Anti-snagging infusion sets

Abstract

Anti-snagging components for use in infusion sets are provided. The anti-snagging component includes a sliding surface that guides an infusion set component past an obstruction when the infusion set is moved during manufacture or use. An anti-snagging structure may be integrally formed as a portion of an infusion set component or the anti-snagging structure may be a separate component that connects or attaches to an infusion set component. Some anti-snagging structures include a covering portion to cover a needleless connector and a tail portion to connect to a length of tubing. The covering portion may include an anti-microbial coating.

1 . An anti-snagging component for use in an infusion set, the anti-snagging component comprising:
 a covering portion configured to be received by a first input end of a Y-site infusion set component, the first input end comprising a needleless connector;   a tail portion configured to be slidingly connected to an input tube received by a second input end of the Y-site infusion set component; and   a sliding surface configured to slidingly guide the Y-site infusion set component past an obstruction without snagging when the infusion set is moved,   wherein the covering portion is configured to cover at least an access point of the needleless connector when the anti-snagging component is in an engaged position,   and wherein the covering portion is configured to uncover the access point of the needleless connector when the anti-snagging component is in a disengaged position.   
     
     
         2 . The anti-snagging component of  claim 1 , wherein the tail portion is comprised of a flexible material. 
     
     
         3 . The anti-snagging component of  claim 1 , wherein the tail portion comprises a tube connection point configured to encircle and slidingly move along the input tube. 
     
     
         4 . The anti-snagging component of  claim 3 , wherein the tube connection point is configured to slide away from the needleless connector along the input tube to disengage the anti-snagging component from the needleless connector. 
     
     
         5 . The anti-snagging component of  claim 3 , wherein the tube connection point is configured to rotate around the input tube to disengage the anti-snagging component from the needleless connector. 
     
     
         6 . The anti-snagging component of  claim 1 , wherein the covering portion is a cap comprising:
 a top surface configured to cover the access point in the engaged position; and   a side wall configured to be disposed around at least a portion of a circumference of the needleless connector in the engaged position.   
     
     
         7 . The anti-snagging component of  claim 6 , wherein the cap is configured to slip on to a portion of the needleless connector. 
     
     
         8 . The anti-snagging component of  claim 7 , wherein the side wall comprises one or more slits configured to allow expansion of the side wall when it is fit over the portion of the needleless connector. 
     
     
         9 . The anti-snagging component of  claim 7 , wherein the cap comprises a flexible material configured to stretch when it is fit over the portion of the needleless connector. 
     
     
         10 . The anti-snagging component of  claim 7 , wherein the side wall is configured to cover less than a full circumference of the needleless connector. 
     
     
         11 . The anti-snagging component of  claim 6 , wherein the side wall comprises internal threads configured to screw onto threads of the needleless connector. 
     
     
         12 . The anti-snagging component of  claim 1 , wherein the covering portion comprises a shroud configured to slip over and cover the needleless connector. 
     
     
         13 . The anti-snagging component of  claim 12 , wherein the shroud is configured to slip over and cover the second input end. 
     
     
         14 . The anti-snagging component of  claim 1 , wherein the covering portion comprises an anti-microbial coating disposed on an inner surface. 
     
     
         15 . The anti-snagging component of  claim 14 , wherein the anti-microbial coating is configured to contact the access point in the engaged position. 
     
     
         16 . An intravenous (IV) infusion set, comprising:
 a Y-site infusion set component comprising:
 a first inlet port comprising a needleless connector; 
 a second inlet port; and 
 an outlet port; 
   an inlet IV tube coupled to the second inlet port;   an outlet IV tube coupled to the outlet port; and   an anti-snagging component comprising:
 a covering portion configured to cover an access point of the needleless connector in an engaged position and to uncover the access point of the needleless connector in a disengaged position; 
 a tail portion slidingly and rotationally coupled to the inlet IV tube; and 
 a sliding surface disposed between the covering portion and the tail portion, the sliding surface configured to slidingly guide the Y-site infusion set component past an obstruction without snagging when the IV infusion set is moved. 
   
     
     
         17 . The IV infusion set of  claim 16 , wherein the tail portion comprises a tube connection point that encircles the inlet IV tube, the tube connection point configured to slide along the inlet IV tube and to rotate around the inlet IV tube. 
     
     
         18 . The IV infusion set of  claim 16 , wherein the covering portion is a cap comprising:
 a top surface configured to cover the access point in the engaged position; and   a side wall configured to be disposed around at least a portion of a circumference of the needleless connector in the engaged position,   wherein the side wall comprises one of:
 one or more slits configured to allow expansion of the side wall when the cap slides onto the needleless connector; 
 a flexible material configured to stretch when the cap slides onto the needleless connector; and 
 internal threads configured to mate with threads of the needleless connector when the cap is screwed onto the needleless connector. 
   
     
     
         19 . The IV infusion set of  claim 16 , wherein the covering portion comprises a shroud configured to slip over and cover the needleless connector and the second inlet port in the engaged position. 
     
     
         20 . The IV infusion set of  claim 16 , wherein the covering portion comprises an anti-microbial coating disposed on an inner surface and configured to contact the access point in the engaged position.