Female luer connector disinfecting cap

Abstract

A cleaning device for a site of a medical implement is disclosed, as are methods for using such devices. The cleaning device can include a cap having an opening to an inner cavity, and the opening can be adapted to receive a site of the medical implement. The inner cavity can include a male luer protrusion that extends up from an inner wall toward the opening, and can be sized and adapted for insertion into a female luer when the cap is provided on the medical implement. The cleaning device can further include a cleaning material that contains a cleaning agent prior to receipt of the site of the medical implement, i.e. the cleaning material is pre-loaded with the cleaning agent. The cleaning material can be at least partially secured in the inner cavity and adapted to swab and clean the site with the cleaning agent. The cap can further include a friction-forming member for creating a friction-based fitting of the cap onto the site of the medical implement.

1 . A method of cleaning a female port having a lumen, the method comprising:
 receiving, in an opening of a cap, a portion of the female port, the opening providing access to a single inner cavity, the single inner cavity including an upwardly directed protrusion extending up from an inner wall of the inner cavity toward the opening;   inserting the upwardly directed protrusion into the lumen of the female port;   securing the cap onto the female port; and   cleaning, with a cleaning material provided in the single inner cavity encircling at least a base of the upwardly directed protrusion and upon receipt of the female port into the single inner cavity, at least one surface of the female port, the cleaning material comprising a cleaning agent.   
     
     
         2 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning material is a thixotropic fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cap further comprises a friction forming member extending out from an inside surface periphery of the opening to the single inner cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The method in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the friction- forming member includes a threading having a gauge that increases inwardly from the opening toward the inner wall of the cap. 
     
     
         5 . The method in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the friction forming member includes a threading that defines a decreasing diameter of the single inner cavity from the opening toward the inner wall of the cap. 
     
     
         6 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the cap is oval-shaped. 
     
     
         7 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cap further comprises one or more energy directors extending up from the inner wall toward the opening to the single inner cavity.