Patient fluid line access valve antimicrobial cap/cleaner

Abstract

Methods for cleaning and antiseptically maintaining patient fluid line access valves to minimize the risk of infection via catheters. The methods include cleaning patient fluid line access valves devices with a cap that may contain a dry pad impregnated with an antimicrobial agent. Covering the access portion of the access valve when not in use with the cap. The devices have a hood that contains a wet pad impregnated with a cleaning solution and, optionally, an antimicrobial agent. The methods include wet pad cleaning the access portion of the access valve prior to and optionally, after the access valve is utilized to access the patient fluid line.

1 . A method for cleaning a patient fluid line access valve, the method comprising:
 removing a seal attached to a cap, the cap having
 an inner sidewall and an opening to an inner cavity, 
 a thread at least partially disposed on at least a portion of the inner sidewall of the cap, and 
 a pad including a cleaning agent, the pad at least partially disposed in the inner cavity and adapted to clean at least a portion of the access portion of the access valve, 
 wherein the seal is removably attached to the cap to cover the opening to the inner cavity, the pad being disposed in the inner cavity; 
   receiving into the opening of the cap an access portion of an access valve, the access portion providing an access to a fluid line via the access valve when connected to the fluid line; and   providing an air passage between an inner circumference of the cap and at least a portion of an outer surface of a sidewall of the access portion of the access valve when the access portion is received in the opening of the cap and when the inner sidewall of the cap comprising the thread provides a secured attachment of the cap to the access valve.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the access portion comprises a luer slip and the cap attaches thereto. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the space comprises a gap between the thread of the cap and an external surface of the luer slip. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the space comprises a helical void formed between the thread and an external surface of the luer slip, received via the opening, in the inner cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the access portion of the access valve comprises a thread, and the secured attachment comprises the thread of the cap accommodating at least a portion of the thread of the access portion. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the space comprises a gap between the thread of the cap and the thread of the access portion. 
     
     
         7 . A method for cleaning a patient fluid line access valve, the method comprising:
 removing a seal attached to a cap, the cap having
 an opening to an inner cavity, the opening for receiving an access portion of an access valve, the access portion providing an access to a fluid line via the access valve when connected to the fluid line, 
 a thread at least partially disposed on the inner circumference of the cap, and 
 a pad including a cleaning agent, the pad at least partially disposed in the inner cavity and adapted to clean at least a portion of the access portion of the access valve; 
 wherein the seal is attached to the cap to cover the opening to the inner cavity, the pad being disposed in the inner cavity, prior to receipt of the access portion of the access valve; 
   accommodating the thread of the access portion by the thread of the cap; and   forming a space between an inner circumference of the cap and at least a portion of an outer surface of a sidewall of the access portion of the access valve received in the opening of the cap,   wherein the space comprises a helical void formed by a dimensional difference between the thread of the cap and the thread of the access portion.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the cap is attached to the access portion. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the cap encompasses at least a portion of the access portion to allow movement of the access portion, received via the opening, in the inner cavity. 
     
     
         10 . A method for cleaning a needleless access valve, the method comprising:
 removing a seal from a cap, the cap having
 an inner cavity for receiving an access portion of an access valve, and an opening to the inner cavity for receiving the access portion of the access valve into the inner cavity, the access portion providing an access to a fluid line via the access valve when connected to the fluid line, 
 a protrusion extending inwardly at least partially around an inside surface of the cap, the protrusion to attach the cap to at least a portion of the threaded access portion of the valve received in the inner cavity to maintain the cap on the valve, 
 a cleaning agent disposed in the inner cavity, 
   receiving at least a portion of the access portion of the access valve into the inner cavity to maintain the cap on the access valve, the protrusion providing a secured attachment of the cap to the access valve;   cleaning at least a portion of the access portion of the access valve received in the inner cavity of the cap by the cleaning agent, the seal sealing the cleaning agent within the inner cavity prior to the inner cavity of the cap receiving the access portion of the access valve; and   forming a space providing an air passage between an inner circumference of the cap and at least a portion of an outer surface of a sidewall of the access portion of the access valve when the access portion is received in the opening of the cap and when the secured attachment comprises holding at least a portion of the outer surface of the sidewall of the access portion of the access valve within the inner cavity of the cap.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the protrusion forms a thread at least partially extending inwardly into the inner cavity of the cap. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the cap encompasses the access portion of the access valve received into the inner cavity of the cap to allow lateral movement of the access portion within the inner cavity when the access portion is received into the inner cavity. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the thread has a length less than an inner circumference of the inner cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The method of clam  13 , wherein:
 the thread is configured at least partially around an inside surface of the cap near an outer periphery of the inner cavity to accommodate corresponding threads on the access portion of the access valve; and   the space comprises a gap between the portion of the outer surface of the sidewall of the access portion and the inside surface of the cap comprising the thread when the access portion is received in the inner cavity and when the secured attachment is provided.