Hub Cleaning Device for Medical Connectors and Method of Use

Abstract

A cleaning device is configured to access and remove fluid from and dry a moat region defined by a hub of a medical connector, thereby minimizing the potential for bacterial growth in the hub. The cleaning device takes the form of an absorbent block which can be inserted into the moat by extending about a central male fitting and into a gap between the male fitting and the inner wall of a female hub of the medical connector. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the block takes the form of a tubular cylinder particularly configured for use on ENFit medical connectors wherein the absorptive feature of the cleaning device can be employed alone or in combination with another cleaning tool used to first remove any existing dried and caked solution in the hub before removing residual cleaning fluid from the moat.

1 . A cleaning device for absorbing fluid from within a medical connector including a female hub having an inner threaded wall and a central male fitting annularly spaced from the inner threaded wall by a moat region, said cleaning device comprising a body constituted by an absorbent material, said body being configured to fit within the moat region, with a hollow interior portion of the body sized to receive the central male fitting. 
     
     
         2 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent material of the cleaning device is configured to expand upon becoming wet such that the body is configured to extend radially outward between threads of the inner threaded wall. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaning device of  claim 2 , wherein the body is configured to be linearly and non-rotatably inserted to a floor of the female hub but threadably withdrawn from within the female hub. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the body is formed from natural materials consisting of woven or non-woven cellulose or cotton, synthetic woven or non-woven fibers, or one or more absorbent polymers. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the body constitutes a tube or hollow cylinder. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaning device of  claim 5 , wherein the body is formed from a sheet which is rolled into the tube or hollow cylinder. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaning device of  claim 6 , further comprising a tape, label, sleeve, band or end cap configured to prevent the sheet from unrolling. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaning device of  claim 6 , wherein the body is formed from multiple layers. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaning device of  claim 6 , further comprising a core element within the body, with the core including a slot or groove for receiving an end of the sheet which is wrapped around the core. 
     
     
         10 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , further comprising a strengthening element added to the body. 
     
     
         11 . The cleaning device of  claim 10 , wherein the strengthening element is constituted by an internal core element. 
     
     
         12 . The cleaning device of  claim 11 , wherein the strengthening element is constituted by a tape, band or end cap. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plug provided with the body, with the plug being configured to seal the male fitting when the body is positioned in the moat region. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , further comprising a tool provided on an end portion of the body, with the tool being configured for use in cleaning dried and/or caked solution in the moat region prior to insertion of the absorbent material of the body into the moat region. 
     
     
         15 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the body is configured to adsorb fluid from within the moat region with the absorbent material. 
     
     
         16 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the body takes the form of an absorbent block which is configured to be inserted into the moat region by extending about the central male fitting and into the gap between the central male fitting and the inner threaded wall of the female hub of the medical connector.