Sheath

Abstract

A sheath can be used to protect a catheter hub from contamination. The sheath can surround the catheter hub and seal the interface between the catheter hub and a needleless connector. The sheath can be installed onto the catheter hub either before or after the needleless connector has been connected to the catheter hub.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sheath for use with a medical line connection site, comprising:
 a housing having:
 a first end configured to cover and sealingly engage a first connector; 
 a second end spaced from the first end and configured to sealingly engage a second connector, the first and second connectors configured for connection to one another; 
 wherein the housing is configured for initial attachment to the first connector independent of whether the first connector is already connected to the second connector and further configured for irreversible removal such that the housing is no longer able to sealingly engage at least one of the first connector and the second connector after said irreversible removal. 
   
     
     
         2 . The sheath of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises at least one release portion configured to break or tear such that the housing can be irreversibly removed. 
     
     
         3 . The sheath of  claim 1 , wherein the release portion comprises at least one of a seam, a thin walled section, or a tear away section. 
     
     
         4 . The sheath of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one release portion is configured to divide the housing into at least two pieces. 
     
     
         5 . The sheath of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one release portion is configured to irreversibly open the housing to expose an inside surface. 
     
     
         6 . The sheath of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a flexible housing configured to flex to pass over and advance onto at least one of the first and the second connector. 
     
     
         7 . The sheath of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the housing is configured to have an initial condition prior to attachment, an engagement condition during sliding engagement with at least the first connector and an attached configuration, wherein the second end comprises an opening and the opening is configured to be largest in the engagement condition. 
     
     
         8 . The sheath of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is further configured to enclose a section of tubing connected to the first connector. 
     
     
         9 . The sheath of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the housing comprises a tongue and groove joint. 
     
     
         10 . A sheath comprises:
 a flexible housing configured to sealingly engage medical tubing at one end and to sealingly engage and cover a connection between a catheter hub and a needleless connector.   
     
     
         11 . A sheath for selectively covering an interface between a closeable connector and a catheter hub with tubing comprising:
 a first end configured to engage the connector;   a second end with a tongue and grove closure configured to engage the catheter hub or the tubing.   
     
     
         12 . The sheath of  claim 11 , wherein the first end is configured to be permanently attached to the connector. 
     
     
         13 . The sheath of  claim 11 , wherein the tongue and groove has a hole configured to selectively sealingly engage the catheter hub. 
     
     
         14 . The sheath of  claim 11 , wherein the tongue and groove has a hole configured to selectively sealingly engage the tubing. 
     
     
         15 . A system for use with an intravenous medical treatment of a patient, comprising:
 a sheath with a flexible housing having:
 a first end configured to cover and create a fluid tight seal around a connection between a catheter hub and a needleless connector; 
 a second end spaced from the first end such that the housing completely encloses the catheter hub; 
 the flexible housing configured for initial attachment to the catheter hub independent of whether the needleless connector is already connected to the catheter hub and configured to tear so as to facilitate removal. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first end is configured to have an initial condition prior to attachment with an initial inner diameter and an attached condition having an attached inner diameter, wherein the initial inner diameter is less than the attached inner diameter. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first end is configured for sealing engagement with the needleless connector. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the second end is configured to have an initial condition prior to attachment, an engagement condition during sliding engagement with at least the catheter hub and an attached configuration, wherein the second end comprises an opening and the opening is configured to be largest in the engagement condition. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one of the catheter hub and the needleless connector and wherein the connection between the catheter hub and the needleless connector is a luer connection. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the flexible housing is further configured to enclose a section of tubing connected to the catheter hub. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the flexible housing is configured to tear along the sides in two locations parallel with one another. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the flexible housing is configured to break into two pieces rendering the device unusable thereafter. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the second end comprises a tongue and groove joint. 
     
     
         24 . A method of replacing a needleless connector comprising:
 assessing a first flexible sheath covering an interface connection between a first needleless connector and a catheter hub, the first flexible sheath completely covering the catheter hub;   damagingly removing the first flexible sheath from the interface connection between a first needleless connector and a catheter hub such that the first flexible sheath is rendered unusable;   disposing of the first flexible sheath;   removing the first needleless connector from the catheter hub;   connecting a second needleless connector to the catheter hub;   advancing a second flexible sheath over the second needleless connector and the catheter hub, the second flexible sheath being separate from the second needleless connector.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the catheter hub comprises a first end and a second end, the first end having a luer connection and the second end integrally connected to tubing. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the second flexible sheath has a first send and a second end, the second end having a tongue and grove closure configured to engage the catheter hub or the tubing, wherein advancing the second flexible sheath further comprises advancing the second flexible sheath until the tongue and grove engage either the catheter hub or the tubing. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein damagingly removing the first flexible sheath comprises tearing the first flexible sheath. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein damagingly removing the first flexible sheath comprises tearing the first flexible sheath into two separate pieces. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein damagingly removing the first flexible sheath comprises tearing along two seams.