Dual-Cap Needleless Connector Protection Against Alcohol Evaporation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing protective caps for needleless connectors and access ports are ineffective in preventing catheter-related infections due to evaporation of alcohol-based antimicrobial agents, leading to device damage and diminished protection.

Innovation Solution

A dual-cap system with absorbent pads containing antimicrobial compositions, where one cap provides short-term cleaning and the other offers long-term protection, sealed to prevent evaporation and contamination, using compatible coupling features to secure the caps to infusion system components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If protective caps with alcohol-based antimicrobial agents are used, then antimicrobial protection is provided, but the alcohol solvent causes device failure and damage to needleless connectors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantimicrobial protection effectivenessVSAvoiddevice damage from alcohol solvent

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the antimicrobial agent by replacing alcohol-based formulations with water-based or non-alcohol-based antimicrobial compositions, thereby maintaining antimicrobial effectiveness while eliminating the harmful effects of alcohol on the needleless connector device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs disposable protective caps that are discarded after single use, eliminating the need for repeated exposure to antimicrobial agents and preventing cumulative alcohol damage to the device while maintaining effective protection during the critical protection period

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If protective caps allow alcohol to evaporate, then device damage is prevented, but the effectiveness of the protective cap is diminished

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice damage preventionVSAvoidprotective cap effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the antimicrobial composition by using water-based or non-volatile formulations that do not evaporate, thereby maintaining both device compatibility and continuous antimicrobial effectiveness without requiring alcohol evaporation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent ensures continuous antimicrobial protection by using non-volatile compositions that remain effective throughout the entire duration the cap is on the device, eliminating the loss of effectiveness that occurs when alcohol evaporates from traditional formulations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Device complexity

If single-cap designs are used, then device complexity is reduced, but adequate short-term and long-term protection cannot be provided simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotective cap structureVSAvoidantimicrobial protection duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the protective cap system into multiple functional components (e.g., outer cap for immediate protection, inner cap for sustained release) that work together to provide both short-term and long-term antimicrobial protection, with each segment optimized for its specific time frame and function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates preliminary antimicrobial treatment in the cap design that activates immediately upon application, providing short-term protection while simultaneously establishing conditions for sustained long-term protection through controlled release mechanisms or layered compositions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively maintains antimicrobial protection for needleless connectors and access ports, preventing microbial colonization and device damage by ensuring continuous availability of antimicrobial agents, thus reducing catheter-related infections.

Implementation Method 1

a first pad in the first opening and a second pad in the second opening, each pad containing an antimicrobial composition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

sealed to prevent evaporation and contamination, using compatible coupling features to secure the caps

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS12551683B2Needleless connector and access port disinfection cleaner and antimicrobial protection cap

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 BECTON DICKINSON & CO

AI summary

A protective cap having a first cap and a second cap that are removably coupled together for use in short-term and long-term antimicrobial treatment of needleless connectors and access ports of an infusion system. The instant invention further provides a protective cap having a first cap and a second cap that each coupled to a different surface of a component of an infusion system, such as a syringe. The instant invention further provides a strip containing a plurality of disposable protective caps.