Device for reducing microbial contamination

Abstract

A medical device for use in connection with a connector of an indwelling line for cleansing a surface of a septum of the connector is provided. The medical device includes a housing including a proximal portion defining a cavity containing a quantity of microbial reducing agent, a distal portion defining a cavity for selective coupling with the connector of the indwelling line, and a partition separating the proximal and distal cavities, wherein the proximal and distal cavities are in fluid communication with one another; and a deformable member overlying an end of the proximal portion for maintaining the microbial reducing agent within the proximal cavity thereof. The microbial reducing agent being dispensable into the distal cavity, at least when the medical device is connected to the connector of the indwelling line, to awash a surface of the connector of the indwelling line and reduce microbes present thereon.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical device for use in connection with a connector of an indwelling line for cleansing a surface of a septum of the connector, the medical device comprising:
 a housing including a proximal portion defining a proximal cavity containing a quantity of microbial reducing agent, a distal portion defining a distal cavity comprising a first coupling member configured to receive a portion of a second coupling member of the connector of the indwelling line within the distal cavity of the housing in a mating relationship, and a partition that functions as a dividing wall, the partition having at least one opening defined therein, such that the partition separates the proximal cavity and the distal cavity, wherein the proximal and distal cavities are in fluid communication with one another through the partition; and   a unidirectional valve member disposed within the at least one opening, the unidirectional valve member being configured to allow fluid flow from the proximal cavity to the distal cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The medical device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an absorbent member disposed within the distal cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The medical device according to  claim 2 , wherein the absorbent member is dimensioned to contact the connector of the indwelling line when the medical device is connected thereto. 
     
     
         4 . The medical device according to  claim 2 , wherein the absorbent member is in contact with the partition. 
     
     
         5 . The medical device according to  claim 2 , wherein the absorbent member is axially slidably disposed within the distal cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The medical device according to  claim 5 , further comprising a biasing member interposed between the partition and the absorbent member, wherein the biasing member maintains the absorbent member at a distal-most location. 
     
     
         7 . The medical device according to  claim 6 , further comprising a backing member supporting the absorbent member. 
     
     
         8 . The medical device according to  claim 7 , wherein the backing member is at least one of porous and permeable. 
     
     
         9 . The medical device according to  claim 2 , wherein the absorbent member is resilient. 
     
     
         10 . The medical device according to  claim 2 , wherein the absorbent member is positioned to contact an outer surface of the connector of the indwelling line when the medical device is connected to the connector of the indwelling line. 
     
     
         11 . The medical device according to  claim 10 , wherein the absorbent member is positioned to exert a mechanical cleansing action on at least a portion of the outer surface of the connector of the indwelling line upon a disconnection of the medical device from the connector of the indwelling line. 
     
     
         12 . The medical device according to  claim 1 , further including a deformable member enclosing an end of the proximal portion of the housing, wherein the microbial reducing agent is transferable from the proximal cavity to the distal cavity upon exertion of a sufficient force on the deformable member. 
     
     
         13 . The medical device according to  claim 12 , wherein the microbial reducing agent is transferred from the proximal cavity to the distal cavity through the unidirectional valve member in the at least one opening in the partition. 
     
     
         14 . The medical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the unidirectional valve member is a duck-bill valve. 
     
     
         15 . The medical device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an absorbent member disposed within the distal cavity, wherein the absorbent member is configured and dimensioned to contact the surface of the connector of the indwelling line when the medical device is connected thereto and to exert a mechanical cleansing action of the outer surface of the connector of the indwelling line when the medical device is at least one of connected to the connector of the indwelling line and disconnected from the connector of the indwelling line. 
     
     
         16 . A medical device for use with a connector of an indwelling line, the medical device comprising:
 a housing including a proximal portion and a distal portion separated from one another by a partition that functions as a dividing wall, the partition having at least one opening defined therein, wherein each of the proximal portion and the distal portion defines a respective proximal cavity and a distal cavity, and wherein the proximal and distal cavities are in fluid communication with one another through the at least one opening in the partition, and wherein the distal cavity comprises a first coupling member configured to receive a portion of a second coupling member of the connector of the indwelling line;   a microbial reducing agent disposed within the proximal cavity of the proximal portion;   an absorbent member positioned within the distal cavity, the absorbent member being slidable within the distal cavity from a proximal-most location to a distal-most location; and   a biasing member positioned between the partition and the absorbent member to urge the absorbent member to the distal-most location.   
     
     
         17 . The medical device according to  claim 16 , further including a unidirectional valve member disposed within the at least one opening, the unidirectional valve being configured to allow fluid to flow from the proximal cavity into the distal cavity. 
     
     
         18 . The medical device according to  claim 17 , wherein the unidirectional valve member is a duckbill-valve. 
     
     
         19 . The medical device according to  claim 16 , further including a deformable member enclosing an end of the proximal portion of the housing, the deformable member being collapsible into the proximal cavity to force the microbial reducing agent from the proximal cavity into the distal cavity.