CN108472479B

CN108472479B - Erasing tip

Info

Publication number: CN108472479B
Application number: CN201680070731.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 石田美希; 上原康贤; 泷本和彦; 上田麻美; 上原惠; 中野清美; 上田丰; 和田谅平
Original assignee: JMS Co Ltd
Current assignee: JMS Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-12-03
Filing date: 2016-12-02
Publication date: 2021-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 2036-12-02
Also published as: CN108472479A; JP6743379B2; WO2017094873A1; KR20180090326A; JP2017099738A

Abstract

The tip (110) is provided with a cylindrical section (111) that can be inserted into a gap (916) between the male member (911) and the outer cylinder (913). When the cylindrical portion (111) is inserted into the gap (916), the male member (911) is inserted into the cavity (112) of the cylindrical portion (111). The cylindrical portion (111) has water-absorbing properties.

Description

Erasing tip

Technical Field

The invention relates to a wiping tip (tip) for cleaning a male connector, preferably for enteral nutrition therapy.

Background

Enteral nutrition therapy is known as a method of administering a liquid material containing a nutritional agent, a drug, or the like to a patient who cannot ingest food orally. In enteral nutrition therapy, a catheter is left in a patient in a state of being inserted into a digestive tube (e.g., stomach) from the outside of the body. As catheters, an intra-nasal tube inserted from a nasal cavity of a patient, a peg (percutaneous Endoscopic surgery) catheter inserted into a gastric fistula formed in an abdomen of a patient, and the like are known. A liquid substance such as a nutrient, a liquid food (generally referred to as an "enteral nutrient"), or a drug is administered to a patient via a catheter. When a liquid material is administered to a patient, a container storing the liquid material and a catheter (e.g., an intra-nasal tube, a PEG catheter, etc.) to be placed in the patient communicate with each other via a flexible tube. The pipes are connected to the conduit and to the conduit via a connecting means consisting of a male connector and a female connector. Conventionally, a male connector is used as an upstream-side (container-side) connector (hereinafter referred to as a "container-side connector") and a female connector is used as a downstream-side (patient-side) connector (hereinafter referred to as a "patient-side connector") for the flow of a liquid material (see, for example, patent document 1).

In recent years, in order to prevent erroneous connection with a connector used in a field other than enteral nutrition, studies have been made to: the male connector 910 shown in fig. 18A and 18B as a patient-side connector and the female connector 920 shown in fig. 19A and 19B as a container-side connector are internationally standardized to international standard ISO80369-3 relating to medical equipment for nutrition.

The male connector (patient-side connector) 910 shown in fig. 18A and 18B includes a cylindrical male member 911 and an outer cylinder 913 surrounding the male member 911. The male member 911 and the outer cylinder 913 are coupled to each other via a bottom plate 914 that protrudes radially from a proximal end portion of the male member 911 in a flange shape. An outer peripheral surface 912 of the male member 911 is a tapered surface (so-called male tapered surface) whose outer diameter becomes smaller as it approaches the distal end. The male member 911 is formed with a flow channel 917 which penetrates the male member 911 in the longitudinal direction thereof. An internal thread 915 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder 913 facing the male member 911.

The female connector (container-side connector) 920 shown in fig. 19A and 19B has a tubular portion (female part) 921 having a hollow cylindrical shape. The inner circumferential surface 922 of the tubular portion 921 is a tapered surface (so-called female tapered surface) whose inner diameter increases as it approaches the distal end. A spiral protrusion (external thread) 925 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion 921.

The male connector 910 and the female connector 920 are connected by inserting the male member 911 into the tubular portion 921 and screwing the female thread 915 into the spiral protrusion 925. The outer peripheral surface 912 of the male member 911 and the inner peripheral surface 922 of the tubular portion 921 are tapered surfaces having the same diameter and taper angle, and therefore, they are in liquid-tight surface contact. The internal thread 915 and the spiral protrusion 925, which are screwed together, constitute a locking mechanism for locking the connection state of the male connector 910 and the female connector 920. The male connector 910 and the female connector 920 provide a connection excellent in liquid tightness (a property that liquid substance does not leak from a connection portion between the male connector 910 and the female connector 920 even if pressure is applied to the liquid substance) and connection strength (a property that the male connector 910 and the female connector 920 to be connected do not separate even if tensile force is applied).

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: international publication No. 2008/152871 pamphlet.

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

In the male connector 910, an outer tube 913 surrounds a male member 911, and an internal thread 915 is provided on an inner peripheral surface of the outer tube 913. Therefore, after the enteral nutrition therapy is performed, a liquid substance (enteral nutrition agent) is likely to remain in the gap 916 between the male member 911 and the outer cylinder 913 (for example, in the valley of the female screw 915).

When the male connector 910 is provided at the upstream side end of the catheter inserted into the patient, the male connector 910 is continuously left in the patient together with the catheter. In the case of PEG catheters, the catheter is typically replaced every 1 to 3 months. If the male connector 910 with the liquid remaining therein is left in the patient for a long period of time, the male connector 910 becomes unsanitary. Then, eventually, bacteria proliferate within the male connector 910, which invade the patient's body, potentially causing severe complications. Accordingly, it is desirable to clean the male connector 910.

However, the interval between the outer peripheral surface 912 of the male member 911 and the internal thread 915 of the outer cylinder 913 is very narrow. Therefore, for example, it is difficult to insert a cotton swab into the gap 916 between the male member 911 and the outer cylinder 913 and wipe off liquid substances adhering to the valley portion of the female screw 915, the bottom plate 914, and the like.

The invention aims to provide a wiping tip which can be used for cleaning a male connector provided with an internal thread in a manner of surrounding a male component.

Means for solving the problems

The wiping tip of the present invention is used for wiping and cleaning a male connector including a cylindrical male member, an outer cylinder surrounding the male member, and an internal thread provided on an inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder facing the male member. The tip is provided with a cylindrical portion that can be inserted into a gap between the male member and the outer cylinder. The tip is configured such that the male member is inserted into the cavity of the cylindrical portion when the cylindrical portion is inserted into the gap. The cylindrical portion has water-absorbing properties.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

The cylindrical portion of the tip of the present invention can be inserted into a gap between the male member of the male connector and the outer cylinder, and when the cylindrical portion is inserted into the gap, the male member is inserted into the inner cavity of the cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion has water-absorbing properties. Therefore, if the cylindrical portion is inserted into the gap between the male member and the outer cylinder, the liquid material remaining in the gap is absorbed by the cylindrical portion. By inserting and removing the cylindrical portion into and from the male connector, the liquid material in the gap can be wiped off by the cylindrical portion. As a result, the clearance of the male connector can be always kept clean.

Drawings

Fig. 1A is a perspective view of the erasing tip of embodiment 1-1 of the present invention as viewed from above, fig. 1B is a perspective view thereof as viewed from below, fig. 1C is a side view thereof, and fig. 1D is a cross-sectional view of fig. 1C taken along a plane including a line 1D-1D.

Fig. 2A is a perspective view showing a state immediately before use of the erasing tip according to embodiment 1-1 of the present invention, and fig. 2B is a sectional view thereof.

Fig. 3A is a perspective view showing a method of using the erasing tip according to embodiment 1-1 of the present invention, and fig. 3B is a sectional view thereof.

Fig. 4A is a perspective view of the erasing tip of embodiment 1-2 of the present invention as viewed from above, fig. 4B is a perspective view thereof as viewed from below, fig. 4C is a side view thereof, and fig. 4D is a cross-sectional view of fig. 4C taken along a plane including a line 4D-4D.

Fig. 5A is a perspective view of the erasing tip of the embodiments 1 to 3 of the present invention as viewed from above, fig. 5B is a perspective view thereof as viewed from below, fig. 5C is a side view thereof, and fig. 5D is a cross-sectional view of fig. 5C taken along a plane including a line 5D-5D.

Fig. 6A is a perspective view of the erasing tip of embodiments 1 to 4 of the present invention as viewed from above, fig. 6B is a perspective view thereof as viewed from below, fig. 6C is a side view thereof, and fig. 6D is a cross-sectional view of fig. 6C taken along a plane including a line 6D-6D.

Fig. 7A is a perspective view of the erasing tip of embodiment 2-1 of the present invention as viewed from above, fig. 7B is a perspective view thereof as viewed from below, fig. 7C is a side view thereof, and fig. 7D is a cross-sectional view of fig. 7C taken along a plane including line 7D-7D.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a state immediately before use of the erasing tip according to embodiment 2-1 of the present invention.

Fig. 9A is a perspective view showing a method of using the erasing tip according to embodiment 2-1 of the present invention, and fig. 9B is a sectional view thereof.

Fig. 10A is a perspective view of the erasing tip of embodiment 2-2 of the present invention as viewed from above, fig. 10B is a perspective view thereof as viewed from below, fig. 10C is a sectional view thereof, and fig. 10D is a bottom view thereof.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing a method of using the erasing tip according to embodiment 2-2 of the present invention.

Fig. 12A is a perspective view of the erasing tip of embodiment 2-3 of the present invention as viewed from above, fig. 12B is a perspective view thereof as viewed from below, fig. 12C is a side view thereof, and fig. 12D is a cross-sectional view of fig. 12C taken along a plane including line 12D-12D.

Fig. 13A is a perspective view of the erasing tip of embodiment 3-1 of the present invention as viewed from above, fig. 13B is a perspective view thereof as viewed from below, fig. 13C is a side view thereof, and fig. 13D is a cross-sectional view of fig. 13C taken along a plane including a line 13D-13D.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing a state immediately before use of the erasing tip according to embodiment 3-1 of the present invention.

Fig. 15A is a perspective view showing a method of using the erasing tip according to embodiment 3-1 of the present invention, and fig. 15B is a sectional view thereof.

Fig. 16A is a perspective view of the erasing tip of embodiment 3-2 of the present invention as viewed from above, fig. 16B is a perspective view thereof as viewed from below, fig. 16C is a side view thereof, fig. 16D is a cross-sectional view of fig. 16C taken along a plane including a line 16D-16D, and fig. 16E is a bottom view thereof.

Fig. 17A is a perspective view of the erasing tip of embodiment 3-3 of the present invention as viewed from above, fig. 17B is a perspective view thereof as viewed from below, fig. 17C is a side view thereof, fig. 17D is a cross-sectional view of fig. 17C taken along a plane including a line 17D-17D, and fig. 17E is a bottom view thereof.

FIG. 18A is a perspective view of a male connector discussed as ISO 80369-3. Fig. 18B is a sectional view of the male connector along a plane including the central axis.

Fig. 19A is a perspective view of a female connector discussed as ISO 80369-3. Fig. 19B is a cross-sectional view of the female connector along a plane containing the central axis.

Detailed Description

In the above-described aspect of the present invention, the cylindrical portion preferably has a hollow cylindrical shape. This can simplify the shape of the cylindrical portion, and thus can provide a tip that is easy to manufacture and low in cost.

A projection projecting outward may be provided at the front end of the cylindrical portion. This improves the cleaning performance of the male connector, and improves the insertion operability of the cylindrical portion into the gap of the male connector.

The projection may be an annular projection continuous in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion. This improves the strength of the cylindrical portion, and therefore the workability of inserting the cylindrical portion into the clearance of the male connector is further improved.

The above-described tip of the present invention may further include a grip portion provided with the cylindrical portion. In this case, it is preferable that the grip portion has an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the cylindrical portion. This enables the operator to firmly grip the gripping portion of the tip, thereby improving the cleaning workability of the male connector.

The above-described tip of the present invention may further include a grip portion provided with the cylindrical portion. In this case, it is preferable that the grip portion is provided with a flat grip surface. This enables the operator to clean the male connector by gripping the gripping surface of the tip, thereby improving the cleaning workability of the male connector. Further, since the position at which the tip is to be grasped can be determined, the possibility that the fingers of the operator contact the cylindrical portion is reduced, and the cleanliness of the cylindrical portion is easily maintained.

The tip of the present invention described above may further include a cover tube surrounding the tubular portion. In this case, it is preferable that the cover cylinder is configured to be able to insert the outer cylinder of the male connector between the cylindrical portion and the cover cylinder. This reduces the possibility of a situation in which liquid leaks to the outside and contaminates the clothes of the patient during cleaning of the male connector. Further, the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder of the male connector can be cleaned by the inner peripheral surface of the cap cylinder.

The cylindrical portion may be provided with a flow path forming structure for forming a flow path through which a liquid flows between the cylindrical portion and the male connector when the cylindrical portion is inserted into a gap between the male member and the outer cylinder. Therefore, the tubular portion can absorb more liquid substance, and therefore, when the male connector is cleaned, the liquid substance overflows from the outer cylinder of the male connector, and the possibility of a situation in which the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder is contaminated with the liquid substance or the clothes of the patient are contaminated is reduced. The flow passage forming structure may be provided on either the outer peripheral surface or the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion. When the flow path forming structure is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion, it is possible to reduce the risk that a liquid substance, which may contain bacteria and remains in the clearance of the male connector, flows into the patient through the male member.

The flow passage forming structure may be a groove provided on an outer circumferential surface or an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion. This can simplify the structure of the flow path forming structure, and therefore, the tip having the flow path forming structure can be easily manufactured, and the cost of the tip can be reduced.

A screwing structure that screws into the internal thread may be provided on an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion. This improves the cleanliness of the female screw of the male connector. Further, when the male connector is cleaned, the liquid material overflowing from the outer cylinder can be reduced.

The screwing structure may be a helical male screw that surrounds the cylindrical portion by 1 or more circumference. This increases the length of the screwing structure, and therefore, more liquid material can be absorbed by the screwing structure.

Alternatively, the screwing structure may be a projection provided in an angular range of less than 180 degrees with respect to the central axis of the cylindrical portion. Such a projection is advantageous in reducing the burden on the operator when cleaning the male connector because the sliding resistance to the female screw of the male connector is small. Such projections include both spiral projections extending along a spiral and simple projections projecting in a dome shape.

The present invention will be described in detail below while showing preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. For convenience of explanation, the drawings referred to in the following description simply show the main components constituting the embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention can include any member shown in the following figures. In addition, within the scope of the present invention, the components shown in the following drawings may be modified or omitted. The following embodiments can be combined with 1 or more other embodiments. In the drawings shown below, the same components or elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted.

[ embodiment 1]

An erasing tip (hereinafter, simply referred to as a "tip") according to embodiment 1 of the present invention includes a cylindrical portion that can be inserted into a gap between a male member of a male connector based on ISO80369-3 and an outer cylinder. A preferred specific example of the tip of embodiment 1 is shown below.

(embodiment mode 1-1)

Fig. 1A is a perspective view of the tip 110 of embodiment 1-1 of the present invention as viewed from above, fig. 1B is a perspective view of the tip 110 as viewed from below, fig. 1C is a side view of the tip 110, and fig. 1D is a sectional view of the tip 110. The tip 110 has a hollow cylindrical shape through which a through hole penetrates in the longitudinal direction. The inner and outer diameters of the tip 110 are constant in the length direction of the tip 110. The tip 110 is entirely composed of a material having water absorption property.

Fig. 2A is a perspective view showing a state immediately before the tip 110 is used, and fig. 2B is a sectional view thereof.

The tip 110 can be used to clean the male connector 950. Like the male connector 910 shown in fig. 18A and 18B, the male connector 950 is also based on ISO 80369-3. In fig. 2A and 2B, the same components as those of the male connector 910 shown in fig. 18A and 18B are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. The male connector 950 has a connection portion 951 at an end portion on the opposite side to the male member 911. The connection portion 951 communicates with a flow path 917 formed in the male member 911, and an inner peripheral surface thereof is a cylindrical surface coaxial with the male member 911. Although not shown, a flexible pipe is inserted and fixed into the connection portion 951. The tubing may be a catheter (nasal tube, PEG catheter, etc.) that is indwelling in the patient. Alternatively, the conduit may be a pipe connected to the conduit. The pair of gripping protrusions 953 sandwich the connection portion 951, so that the worker can easily hold the male connector 950. The male connector 950 is merely an example, and the shape of a portion not specified in ISO80369-3 can be changed arbitrarily. For example, the shape of the gripping protrusion 953 may be changed, or the gripping protrusion 953 may be omitted. The pipe may be inserted into the pipe without inserting the pipe into the connection part 951 of the male connector 950.

In the enteral nutrition therapy, the female connector (container-side connector) 920 shown in fig. 19A and 19B is connected to the male connector 950 as a patient-side connector, and a liquid substance (enteral nutrition agent) is administered to the patient through the female connector (container-side connector). Then, the female connector 920 is separated from the male connector 950. As described above, the liquid may remain in the gap 916 between the male member 911 and the outer cylinder 913 of the separated male connector 950. The tip 110 is used to erase the liquid. As shown in fig. 2A and 2B, the cylindrical portion 111 having a cylindrical shape at one end of the tip 110 is opposed to the male connector 950 and inserted into the gap 916 between the male member 911 and the outer cylinder 913. The male member 911 is inserted into the cavity 112 of the cylindrical portion 111.

Fig. 3A is a perspective view and fig. 3B is a sectional view showing a state in which the cylindrical portion 111 of the tip 110 is inserted into the gap 916 of the male connector 950. As shown in fig. 3B, the cylindrical portion 111 is preferably inserted into the male connector 950 until the distal end of the cylindrical portion 111 abuts against the bottom plate 914 of the male connector 950. Since the cylindrical portion 111 of the tip 110 has water-absorbing properties, when the liquid material remaining in the gap 916 of the male connector 950 comes into contact with the cylindrical portion 111, the liquid material is sucked into the cylindrical portion 111. Thereafter, the tip 110 is pulled out of the male connector 950. The liquid substance is removed from the male connector 950 together with the cylindrical portion 111 while being held in the cylindrical portion 111. By inserting and removing the cylindrical portion 111 into and from the gap 916 of the male connector 950, the cylindrical portion 111 slides on the outer peripheral surface of the male member 911, the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 913, and the bottom plate 914 of the male connector 950, and the liquid material adhering to them can be wiped off. The solid material contained in the liquid material is also wiped off and removed together with the liquid material by the cylindrical portion 111. When the tip 110 is rotated with respect to the male connector 950 (for example, rotated by alternately reversing the rotation direction) in a state where the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted into the male connector 950, the wiping effect of the liquid substance is improved.

As described above, the tip 110 of the present embodiment includes the cylindrical portion 111 having a hollow cylindrical shape at one end thereof. The cylindrical portion 111 can be inserted into a gap 916 between the male member 911 and the outer cylinder 913 of the male connector 950, and the male member 911 can be inserted into the inner cavity 112 of the cylindrical portion 111. The cylindrical portion 111 has water absorption. Therefore, if the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted into the gap 916 of the male connector 950, the liquid substance remaining in the gap 916 is absorbed by the cylindrical portion 111. By inserting and extracting the cylindrical portion 111 into and from the male connector 950, the liquid substance is erased together with the solid substance contained therein. Therefore, by cleaning the male connector 950 using the tip 110 after the enteral nutrition therapy is performed, the clearance 916 of the male connector 950 can be always kept in a clean state.

The cylindrical portion 111 has a hollow cylindrical shape. Such a cylindrical portion 111 is simple in shape and therefore easy to manufacture. Therefore, the tip 110 having the cylindrical portion 111 with high cleaning ability, which is specialized for cleaning the male connector 950, can be provided at low cost.

The outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 111 is set so that the cylindrical portion 111 can be inserted into the outer cylinder 913 of the male connector 950. The cylindrical portion 111 has an inner diameter set so that the male member 911 of the male connector 950 can be inserted into the cylindrical portion 111. On the other hand, when the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 111 is separated from the thread of the female thread 915 provided in the outer cylinder 913 or the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 111 is separated from the outer peripheral surface 912 of the male member 911, the wiping effect of the liquid substance adhering to the female thread 915 or the male member 911 may be reduced. Therefore, the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 111 can be set to be substantially the same as or slightly larger than the inner diameter of the female screw 915. The inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 111 can be set to be substantially the same as or slightly smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface 912 of the male member 911. This ensures the ease of insertion of the cylindrical portion 111 into the gap 916 of the male connector 950, and also provides a good wiping effect of the liquid substance adhering to the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 913 and the outer peripheral surface of the male member 911.

The cylindrical portion 111 requires a certain amount of time to absorb the liquid substance in the gap 916. Therefore, when the cylindrical portion 111 is quickly inserted into the gap 916 of the male connector 950, a state may occur in which the liquid substance in the gap 916 overflows from the gap 916 before being absorbed by the cylindrical portion 111. An internal thread 915 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 913. Therefore, most of the liquid in the gap 916 passes through the thread groove of the female thread 915, rises between the cylindrical portion 111 and the outer cylinder 913, and overflows from the outer cylinder 913 to the outside. Therefore, the liquid material that rises through the tubular portion 111 and the male member 911 is relatively small. Therefore, the liquid is less likely to flow into the flow channel 917 of the male member 911. When the male connector 950 is in a poor sanitary state and bacteria grow in the gap 916, there is a possibility that the liquid substance overflowing from the gap 916 when the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted into the gap 916 contains bacteria. However, even if the liquid material in the gap 916 may overflow due to the insertion into the cylindrical portion 111, the possibility that the overflowing liquid material flows into the flow path 917 of the male member 911 is low, and therefore the risk of bacteria invading the patient's body is low. Even if the liquid substance overflows through the space between the cylindrical portion 111 and the male member 911, most of the liquid substance adheres to the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 111 and is absorbed by the cylindrical portion 111.

The tip 110 has two symmetrical ends. Therefore, the male connector 950 can be cleaned by inserting the cylindrical portion 111' opposite to the cylindrical portion 111 into the male connector 950 in the same manner as described above. For example, after the one cylindrical portion 111 is inserted into the male connector 950 to erase most of the liquid material, the other cylindrical portion 111' is inserted into the male connector 950 to erase a remaining small amount of liquid material cleanly.

The cylindrical portion 111 is made of any material having water absorption property. For example, a water absorbent material that can absorb water by capillary action, such as a foam or a nonwoven fabric, can be used. Such a water absorbing material can take solid matter contained in liquid matter into the gap in the tissue, and therefore the liquid matter has high wiping ability. As the material of the water absorbing material, for example, polyurethane, PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), silicon, polystyrene, EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), or the like can be used. The cylindrical portion 111 may contain a known super absorbent polymer.

The cylindrical portion 111 preferably has a strength enough to be inserted into the gap 916 of the male connector 950, and particularly preferably enough to be inserted deeply into the bottom plate 914. However, the cylindrical portion 111 preferably has elasticity (rubber elasticity) or flexibility to an extent that it can be appropriately deformed according to the thread of the female thread 915 or the change in the outer diameter of the male tapered surface 912 of the male member 911. When the cylindrical portion 111 is made of a hard material, when the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted into and removed from the male connector 950, there is a possibility that the surface of the male connector 950 is damaged slightly. The damage increases the likelihood of bacterial proliferation. The hardness of the cylindrical portion 111 is preferably the same as or lower than that of the male connector 950.

In the present embodiment, the entire tip 110 including the cylindrical portion 111 is integrally manufactured as one piece from the same material. The method of manufacturing the tip 110 is not limited, and for example, press molding, transfer molding, or the like can be used.

(embodiment modes 1 to 2)

Fig. 4A is a perspective view of the tip 120 of embodiment 1-2 of the present invention as viewed from above, fig. 4B is a perspective view thereof as viewed from below, fig. 4C is a side view thereof, and fig. 4D is a sectional view thereof. The tip 120 is composed of two parts, an outer cylindrical part 125 having a hollow cylindrical shape and a sealing part 126 having a solid cylindrical shape inside the outer cylindrical part 125.

The outer tube 125 is made of the water-absorbing material described in embodiment 1-1. The seal portion 126 is shorter than the outer tube portion 125. The seal portion 126 is inserted into the outer tube 125 so that one end thereof coincides with one end of the outer tube 125. The portion of the tip 120 into which the sealing portion 126 is inserted is a grip portion 123. The portion of the outer tube 125 where the seal portion 126 is not inserted is the tube portion 111.

The tip 120 of the present embodiment is used in the same manner as the tip 110 of embodiment 1-1. That is, the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted into the gap 916 of the male connector 950, and the male connector 950 is wiped clean.

The operator can grip the grip portion 123 when inserting and removing the cylindrical portion 111 into and from the male connector 950. The grip 123 is solid and therefore has high strength. Therefore, even if the operator strongly grips the grip portion 123, the grip portion 123 is less likely to deform so as to reduce the diameter. Therefore, the tip 120 of the present embodiment 1-2 is advantageous for improving the cleaning operability of the male connector 950.

The material of the seal portion 126 is arbitrary. For example, resin materials such as polyacetal, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyamide, polypropylene, and rigid polyvinyl chloride can be used. In order to increase the strength of the grip portion 123, a material having higher strength and higher hardness than the outer cylinder portion 125 is preferably used. Of course, the sealing portion 126 may be made of the same water-absorbing material as the outer cylinder 125.

The method of manufacturing the tip 120 is arbitrary. For example, the outer tube 125 and the seal portion 126 may be separately manufactured, and then the seal portion 126 may be inserted into the outer tube 125 to be integrated. Alternatively, after one of the outer tube 125 and the sealing portion 126 is manufactured, the other may be integrated with the other by a two-color molding method.

In the present embodiment, the outer tube 125 and the seal 126 are separate members, but the outer tube 125 and the seal 126 may be integrally manufactured as a single member using the same material having water absorption properties as in embodiments 1 to 3 described later.

In embodiment 1-2, the seal portion 126 may be disposed only in the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the outer tube portion 125, and the tubular portions 111 into which the male connector 950 can be inserted may be provided at both ends of the outer tube portion 125.

Embodiment 1-2 is the same as embodiment 1-1 except for the above. The description of embodiment 1-1 can also be applied to embodiment 1-2.

The grip 123 of the present embodiment 1-2 described above can be applied to any other embodiment.

(embodiments 1 to 3)

Fig. 5A is a perspective view of the tip 130 of embodiments 1 to 3 of the present invention as viewed from above, fig. 5B is a perspective view thereof as viewed from below, fig. 5C is a side view thereof, and fig. 5D is a sectional view thereof.

The tip 130 includes a cylindrical portion 111 at one end and a grip portion 133 at the other end. The grip 133 has a solid, substantially cylindrical shape and functions in the same manner as the grip 123 of embodiment 1-2. The tip 130 is made of the material having water absorbability described in embodiment 1-1, and is integrally manufactured as one piece as a whole.

A rib (protrusion) 132 protrudes outward in the radial direction along the end edge of the front end of the cylindrical portion 111 having a hollow cylindrical shape. The rib 132 is an annular projection continuous in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion 111.

The tip 130 of the present embodiment is used in the same manner as the tip 110 of embodiment 1-1. That is, the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted into the gap 916 of the male connector 950, and the male connector 950 is cleaned by wiping.

The rib 132 provided at the distal end of the cylindrical portion 111 provides the following effects.

First, the cleanliness of the internal threads 915 of the male connector 950 is improved. When the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted into and removed from the gap 916 of the male connector 950, the rib 132 enters the valley of the internal thread 915. Thereby, the rib 132 contacts and absorbs the liquid material adhering to the valley bottom of the female screw 915.

Second, the cleaning of the bottom plate 914 of the male connector 950 is improved. Since the rib 132 is provided at the leading end of the cylindrical portion 111, the thickness at the leading end of the cylindrical portion 111 (the dimension of the cylindrical portion 111 in the radial direction) is increased by an amount corresponding to the rib 132. Therefore, when the distal end of the cylindrical portion 111 is brought into contact with the bottom plate 914, the contact area between the cylindrical portion 111 and the bottom plate 914 is increased. Therefore, the cylindrical portion 111 can directly erase the bottom plate 914 over a larger area.

Third, the insertion operability of the cylindrical portion 111 into the male connector 950 is improved. Since the rib 132 is provided at the distal end of the cylindrical portion 111, the strength of the cylindrical portion 111 is improved. Therefore, when the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted into the gap 916 of the male connector 950, the cylindrical portion 111 is less likely to be deformed such as bent. Therefore, the distal end of the cylindrical portion 111 can be easily inserted into the gap 916 of the male connector 950 until reaching the bottom plate 914 of the male connector 950.

The outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 111 at the rib 132 is set in consideration of the insertion operability for the gap 916 of the male connector 950 and the wiping performance of the liquid substance attached to the male connector 950.

The ribs 132 need not be continuous over the entire circumference of the cylindrical portion 111, and may be protrusions divided in the circumferential direction. The plurality of protrusions divided in the circumferential direction easily enter the valleys of the female screw 915 of the male connector 950, and thus, it is advantageous to improve the wiping property of the liquid substance in the female screw 915. On the other hand, as in the above example, the annular protrusion of the rib 132 is advantageous in improving the strength of the cylindrical portion 111.

Embodiment 1 to 3 is the same as embodiment 1 to 1 except for the above. The description of embodiment 1-1 can be similarly applied to embodiment 1-3.

The projections (ribs) described in embodiments 1 to 3 can be applied to the cylindrical portion at the tip end of any other embodiment.

(embodiments 1 to 4)

Fig. 6A is a perspective view of the tip 140 of embodiments 1 to 4 of the present invention as viewed from above, fig. 6B is a perspective view thereof as viewed from below, fig. 6C is a side view thereof, and fig. 6D is a sectional view thereof.

The tip 140 includes a cylindrical portion 111 at one end and a grip portion 143 at the other end. The grip 143 has a solid substantially cylindrical shape and is coaxial with the cylindrical portion 111, as with the grip 133 of embodiments 1 to 3. However, unlike embodiments 1 to 3, the grip 143 has a larger outer diameter than the cylindrical portion 111. The tip 140 is made of the material having water absorbability described in embodiment 1-1, and is integrally manufactured as one piece as a whole.

The tip 140 of the present embodiment is used in the same manner as the tip 110 of embodiment 1-1. That is, the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted into the gap 916 of the male connector 950, and the male connector 950 is cleaned by wiping.

The operator can insert and remove the cylindrical portion 111 into and from the male connector 950 by gripping the grip portion 143. The grip 143 has a larger outer diameter than the cylindrical portion 111. Therefore, the operator can firmly grip the grip portion 143 and easily apply a force to the tip 140. This is advantageous in improving the cleaning operability of the male connector 950.

The grip 143 need not be solid, and may have a hollow cylindrical shape, for example.

Embodiments 1 to 4 are the same as embodiments 1 to 1 except for the above. The description of embodiment 1-1 can be similarly applied to embodiment 1-4.

The gripping portion with the enlarged diameter described in embodiments 1 to 4 can be applied to the gripping portion with the pointed end of any other embodiment.

[ embodiment 2]

The tip according to embodiment 2 of the present invention further includes a cover tube surrounding the tubular portion. A preferred specific example of the tip of embodiment 2 is shown below.

(embodiment mode 2-1)

Fig. 7A is a perspective view of the tip 210 of embodiment 2-1 of the present invention as viewed from above, fig. 7B is a perspective view thereof as viewed from below, fig. 7C is a side view thereof, and fig. 7D is a sectional view thereof.

The tip 210 includes a cylindrical portion 111 and a cap 211 at one end and a grip 213 at the other end. The cover cylinder 211 has a cylindrical shape disposed coaxially with the cylindrical portion 111. The cover 211 is radially separated from the cylindrical portion 111 and surrounds the cylindrical portion 111. The grip 213 has a solid substantially cylindrical shape coaxial with the cylindrical portion 111 and the cover cylinder 211. The grip 213 has a larger outer diameter than the cap cylinder 211. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the outer diameter of the grip 213 may be the same as the outer diameter of the cap cylinder 211, or may be smaller than the outer diameter of the cap cylinder 211. The tip 210 is made of the material having water absorbability described in embodiment 1-1, and is integrally manufactured as one piece as a whole.

The tip 210 of the present embodiment is used in the same manner as the tip 110 of embodiment 1-1. That is, as shown in fig. 8, the tip 210 is opposed to the male connector 950. Then, the cylindrical portion 111 of the tip 210 is inserted into the gap 916 between the male member 911 and the outer cylinder 913 of the male connector 950.

Fig. 9A is a perspective view showing the use of the tip 210, and fig. 9B is a sectional view thereof. The cylindrical portion 111 of the tip 210 is inserted into the gap 916 of the male connector 950. The outer cylinder 913 of the male connector 950 is inserted between the cylindrical portion 111 of the nib 210 and the cover cylinder 211. As in the case of embodiment 1-1, the liquid material remaining in the gap 916 of the male connector 950 can be wiped off by the cylindrical portion 111.

As described in embodiment 1-1, when the cylindrical portion 111 is quickly inserted into the clearance 916 of the male connector 950, the liquid substance in the clearance 916 may overflow from the clearance 916 through the thread groove of the female thread 915. As shown in fig. 9B, when the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted into the gap 916, the outer cylinder 913 is housed in the cover cylinder 211. Therefore, the liquid overflowing from the gap 916 stays mostly in the cap pot 211. The liquid substance staying in the cover tube 211 adheres to and is absorbed by the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 111 or the inner peripheral surface of the cover tube 211. A part of the liquid substance overflowing from the gap 916 may flow toward the outside through between the cover cylinder 211 and the outer cylinder 913. The liquid material is absorbed by the inner circumferential surface of the covering tube 211. As a result, when the male connector 950 is cleaned, a problem such as contamination of the patient's clothes due to leakage of the liquid substance to the outside hardly occurs. The outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 913 of the male connector 950 can be cleaned by the inner peripheral surface of the cover cylinder 211.

The inner diameter of the cover cylinder 211 can be set arbitrarily. In one embodiment, the inner diameter of the cover cylinder 211 may be set to be the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the outer cylinder 913 so that the outer cylinder 913 of the male connector 950 can be easily received in the cover cylinder 211. In another embodiment, the inner diameter of the cover cylinder 211 may be set to be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the outer cylinder 913 so that the liquid substance overflowing from the gap 916 can be reliably absorbed by the inner circumferential surface of the cover cylinder 211. In this case, the cover tube 211 is made of a deformable soft material, and the outer tube 913 can be inserted into the cover tube 211. In a further embodiment, the inner diameter of the cover cylinder 211 may be set to be the same as the outer diameter of the outer cylinder 913.

In the present embodiment, the inner peripheral surface of the cover cylinder 211 is a smooth cylindrical surface, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a convex portion or a concave portion may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cover cylinder 211. This enlarges the effective area of the inner peripheral surface of the cover cylinder 211, thereby improving the ability of the cover cylinder 211 to absorb liquid substances. The convex portion or the concave portion is not limited, but may be constituted by, for example, a rib-like projection and/or a groove extending in parallel to the vertical direction (the direction in which the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted and removed).

In the present embodiment, the cover tube 211 is made of a material having water absorption property, but may be made of a material having no water absorption property. Even if the cover tube 211 does not have water-absorbing property, the liquid substance overflowing from the gap 916 stays in the cover tube 211 and is absorbed by the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 111.

Since the grip portion 213 has a larger outer diameter than the cylindrical portion 111, it is advantageous to improve the gripping performance of the tip 210, as with the grip portion 143 of embodiments 1 to 4. As described in embodiments 1 to 4, the grip portion 213 need not be solid, and may have a hollow cylindrical shape, for example.

Embodiment 2-1 is the same as embodiment 1-1 except for the above. The description of embodiment 1-1 can be similarly applied to embodiment 2-1.

The cap barrel described in embodiment 2-1 can be applied to the tip of any other embodiment.

(embodiment mode 2-2)

Fig. 10A is a perspective view of the tip 220 of embodiment 2-2 of the present invention viewed from above, fig. 10B is a perspective view thereof viewed from below, fig. 10C is a sectional view thereof, and fig. 10D is a bottom view thereof.

The tip 220 is substantially the same as the tip 210 of embodiment 2-1. However, tip 220 differs from tip 210 in that: a plurality of grooves 221 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 111 in parallel with the vertical direction (the direction in which the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted and removed). The tip 220 is made of the material having water absorbability described in embodiment 1-1, and is integrally manufactured as one piece as a whole.

The tip 220 of the present embodiment is used in the same manner as the tip 210 of embodiment 2-1. That is, as shown in fig. 11, the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted into the gap 916 of the male connector 950, and the male connector 950 is wiped clean.

Illustrating the function of the slot 221.

As described in embodiment 1-1, when the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted into the clearance 916 of the male connector 950, the liquid substance in the clearance 916 may overflow from the clearance 916 through the thread groove of the female thread 915. However, when the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted into the clearance 916 at once, or when the amount of the liquid substance remaining in the clearance 916 is large, the entire liquid substance cannot pass through the thread groove of the female screw 915, and the liquid substance that rises between the cylindrical portion 111 and the male member 911 is relatively large. As a result, there is a possibility that the liquid containing bacteria may flow into the flow channel 917 of the male member 911.

In embodiment 2-2, a groove 221 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 111. Therefore, as can be easily understood from fig. 11, when the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted into the gap 916, the groove 221 is secured between the cylindrical portion 111 and the outer cylinder 913 as a flow path through which the liquid flows, in addition to the thread groove of the female thread 915. Therefore, even in the above case, most of the liquid material rises between the cylindrical portion 111 and the outer cylinder 913, and overflows from the outer cylinder 913 to the outside. As a result, the liquid material that has passed between the cylindrical portion 111 and the male member 911 and has risen up is further reduced, and the possibility that the liquid material flows into the flow path 917 of the male member 911 can be further reduced. Thus, the groove 221 is advantageous for further reducing the risk of bacteria invading the patient's body together with the liquid substance.

The groove 221 enlarges the effective area of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 111. Therefore, in the process of the liquid material rising between the cylindrical portion 111 and the outer cylinder 913, more liquid material is absorbed by the cylindrical portion 111. Therefore, the amount of the liquid substance overflowing from the outer cylinder 913 is reduced. This is advantageous in preventing the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 913 of the male connector 950 from being contaminated with a liquid substance or the liquid substance from leaking to the outside and contaminating the clothes of the patient.

Further, the tip 220 includes a cap barrel 211. Therefore, similarly to embodiment 2-1, when the male connector 950 is cleaned, a problem such as contamination of the patient's clothes due to leakage of the liquid substance to the outside hardly occurs. Further, the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 913 of the male connector 950 can be cleaned by the inner peripheral surface of the cover cylinder 211.

In the present embodiment, the groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 111, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The cylindrical portion 111 may be provided with the following structure (flow path formation structure): when the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted into the gap 916 of the male connector 950, a flow path through which the liquid substance in the gap 916 flows is formed between the cylindrical portion 111 and the male connector 950. The flow channel formation structure is not limited, and may be any of a convex portion and a concave portion. For example, the flow path forming structure may be a plurality of ribs (protrusions) parallel to the vertical direction (the direction in which the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted and removed). Alternatively, the grooves and the ribs may be alternately arranged. The grooves and ribs need not be parallel to the vertical direction, and may be inclined with respect to the vertical direction, for example.

The flow passage forming structure described above may be formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 111 in addition to or instead of the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 111. In this case, when the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted into the gap 916 of the male connector 950, the liquid material in the gap 916 can rise through the flow passage formation structure between the cylindrical portion 111 and the male member 911. Therefore, the amount of the liquid material that passes through between the cylindrical portion 111 and the outer cylinder 913 and rises is reduced. Further, the flow path forming structure enlarges the effective area of the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 111, and therefore more liquid substance is absorbed by the cylindrical portion 111. As a result, the amount of the liquid material that rises between the cylindrical portion 111 and the outer cylinder 913 and overflows from the outer cylinder 913 decreases. By appropriately setting the cross-sectional area, length, and the like of the flow path constituting the flow path forming structure formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 111, it is possible to reduce the amount of liquid material flowing into the flow path 917 of the male member 911 through the flow path forming structure.

Embodiment 2-2 is the same as embodiment 2-1 except for the above. The description of embodiment 2-1 can be similarly applied to embodiment 2-2.

The flow channel formation structure described in embodiment 2-2 can be applied to the tip of any other embodiment. The flow path forming structure can also be applied to a tip having no cap cylinder.

(embodiment modes 2 to 3)

Fig. 12A is a perspective view of the tip 230 of embodiment 2-3 of the present invention as viewed from above, fig. 12B is a perspective view thereof as viewed from below, fig. 12C is a side view thereof, and fig. 12D is a sectional view thereof.

As shown in fig. 12D, the tip 230 has substantially no portion corresponding to the grip portion 213 included in the tip 210 (see fig. 7A to 7D) of embodiment 2-1. The tip 230 includes a dome-shaped expanded top plate 233, and a cylindrical portion 111 and a cover cylinder 211 are provided on the lower surface thereof. The tip 230 is made of the material having water absorbability described in embodiment 1-1, and is integrally manufactured as one piece as a whole.

The tip 230 of this embodiment is used in the same manner as the tip 210 of embodiment 2-1. That is, the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted into the gap 916 of the male connector 950, and the male connector 950 is cleaned by wiping.

The tip 230 does not include the grip 213 (see fig. 7A to 7D). The operator can grip the outer peripheral surface of the cap cylinder 211 when inserting and removing the cylindrical portion 111 into and from the gap 916 of the male connector 950. By gripping the cover cylinder 211 in the diameter direction, the cover cylinder 211 is deformed so as to slightly reduce the diameter in the diameter direction. If the cap cylinder 211 is gripped with the cylindrical portion 111 inserted into the gap 916 of the male connector 950, the inner circumferential surface of the cap cylinder 211 is pressed against the outer circumferential surface of the outer cylinder 913 of the male connector 950. This is advantageous in improving the cleaning property of the outer circumferential surface of the outer cylinder 913.

As can be understood from the present embodiment, when the cover cylinder 211 is provided, cleaning of the male connector 950 is not substantially hindered even if the grip portion 213 (see fig. 7A to 7D) is omitted or the vertical dimension thereof is reduced. Instead, the tip can be miniaturized.

In the tip 230 of embodiment 2-3, a flow path forming structure (for example, a convex portion or a concave portion) may be provided on the outer peripheral surface or the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 111 so as to form a flow path through which the liquid substance described in embodiment 2-2 flows between the cylindrical portion 111 and the male connector 950.

Embodiment 2-3 is the same as embodiment 2-1 except for the above. The description of embodiment 2-1 can be similarly applied to embodiment 2-3.

[ embodiment 3]

The tip according to embodiment 3 of the present invention is provided with a screwing structure that is screwed into the female screw 915 of the male connector 950 on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion. A preferred specific example of the tip of embodiment 3 is shown below.

(embodiment mode 3-1)

Fig. 13A is a perspective view of the tip 310 of embodiment 3-1 of the present invention as viewed from above, fig. 13B is a perspective view thereof as viewed from below, fig. 13C is a side view thereof, and fig. 13D is a sectional view thereof.

The tip 310 includes a cylindrical portion 111 at one end and a grip portion 313 at the other end.

A male screw (screwing structure) 312 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 111. The male screw 312 is a spiral protrusion that surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 111 by 1 or more circumference. The external threads 312 are threadably engaged with the internal threads 915 of the male connector 950.

The grip portion 313 has a hollow cylindrical shape, and the outer diameter thereof is substantially the same as the thread diameter of the male thread 312. However, the shape of the grip portion 313 is not limited thereto. For example, the outer diameter of the holding portion 313 may be larger or smaller than the thread diameter of the external thread 312. The grip portion 313 has an outer diameter smaller than the thread diameter of the male thread 312, and is advantageous for improving the mold release property when the tip 310 is integrally manufactured as one piece. The sealing portion may be inserted into the grip portion 313 similarly to the grip portion 123 according to embodiment 1-2, or the grip portion 313 may have a solid substantially cylindrical shape like the grip portion 133 according to embodiment 1-3 or the grip portion 143 according to embodiment 1-4.

The tip 310 is made of the material having water-absorbing property described in embodiment 1-1, and is integrally manufactured as one piece as a whole.

The tip 310 of the present embodiment is used in the same manner as the tip 110 of embodiment 1-1. That is, the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted into the gap 916 of the male connector 950, and the male connector 950 is cleaned by wiping.

However, unlike embodiment 1-1, in embodiment 3-1, the male screw 312 must be screwed into the female screw 915 of the male connector 950 in order to insert the cylindrical portion 111 into the gap 916. That is, as shown in fig. 14, the tip 310 is opposed to the male connector 950, and the cylindrical portion 111 is screwed into the gap 916 of the male connector 950 while rotating the tip 310 with respect to the male connector 950.

Fig. 15A is a perspective view showing a state where the cylindrical portion 111 is screwed into the gap 916 of the male connector 950 at the deepest point, and fig. 15B is a sectional view thereof. The cylindrical portion 111 of the tip 310 is inserted into the gap 916 between the male member 911 and the outer cylinder 913 of the male connector 950. The male screw 312 of the cylindrical portion 111 is screwed to the female screw 915 of the outer cylinder 913. When the tip 310 is separated from the male connector 950, the tip 310 needs to be rotated in the opposite direction to the above direction with respect to the male connector 950, and the screwing of the male thread 312 and the female thread 915 needs to be released.

Since the cylindrical portion 111 and the male screw 312 have water absorbing properties, the liquid material remaining in the gap 916 can be wiped off by inserting and removing the cylindrical portion 111 into and from the male connector 950 through the cylindrical portion 111 and the male screw 312.

The effect of the external thread 312 will be explained.

First, the cleanliness of the internal threads 915 of the male connector 950 is improved. When the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted into and removed from the male connector 950, the thread of the male screw 312 slides while being fitted into the thread groove of the female screw 915. Therefore, the liquid substance remaining in the thread groove of the female thread 915 is likely to contact the thread ridge of the male thread 312. Therefore, the liquid material adhering to the bottom of the female screw 915 can be reliably wiped off.

Second, the liquid substance overflowing from the outer cylinder 913 is reduced when the male connector 950 is cleaned. When the male screw 312 is not provided in the cylindrical portion 111, when the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted into the clearance 916 of the male connector 950 as described in embodiment 1-1, a liquid substance in the clearance 916 may rise between the cylindrical portion 111 and the outer cylinder 913 through the thread groove of the female screw 915 and may overflow from the outer cylinder 913 to the outside. In contrast, in embodiment 3-1, the thread ridge of the male thread 312 is fitted to close the thread groove of the female thread 915 which is a flow path through which the liquid material flows. Therefore, the liquid material is lost, and the amount of the liquid material absorbed by the cylindrical portion 111 increases. As a result, the liquid substance overflowing from the outer cylinder 913 is reduced. In addition, in order to insert the cylindrical portion 111 into the gap 916 of the male connector 950, the tip 310 needs to be rotated with respect to the male connector 950. Therefore, it takes a longer time to insert the cylindrical portion 111 into the clearance 916 of the male connector 950 than in embodiments 1 and 2 in which the cylindrical portion 111 not provided with the male screw 312 is inserted into the clearance 916. Therefore, the amount of the liquid substance absorbed by the cylindrical portion 111 increases. As a result, the liquid substance overflowing from the outer cylinder 913 is reduced.

Embodiment 3-1 is the same as embodiment 1-1 except for the above. The description of embodiment 1-1 can be similarly applied to embodiment 3-1.

The male screw (screwing structure) described in embodiment 3-1 can be applied to the cylindrical portion of the tip of any other embodiment.

(embodiment mode 3-2)

Fig. 16A is a perspective view of the tip 320 of embodiment 3-2 of the present invention viewed from above, fig. 16B is a perspective view thereof viewed from below, fig. 16C is a side view thereof, fig. 16D is a sectional view thereof, and fig. 16E is a bottom view thereof.

Embodiment 3-2 differs from embodiment 3-1 in the following points. First, the screwing structure provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 111 is a helical male screw 312 that surrounds the cylindrical portion 111 over 1 circumference in the circumferential direction in embodiment 3-1, whereas two helical projections (screwing structure) 322 that extend within an angular range of less than 180 degrees with respect to the central axis 320a in embodiment 3-2. Second, the grip 323 has a solid substantially cylindrical shape, as with the grip 133 according to embodiments 1 to 3. However, a part of the outer peripheral surface of the grip portion 323 is cut away, and two flat surfaces (grip surfaces) 324 substantially parallel to the central axis 320a are formed in the grip portion 323. The two gripping surfaces 324 are parallel to each other. A step surface 325 that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the nib 320 is formed between the grip surface 324 and the cylindrical surface on the cylindrical portion 111 side of the grip surface due to the difference in outer dimensions between the grip surface and the cylindrical surface. The stepped surface 325 is not limited to the present embodiment, and may be inclined so as to be away from the central axis 320a as it approaches the cylindrical portion 111, for example. The step surface 325 need not be an exact plane, and may be a cylindrical concave curved surface or a cylindrical convex curved surface, for example.

The tip 320 is made of the material having water absorption property described in embodiment mode 1-1, and is integrally manufactured as one piece as a whole.

The tip 320 of this embodiment is used in the same manner as the tip 310 of embodiment 3-1. That is, the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted into the gap 916 of the male connector 950, and the male connector 950 is cleaned by wiping.

The screw-shaped protrusion 322 is screwed with the internal thread 915 of the male connector 950, similarly to the external thread 312 of the embodiment 3-1. Therefore, the screw-shaped protrusion 322 exerts the same effect as the external thread 312 of embodiment 3-1.

However, the screw-shaped protrusion 322 of the present embodiment does not surround the cylindrical portion 111, and its length is shorter than the male screw 312 of embodiment 3-1. Therefore, the screw-shaped protrusion 322 of embodiment 3-2 is smaller in sliding resistance against the female screw 915 than the male screw 312 of embodiment 3-1. Therefore, the cylindrical portion 111 can be inserted into and removed from the male connector 950 by applying a smaller rotational force to the tip 320 as compared with embodiment 3-1. As described above, the screw-shaped protrusion 322 of the present embodiment is advantageous for reducing the burden on the operator when cleaning the male connector 950.

Further, since the grip 323 is provided with the flat grip surface 324, the operator can easily grip the grip surface 324 and apply a rotational force to the tip 320. When the operator inserts the cylindrical portion 111 into the male connector 950, the operator easily applies a force to the stepped surface 325 adjacent to the gripping surface 324 toward the male connector 950. Therefore, the gripping surface 324 and the stepped surface 325 are also advantageous for reducing the burden on the operator when cleaning the male connector 950. Further, since the operator naturally grips the tip 320 by the gripping surface 324 and the stepped surface 325 prevents the fingers gripping the gripping surface 324 from moving toward the cylindrical portion 111, the gripping surface 324 and the stepped surface 325 are advantageous in preventing the deterioration of the cleanliness of the cylindrical portion 111 due to the contact with the fingers of the operator.

The number of the gripping surfaces 324 provided in the gripping portion 323 does not need to be two, and may be one or three or more. When three or more holding surfaces 324 are provided, the holding surfaces 324 are preferably arranged at regular angular intervals with respect to the central axis of the tip so as to form a regular polygonal column surface.

The grip surface 324 is not limited to a plane formed by removing a part of the cylindrical surface of the grip 323 as in the present embodiment. For example, the grip surface may be a flat surface that contacts the cylindrical surface of the grip 323. In this case, the step surface 325 adjacent to the grip surface is not formed.

The outer diameter of the grip portion 323 does not need to be the same as the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 111, and may be larger or smaller than this.

Embodiment 3-2 is the same as embodiment 3-1 except for the above. The description of embodiment 3-1 can be similarly applied to embodiment 3-2.

At least one of the screw-shaped protrusion (screw structure), the gripping surface, and the step surface described in embodiment 3-2 can be applied to the tip of any other embodiment.

(embodiment mode 3-3)

Fig. 17A is a perspective view of the tip 330 of embodiment 3-3 of the present invention as viewed from above, fig. 17B is a side view thereof, fig. 17D is a side view thereof, and fig. 17D is a bottom view thereof.

The present embodiment 3-3 differs from embodiment 3-2 in that: the screwing structure provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 111 is 4 screw-shaped protrusions (screwing structure) 332 extending within an angular range of less than 90 degrees with respect to the central axis 330a in embodiment 3-3, and two screw-shaped protrusions 322 extending within an angular range of 90 degrees or more and less than 180 degrees with respect to the central axis in embodiment 3-2. The tip 330 is made of the material having water absorbability described in embodiment 1-1, and is integrally manufactured as one piece as a whole.

The tip 330 of this embodiment is used in the same manner as the tip 320 of embodiment 3-2. The screw-shaped protrusion 332 of the present embodiment does not surround the cylindrical portion 111, and has a length shorter than the male screw 312 of embodiment 3-1. Therefore, the screw-shaped protrusion 332 of embodiment 3-3 is smaller than the male screw 312 of embodiment 3-1 with respect to the sliding resistance against the female screw 915. Therefore, as in embodiment 3-2, the burden on the operator when cleaning the male connector 950 can be reduced.

In the cylindrical portion 111, two spiral protrusions 322 are provided in embodiment 3-2, and 4 spiral protrusions 332 are provided in embodiment 3-3, but the number of spiral protrusions is not limited to this, and is arbitrary. Preferably, the two or more spiral protrusions are provided at equal angular intervals with respect to the central axis of the tip. The angle at which one of the spiral protrusions extends with respect to the central axis of the tip can also be set arbitrarily. The upper limit of the above-mentioned angle of the helical projection is not limited, but is preferably less than 180 degrees, more preferably less than 120 degrees, and particularly preferably less than 90 degrees. The lower limit of the angle of the spiral protrusion is not limited, but is preferably 10 degrees or more, more preferably 30 degrees or more, and particularly preferably 45 degrees or more. In general, when the angle of the spiral protrusion is smaller, the amount of the liquid substance absorbed by the spiral protrusion is reduced.

The screwing structure provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 111 is not limited to the male screw 312 of embodiment 3-1 and the

spiral protrusions

322 and 332 extending along the spiral of embodiments 3-2 and 3-3, as long as the screwing structure can be screwed into the female screw 915 of the male connector 950. For example, a simple protrusion protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 111 in a dome shape may be used. In this case, the number of the protrusions is arbitrary, but preferably two or more protrusions are provided at equal angular intervals with respect to the central axis of the tip.

Embodiment 3-3 is the same as embodiment 3-2 except for the above. The description of embodiment 3-2 can be similarly applied to embodiment 3-3.

The screw-shaped protrusion or the protrusion (screwing structure) described in embodiment 3-3 can be applied to the cylindrical portion at the tip end of any other embodiment.

The above embodiments 1 to 3 are merely examples. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified as appropriate.

In the above embodiment, the tip portion other than the cylindrical portion is also made of a material having water absorption property, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, only the cylindrical portion inserted into the gap 916 of the male connector 950 may be made of a material having water absorption property, and the other tip portion may be made of an arbitrary material (for example, a material having no water absorption property, a material having high strength, or the like).

The outer diameter and the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 111 can be arbitrarily set as long as the clearance 916 of the male connector 960 can be inserted. For example, the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 111 may be smaller than the inner diameter of the female screw 915, and the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 111 may be larger than the maximum outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface 912 of the male member 911. When the cylindrical portion 111 is inserted into the gap 916, even if a gap exists in the radial direction between the cylindrical portion 111 and the female screw 915 and/or between the cylindrical portion 111 and the male member 911, the liquid substance adhering to the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 913 and the outer peripheral surface of the male member 911 can be easily wiped off by the cylindrical portion 111 by, for example, decentering the cylindrical portion 111 with respect to the male connector 950.

In the above-described embodiment, the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion is a cylindrical surface, but may be a female tapered surface (for example, the same female tapered surface as the female tapered surface 922 of the female connector 920) that fits to the outer peripheral surface (male tapered surface) 912 of the male member 911 inserted into the cylindrical portion.

In the above embodiment, the cylindrical portion has a hollow cylindrical shape, but a slit (narrow slit) or a hole may be formed in the cylindrical shape. The slits or holes can contribute to improvement in water absorption due to expansion of the effective area of the cylindrical portion, securing of a flow path for the liquid substance in the gap 916 to flow out of the outer cylinder 913, improvement in wiping effect of the liquid substance and the solid substance contained therein, and the like. The slit may be formed with a predetermined length, for example, upward from the front end (lower end) of the cylindrical portion. The hole may be any of a through hole that penetrates the cylindrical portion and a non-through hole that does not penetrate the cylindrical portion (i.e., a simple recess). The hole may extend in a spiral shape in the cylindrical portion along a radial direction, a longitudinal direction of the tip, or a central axis of the tip. For example, the hole extending in the longitudinal direction of the tip may extend from the distal end of the cylindrical portion to the grip portion, or may penetrate the tip. The shape of the hole is any of a circular shape, an oval shape, a slit shape, and the like.

The configuration of the grip portion provided with the cylindrical portion 111 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be any configuration. The shape of the outer peripheral surface of the grip portion is not limited to a cylindrical surface, and may be any polygonal prism surface (e.g., a triangular prism surface, a quadrangular prism surface, a hexagonal prism surface, or an octagonal prism surface). The outer peripheral surface of the grip portion may be provided with a flat surface or a concave surface (including a concave portion), or may be provided with a protrusion such as a dome shape (hemispherical shape) or a rib shape, or an uneven surface composed of a convex portion and a concave portion. The material, hardness, outer dimensions, length along the longitudinal direction of the tip, and the like of the grip portion are also arbitrary. The grip portion may be made of a different material from the cylindrical portion 111.

In order to maintain the cleanliness of the cylindrical portion 111, the tip may be provided with a structure in which the operator does not unnecessarily touch the cylindrical portion 111. As this structure, although not limited, for example, the following structure is also possible: a structure in which a line is provided along the boundary between the grip portion and the cylindrical portion 111, or the grip portion is colored in a color different from that of the cylindrical portion 111, and the operator visually recognizes the grip portion; alternatively, a structure in which a convex portion (for example, a circumferentially continuous annular protrusion) or a concave portion (for example, a circumferentially continuous annular groove) protruding in the radial direction is provided between the grip portion and the cylindrical portion 111, or the grip portion has an outer dimension smaller than the cylindrical portion 111 so as to form a step between the grip portion and the cylindrical portion 111, or the grip portion is provided with a grip surface 324 (see fig. 16A), a concave-convex shape, or the like, so that it is difficult for the operator to touch the cylindrical portion 111 with the fingers of the operator, or a structure in which the operator recognizes the grip portion by the sense of touch is provided.

In the above embodiment, the male connector as the cleaning target is provided at the upstream side end of the catheter inserted into the patient. However, the male connector is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a male connector provided at an upstream end of a pipe (extended pipe) connecting the pipe and a pipe connected to the container.

The tip of the present invention may be of a disposable type which is discarded every time the male connector is cleaned, or of a reusable type which is repeatedly used for cleaning of the male connector by washing with water or the like and drying it after the male connector is cleaned.

Industrial applicability

The field of use of the present invention is not limited, but the present invention can be preferably used as a cleaning tool for a male connector based on ISO 80369-3. The cleaning tool is particularly suitable for use as a cleaning tool for a male connector attached to the upstream end of a catheter inserted into a patient for enteral nutrition therapy.

Description of the symbols

110. 120, 130, 140, 210, 220, 230, 310, 320, 330 wiping tip

111 cylindrical part

112 cylindrical part inner cavity

132 protrusion

123. 133, 143, 213, 313, 323 gripping part

211 cover cylinder

221 groove (channel forming structure)

312 external screw thread (screw joint structure)

322. 332 spiral projection (screw joint structure)

324 gripping surface

950 male connector

911 male part

913 outer cylinder

915 internal thread

916 clearance between the male member and the outer barrel

Claims

1. An erasing tip for erasing and cleaning a male connector having a cylindrical male member, an outer cylinder surrounding the male member, and an internal thread provided on an inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder facing the male member,

the disclosed device is provided with: a cylindrical part which can be inserted into a gap between the male member and the outer cylinder, and a cover cylinder which surrounds the cylindrical part,

when the cylindrical portion is inserted into the gap, the male member is inserted into the inner cavity of the cylindrical portion, and the outer cylinder is inserted between the cylindrical portion and the cover cylinder,

the cylindrical portion and the cover cylinder have water-absorbing properties so as to absorb liquid substances remaining in the male connector.

2. The wiping tip as set forth in claim 1,

the cylindrical portion has a hollow cylindrical shape.

3. The wiping tip as set forth in claim 1 or 2,

a projection projecting outward is provided at the front end of the cylindrical portion.

4. The wiping tip as set forth in claim 3,

the projection is an annular projection continuous in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion.

5. The wiping tip as set forth in claim 1 or 2,

further comprises a holding part provided with the cylindrical part,

the grip portion has an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the cylindrical portion.

6. The wiping tip as set forth in claim 1 or 2,

further comprises a holding part provided with the cylindrical part,

the grip portion is provided with a flat grip surface.

7. The wiping tip as set forth in claim 1 or 2,

the cylindrical portion is provided with a flow path forming structure so that when the cylindrical portion is inserted into a gap between the male member and the outer cylinder, a flow path through which liquid flows is formed between the cylindrical portion and the male connector.

8. The wiping tip of claim 7,

the flow passage forming structure is a groove provided on an outer peripheral surface or an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion.

9. The wiping tip as set forth in claim 1 or 2,

a screwing structure that screws into the internal thread is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion.

10. The wiping tip of claim 9,

the screwing structure is a helical male screw that surrounds the cylindrical portion by 1 or more circumference.

11. The wiping tip of claim 9,

the screw engagement structure is a projection provided in an angular range of less than 180 degrees with respect to a central axis of the cylindrical portion.