Nestable sterility-protecting caps for separated connectors

(54) Title: PAIR OF NESTABLE COVERS, AND, METHOD FOR PROTECTING SEPARATE END OF MEDICAL CONNECTORS (30) Unionist Priority: 16/01/2007 us 60/880541 (73) Holder (s): University Of Utah Research Foundation (72 ) Inventor (s): James V. Mercer, MichaelW. Howlett (74) Attorney (s): Momsen, Leonardos & Cia.

(86) International Order: pct US2008051087 of 15/01/2008 (87) International Publication: wo 2008 / 089i96de 24/07/2008 (57) Summary: pair of nestable caps, and method to PROTECT THE SEPARATE END OF MEDICAL CONNECTORS . A pair of nesting caps is described, each of the caps being sized and shaped to provide a protective joint around a separate medical connector. The pair comprises a male cap and a female cap, each of which is configured to be joined with a complementary cap, to form a nested pair. The nested pair is sealed until separated for use, thereby maintaining the sterility of the internal surfaces of the nested pair. An absorbent pad can be impregnated with an antiseptic agent and included within the pair to further increase the sterility resulting from each cap, when used around a medical connector. One of the covers can include a cleaning chamber having a disposable liner, a pad and an antiseptic agent. In addition, a flexible tube, containing a rupturable capsule, can be attached to one of the caps to provide internal antiseptic solution to the caps.

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¹ ΡΙ0806801-1 “PAIR OF ANIS VEHICLE COVERS AND METHOD TO PROTECT THE SEPARATE END OF MEDICAL CONNECTORS” REFERENCE TO RELATED ORDERS

This order claims the benefit of US Provisional Order No. 60 / 880,541, entitled ANTISEPTIC PROTECTIVE CAP FOR MALE AND FEMALE SCREW-TOGETHER CONNECTORS, filed on January 16, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is generally related to caps for medical connectors and specifically related to caps used to protect the sterility of separate medical fluid flow connectors.

2. RELEVANT TERMINOLOGY

Catheter-related bloodstream infections are caused by bacteria / fungi in patients with intravascular catheters. These infections are a major cause of illness and excessive medical costs. Approximately 80,000 catheter-related bloodstream infections occur in intensive care units in the US annually. In addition, such infections are associated with 2400 to 20,000 deaths per year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines describe several ways to limit catheter-related bloodstream infections in hospitals, outpatients and home care settings. The guidelines address problems such as hand hygiene, care of the catheter site and preparation of the mixture. However, despite these guidelines, catheter-related blood infections continue to plague our health care system.

Impregnating the catheters with various antimicrobial agents is a way that has been implemented to prevent these infections. These catheters, however, gave less than satisfactory results. In addition, some microbes have developed resistance to the various antimicrobial agents in the system.

In another system that is commercially available in Europe, 5 a catheter cube containing an antiseptic chamber is filled with three percent iodized alcohol. Although it has been shown to be effective, the catheter hub is expensive and does not pass a formal cost-benefit analysis either.

The caps used to protect the sterility of medical connectors are well known in the medical art. Protective tip caps are commonly applied to tubing Luer connectors, IV access device, regulating valves and syringes. Many examples of such tip caps are commercially available. Most commercially available medical tubing assemblies are packed with a cap in place, to protect the tubing during handling. Caps for other types of connectors, including catheter injection holes, are less common, although they are also known in the medical cap technique.

The covers commonly used to cover medical connectors include a cover that is open at one end, closed at the other end and includes a set of spiral threads (to produce a secure, sealed Luer connection) over an associated bare connector, such as a hole injection. The inner side of the closed end can be equipped with a plastic cap, which can be broken when the cover is attached to the associated connector. Breaking the plastic capsule releases antiseptic agents stored inside the capsule, thereby applying the antiseptic agents to the accessible parts of the connector.

One of the many examples of medical connectors for which such caps are used are intravascular connectors associated with a central line. Commonly, a central line is used to intermittently administer medication to a patient. For example, a central line, which transmits fluids to the patient's bloodstream, may have one or more connectors associated with it. Each of the centerline connectors can be connected to other connectors, such as a connector associated with an IV bag. In such a situation, medical connectors, such as Luer locking connectors, are connected and disconnected several times and can remain disconnected for several minutes or hours. Medical connector covers are used to cover and protect the various medical connectors, while the connectors are disconnected from each other. When the medical connectors are disconnected from each other, there are two connectors that may require cover by a cover. Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a single set of connectors that can be used to provide protection for both ends of a separate connection.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention comprises a pair of nested protective caps, having a male cap and a female cap. Each cap has threads that correspond to connectors commonly used in medical devices and that are separated to access them. Such medical devices may include, but are not limited to, IV tubing assemblies, needle-free injection sites or orifices and vascular access devices. Each cap has threads that connect to a threaded end of an associated cap. As such, a pair of protective covers can be nestled together to provide a pair of covers that, before separation, keep the internal surfaces sterile. These covers can subsequently be separated and applied to protect both ends of a separate medical connection.

Each protective cover includes an associated medical device connector and prevents touch contamination, which can result in microbial contamination, colonization and infection, while the medical device connectors are separated. In addition, in some embodiments, protective caps may contain antiseptic agents, which kill microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses and fungi, which can colonize and result in a vast body infection (e.g. IV catheter-related bloodstream infections). In such cases, the protective cap has an absorbent material to apply an antiseptic to a fixed medical device connector. The absorbent material can also provide frictional cleaning while the protective cap is being attached. Such cleaning improves microbial killing.

The “nesting” geometry of the pair of covers provides both caps and a single unit, sealed against contamination of the connecting parts, until the nested pair is separated. Usually, the nested pair is connected by the same thread geometries, which provide connection to the associated medical connection devices. When nested before use, the individual female and male caps are screwed together to form a seal, to ensure that the sterility of the inner surfaces of each cap is maintained. For this reason, the nested pair unit or device no longer requires sterilization before use, since the unit is produced and supplied as an inherently self-sealed sterile package.

For example, the male cap of the device can generally be used to cover the end of an IV tubing assembly, which is disconnected from an injection site without an IV catheter needle. Examples of needle-free injection sites, sometimes referred to as orifices, hubs and valves, include brands such as Clave (ICU Medicai), SmartSite (Cardinal) and Q-Site (Becton Dickenson). The nested pair female cap can then be used to protect the needle-free injection site itself. Importantly, once the cap has been applied, the medical device connector does not need to be re-disinfected (eg treated with an alcohol swab) before each reconnection, as it will be kept in a decontaminated state while under the cap protective.

In an exemplary embodiment, the nested pair of pre-sterilized lids is packaged, to protect against contamination, by a seal cover around the junction of the two lids. Embodiments of the nested pair, having a female part, also contain cleaning material at a closed end of the female part. The material is impregnated with an antiseptic agent. The male part screw into the corresponding threads of the female part. To ensure sterility and prevent loss of fluid, the contact edges of the male and female parts form a seal impermeable to the passage of fluid and microbes, when hermetically fixed together. Alternatively, a 0-ring can be attached around a part containing internal threads of the male cap. Such a seal reduces or prevents evaporative loss of antiseptic. A second, rolled-up seal can also or otherwise be used to provide additional protection for transportation and storage. The unscrewing, to separate the two parts, breaks each seal and cleans the male part. As indicated, the material disposed in the female part cleans the male connector of the medical device being plugged. This, in addition to preventing contamination, thus eliminates the need for friction cleaning (eg with alcohol).

Other exemplary embodiments provide nested and sealed male and female parts and an internal antiseptic source, as described above. However, to provide fresh antiseptic fluid within the nested pair prior to separation, a closed tube, containing a ruptured reservoir applicator, is aseptic and sealingly attached to the unroasted end of the female part. The burstable reservoir provides an open antiseptic transport neck, which passes into the female / male cap unit. Inside the tube there is a capsule, containing the reservoir, which is manually crushed inside the tube. In the female cap adjoining the end of the tube, a pad of absorbent material is arranged to controllably transmit fluid residing within the reservoir into the interior of the nested pair. Thus, a path is provided to release antiseptic into the material and the nested lid unit. Note that the act of twisting the male and female parts occurs naturally when the covers are separated. Such a wrench causes the pad of absorbent material to rub the exposed parts of the nested pair internally.

Still other exemplary embodiments provide nested and sealed male and female parts, as described above. In addition, at least one of the covers includes a cleaning chamber arranged at one end thereof. The cleaning chamber includes a cavity within one of the lids, a removable position of disposable liner within the cavity and a pad secured within the liner. The cushion can be saturated or impregnated with an antiseptic agent. The cleaning chamber can be used to clean and remove hazardous material from a medical connector before attaching another medical connector or one of the covers to it.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be set out in the description that follows and will in part be obvious from the description, or can be learned by practicing the invention. The aspects and advantages of the invention can be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly highlighted in the appended claims. These and other aspects of the present invention will become more fully evident from the following description and appended claims, or can be learned from the practice of the invention as set out below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pair of fixed medical caps, produced in accordance with the present invention;

Figure IA is a first extreme perspective view of the covers in Fig. 1;

Figure 1B is a second extreme perspective view of the covers in Figure 1;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the medical caps of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a single cap portion of the attached pair seen in Figure 2, with internal threads seen therein;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the cover seen in Figure 3, with an associated medical connector, seen close to being connected to it;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a cover, which is complementary to the cover of Figure 3, and a Luer closure connector, to which the complementary cover can be attached;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a fixed pair of medical caps, similar to the caps seen in Figure 1, however having an “O” ring arranged around the connecting edges of the caps;

Figure 7 is an exploded view of the cover unit seen in

Figure 6;

Figure 7A is an extreme perspective view of one of the covers seen in Figure 7, with a sealing mechanism arranged on them;

Figure 7B is an extreme perspective view of the other cover seen in Figure 7, with a sealing mechanism arranged on it;

Figure 8A is a side elevation of the interconnected cover unit, seen in Figure 6 with a flat or sheet seal partially displaced around the connecting edges of the cover unit;

Figure 8B is a side elevation of the interconnected cover unit, seen in Figure 8A with the flat or sheet seal fully in position;

Figure 9A is a side elevation of the cover part which is seen in Figure 3 and an absorbent pad being arranged there up;

Figure 9B is a side elevation of the cover and pad part seen in Figure 9A with the absorbent pad arranged within the cover part;

Figure 9C is a side elevation of the cover and cushion part, as seen in Figure 9B, with an amount of antiseptic material being administered inside the cover and cushion;

Figure 9D is a horizontal view of the cover part containing the pad as seen in Figures 9B and 9C, attached to an associated complementary cover;

Figure 10 is an exploded side elevation of a pair of complementary caps, similar to the caps seen in Figure 1, but having a tube part that is sized and shaped to fit through a hole in the female part of the nested pair;

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the complementary caps seen in Figure 10, interconnected with the tube part;

Figure 12 is a side elevation of a pair of complementary covers 15, similar to the covers seen in Figure 9D, with a second absorbent pad arranged thereon;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a pair of complementary covers, similar to the covers seen in Figure 1, but having an additional cleaning device arranged at one end of the covers;

Figure 14 is a perspective view in cross section of the pair of caps in Figure 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In this description, the term proximal is used to indicate the segment of a device, usually closest to an object of the sentence describing its position. The term distal refers to an opposite position. Reference is now made to the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 - 12, in which similar numerals are used to designate equal parts from beginning to end. The parts designated by numerals with base coatings are similar but not exactly the same as the parts designated by numerals only.

A unit or assembly is seen in Figures 1-1B 10 of a pair of separable covers 20 and 30, securely attached but releasably to each other, through a common interface 40. To serve a significant purpose, the internal parts and surfaces of the unit 10 must be sterile and, perhaps more importantly, be able to prevent contamination of a connector with which each cap becomes associated.

Lids 20 and 30 are seen separately in Figure 2, where lid 30 is seen to have an insertable or tongue section 50. Section 50 has an elongated part 60, which ends in an externally disposed threaded segment 70. The threaded segment 70 it comprises threads, generally numbered 72, which are sized and shaped to be inserted and threaded into the cap 20.

The cap 20, which is best seen in Figure 3, has a closed hollow interior 80, which opens outwardly at a proximal end 90, to expose an internally disposed thread segment 100. The threads 102 are one size and pitch to fit in addition to the threads 72 for a screwdriver or airtight fitting with the lid 30.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the lid 20 has an inner surface 104, an opening edge 106 and an outer surface 108, the opening edge 106 being a common connection between the inner surface 104 and an outer surface 108. In addition, the threads 102 also have a size and pitch to fit a screw segment 110 of a female connector, such as, for example, female Luer connector 112. Such connectors are generally commonly used as catheters and other fluid-tight protective connectors in medical applications. As seen in Figure 4, cover 20 provides a protective cover for connector 112, when boxed around connector 112 (moved in the direction of arrow 114), where the screw segment 110 fits and is pulled into a secure connection, but releasable with the threads 102 of the cap 20.

Also, as seen in Figure 5, the threads 72 of the lid 30 are one size and fit into the threads 122 of a male Luer-closure connector 120. The male connectors, of which the connector 120 is just a single example, they are also commonly used to protect fluid connections in the medical art. Note that the lid 30 has a medially arranged and elongated hole 124, into which a Luer 126, shaped into a frustoconical cone of connector 120, can be easily and safely inserted when the lid 30 is moved in the direction of arrow 128, to fit connector 120.

The lid 30 also has a surface 130 that continues through a circular edge 132. Furthermore, distally displaced from the circular edge 132, the surface 130 ends abruptly at a circular ring shaped edge 134, which is thereafter joined to a surface external 136. It can be seen that the opening edge 106 (see Figure 5) and the ring shaped edge 134 combine to form a common interface 40 (see Figure 1), when the lid 20 is affixed to the lid 30, to build the unit 10. It should also be noted that the surfaces of the unit 10, which contact the internal surfaces of a connector, such as connector 112 or connector 120, must be sufficiently sterile to not contaminate its internal surfaces.

For this reason, the internal parts and associated edges of the caps 20 and 30 must be pre-sterilized and thus maintained until use. Lids 20 and 30 can be injection molded using polypropylene or other material that can be sterilized and that is impermeable to contaminants, while lid 20 is fully nestled with lid 30, before being opened for use. Lids 20 and 30 can also be impregnated or coated with an antimicrobial substance. As an example, each cap 20 and cap 30 can be individually sterilized by ethylene oxide (ETO) before final assembly and aseptically paired, or unit 10 can finally be consolidated as a single unit and then sterilized, such as by radiation (p eg range). Even so, unit 10 must be kept intact until used, with the internal surfaces of nested parts 20 and 30 remaining clean and sterile until unit 10 is opened for use.

Reference is now made to Figures 6 to 7B, in which a seal, such as an “O” ring, is disposed between surfaces 106 and 134, to provide yet another barrier against contamination of the inner surface of covers 20 and 30. As seen in Figure 6, an “O” ring 140 is arranged between surfaces 106 and 134, to provide a seal in this way. While the “O” ring 140 can be moved from the covers 20 and 30, as shown in Figure 7, we anticipate that the “O” ring 140 can be adapted to remain attached to one of the covers 20 and 30. For example, as illustrated in Figure 7A, the “O” ring 140 can remain positioned adjacent to the surface 134 on the cover 30, when the covers 20 and 30 are disconnected from each other, instead of being separated when the cover 30 is displaced from the cover 20, as seen in Figure

7.

Alternatively, the “O” ring 140 can be associated with the cap 20, as seen in Figure 7B. In particular, the opening edge 106 of the lid 20 can have an annular groove 116, to receive the "O" ring 140 there. The annular groove 116 can be dimensioned and shaped so that the “O” ring 140 fits tightly on the lid 30 or on a medical connector, when the lid 20 is coupled there. We observe that the annular groove 116 can be disposed within the opening edge 106 towards the outside of the lid 20, as shown in Figure 7B, or the annular groove 116 can be disposed within the opening edge 106, towards the interior of the lid. 20. In some exemplary embodiments, the opening edge 106 or cap 20 has no annular groove 116. In such embodiments, the "O" ring 140 can be directly embedded in the opening edge 106. The “O” ring 140 can be fitted on or in the caps 20 or 30 in any suitable manner, including with the use of an adhesive, such as glue, mechanical fastener or a friction fitting.

As mentioned elsewhere here, a sealing mechanism, such as “O” ring 140, can be used to limit or prevent evaporation or loss of an antiseptic agent disposed within caps 20 and 30, when caps 20 and 30 are coupled each other. In addition, a sealing mechanism, such as "O" ring '140, can also limit or prevent evaporation or loss of an antiseptic agent disposed within caps 20 and 30, when caps 20 and 30 are coupled to separate medical connectors. In addition, a sealing mechanism, such as “O” ring 140, can also limit or prevent microbial ingress within caps 20 and 30, when coupled together, or within caps 20 and 30 when caps 20 and 30 are coupled separate medical connectors. In addition, a sealing mechanism, such as “O” ring 140, can be adapted to keep an antiseptic agent inside the caps 20 and 30, when the caps 20 and 30 are coupled together or to separate medical connectors for a predetermined time .

More security in sealing against contamination of the inner surface can be provided by a sealing tape, such as tape 150, seen in Figure 8A. Tape 150 is arranged to fully cover the exposed edges of surfaces 106 and 134. Tape 150 can, for example, be made of a flexible waterproof material, such as a metallized surface pillar. As seen in Figure 8B, tape 150 is wound around surfaces 106 and 134, to provide a secure seal. It is preferred that the tape 150 breaks evenly when the lid 20 is separated from the lid 30.

When plugging disconnected medical connectors, it is prudent to do more than just cover these connectors with covers. For this reason, an absorbent pad, such as pad 160, seen in Figure 9A, can be moved into the lid 20, as indicated by arrows 162 and 162 '. Pad 160 is seen disposed within the cap 20 in Figure 9B. An antiseptic 170 can also be disposed within the cap 20. Antiseptic 170 can be in liquid or solid form. For example, alcohol or other stable liquid antiseptic can be added as from a container 180 to the saturated pad 160 at a predetermined level. Note that once unit 10 is fully assembled, pad 160 will substantially remain at the predetermined saturated level, due to the external seals provided for unit 10, as described above. Alternatively or in addition, pad 160 may be impregnated with a dry antiseptic, such as chlorhexidine gluconate.

Note also that, once the lid 30 is firmly attached to the lid 20, as seen in Figure 9D, the pad 160 is arranged to contact at least the circular edge 132 (see also Figure 5) (In Figure 9D, parts cover 30, which are internal to the unit 10, are seen with invisible or dashed lines). Such contact provides a preferred scrubbing action to make contact with a surface before contacting an associated connector. Note also that the associated internal antiseptic or internal residual surfaces of the lid 30 can be transferred to related parts of the associated connector, for cleaning purposes.

Pad 160 may be formed of a resilient deformable material, so that when the lid 30 is attached to the lid 20, the elongated part 60 can compress the pillow 160 within the lid 20. In addition, the pillow 160 can expand to its original shape, when the lid 30 is removed from the lid 20. Similarly, the pad 160 can be compressed within the lid 20, when the lid 20 is coupled to a medical connector, such as a medical connector 112. Pad 160 may also be formed so that when a medical connector is coupled to cover 20, pad 160 is deformed so that it extends around the threads of the medical connector. For example, pad 160 can be formed so that when cap 20 is twisted over medical connector 112, pad 160 deforms around threads 110, thereby cleaning threads 110.

Similar to the pad 160 and antiseptic 170 disposed within the cap 20 and as described elsewhere here, the cap 30 may also have a pad and / or an antiseptic disposed therein. For example, a pad and / or antiseptic may be disposed within the elongated hole 124 of the lid 30 (Figure 5). Once unit 10 is fully assembled, a pad disposed within cover 30, which has been saturated with an antiseptic, will remain substantially at the predetermined saturation level, due to the external seals for unit 10, as described above. Once the covers 20 and 30 are disconnected from each other and connected to individual medical connectors, the pad and / or antiseptic disposed within the cover 30 can be transferred to related parts of the associated connector for cleaning purposes.

Under some conditions, it may be preferable to retain an antiseptic solution in a container before separating the nested lids. Reference is now made to Figures 10 - 11, in which a unit 10 'is seen to comprise a first lid 30', a second lid 20 'and a container containing antiseptic 200.

As seen in Figure 10, geometric aspects of the lid 20 'are similar to aspects of the lid 20, except for a through hole 210 of an end 212, providing access into the lid 20'. Instead of an absorbent pad 160 (see Figure 9D), an absorbent pad 160 'is resident at an open end 218 of a hollow flexible tube 220. Tube 220 is closed at an opposite end 222. Also retained within tube 220 by 160 'cushion and closed end

222 there is a breakable capsule 230, which is filled with a predetermined amount of antiseptic solution.

Note that tube 220 is sized and shaped and made of a material to fill and be adhesive and sealingly affixed to cap 20 ', to provide a seal around hole 210. A commercially available fragile reservoir tube, such as ChlorPrep Sepp Applicator provided by Enturia, can be used for container 200.

As seen in Figure 11, tube 220 is moved into hole 210 to be adhesively attached to it. As a result, container 200 becomes an integral part of unit 10 '. Before separating the cap 30 'from the cap 20', the capsule 230 is manually crushed to cause the fluid 232 contained within it to be released into the voids of the parts of the unit 10 'through the pad 160'.

As mentioned for tube 230, it is common for a cap, such as cap 30 or 30 ', to be used to protect a male Luer connector. In such a case, a 30 ”cap, seen in Figure 12, is seen to contain a hollow, frustoconically shaped, inner connector surface, 258. For further cleaning of a male Luer connector inserted there, a second pad loaded with antiseptic is placed on its deepest point, for contact with the end of the male connector.

With reference to Figures 13 and 14, another exemplary embodiment of a pair of nestable 10 ”caps is illustrated having a female cap 20 and a male cap 30”, similar to the caps previously described here. Arranged between the covers 20 and 30 ”there can be a sealing mechanism 140, as described above. Additionally, one or both of the covers 20 and 30 ”may have a cleaning chamber 300 disposed within its end. The cleaning chamber 300 can be adapted to clean and disinfect a medical connector before connecting the medical connector to another medical connector or one of the covers 20 and 30 ”.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cleaning chamber 300 is disposed within the lid 30 ”, however, we have observed that the cleaning chamber 300 can be disposed within the lid end 20. The cleaning chamber 300 comprises a cavity 310 within the end with a 30 ”cover. Positioned inside cavity 310 is a liner 320. The liner 320 can be removably trapped within the cavity 310, so that the liner 320 can be safely held in position when using the cover 30 ”and / or cleaning chamber 300, and removed after use of the cleaning chamber 300. The liner 320 can also be adapted to be removed from the cavity 310 before using the cleaning chamber 300, so that the cleaning chamber 300 can be used individually from the covers 20 or 30 ”. The removability of the liner 320 allows the cleaning chamber 300 to be used to remove potentially hazardous material, such as blood, body fluids and the like, from a medical connector and then discard the contents of the cleaning chamber 300, so that the hazardous material do not remain close to the medical connector when the cover is attached to it.

Pad 330 is disposed within the liner 320. Similar to pad 160 described above, pad 330 may be formed of a deformable material, capable of deformation, so that pad 330 extends around the opening and threads of a connector doctor. Pad 330 may also be formed of an abrasive material, which can completely break up hardened materials that have accumulated in a medical connector. In addition, pad 330 may be formed of a material that can be impregnated or saturated with an antiseptic agent, such as alcohol or chlorhexidine gluconate.

Cleaning chamber 300 may also include a removable cover 340 to include liner 320, pad 330 and any antiseptic agent within cavity 310. As illustrated in Figure 14, cover 340 can be attached to cover 30 ”in any manner that sealably keep the contents of cavity 310 there and allow prompt removal of cover 340 when cleaning chamber 300 is to be used. The cover 340 can be formed of any suitable material, such as foil, plastic and the like. In addition, cover 340 may also include a flap 342, which facilitates quick and convenient removal of cover 340, when cleaning chamber 300 is to be used.

The covers described here can be formed of or coated with various colored materials or coatings. In an exemplary embodiment, caps 20 and 30 comprise a single color. Alternatively, each of the caps 20 and 30 may have a separate color. Colored caps 20 and 30 can provide several advantages, such as prompt identification of the cap type, prompt matching of a particularly colored cap with a particular type of medical connector and the like.

The inventions described here can be embodied in other specific forms, without deviating from their spirit or essential characteristics. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is therefore indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the preceding description. All changes that fall within the meaning and equivalence range of the claims are therefore intended to be covered within its scope.