Apparatus for sterile docking of male medical line connectors

Abstract

A docking station for maintaining sterilization of temporarily disconnected male medical line connectors. The docking station has a plurality of docking bays, each of which retains an ampule therein containing sterilization fluid and has an access mouth exteriorly exposed when the ampule is secured in its respective bay. The mouth of the ampule is provided with a female medical line connection for temporarily receiving and securing one of the male line connector temporarily disconnected from a patient. A tubular tip and the concentric connection collar of the one of the male medical line connectors is thereby immersed in the sterilization fluid for sterilization while docked.

1 . A docking station for a male medical line connector including an exposed tubular tip and a receded concentric connection collar, said docking station comprising:
 a base housing having a docking bay dimensioned and contoured for receiving and temporarily retaining an ampule containing sterilization fluid;   said ampule having a chamber therein containing the sterilization fluid and an access mouth exteriorly exposed when said ampule is retained in said bay, said mouth having a female line connection dimensioned and contoured for temporarily receiving and securing the male medical line connector thereto with the tubular tip and exposed end portions of the connection collar engaged with said sterilization fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The docking station of  claim 1 , said chamber including an annular array of inwardly protruding scrubbing finger webs for engaging and scrubbing exterior surfaces of said tip and connection collar. 
     
     
         3 . The docking station of  claim 2 , including compressible sponge retained in bottom portions of said chamber for absorbing and expelling said sterilization fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The docking station of  claim 1 , including a removable seal covering said mouth.