DEVELOPMENT AND BACTERIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF THE SNAP CAP

THE PROBLEM TO BE ADDRESSED INVOLVES A WELL DOCUMENTED CONCERN IN THE FIELD OF INTRAVENOUS THERAPY AND INVASIVE HEMODYNAMIC MONITORING. FLUID FILLED CATHETERS, WHILE INFUSING FLUIDS INTO THE BLOOD VESSELS, CAN CARRY BACTERIA INTO A PATIENT'S BLOOD, LEADING TO NOSOCOMIAL BACTEREMIAS. THE PART OF THE PROBLEM THIS PROJECT DEALS WITH IS STOPCOCK CONTAMINATION. THE STOPCOCK IS A THREE-WAY VALVE DEVICE IN THE FLUID LINE. THE EXTERNAL PORT ON THE STOPCOCK IS USED TO GAIN TEMPORARY ACCESS TO THE FLUID IN THE TUBING. THIS PROJECT'S LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE IS TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF A PRODUCT THAT MAY DECREASE BACTEREMIAS IN THOSE PATIENTS WITH INVASIVE FLUID LINES WHERE STOPCOCKS ARE USED. THE METHOD OF RESOLVING THE ISSUE INVOLVES THE DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF A SPECIALIZED CAP FOR THE STOPCOCK. THE CAP IS CALLED A SNAP CAP. THE AIM INVOLVES COMPLETING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SNAP CAP PROTOTYPES AND DOING A PILOT STUDY WITH BACTERIOLOGICAL TESTING TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF CONTINUED TESTING AT MULTIPLE HOSPITAL SITES. CHALLENGES WILL BE: DEVELOPING A SINGLE CAVITY PROTOTYPE MOLD THAT WILL BE USED TO MAKE A PART CONSISTENT WITH THE PATENTED DESIGN, AND COMPLETING THE PILOT BACTERIOLOGICAL STUDY.