiving cavity thereinto, comprising:
 an integral member of elastomeric material, the member defining an array of flexible projections extending from a first surface thereof such that, when the integral member is affixed along interior side walls of the housing defining a device-receiving cavity, the flexible projections extend radially inwardly to engage adjacent exterior surfaces of a medical device inserted into the device-receiving cavity, for scrubbing the exterior surfaces when the medical device is manipulated within the cavity.   
     
     
         27 . The scrubber component of  claim 26 , wherein the scrubber component is initially a flat, thin member defining the array of flexible projections along a first surface thereof, and wherein a second opposite surface thereof is affixed to the interior surfaces of the housing cavity. 
     
     
         28 . The scrubber component of  claim 26 , wherein the flexible projections extend to blunt ends. 
     
     
         29 . The scrubber component of  claim 26 , wherein the flexible projections extend to pointed ends. 
     
     
         30 . The scrubber component of  claim 26 , wherein the scrubber component is of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         31 . The scrubber component of  claim 26 , wherein the material is silicone elastomer. 
     
     
         32 . A cleaner device for cleaning an end portion of a medical device, comprising:
 a housing having an open first end and a closed second end and a device-receiving cavity therein extending from the open first end toward the closed second end; and   a scrubber component affixed to the housing at the closed second end and within the cavity, the scrubber component being of easily compressible material saturatable with antimicrobial fluid and including an array of compressible fingers co-extending at least toward the open first end, whereby the fingers are engaged and compressed by an end portion of the medical device upon its insertion into the cavity so that the fingers scrub the adjacent surface portions of the device end portion and that antimicrobial fluid imbued in the scrubber component sanitizes the device end portion.   
     
     
         33 . The cleaner device of  claim 32 , wherein the housing is cup-shaped. 
     
     
         34 . The cleaner device of  claim 32 , wherein the scrubber component is adhered to a transverse wall defined at the closed second end and the interior side surfaces. 
     
     
         35 . The cleaner device of  claim 32 , whereby the scrubber component is saturated with the antimicrobial fluid. 
     
     
         36 . The cleaner device of  claim 32 , whereby the scrubber component is formed of foam material. 
     
     
         37 . The cleaner device of  claim 36 , wherein the foam material is open-celled or close-celled foam material. 
     
     
         38 . The cleaner device of  claim 37 , wherein the foam material is polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         39 . The cleaner device of  claim 32 , wherein the fingers are of a common length. 
     
     
         40 . The cleaner device of  claim 32 , wherein the fingers vary in length. 
     
     
         41 . The cleaner device of  claim 40 , wherein the fingers adjacent the side walls of the cavity are shorter than the fingers toward the center of the cavity. 
     
     
         42 . The cleaner device of  claim 32 , further including a peelable lid affixed to the housing and peelable therefrom to access the device-receiving cavity. 
     
     
         43 . The cleaner device of  claim 42 , wherein the housing includes a peripheral proximal flange having a flat proximal surface. 
     
     
         44 . The cleaner device of  claim 42 , wherein the peelable lid is semipermeable to permit infusion therethrough of sanitizing gas upon completion of manufacture of the cleaner device. 
     
     
         45 . The cleaner device of  claim 44 , wherein the housing is of polyethylene terephthalate glycol material and the peelable lid is of high density polyethylene material.