Needle-free access connector with antimicrobial-resistant valve

Abstract

To provide a needle-free access connector having a valve capable of resisting bacterial growth, and in particular a needle-free access connector having an access port having an antimicrobial-resistant valve. [Solution] According to the present invention, a valve containing an antimicrobial agent can be used in conjunction with a needle-free access connector. The valve may have an insert containing an antimicrobial coating, and / or the valve may have a physical mechanism such as a series of tunnels or grooves or patterned surfaces that contain an antimicrobial compound, and / or the valve may be made from a material containing an antimicrobial agent.

Claims

1. A needle-free access connector having a valve containing an antimicrobial agent, wherein the valve is made from a valve material and the valve material contains the antimicrobial agent incorporated inside.

2. The needle-free access connector according to claim 1, wherein the valve material comprises a silicone elastomer.

3. The needle-free access connector according to claim 2, wherein the valve material further comprises a second silicone material having hydrophilic chains mixed with the silicone elastomer, and the valve is formed by the valve material to have a hydrophilic surface.

4. The needle-free access connector according to claim 2, wherein the valve material comprises the silicone elastomer, the fluoropolymer, and the antimicrobial agent.

5. The needle-free access connector according to claim 1, wherein the valve material is mixed with the antimicrobial agent.

6. The needle-free access connector according to claim 5, wherein the valve material has a polymer component mixed with the antimicrobial agent.

7. The needle-free access connector according to claim 6, wherein the polymer component comprises a fluoropolymer or a hydrophilic polymer.

8. The needle-free access connector according to claim 7, wherein the polymer component comprises the fluoropolymer, and the fluoropolymer is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

9. The needle-free access connector according to claim 7, wherein the polymer component has the hydrophilic polymer, and the hydrophilic polymer is polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP).

10. The needle-free access connector according to claim 1, wherein the antibacterial agent is introduced into the valve material by expanding the valve material in a solution containing the antibacterial agent.

11. The needle-free access connector according to claim 10, wherein the valve material comprises a silicone elastomer and the solution comprises a chlorhexidine salt.

12. The needle-free access connector according to claim 1, wherein the antibacterial agent is introduced into the valve material by injecting an antibacterial compound containing the antibacterial agent into the upper surface of the valve.

13. The needle-free access connector according to claim 12, wherein the antimicrobial agent fills the void left by the needle used to inject the antimicrobial compound into the valve material.

14. The needle-free access connector according to claim 12, wherein the antimicrobial compound comprises a mixture of chlorhexidine and an adhesive.

15. The antibacterial agent is contained within the antibacterial compound, and the antibacterial compound is One or more polymers including biodegradable polymers, mesh-forming polymers, temperature / pH-sensitive polymers, or combinations thereof, One or more polymer-forming components including a UV-curing adhesive A needleless access connector according to claim 1, comprising at least one of the following.

16. The needle-free access connector according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the antimicrobial agent comprises a chlorhexidine salt.

17. The needle-free access connector according to claim 1, wherein the needle-free access connector has a housing having an internal cavity, the valve is disposed within the internal cavity, and the valve is configured to collapse within the internal cavity in response to an axial force applied to the upper surface of the valve, thereby allowing fluid to pass through the housing.

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