JP2024152937A - Wipe off tip - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a wiping tip capable of thoroughly cleaning a male connector having a female thread surrounding a male member. [Solution] The wiping tip 1 comprises a hollow cylindrical body 10 and a first wiping part 21 provided on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 10 near the tip 10a. [Selected Figure] Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a wiping tip for cleaning male connectors that are preferably used in enteral nutrition.

Enteral nutrition is known as a method for administering liquids, including nutrients and medicines, to patients who are no longer able to take food orally. In enteral nutrition, a catheter is inserted from outside the body into the digestive tract (e.g., stomach) and left in the patient's body. Known catheters include nasal catheters, which are inserted through the patient's nose, and PEG (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy) catheters, which are inserted into a gastrostomy fistula formed in the patient's abdomen. Liquids, such as nutrients, liquid food (commonly called "enteral nutrients"), or medicines, are administered to the patient via the catheter. A container that stores the liquids is connected to a catheter (such as a nasal catheter or PEG catheter) that is left in the patient's body. A connector consisting of a male connector and a female connector is used to connect different components.

The connectors used are the male connector 910 shown in Figures 16A and 16B and the female connector 920 shown in Figures 17A and 17B.

The male connector 910 in Figs. 16A and 16B has a cylindrical male member 911 and an outer tube 913 surrounding the male member 911. The male member 911 and the outer tube 913 are connected via a bottom plate 914 that protrudes in a flange-like shape from the base end of the male member 911 in the radial direction. The outer peripheral surface 912 of the male member 911 is a tapered surface (a so-called male tapered surface) whose outer diameter decreases as it approaches the tip. The male member 911 is provided with a flow path 917 that penetrates the male member 911 along its longitudinal direction. A female thread 915 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube 913 facing the male member 911. The female thread 915 is a right-handed thread.

The female connector 920 in Figs. 17A and 17B has a tubular portion (female member) 921 having a hollow cylindrical shape. The inner peripheral surface 922 of the tubular portion 921 is a tapered surface (a so-called female tapered surface) whose inner diameter increases toward the tip. A helical protrusion (male thread) 925 is provided 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 helical 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 with matching diameters and taper angles, so that the two make liquid-tight surface contact.

In enteral nutrition, a female connector 920 is used as the connector on the upstream side (container side) in the direction of the liquid flow, and a male connector 910 is used as the connector on the downstream side (patient side).

In the male connector 910, the outer tube 913 surrounds the male member 911, and the inner surface of the outer tube 913 is provided with a female thread 915. Therefore, after enteral nutrition is performed, liquid (enteral nutritional agent) is likely to remain in the gap 916 between the male member 911 and the outer tube 913 (especially in the groove of the female thread 915).

When the male connector 910 is provided at the upstream end of a catheter inserted into a patient, the male connector 910 is left in the patient together with the catheter for a long period of time. If the male connector 910 is left in the patient with liquid remaining therein, the male connector 910 may become unsanitary. Furthermore, the liquid that dries and solidifies on the male connector 910 prevents the male connector 910 and the female connector 920 from reconnecting. Therefore, it is desirable to thoroughly clean the male connector 910.

Patent Document 1 describes a wiping tip for cleaning a male connector 910. The wiping tip has a water-absorbent cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion is inserted into the gap 916 between the male member 911 and the outer tube 913. Any liquid remaining in the gap is absorbed by the cylindrical portion and wiped away.

JP 2017-099738 A

Patent Document 1 describes that the tubular portion is made of a foam or nonwoven fabric such as urethane or polyvinyl alcohol, and can be manufactured by press molding or transfer molding. However, it is difficult to mold the foam or nonwoven fabric of the above material into a tubular portion of the desired strength. If the tubular portion is too soft, it will easily deform when inserted into the gap 916 between the male member 911 and the outer tube 913. Therefore, the tubular portion cannot be inserted deeply into the gap 916. On the other hand, if the tubular portion is too hard, it will not be able to deform according to the male connector 910. Therefore, it is difficult to wipe off and remove liquid matter adhering to the groove of the female screw 915, for example. As such, the conventional wiping tip has the problem that it is not possible to wipe off and remove all liquid matter adhering to the male connector 910.

The present invention aims to provide a wiping tip that can thoroughly clean a male connector that has a female thread surrounding a male member.

The wiping tip of the present invention comprises a hollow cylindrical body and a first wiping part provided on the outer peripheral surface near the tip of the cylindrical body.

The cylindrical body allows the first wiping part to be inserted deep into the gap between the male member and the outer tube. The first wiping part provided on the cylindrical body faces the female thread of the male connector. Therefore, according to the present invention, the female thread of the male connector can be cleaned thoroughly.

1A is a perspective view of a wiping tip according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG 1B is a cross-sectional view of the wiping tip according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a process of cleaning a male connector using the wiping tip according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the next step of cleaning the male connector using the wiping tip according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 4A and 4B are perspective and cross-sectional views of a wiping tip according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a method for cleaning a male connector using a wiping tip according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6A is a perspective view of a wiping tip according to embodiment 3 of the present invention, Fig. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the wiping tip according to embodiment 3 of the present invention, and Fig. 6C is a front view of the wiping tip according to embodiment 3 of the present invention. 7A and 7B are perspective and cross-sectional views of a wiping tip according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a wiping tip according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 9A and 9B are perspective and cross-sectional views of a wiping tip according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a method for cleaning a male connector using a wiping tip according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 11A is a perspective view of another wiping tip according to embodiment 6 of the present invention. Fig. 11B is a cross-sectional view of another wiping tip according to embodiment 6 of the present invention. Fig. 12A is a perspective view of a cylindrical body used in a wiping tip according to embodiment 7 of the present invention, and Fig. 12B is a perspective view of the wiping tip according to embodiment 7 of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another cylindrical body used in the wiping tip according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a wiping tip according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a wiping tip according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 16A is a perspective view of a male connector used as a patient-side connector in enteral nutrition, and Fig. 16B is a cross-sectional view taken along a plane including the central axis of the male connector. Fig. 17A is a perspective view of a female connector used as a container-side connector in enteral nutrition, and Fig. 17B is a cross-sectional view taken along a plane including the central axis of the female connector.

In the wiping tip of the present invention described above, the first wiping portion may be provided on the cylindrical body so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body. This aspect is advantageous for simplifying the structure of the wiping tip, facilitating the manufacture of the wiping tip, wiping and cleaning the female thread, and preventing the female thread from being scratched by the cylindrical body.

The wiping tip of the present invention may further include a second wiping portion provided on the inner peripheral surface near the tip of the cylindrical body. The second wiping portion can wipe off and remove liquid matter adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the male member of the male connector. In addition, the second wiping portion can prevent the cylindrical body from scratching the outer peripheral surface of the male member.

The first wiping portion and the second wiping portion may be connected via a third wiping portion that covers the tip of the cylindrical body. The third wiping portion can wipe off and remove liquid matter adhering to the bottom plate of the male connector and its vicinity. The third wiping portion can also prevent the cylindrical body from damaging the bottom plate.

The outer surface of the first wiping portion may be provided with projections and recesses. According to this aspect, the female thread of the male connector can be wiped clean with a relatively small operating force, leaving little residue behind.

The first wiping portion may be formed in a spiral shape. According to this aspect, the female thread of the male connector can be wiped clean with a relatively small operating force.

A fourth wiping section may be fitted inside the cylindrical body. This configuration is advantageous for wiping and cleaning the tip of the male member of the male connector.

The wiping tip of the present invention may further include a fifth wiping portion that closes the opening at the tip of the cylindrical body. This aspect is advantageous for wiping and cleaning the male member (its tip and outer peripheral surface) and bottom plate of the male connector.

A slit may be provided through the fifth wiping portion. This aspect is advantageous in that, first, it makes it easier for the male member to break through the fifth wiping portion, and second, it makes it easier to wipe and clean the outer circumferential surface of the male member evenly.

The cylindrical body may have a notch extending from the tip of the cylindrical body along the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body. This aspect is advantageous in preventing the cylindrical body from being damaged when wiping and cleaning the male connector.

The wiping tip of the present invention may include a rod-shaped rod. A hole of a predetermined length may be provided from the end face of the rod along the longitudinal direction of the rod. The portion of the rod where the hole is provided may be the cylindrical body. The portion of the rod other than the cylindrical body is solid and has relatively high strength. A wiping tip including this rod is advantageous for efficient cleaning work.

The wiping tip of the present invention may have the cylindrical body with the first wiping part at one end and a handle at the other end. This aspect is advantageous for improving the efficiency of cleaning work and ensuring the cleanliness of the first wiping part.

The wiping tip of the present invention may be used to wipe and clean a male connector having a cylindrical male member, an outer tube surrounding the male member, and a female thread provided on the inner circumferential surface of the outer tube facing the male member. According to this aspect, the wiping tip of the present invention can be used to clean a male connector used as a patient-side connector in enteral nutrition.

The male member may be insertable into the cylindrical body, and the cylindrical body may be insertable into the gap between the male member and the outer cylinder. This aspect is advantageous for wiping and cleaning the female thread provided on the inner surface of the outer cylinder with the first wiping part.

The outer diameter of the first wiping portion may be larger than the inner diameter of the female thread. This aspect is advantageous for wiping off and removing liquid that has adhered to the inside of the groove of the female thread.

The inner diameter of the cylindrical body may be equal to or greater than the maximum outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the male member. This aspect, firstly, makes it easier to wipe off and remove liquid that has adhered to the bottom plate of the male connector, and secondly, reduces the possibility that the cylindrical body will damage the outer peripheral surface of the male member.

The present invention will be described in detail below while showing preferred embodiments. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Each figure referred to in the following description shows the main components constituting the embodiment of the present invention in a simplified form for the convenience of explanation. Therefore, the present invention may include any components not shown in the following figures. Furthermore, within the scope of the present invention, each component shown in the following figures may be modified or omitted. In the drawings cited in the description of each embodiment, components corresponding to components shown in the drawings cited in the preceding embodiment are given the same reference numerals as those given in the drawings of the preceding embodiment. For such components, duplicated descriptions are omitted, and the descriptions of the preceding embodiment should be taken into consideration as appropriate. The following figures conceptually show the embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that the shapes of the illustrated components (especially the wiping sections 21 to 27) do not accurately represent their actual shapes.

(Embodiment 1)
Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a wiping tip 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the wiping tip 1. The wiping tip 1 includes a straight, elongated, rod-like cylindrical body (rod) 10 and a wiping part 21 provided on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 10.

The cylindrical body 10 has a hollow cylindrical shape with a hole 11 extending along the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body 10 penetrating the cylindrical body 10. The hole 11 is a through hole connecting both ends of the cylindrical body 10. The inner cavity of the hole 11 is connected to the outside world via the openings at both ends of the cylindrical body 10. The outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 10 both have a circular cross-sectional shape. The inner diameter and the outer diameter of the cylindrical body 10 are constant in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body 10. The cylindrical body 10 has a strength that is not substantially deformed when the user pinches it with his fingers or applies a bending or twisting force to it. The material of the cylindrical body 10 is not limited, but resin materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, styrene-ethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, butylene-styrene block copolymer, polyacetal, polyamide, and rigid polyvinyl chloride can be used, and among these, polyolefin resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene are preferred. The cylindrical body 10 is preferably manufactured as a single integral part by injection molding the above resin materials.

The wiping portion (first wiping portion) 21 is preferably made of a water-absorbent material (hereinafter referred to as "water-absorbent material") that can absorb water by utilizing the capillary phenomenon. The water-absorbent material is preferably capable of being deformed relatively easily by an external force, and has a cushioning property (or elasticity, compressibility) that immediately restores the state before deformation (initial state) when the external force is removed. Specific examples of water-absorbent materials with cushioning properties include cotton (wadding) and foam material (sponge). Cotton is a material in which fibers made of water-absorbent materials such as cotton and rayon are entangled, and absorbent cotton is particularly preferred. There are no restrictions on the foam material, but known foam materials (sponges) made of resins such as polyurethane, polystyrene, polyethylene, and silicone can be used. In the present invention, cotton, especially absorbent cotton, is preferred as the material for the wiping portion 21.

The wiping portion 21 is disposed near the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10. More specifically, the wiping portion 21 covers the entire outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 10 in a region of length _L1 from the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10 along the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body 10. Preferably, the wiping portion 21 is provided at the tip portion of the cylindrical body 10 so as to form a cylindrical shape of length _L1 . The thickness (radial dimension) of the wiping portion 21 is approximately constant.

There is no restriction on the method of attaching the wiping part 21 to the cylindrical body 10. When the wiping part 21 is made of cotton, the wiping part 21 can be provided on the cylindrical body 10 in a manner generally similar to the manufacturing method of a cotton swab. That is, a predetermined amount of cotton-like material is pressed against the vicinity of the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10 while rotating the cylindrical body 10, and the cotton-like material is wrapped around the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 10. The wiping part 21 may be fixed to the cylindrical body 10 using an adhesive such as PVA (polyvinyl alcohol). The adhesive can be applied thinly to the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 10 before wrapping the cotton-like material, for example. It is preferable that the wiping part 21 fixed to the cylindrical body 10 is soft and elastic.

Explain how to use the wipe tip 1.

The wiping tip 1 can be used to clean the male connector 90 shown in FIG. 2. The male connector 90 is a patient-side connector in enteral nutrition, similar to the male connector 910 in FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B. Among the elements constituting the male connector 90, the same elements as those constituting the male connector 910 in FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B are given the same reference numerals as in FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B, and their description will be omitted. The male connector 90 has a hollow base end 98 that communicates with the flow path 917 of the male member 911. A flexible tube 99 is inserted and connected to the base end 98. The tube 99 may be a catheter (such as a nasal catheter or a PEG catheter) placed in the patient. The catheter is inserted into the patient's digestive tract (e.g., stomach). Alternatively, the tube 99 may be a tube (extension tube) connected to the catheter.

When performing enteral nutrition, a female connector (see Figures 17A and 17B) is connected to the male connector 90, and liquid (e.g., enteral nutritional supplement) is administered to the patient through these. The female connector is then separated from the male connector 90. As described above, liquid (not shown) remains attached to the male connector 90 (particularly in the groove of the female thread 915) after separation. The male connector 90 in Figure 2 is in this state.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the tip of the wiping tip 1 is opposed to the male connector 90. Then, the wiping tip 1 is inserted into the gap 916 between the male member 911 and the outer tube 913. The male member 911 is inserted into the hole 11 of the cylindrical body 10. Then, the wiping tip 1 is rotated clockwise relative to the male connector 90 as viewed from the wiping tip 1 side. The wiping part 21 moves along the female thread 915 of the male connector 90. Even if a rotational force is applied to the cylindrical body 10, the cylindrical body 10 is not substantially deformed. As the wiping tip 1 rotates, the wiping tip 1 advances (advances) deeper into the gap 916 of the male connector 90. As shown in FIG. 3, the wiping tip 1 is inserted into the male connector 90 until the tip of the wiping tip 1 contacts the bottom plate 914 of the male connector 90. The operator can recognize that the tip of the wiping tip 1 has come into contact with the bottom plate 914 by the increased rotational force required to rotate the wiping tip 1.

Then, the wiping tip 1 is rotated in the opposite direction (counterclockwise) relative to the male connector 90. The wiping portion 21 moves along the female thread 915 of the male connector 90. As the wiping tip 1 rotates, it gradually retreats from the gap 916 of the male connector 90. Then, the wiping tip 1 is separated from the male connector 90. The used wiping tip 1 is discarded.

By inserting the wiping tip 1 into the male connector 90 as described above and then removing it from the male connector 90, the liquid matter adhering to the inner circumferential surface (female thread 915) of the outer tube 913 of the male connector 90 can be wiped off and removed by the wiping part 21. The liquid matter is sucked into the wiping part 21 and removed from the male connector 90 while being held by the wiping part 21. Any solid matter contained in the liquid matter is also wiped off and removed by the wiping part 21 together with the liquid matter.

In the conventional wiping tip described above, the entire tubular portion inserted into the gap 916 of the male connector is made of a water-absorbent material. Therefore, it is difficult to manufacture a tubular portion with the desired strength. If the tubular portion is too soft or too hard, it is not possible to wipe off all of the liquid.

In contrast, the wiping tip 1 of this embodiment 1 has a wiping part 21 provided on a hollow cylindrical body 10.

The operator can hold the cylindrical body 10 as the core and insert and remove the wiping tip 1 into and from the male connector 90. The cylindrical body 10 can be made of a material with the desired strength. As a result, even if the wiping tip 1 is advanced and retreated while being rotated relative to the male connector 90, the cylindrical body 10 does not substantially deform. The wiping portion 21 can be easily inserted deep into the gap 916.

The wiping portion 21 can be easily deformed according to the surface shape of the female screw 915 of the male connector 90. A part of the wiping portion 21 is compressed by the threads of the female screw 915, and another part of the wiping portion 21 enters the groove of the female screw 915. In this way, the wiping portion 21 adheres closely to the female screw 915. In the process of moving the wiping tip 1 forward and backward while rotating it relative to the male connector 90, the wiping portion 21 comes into contact with and wipes off the liquid remaining in the groove of the female screw 915. Therefore, the wiping tip 1 can thoroughly wipe and clean the female screw 915, which is particularly difficult to clean.

The tubular body 10 has a simple hollow cylindrical shape. The wiping part 21 can be wrapped around the end of the tubular body 10 in a manner similar to that of a cotton swab. Therefore, the wiping tip 1 has a simple structure and is easy to manufacture. The wiping tip 1 can be mass-produced at low cost.

The wiping part 21 covers the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 10 almost uniformly. This increases the contact area between the wiping part 21 and the female thread 915, allowing the female thread 915 to be wiped clean. In addition, the wiping part 21 reduces the possibility of the cylindrical body 10 coming into direct contact with the female thread 915, preventing the female thread 915 from being damaged by the cylindrical body 10.

The outer diameter _D21 (see FIG. 1B) of the wiping portion 21 before cleaning the male connector 90 (unused state) is preferably larger than the inner diameter of the female thread 915 of the male connector 90, and more preferably larger than the root diameter of the female thread 915. This is because the wiping portion 21 can be inserted into the groove of the female thread 915. If the outer diameter _D21 of the wiping portion 21 is equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the female thread 915, the ability to wipe and remove liquid matter in the groove of the female thread 915 decreases. Specifically, the outer diameter _D21 preferably satisfies _D21 ≧8.55 mm. The upper limit of the outer diameter _D21 of the wiping portion 21 is not limited, but it is preferable that it satisfies _D21 ≦12 mm. If the outer diameter _D21 is too large, it becomes difficult to insert the wiping tip 1 into the gap 916 until its tip abuts the bottom plate 914, and the ability to wipe off and remove liquid matter adhering to the vicinity of the bottom plate 914 in particular decreases.

The wiping part 21 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 10 in a region of length L ₁ (see FIG. 1B ) from the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10. The position of the tip of the wiping part 21 in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body 10 coincides with the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10. Therefore, liquid matter adhering to the vicinity of the bottom plate 914 of the female thread 915 can also be wiped off and removed.

The distance _L1 from the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10 to the end of the wiping part 21 (the point farthest from the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10) is preferably equal to or greater than the depth of the gap 916 of the male connector 90 (the distance from the bottom plate 914 to the tip of the outer tube 913). If the length _L1 is shorter than this, the ability to wipe off and remove liquid material adhering to the inside of the groove of the female thread 915 and near the bottom plate 914 decreases. Specifically, the length _L1 preferably satisfies _L1 ≧ 6.82 mm.

The outer diameter _D10 of the cylindrical body 10 (see FIG. 1B) is preferably equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the female thread 915 of the male connector 90, and more preferably smaller than the inner diameter of the female thread 915. If the outer diameter _D10 of the cylindrical body 10 is larger than the inner diameter of the female thread 915, it becomes difficult to insert the wiping tip 1 into the gap 916 of the male connector 90, and therefore the male connector 90 cannot be cleaned with the wiping tip 1. However, if the outer diameter _D10 of the cylindrical body 10 is too small compared to the inner diameter of the female thread 915, it becomes difficult to insert the wiping part 21 into the groove of the female thread 915, and therefore the ability to wipe and remove liquid matter in the groove of the female thread 915 decreases.

The inner diameter D ₁₁ (see FIG. 1B ) of the hole 11 of the cylindrical body 10 is preferably equal to or larger than the maximum outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface 912 of the male member 911 of the male connector 90, and more preferably larger than the maximum outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface 912. If the inner diameter D ₁₁ of the cylindrical body 10 is smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface 912, the following two problems may occur. First, it becomes difficult to insert the wiping tip 1 into the gap 916 until its tip abuts against the bottom plate 914, and the ability to wipe and remove liquid matter adhering to the vicinity of the bottom plate 914 is reduced. Second, the cylindrical body 10 is likely to directly contact the male member 911 and damage the outer peripheral surface 912 of the male member 911. Specifically, it is preferable that the inner diameter D ₁₁ satisfies the inner diameter D ₁₁ ≧5.59 mm.

The wiping portion 21 may be impregnated with a cleaning liquid. There are no limitations on the cleaning liquid, but for example, alcohol or sterilized purified water can be used. The cleaning liquid can also cleanly remove solidified matter that has adhered to the male connector 90 after the liquid has dried.

The wiping portion 21 may be provided on both ends of the cylindrical body 10. In this case, for example, first, one wiping portion 21 can be used to wipe off most of the liquid adhering to the male connector 90, and then the other wiping portion 21 can be used to wipe off the small amount of liquid that still remains. The male connector 90 can be cleaned thoroughly with a small number of wiping tips 1.

The wiping portions 21 at both ends may be symmetrical or asymmetrical. For example, the wiping portion 21 at one end of the wiping tip 1 may be thicker than the wiping portion 21 at the other end. This is advantageous for wiping and cleaning multiple types of male connectors 90 with different dimensions with a common wiping tip.

The wiping portion 21 does not need to cover the entire outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 10 in the region of length L ₁ (see FIG. 2) from the tip 10 a of the cylindrical body 10 .

For example, the wiping portion 21 does not need to be continuous in a ring shape in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body 10. Even if the wiping portion 21 is divided in the circumferential direction, if the wiping tip 1 is inserted into the male connector 90 and rotated relative to the male connector 90, the wiping portion 21 can wipe off the liquid adhering to the female thread 915.

In addition, the wiping portion 21 does not have to be provided at the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10 or in the vicinity thereof (see the wiping portion 21 in Figures 9A and 9B described below).

(Embodiment 2)
Fig. 4A is a perspective view of the wiping tip 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the wiping tip 2.

The wiping tip 2 includes a wiping portion (first wiping portion) 21 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 10, and a wiping portion (second wiping portion) 22 provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 10. The second wiping portion 22 covers the entire inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 10 in a region of length L ₂ (see FIG. 4B) from the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10 along the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body 10. Preferably, the second wiping portion 22 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 10 so as to form a cylindrical shape of length L _2. The thickness (radial dimension) of the second wiping portion 22 is approximately constant. The first wiping portion 21 and the second wiping portion 22 are continuous via a wiping portion (third wiping portion) 23 that covers the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10. The third wiping portion 23 extends in a ring shape along the tip 10a. The first wiping portion 21 is the same as the wiping portion 21 of the embodiment 1. The material of the wiping portions 21, 22, and 23 is not limited, but the same material as the wiping portion 21 of the embodiment 1 can be used.

The wipe tip 2 can be manufactured, for example, as follows:

The case where the wiping portions 21, 22, and 23 are made of cotton will be described. A cotton-like material spread out in a sheet form is pressed against the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10 so as to block the opening of the cylindrical body 10. The cylindrical body 10 is then rotated to wrap the cotton-like material around the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 10. The cotton-like material wrapped around the outer circumferential surface forms the first wiping portion 21. At this stage, the opening of the cylindrical body 10 is blocked by the cotton-like material.

Next, a thin rod is inserted into the opening at the tip of the cylindrical body 10, breaking through the cotton-like material blocking the opening of the cylindrical body 10. The broken cotton-like material is folded into the hole 11 of the cylindrical body 10 so as to be sandwiched between the rod and the cylindrical body 10. The folded cotton-like material forms the second wiping portion 22. The rod is pulled out of the cylindrical body 10. Thus, the wiping tip 2 is obtained.

In order to fix the cotton-like material to the cylindrical body 10, a thin layer of adhesive may be applied to at least one of the outer peripheral surface, tip 10a, and inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 10 before the cotton-like material is provided on the cylindrical body 10. It is preferable that the first, second, and third wiping parts 21, 22, and 23 fixed to the cylindrical body 10 are soft and elastic.

The wiping tip 2 can be used to clean the male connector 90, similar to the wiping tip 1 of embodiment 1.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the wiping tip 2 is inserted into the male connector 90. As can be seen by comparing Figure 5 with Figure 3 according to the first embodiment, the second wiping portion 22 is sandwiched between the male member 911 and the cylindrical body 10. The second wiping portion 22 is deformed according to the surface shape of the male member 911 so as to adhere to the male member 911. When the wiping tip 2 is inserted and removed while rotating it relative to the male connector 90, the second wiping portion 22 slides on the outer peripheral surface 912 of the male member 911 and wipes off the liquid matter adhering to the outer peripheral surface 912. Furthermore, the third wiping portion 23 is sandwiched between the bottom plate 914 and the cylindrical body 10. The third wiping portion 23 is also appropriately deformed and adheres to the bottom plate 914. The third wiping portion 23 wipes off the liquid matter adhering to the bottom plate 914 and its vicinity. As in embodiment 1, the first wiping unit 21 wipes off any liquid that has adhered to the inner circumferential surface (female thread 915) of the outer tube 913.

As described above, the wiping tip 2 of the second embodiment can wipe away liquid matter adhering to the outer peripheral surface 912 and bottom plate 914 of the male member 911, in addition to the liquid matter adhering to the female thread 915. Therefore, the wiping tip 2 can wipe away and clean the male connector 90 more cleanly.

The second wiping portion 22 prevents the cylindrical body 10 from directly contacting the male member 911, and the third wiping portion 23 prevents the cylindrical body 10 from directly contacting the bottom plate 914. Therefore, the wiping tip 2 reduces the possibility that the male member 911 or the bottom plate 914 will be damaged by the cylindrical body 10 when cleaning the male connector 90.

Before inserting the wiping tip 2 into the male connector 90, or after removing the wiping tip 2 from the male connector 90, the third wiping portion 23 can be brought into contact with the tip of the male member 911 to wipe off any liquid adhering to the tip of the male member 911.

It is preferable that the inner diameter _D22 (see FIG. 4B ) of the second wiping portion 22 before cleaning the male connector 90 (unused state) is smaller than the outer diameter of the male member 911. This is because the second wiping portion 22 can be reliably brought into close contact with the outer peripheral surface 912 of the male member 911. This is advantageous for wiping off and removing liquid matter adhering to the outer peripheral surface 912 of the male member 911. Specifically, it is preferable that the inner diameter _D22 satisfies _D22 ≦ 5.59 mm.

The distance _L2 (see FIG. 4B) from the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10 to the end of the second wiping part 22 (the point farthest from the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10) is preferably equal to or greater than the length of the male member 911 (the distance from the bottom plate 914 to the tip of the male member 911). This is advantageous for wiping off and removing liquid matter adhering to the male member 911. Specifically, the length _L2 preferably satisfies _L2 ≧ 6.82 mm.

The second wiping portion 22 does not need to cover the entire inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 10 in the region of length _L2 from the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10.

For example, the second wiping portion 22 does not need to be continuous in a ring shape in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body 10. Even if the second wiping portion 22 is divided in the circumferential direction, if the wiping tip 2 is inserted into the male connector 90 and rotated relative to the male connector 90, the second wiping portion 22 can wipe off the liquid adhering to the male member 911.

The manufacturing method of the wiping tip 2 is not limited to the above. For example, a water-absorbent material formed in advance into a substantially cylindrical shape may be inserted into the hole 11 of the cylindrical body 10 to provide the second wiping portion 22 on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 10. In this case, the third wiping portion 23 may be omitted. The second wiping portion 22 may not be provided at the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10 or in the vicinity thereof.

The cleaning liquid described in embodiment 1 may be impregnated into wiping portions 21, 22, and 23.

This embodiment 2 is the same as embodiment 1 except for the above. The explanation of embodiment 1 also applies to this embodiment 2 as appropriate.

(Embodiment 3)
Fig. 6A is a perspective view of the wiping tip 3 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the wiping tip 3. Fig. 6C is a front view of the wiping tip 3.

The wiping tip 3, like the wiping tip 1 of the first embodiment, has a wiping portion (first wiping portion) 24 provided on the outer peripheral surface near the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10. However, unlike the first embodiment, the thickness (radial dimension) of the wiping portion 24 is not constant, but changes periodically in the circumferential direction. On the outer surface of the wiping portion 24, periodic irregularities 24a are provided repeatedly in the circumferential direction, like a spur gear. As shown in FIG. 6C, when viewed along the axial direction of the wiping tip 3, the outer surface of the wiping portion 24 has zigzag irregularities with relatively clear peaks and valleys, as if triangles (isosceles triangles or equilateral triangles) were arranged in sequence in the circumferential direction. However, the periodic irregularities 24a are not limited to this, and may be, for example, sinusoidal irregularities. There are no restrictions on the material of the wiping portion 24, but the same material as the wiping portion 21 of the first embodiment can be used.

The manufacturing method of the wiping tip 3 is arbitrary. A case where the wiping portion 24 is made of cotton (wadding) will be described. In one manufacturing example, the cylindrical body 10 is inserted into a female mold having an inner surface with unevenness corresponding to the periodic unevenness 24a of the wiping portion 24, and a cotton-like material is stuffed into the gap between the cylindrical body 10 and the female mold. An adhesive may be applied to the outer surface of the cylindrical body 10 before inserting it into the female mold. In another manufacturing example, a wiping portion of approximately constant thickness similar to the wiping portion 21 of embodiment 1 is provided on the outer surface of the cylindrical body 10. Next, a mold having periodic unevenness (for example, a mold having a shape similar to a rack gear or pinion gear) is pressed against the wiping portion to transfer the unevenness to the wiping portion.

The wiping tip 3 can be used to clean the male connector 90, similar to the wiping tip 1 of embodiment 1. That is, the wiping tip 3 is inserted into the male connector 90 while rotating it, and then separated from the male connector 90 while rotating it in the opposite direction.

The wiping portion 24 is deformed according to the surface shape of the female thread 915 of the male connector 90. A part of the convex portion of the outer surface of the wiping portion 24 (convex portion) is compressed by the threads of the female thread 915, and another part of the convex portion fits into the groove of the female thread 915. On the other hand, a part of the concave portion of the outer surface of the wiping portion 24 (concave portion) is less deformed by the female thread 915 and may not fit into the groove of the female thread 915 as deeply as the convex portion.

In this way, the convex portion of the wiping portion 24 selectively and strongly adheres to the female thread 915. The area of the wiping portion 24 that adheres to the female thread 915 is relatively small. Therefore, the wiping tip 3 can be rotated relative to the male connector 90 with a relatively small rotational force. In addition, since the convex portion moves while adhering strongly to the female thread 915, the liquid material attached to the female thread 915 can be reliably wiped off and removed. Since the concave portion of the wiping portion 24 is relatively small in compression deformation due to the female thread 915, it can hold the liquid material wiped off by the convex portion. Furthermore, the concave portion can also hold solid matter contained in the liquid material. Therefore, the wiping tip 3 of this embodiment 3 can wipe and clean the female thread 915 of the male connector 90 with a relatively small operating force, leaving little residue.

The unevenness 24a does not need to be periodic. The direction in which the unevenness 24a repeats does not need to be the circumferential direction, but may be, for example, the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body 10.

The cleaning liquid described in embodiment 1 may be impregnated into the wiping portion 24.

Except for the above, the third embodiment is the same as the first embodiment. The description of the first embodiment also applies to the third embodiment. The outer surface of the wiping portion 21 of the second embodiment may be provided with projections and recesses similar to those of the wiping portion 24 of the third embodiment.

(Embodiment 4)
7A is a perspective view of the wiping tip 4 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the wiping tip 4. In the fourth embodiment, a wiping part (first wiping part) 25 is provided in a spiral shape on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 10. The wiping part 25 is formed by winding a water-absorbent material formed in a string shape in a spiral shape on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 10. Before winding the water-absorbent material, an adhesive may be applied to the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 10. The material of the wiping part 25 is not limited, but the same material as the wiping part 21 of the first embodiment can be used.

The wiping portion 25 forms a male thread. The pitch and lead of the male thread are the same as those of the female thread 915 of the male connector 90. It is preferable that the outer diameter of the male thread (wiping portion 25) is the same as or larger than the root diameter of the female thread 915.

The wiping tip 4 can be used to clean the male connector 90, similar to the wiping tip 1 of the first embodiment. Although not shown, the wiping tip 4 is inserted into the male connector 90 while rotating it relative to the male connector 90 so that the male thread of the wiping portion 25 is screwed into the female thread 915 of the male connector 90. The wiping tip 4 is inserted into the male connector 90 until the tip of the wiping tip 4 contacts the bottom plate 914 of the male connector 90. The wiping tip 4 is then rotated in the opposite direction (counterclockwise) relative to the male connector 90 to separate it from the male connector 90.

The wiping portion 25 forms a male thread that screws into the female thread 915, so the wiping portion 25 fits securely into the groove of the female thread 915. Therefore, the wiping tip 4 can thoroughly wipe and clean the female thread 915, which is particularly difficult to clean.

When the wiping tip 4 is inserted into the male connector 90, the wiping portion 25 is relatively small in deformation. Therefore, the wiping tip 4 can be rotated relative to the male connector 90 with a relatively small rotational force.

The cleaning liquid described in embodiment 1 may be impregnated into the wiping portion 25.

The second wiping portion 22 of the second embodiment may be provided on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 10 near the tip 10a.

This embodiment 4 is the same as embodiment 1 except for the above. The explanation of embodiment 1 also applies to this embodiment 4.

(Embodiment 5)
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the wiping tip 5 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the fifth embodiment, the fourth wiping portion 26 is packed in the hole 11 of the cylindrical body 10 so as to block the hole 11. The fourth wiping portion 26 is formed by pushing a water-absorbent material formed in a lump (for example, substantially spherical) into the hole 11 from the opening on the tip 10a side of the cylindrical body 10. The fourth wiping portion 26 may be fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 10 with an adhesive so that the fourth wiping portion 26 does not move within the cylindrical body 10. There is no limitation on the material of the fourth wiping portion 26, but the same material as the wiping portion 21 can be used. The fourth wiping portion 26 is provided near the opening of the cylindrical body 10. The distance from the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10 to the fourth wiping portion 26 is shorter than the length of the male member 911 of the male connector 90 (the protruding length of the male member 911 from the bottom plate 914).

The wiping tip 5 can be used to clean the male connector 90, similar to the wiping tip 1 of embodiment 1.

In the fifth embodiment, when the male member 911 of the male connector 90 enters the hole 11 of the cylindrical body 10, the tip of the male member 911 comes into contact with the fourth wiping portion 26. When the wiping tip 5 is rotated and advanced toward the male connector 90, the male member 911 rotates relative to the fourth wiping portion 26, gradually compressing or moving the fourth wiping portion 26. During this process, the liquid adhering to the tip of the male member 911 is wiped off by the fourth wiping portion 26.

The shape of the fourth wiping portion 26 is arbitrary, and may be, for example, a rugby ball shape, a cylindrical shape, or the like. The fourth wiping portion 26 may be continuously packed in the hole 11 over almost the entire length of the cylindrical body 10, rather than only near the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10.

The cleaning liquid described in embodiment 1 may be impregnated into the fourth wiping portion 26.

This embodiment 5 is the same as embodiment 1 except for the above. The description of embodiment 1 also applies to this embodiment 5. The fourth wiping portion of this embodiment 5 may be applied to the wiping tips of embodiments 2 to 4.

(Embodiment 6)
9A is a perspective view of the wiping tip 6 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of the wiping tip 6. The wiping tip 6 includes a wiping portion (first wiping portion) 21 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 10, and a fifth wiping portion 27 that closes the opening at the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10. The fifth wiping portion 27 is a thin, disk-shaped water-absorbent material fixed to the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10 by adhesive. The material of the fifth wiping portion 27 is not limited, but the same material as the first wiping portion 21 can be used.

The wiping tip 6 can be used to clean the male connector 90, similar to the wiping tip 1 of embodiment 1.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the wiping tip 6 is inserted into the male connector 90. As shown in Figure 10, the male member 911 breaks through the fifth wiping portion 27 and is inserted into the hole 11 of the cylindrical body 10. The broken fifth wiping portion 27 is bent into the hole 11 of the cylindrical body 10 so as to be sandwiched between the male member 911 and the cylindrical body 10.

In the process of the male member 911 breaking through the fifth wiping portion 27, the fifth wiping portion 27 wipes off the liquid adhering to the tip of the male member 911. In order to clean the tip of the male member 911 with the wiping tip 2 of embodiment 2 (see Figures 4A and 4B), it is necessary to consciously bring the third wiping portion 23 into contact with the tip of the male member 911. If this is forgotten, the liquid on the tip of the male member 911 cannot be wiped off. In contrast, in this embodiment 6, the fifth wiping portion 27 wipes and cleans the tip of the male member 911 simply by pushing the wiping tip 6 toward the male connector 90.

The fifth wiping portion 27 is a thin film made of a water-absorbent material, and is therefore broken through relatively easily by the male member 911. The fifth wiping portion 27 broken by the male member 911 is bent into the hole 11 of the cylindrical body 10 and is sandwiched between the male member 911 and the cylindrical body 10. The fifth wiping portion 27 deforms according to the surface shape of the male member 911 so as to come into close contact with the male member 911. When the wiping tip 6 is inserted and removed while being rotated relative to the male connector 90, the fifth wiping portion 27 slides on the outer peripheral surface 912 of the male member 911 and wipes off any liquid adhering to the outer peripheral surface 912.

As shown in FIG. 10, when the wiping tip 6 is inserted as far as possible into the gap 916 of the male connector 90, the annular portion fixed to the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10 of the fifth wiping part 27 comes into contact with the bottom plate 914. This annular portion of the fifth wiping part 27 deforms appropriately to adhere closely to the bottom plate 914, wiping off any liquid adhering to the bottom plate 914 and its vicinity.

The first wiping unit 21 wipes off any liquid adhering to the inner circumferential surface (female thread 915) of the outer tube 913, as in the first embodiment.

As described above, the wiping tip 6 of this embodiment 6 can wipe away liquid matter adhering to the male member 911 (its tip and outer peripheral surface 912) and the bottom plate 914, in addition to the liquid matter adhering to the female thread 915. Therefore, the wiping tip 6 can wipe and clean the male connector 90 more cleanly.

The outer diameter of the fifth wiping portion 27 before cleaning the male connector 90 (unused state) is preferably slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical body 10 so that the outer peripheral edge of the fifth wiping portion 27 protrudes radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 10. This ensures that when the wiping tip 6 is inserted into the male connector 90 as shown in FIG. 10, the outer peripheral edge of the fifth wiping portion 27 is in close contact with the boundary between the bottom plate 914 and the inner peripheral surface (female thread 915) of the outer tube 913. This is advantageous for wiping off and removing liquid that has adhered to the boundary of the male connector 90.

11A and 11B show another wiping tip 6' of the present embodiment 6. The wiping tip 6' differs from the wiping tip 6 of FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B in that a slit 28 is formed in the fifth wiping portion 27. The slit 28 is a linear cut having a "-" (minus) shape in plan view, and passes through the center of the circular fifth wiping portion 27. The slit 28 penetrates the fifth wiping portion 27. The slit 28 can be easily formed with a sharp knife or the like. The slit 28 may be formed either before or after the fifth wiping portion 27 is fixed to the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10.

When the tip of the male member 911 of the male connector 90 is pressed against the fifth wiping portion 27, the fifth wiping portion 27 breaks starting from the slit 28 (particularly both ends). This has the following effects. First, the fifth wiping portion 27 breaks easily. Therefore, the male member 911 penetrates the fifth wiping portion 27 by applying a relatively small force. Even an inexperienced worker can easily insert the wiping tip 6' into the gap 916 of the male connector 90. Second, the fifth wiping portion 27 always breaks in a stable manner, for example, the fifth wiping portion 27 is divided into approximately two equal parts. Even if the male member 911 is pressed against a position slightly off the center of the fifth wiping portion 27, there is little variation in the way it breaks. When the male member 911 is inserted into the cylindrical body 10, the broken fifth wiping portion 27 surrounds the outer peripheral surface 912 of the male member 911 approximately evenly in the circumferential direction. This is advantageous for evenly wiping off and removing liquid that has adhered to the outer peripheral surface 912. The shape of the slit 28 is not limited to this embodiment and can be changed as desired.

In this embodiment 6, the first wiping portion 21 is provided slightly spaced apart from the fifth wiping portion 27 in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body 10, but may be in contact with the fifth wiping portion 27.

The cleaning solution described in embodiment 1 may be impregnated into the fifth wiping portion 27.

This embodiment 6 is the same as embodiment 1 except for the above. The description of embodiment 1 also applies to this embodiment 6. The fifth wiping portion of this embodiment 6 may be applied to the wiping tips of embodiments 2 to 5.

(Embodiment 7)
Fig. 12A is a perspective view of a tubular body 10 used in a wiping tip 7 according to embodiment 7 of the present invention. Fig. 12B is a perspective view of the wiping tip 7 according to embodiment 7 of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 12A, a notch 13 extending from a tip 10a of the tubular body 10 along the longitudinal direction of the tubular body 10 is provided in the tubular body 10. As shown in Fig. 12B, a wiping portion 21 is provided near the tip 10a of the tubular body 10, similar to embodiment 1.

The wiping tip 7 can be used to clean the male connector 90, similar to the wiping tip 1 of embodiment 1.

Because the cylindrical body 10 has a notch 13, the portion of the cylindrical body 10 near the tip 10a can be elastically deformed to expand or contract in diameter relatively easily. This makes it possible to prevent the cylindrical body 10 from being damaged when wiping and cleaning the male connector 90.

For example, when the wiping tip 7 is inserted into the male connector 90 and a lateral force is applied to the wiping tip 7 such that the wiping tip 7 is tilted relative to the axis of the male connector 90, the portion of the cylindrical body 10 near the tip 10a is elastically deformed so as to expand or contract in diameter, so that the wiping tip 7 can easily tilt relative to the axis of the male connector 90. This makes it possible to prevent the cylindrical body 10 from being damaged by such unexpected lateral forces.

In addition, when the wiping tip 7 is inserted into a male connector 90 having a male member 911 with a relatively large outer diameter or a male connector 90 having a female screw 915 with a relatively small inner diameter, the portion of the cylindrical body 10 near the tip 10a elastically deforms so as to expand or contract in diameter, thereby preventing damage to the cylindrical body 10. Therefore, the wiping tip 7 can wipe and clean multiple types of male connectors 90 of different sizes.

The length of the notch 13 from the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10 along the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body 10 can be set arbitrarily. In general, it is preferable that the length of the notch 13 is equal to or greater than the length of the male member 911 (the distance from the bottom plate 914 to the tip of the male member 911). This is advantageous in achieving the above-mentioned effect of preventing damage to the cylindrical body 10.

12A and 12B, the wiping portion 21 covers the notch 13 so that the notch 13 is not visible when the wiping tip 7 is viewed in the radial direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the portion near the tip 10a of the notch 17 and/or the portion near the base end of the notch 17 (the portion of the notch 17 farthest from the tip 10a) may be exposed in the radial direction.

The number and width (dimension along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body 10) of the notches 13 can be set as desired. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, two wide notches 13 may be provided at the tip of the cylindrical body 10, symmetrically positioned with respect to the axis of the cylindrical body 10.

Except for the above, the seventh embodiment is the same as the first embodiment. The description of the first embodiment also applies to the seventh embodiment. The cylindrical body constituting the wiping tip of the second to sixth embodiments may be provided with the notch of the seventh embodiment.

(Embodiment 8)
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the wiping tip 8 according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention. In the first to seventh embodiments, the entire rod-shaped rod corresponding to the core of the wiping tips 1 to 7 is composed of a hollow cylindrical body 10. In contrast, in the wiping tip 8 according to the eighth embodiment, only a part (end) of the rod-shaped rod is composed of a hollow cylindrical body. That is, a hole 16 extends from the end face of a straight, elongated rod-shaped rod 15 along the longitudinal direction of the rod 15. The hole 16 is a non-through hole that does not penetrate the rod 15. The part 10' of the rod 15 where the hole 16 is provided corresponds to the "cylindrical body" of the present invention. The part of the rod 15 other than the cylindrical body 10' is a solid columnar body. As in the first embodiment, a wiping portion 21 is provided on the outer circumferential surface near the tip 10a of the cylindrical body 10'. The rod 15 is preferably manufactured as a single component by injection molding using the material exemplified as the material for the cylindrical body 10 in the first embodiment, although there is no limitation thereto.

The wiping tip 8 of this embodiment 8 can be used to clean the male connector 90, similar to the wiping tip 1 of this embodiment 1. The male member 911 is inserted into the hole 16 of the cylindrical body 10'. The depth of the hole 16 is deeper than the length of the male member 911 of the male connector 90 (the protruding length of the male member 911 from the bottom plate 914).

The rod 15 is a solid column except for the portion where the hole 16 is formed, and is therefore relatively strong. This means that the rod 15 will not be crushed or bent in the diametric direction due to the force applied during wiping and cleaning work. This allows for efficient cleaning work.

The solid cylindrical portion of the rod 15 may have a larger outer diameter than the cylindrical body 10'.

This embodiment 8 is the same as embodiment 1 except for the above. The explanation of embodiment 1 also applies to this embodiment 8. This embodiment 8 may be applied to the wiping tips of embodiments 2 to 7.

(Embodiment 9)
15 is a cross-sectional view of the wiping tip 9 according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment 9, the cylindrical body 10 is relatively short. A wiping portion 21 is provided near one end (tip) 10a of the cylindrical body 10, and a handle 30 is provided at the other end (base end) of the cylindrical body 10. The handle 30 is a block having an outer diameter larger than that of the cylindrical body 10. It is preferable that the handle 30 has a strength such that it is not easily deformed by the force applied by the operator. The material of the handle 30 is not limited, but resin materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, styrene ethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, butylene styrene block copolymer, polyacetal, polyamide, and hard polyvinyl chloride can be used.

The wiping tip 9 of this embodiment 9 can be used to clean the male connector 90, similar to the wiping tip 1 of this embodiment 1.

The worker can grasp the handle 30 to perform wiping and cleaning work. The handle 30 is relatively large and does not easily deform, so the worker can firmly grasp the handle 30. It is also easy to apply a rotational force to the wiping tip 9. This improves the efficiency of the cleaning work. Furthermore, the possibility that the worker will touch the wiping part 21 is reduced, so the cleanliness of the wiping part 21 is maintained.

The cylindrical body 10 may be integrated with the handle 30 so that they cannot be separated. There are no limitations on the method for integrating the cylindrical body 10 and the handle 30, but it may be a method in which the cylindrical body 10 and the handle 30 are manufactured separately and then the two are integrally connected by a method such as adhesive or welding, or a method in which one of the cylindrical body 10 and the handle 30 is manufactured and then the other is integrated with the other by a two-color molding method. Alternatively, the cylindrical body 10 and the handle 30 may be molded integrally as a single part at one time using the same material.

The cylindrical body 10 may be detachable from the handle 30. In this case, the cylindrical body 10 provided with the wiping portion 21 is disposable, whereas the handle 30 can be used repeatedly. In order to ensure that the rotational force applied to the handle 30 is transmitted to the cylindrical body 10, the connection portions of the handle 30 and the cylindrical body 10 with their counterparts may be provided with mating shapes (e.g., convex and concave) that fit together with each other.

In FIG. 15, a portion of the handle 30 is fitted into the hole 11 of the cylindrical body 10, but the connection structure between the cylindrical body 10 and the handle 30 is not limited to this. For example, the cylindrical body 10 may be fitted into a hole provided in the handle 30.

In FIG. 15, the cylindrical body 10 is connected to the handle 30, but the present invention is not limited to this. A solid columnar body integrally formed with the cylindrical body, such as the rod 15 in embodiment 8, may be connected to the handle.

This embodiment 9 is the same as embodiment 1 except for the above. The description of embodiment 1 also applies to this embodiment 9. This embodiment 9 may be applied to the wiping tips of embodiments 2 to 9.

Embodiments 1 to 9 are merely examples. The present invention is not limited to embodiments 1 to 9 and can be modified as appropriate.

In the above embodiment, both the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body have a circular cross-sectional shape, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, one or both of the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface may have a regular polygonal (e.g., a regular octagon, etc.) cross-sectional shape. Having the outer peripheral surface with such a cross-sectional shape is advantageous for applying a rotational force to the wiping tip.

In the above embodiment, the inner peripheral surface of the tubular body is a cylindrical surface whose inner diameter is constant in the longitudinal direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the portion where the male member 911 is inserted, the inner peripheral surface of the tubular body may be a female taper surface whose inner diameter increases toward the opening (for example, a female taper surface with the same taper angle as the outer peripheral surface 912 of the male member 911).

The wiping tip of the present invention may be a disposable type that is discarded each time the male connector is cleaned, or a reusable type that can be repeatedly used to clean the male connector by cleaning the male connector, washing it with water or the like, and drying it.

The field of application of the present invention is not limited, but it can be preferably used as a cleaning tool for a male connector that has a male member and an outer tube with a female thread. In particular, it is suitable as a cleaning tool for a male connector that is provided at the upstream end of a catheter that is inserted into a patient's body for enteral nutrition.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6', 7, 8, 9 Wiping tip 10, 10' Cylindrical body 10a Tip 11, 16 of cylindrical body Hole 13 Notch 15 Rod 21, 24, 25 First wiping portion 22 Second wiping portion 23 Third wiping portion 24a Concave and convex 26 Fourth wiping portion 27 Fifth wiping portion 28 Slit 30 Handle 90 Male connector 911 Male member 912 Outer circumferential surface 913 of male member Outer tube 915 Female thread 916 Gap between male member and outer tube

Claims (14)

A wiping tip used to wipe and clean a male connector having a cylindrical male member, an outer tube surrounding the male member, and a female screw provided on an inner peripheral surface of the outer tube facing the male member,
The wiper includes a hollow cylindrical body, a first wiping portion provided on an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body near a tip end, and a fifth wiping portion that closes an opening at the tip end of the cylindrical body,
The wiping tip, wherein the fifth wiping portion is penetrable by the male member. The wiping tip according to claim 1, wherein the first wiping portion is provided on the cylindrical body so as to cover the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body. The wiping tip according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a slit is provided through the fifth wiping portion. The wiping tip according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the male member can be inserted into the cylindrical body, and the cylindrical body can be inserted into the gap between the male member and the outer cylinder. The wiping tip according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the outer diameter of the first wiping portion is greater than the inner diameter of the female thread. The wiping tip according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the inner diameter of the cylindrical body is equal to or greater than the maximum outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the male member. The wiping tip according to any one of claims 1 to 6 further comprises a second wiping portion provided on the inner circumferential surface near the tip of the cylindrical body. The wiping tip according to claim 7, wherein the first wiping portion and the second wiping portion are continuous via a third wiping portion that covers the tip of the cylindrical body. The wiping tip according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the outer surface of the first wiping portion is provided with irregularities. The wiping tip according to claim 1, wherein the first wiping portion is arranged in a spiral shape. The wiping tip according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a fourth wiping part is packed inside the cylindrical body. The wiping tip according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the cylindrical body has a notch extending from the tip of the cylindrical body along the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body. A rod-shaped
A hole having a predetermined length is provided along the longitudinal direction of the rod from the end face of the rod,
The wiping tip according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the portion of the rod where the hole is provided is the cylindrical body. The wiping tip according to any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising a cylindrical body with the first wiping portion at one end and a handle at the other end.

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