Medical sponge for catheter systems

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and medical sponge for cleaning needleless connectors. A medical sponge can include a shaped foam configured to engage a portion of the needless connector and a disinfecting solution applied to the shaped foam. A system can include the medical sponge and a liquid-impermeable pouch in which the medical sponge is separately retained. The medical sponge can include highly-abrasive and highly-conforming foam material in place of wipes or other sponge products. The foam material may be an open-cell micro abrasive material such as melamine foam. The foam material may contain disinfecting solutions such as isopropyl alcohol, chlorhexidine gluconate, or povidone-iodine.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A medical sponge for cleaning a needleless connector, the medical sponge comprising:
 a shaped foam configured to engage a portion of a needleless connector; and   a disinfecting solution applied to the shaped foam.   
     
     
         22 . The medical sponge of  claim 21 , wherein the shaped foam has a substantially rectangular shape. 
     
     
         23 . The medical sponge of  claim 21 , wherein the medical sponge has a height between about 2 cm and about 3 cm and a length between about 2 cm and about 3 cm. 
     
     
         24 . The medical sponge of  claim 21 , wherein the shaped foam has an open-cell structure. 
     
     
         25 . The medical sponge of  claim 24 , wherein the open-cell structure of the shaped foam allows for capillary forces to draw pathogens away from the surface of the needleless connector. 
     
     
         26 . The medical sponge of  claim 21 , wherein the shaped foam includes formaldehyde-melamine-sodium-bisulfate. 
     
     
         27 . The medical sponge of  claim 21 , wherein the medical sponge is sufficiently abrasive to produce audible feedback when twisted on a portion of the needleless connector. 
     
     
         28 . The medical sponge of  claim 27 , wherein the audible feedback is generated by a frictional force between the medical sponge and a portion of the needleless connector, thereby indicating sufficient frictional force is being generated. 
     
     
         29 . The medical sponge of  claim 21 , wherein the medical sponge is a single use accessory. 
     
     
         30 . The medical sponge of  claim 21 , wherein the disinfecting solution is at least one of: 70% isopropyl alcohol, Povidone-Iodine, or Chlorhexidine gluconate. 
     
     
         31 . The medical sponge of  claim 21 , wherein the medical sponge is configured to be twisted around a portion of the needleless connector. 
     
     
         32 . The medical sponge of  claim 21 , wherein the medical sponge conforms to at least a portion of the needleless connector. 
     
     
         33 . The medical sponge of  claim 21 , wherein the medical sponge is configured to simultaneously contact with sides and top of the needleless connector. 
     
     
         34 . A system for cleaning a needleless connector comprising:
 the medical sponge of  claim 21 ; and   a liquid-impermeable pouch,
 wherein the medical sponge is separably retained within the liquid-impermeable pouch. 
   
     
     
         35 . A system for cleaning a needless connector, the system comprising:
 a medical sponge configured to engage a threaded portion of the needleless connector;   a disinfecting solution applied to the medical sponge; and   a liquid-impermeable pouch, wherein the medical sponge is separably retained within the liquid-impermeable pouch.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the medical sponge is sufficiently abrasive to produce audible feedback when twisted on a portion of the needleless connector. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the audible feedback is generated by a frictional force between the medical sponge and a portion of the needleless connector, thereby indicating sufficient frictional force is being generated. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the medical sponge comprises a foam having an open-cell structure. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein open-cell structure allows for capillary forces to draw pathogens away from the surface of the needleless connector. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the medical sponge is configured to be conformal to at least a portion of the needleless connector.