Tubing connector for decreased contamination

Abstract

A protective guard for a medical tubing connector includes a ring, at least one flexible member attached at a first end to the ring and having a second end, and a base attached to the second end of the at least one flexible member. The ring is configured to fit over a first connection member of the medical tubing connector, while the base is configured to fit over a second connection member of the medical tubing connector. When coupled with the medical tubing connector, the protective guard helps prevent a user from touching the medical tubing connector.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A protective guard for a medical tubing connector, the protective guard comprising:
 a ring;   at least one flexible member attached at a first end to the ring and having a second end; and   a base attached to the second end of the at least one flexible member,   wherein the ring is configured to fit over a first connection member of the medical tubing connector,   wherein the base is configured to fit over a second connection member of the medical tubing connector, and   wherein, when coupled with the medical tubing connector, the protective guard helps prevent a user from touching the medical tubing connector.   
     
     
         2 . The protective guard of  claim 1 , wherein the ring comprises a convex outer surface. 
     
     
         3 . The protective guard of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible member comprises multiple flat, flexible members configured to preferentially flex outward when the protective guard is compressed longitudinally. 
     
     
         4 . The protective guard of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible member comprises a spring. 
     
     
         5 . The protective guard of  claim 4 , wherein the base comprises a final coil of the spring at an the second end. 
     
     
         6 . The protective guard of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a cylinder. 
     
     
         7 . The protective guard of  claim 1 , wherein the medical tubing connector comprises a luer connector comprising a male component and a female component that fit together. 
     
     
         8 . A protective guard for a medical tubing connector, the protective guard comprising:
 a cylindrical base; and   a curved shield extending laterally away from the base and beyond and around one end of the base,   wherein the cylindrical base is configured to fit over a first connection member of the medical tubing connector,   wherein the curved shield is configured to curve around an end of the first connection member, and   wherein, when coupled with the medical tubing connector, the protective guard helps prevent a user from touching the end of the first connection member.   
     
     
         9 . The protective guard of  claim 8 , further comprising two wings extending from the base to facilitate handling of the protective guard by the user. 
     
     
         10 . The protective guard of  claim 8 , further comprising an orienting feature on the curved shield to indicate an orientation of the curved shield to the user. 
     
     
         11 . A method for connecting two fluid transmitting devices to each other while protecting the fluid transmitting devices from contamination, the method comprising:
 coupling a connector guard with a first connector component at one end of a first fluid transmitting device without touching an end of the first connector component;   holding the first connector component via the connector guard; and   attaching a second connector component at one end of a second fluid transmitting device to the first connector component without touching at least the first connector component,   wherein the connector guard at least partially surrounds at least part of the first connector component and the second connector component when the first and second connector components are attached to one another.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the two fluid transmitting devices are selected from the group consisting of gas delivery devices, intravenous lines, and other medical tubing. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein coupling the connector guard with the first connector component comprises placing a ring of the connector guard over the first connector component, wherein the ring is coupled with at least one flexible member attached at a first end to the ring and having a second end attached to a base attached of the connector guard, and wherein the base resides over the second connector component when it is attached to the first connector component. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein coupling the connector guard with the first connector component comprises placing a base of the connector guard over the first connector component, such that a curved shield extending laterally away from the base and beyond and around one end of the base protects the end of the first connector component. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising bending the curved shield to expose the end of the first connector component before attaching the first connector component to the second connector component. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising resting the second connector component in a groove on the shield of the connector guard.