US-12616765-B2 - UV integrated disinfecting cap

Abstract

A disinfecting device having a housing and an ultraviolet source located in the housing. The disinfecting device may include a tube that includes a first end connected to the housing and a second end free of the housing. An end cap may be located at the second end of the tube. In use, ultraviolet light may be emitted from the ultraviolet source and propagated to the end cap in order to disinfect a portion of a medical device.

Inventors

• Stefan Josef Fellner
• Steffan Sowards
• William Robert McLaughlin
• Dustin Payne

Assignees

• BARD ACCESS SYSTEMS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230110

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A disinfecting device, comprising: a housing; an ultraviolet source located in the housing; a tube that includes a first end connected to the housing and a second end free of the housing; and an end cap located at the second end of the tube, wherein ultraviolet light is emitted from the ultraviolet source and propagated to the end cap, wherein the tube includes a first lumen configured to transmit the ultraviolet light and a second lumen configured to propagate a fluid from a first location to a second location.
2. 2 . The disinfecting device of claim 1 , wherein the tube or the end cap includes a reflective material coating configured to propagate the ultraviolet light.
3. 3 . The disinfecting device of claim 2 , wherein the reflective material coating is positioned on an inner surface of the tube or the end cap.
4. 4 . The disinfecting device of claim 2 , wherein the reflective material coating is positioned on an outer surface of the tube or the end cap.
5. 5 . The disinfecting device of claim 1 , wherein the tube or the end cap includes one or more optical fibers configured to transmit the ultraviolet light.
6. 6 . The disinfecting device of claim 5 , wherein the one or more optical fibers is embedded in a wall of the tube or the end cap.
7. 7 . The disinfecting device of claim 1 , wherein the ultraviolet source includes one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) or superluminescent diodes (SLEDs).
8. 8 . The disinfecting device of claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to be held in a hand of a user.
9. 9 . The disinfecting device of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a strap configured to be placed around an extremity of a user resulting in the user wearing the disinfecting device.
10. 10 . The disinfecting device of claim 1 , further comprising a pump located within the housing.
11. 11 . The disinfecting device of claim 10 , wherein the pump is an infusion pump.
12. 12 . The disinfecting device of claim 1 , wherein the end cap is configured to attached to a medical device.
13. 13 . The disinfecting device of claim 12 , wherein the medical device is one or more of a hub, a catheter, and a port.
14. 14 . The disinfecting device of claim 1 , wherein the end cap is a Luer connector.
15. 15 . The disinfecting device of claim 1 , wherein the end cap is a barbed port.
16. 16 . The disinfecting device of claim 1 , wherein the end cap includes a friction fit connector.
17. 17 . The disinfecting device of claim 1 , further comprising: a power source configured for providing power to the ultraviolet source.
18. 18 . The disinfecting device of claim 17 , wherein the power source is one or more of a battery, a capacitor, or an inductance coil.
19. 19 . The disinfecting device of claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter or a transceiver configured to receive a program indicating a disinfecting process to be performed.
20. 20 . The disinfecting device of claim 19 , wherein the transmitter or the transceiver includes a radio-frequency identification (RFID) or wireless-communication enabled transmitter or transceiver.

Description

BACKGROUND One challenge of modern medical treatment is control of infection and the spread of microbial organisms. One area where this challenge is constantly presented is in infusion therapy procedures. Infusion therapy is one of the most common health care procedures. Hospitalized, home care, and other patients receive fluids, pharmaceuticals, and blood products via a vascular access device inserted into the vascular system. Infusion therapy may be used to treat an infection, provide anesthesia or analgesia, provide nutritional support, treat cancerous growths, and maintain blood pressure and heart rhythm, or many other clinically significant uses. In some instances, an implanted port may be placed under a patient's skin to enable intravenous (IV) treatments and transfusions directly into a vein. As convenient as implanted ports are, the spread of microbial organisms into the patient's vein through the implanted port is of great concern. Similar concerns exist with connectors of other medical apparatuses as well such as connectors at proximal or distal ends of a catheter. Thus, what is needed is a method, system, and apparatus for disinfecting medical apparatuses thereby preventing the spread of microbial organisms into the patient body. SUMMARY Briefly summarized, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a disinfecting device, that may include a housing, an ultraviolet source located in the housing, a tube that includes a first end connected to the housing and a second end free of the housing, and an end cap located at the second end of the tube, wherein ultraviolet light is emitted from the ultraviolet source and propagated to the end cap. In some aspects, the tube or the end cap may include a coating to encourage propagation of the ultraviolet light. In some aspects, the coating may be positioned on an inner surface of the tube or the end cap. In some aspects, the coating may be positioned on an outer surface of the tube or the end cap. In some aspects, the tube or end cap may include one or more fiber configured to transmit the ultraviolet light. In some aspects, the one or more fiber may be embedded in a wall of the tube or the end cap. In some aspects, the ultraviolet source may include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) or superluminescent diodes (SLEDs). In some aspects, the housing may be configured to be held in a hand of a user. In some aspects, the housing may be configured to be worn by a user (e.g., on an extremity such as an arm or leg). In some aspects, the disinfecting device may include a pump located within the housing. In some aspects, the pump may be an infusion pump. In some aspects, the end cap may be configured to attached to a medical device. In some aspects, the medical device is one or more hub, catheter, and port. In some aspects, the end cap may be a Luer connector. In some aspects, the end cap may be a barbed port. In some aspects, the end cap may include a friction fit connection. In some aspects, the disinfecting device may include a power source configured for providing power to the ultraviolet source. In some aspects, the power source may be one or more battery, capacitor, and inductance coil. In some aspects, the disinfecting device may include a transmitter or transceiver. In some aspects, the transmitter or transceiver may include an RFID or wireless communication enabled transmitter or transceiver. These and other features of embodiments of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims or may be learned by the practice of embodiments of the invention as set forth hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more particular description of the present disclosure will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. Example embodiments of the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 illustrates a handheld disinfection device connected to a hub requiring disinfection in accordance with an embodiment; FIG. 2 illustrates a handheld disinfection device connected to a catheter requiring disinfection in accordance with an embodiment; FIG. 3 illustrates a handheld disinfection device connected to a port requiring disinfection in accordance with an embodiment; FIG. 4 illustrates a wearable disinfection device in accordance with an embodiment; FIG. 5A illustrates a disinfection device forming a part of a medical device or network in accordance with an embodiment; FIG. 5B illustrates a disinfection device forming a part of an infusion pump in accordance with an embodiment; FIG. 6 illustrates a male end cap of the disinfection device in accordance with an embodiment; FIG. 7 illustrates a female end ca