USPTO issues patent to Ivera Medical’s Curos disinfecting port protector technology

Ivera Medical Corporation announced today that the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) will issue a new continuation patent for its innovative Curos® disinfecting port protector technology on June 26, 2012.  U.S. Patent No. 8,206,514 will cover key aspects of disinfecting caps designed to be used with luer-activated IV valves to disinfect and clean the IV port.

IV therapy is the primary route for drug therapy in the acute care setting. However, traditional IV access management techniques, including "scrub the hub" protocols have failed to protect patients as evidenced by the approximately 87 percent of bloodstream infections associated with the presence of some type of intravascular device.

Ivera Medical's Curos Port Protector is a simple, innovative, disposable medical device that effectively disinfects luer-activated needleless valves, killing the organisms associated with patient bloodstream infection. With two dispenser options—the Curos Strip or individual Curos—nurses can conveniently comply with disinfection protocols by simply peeling the foil seal off the distinctive green cap and twisting Curos over the top of any luer-activated IV access port or needleless valve. Inside Curos a 70% IPA (isopropyl alcohol) saturated sponge-like foam automatically provides effective, consistent and reliable passive disinfection of the port. The use of Curos eliminates training and technique-related issues while providing an unequivocal indicator that an IV access site is clean.

"This patent further strengthens our patent protection within the disinfection cap arena," stated Bob Rogers, chief executive officer of Ivera Medical. "We continue to develop our intellectual property to ensure that Ivera is well-positioned to bring new and better disinfection solutions to market."

SOURCE Ivera Medical Corporation