Clave

Clinically preferred needlefree IV connector technology
  • Help reduce infection risks
  • Standardize clinical protocols
  • Optimize the supply of IV consumables

Choose clinically differentiated infection control technology to help enhance safety and efficiency

When you choose ICU Medical needlefree IV sets and connectors with proprietary Clave technology, you get an effective barrier against bacterial transfer and colonization designed to help reduce the risk of bloodstream infections. 

And since the same clinical protocol is used throughout the hospital,  you can standardize on a single connector technology wherever care is given, letting you minimize clinical training and in-servicing and provide enhanced patient safety throughout your facilities while optimizing your supply chain.

Minimize bacterial transfer and colonization with Clave needlefree connector technology

Intravenous therapy is essential to patient care, but accessing your patient’s bloodstream may increase the risk of infection. Clinically differentiated needlefree IV connector technology can be an important element in your efforts to help minimize the risk of bloodstream infections.

Enhance patient safety with one innovative technology in the DNA of every connector

Each of ICU Medical’s needlefree connectors utilizes the same Clave infection control technology, designed to enhance patient safety. Clave connectors straight fluid path and minimal residual volume help maximize the effectiveness of every flush.

MicroClave Clear

Neutral Displacement Connector
  • Clear housing to visualize connector flushing
  • Use on all vascular catheters
  • Also available with blue tint for enhanced line identification

Clave Neutron

Needlefree Neutral Displacement Connector
  • Helps reduce multiple causes of catheter reflux
  • Helps reduce catheter occlusions by as much as 50%8

NanoClave

Manifolds and Stopcocks
  • Minimize flush volumes
  • Multiple applications, including multiport manifolds and stopcocks

Clave connectors help minimize entry points for bacteria and maximize the effectiveness of each flush

In a peer reviewed comprehensive study comparing 20 different needlefree IV connectors, researchers reported ICU Medical’s connectors featuring Clave technology were “shown to have a significantly lower bacterial transfer rate than any of the other connectors tested.”1

Bacterial transfer rate comparison of needlefree connectors

Efficiently clear the connector with low flush volumes

ICU Medical’s Clave technology outperforms the BD MaxPlus and Baxter Clearlink connectors as determined by the total flush volume needed to clear the connectors of residual blood elements.7

Use a single connector technology to standardize IV therapy wherever care is given

Clave technology helps enhance patient and clinician safety by using a single connector technology throughout the hospital so you can minimize clinical training and in-servicing while optimizing your supply chain.

  • General Infusions
    • Connectors and extension sets
    • Primary gravity and secondary sets featuring Clave technology
  • NICU & PICU
    • Closed medication sets for syringe pump delivery
    • Stopcocks and manifolds with low residual volume
  • Anesthesia
    • Multiport manifolds and stopcocks for simultaneous fluid delivery
    • Custom administration, extension, and blood sets for adult and pediatric patients
  • Oncology
    • Connector technology that helps minimize catheter reflux in immunocompromised patients

Warning: Clave connectors may be incompatible with some male-luer connectors including prefilled glass syringes. To avoid damage to the Clave or syringes or male luers which may result in delays of medication administration and possible serious adverse events, users should confirm mating luers or syringes have an internal diameter range of 0.062” to 0.110”. Check the internal diameter of the male-luer connector of the mating syringe prior to using it to access the Clave. Products outside of these dimensional tolerances should not be used.

MicroClave

The clear choice to help reduce bloodstream infection risk and visualize connector flushing 

MicroClave connectors combine clinically differentiated Clave technology with a clear housing to help you visualize connector flushing after blood draws or administration while providing an effective microbial barrier against bacteria transfer and contamination. Ideal for a wide range of clinical applications and patient populations, MicroClave is the optimal facility-wide needlefree IV connector.

Help Reduce Risk of CRBSIs

Creates a mechanically closed system prohibiting microbial ingress to help minimize infection risks.

Visualize Connector Flushing

The clear housing of the MicroClave connector allows for visualization of the internal fluid path upon flushing the connector.

Use on all Catheters

MicroClave can be used on standard peripheral, arterial, and central venous catheters for blood draws or administration of IV medications.

No Change in Technique

By allowing a single protocol to be used throughout the hospital, MicroClave connectors minimize clinical training and in-servicing while enhancing patient safety.

MicroClave connectors are available with blue-tinted housing for enhanced line identification

Clave Neutron

Needlefree Neutral Displacement Connector

Unique technology that helps reduce reflux and maintain catheter patency 

Maintaining catheter patency and minimizing occlusions can be important steps in your efforts to enhance patient safety and reduce costs. Clave Neutron connector combines clinically differentiated Clave infection control technology with a proprietary bidirectional silicone valve and bellows feature to help reduce reflux.10 Clave Neutron connector helps maintain catheter patency during times when traditional connectors have been shown to occlude most often.

Clave Neutron connector may help you reduce catheter occlusions by 50%8

NanoClave Manifolds and Stopcocks

Optimize fluid delivery while helping protect against CRBSIs

Help reduce the risk of bloodstream infections and visualize connector flushing with NanoClave connector featuring a mechanically closed system that prohibits microbial ingress and provides a safe and effective microbial barrier, while a clear housing lets you visualize the internal fluid path when flushing.

Maximize Patient Comfort

The small size and weight of the NanoClave connector make it the perfect solution for your NICU and PICU patients.

Minimize Flush Volumes

Minimal residual volume of only 0.02 mL allows for lower flush volumes which may help your efforts to maintain appropriate patient fluid balance.

Incorporating clinically-differentiated Clave technology at every connection

Stopcock and manifold ports integrate Clave infection control technology to maintain a closed system and enhance patient safety.

Optimize the supply of your essential IV consumables

Standardizing on ICU Medical IV consumables gives you best-in-class Clave technology and access to our full portfolio of components to optimize your supply chain across dedicated and non-dedicated sets and the broadest offering of off-the-shelf IV sets as well as the broadest offering of off-the-shelf IV sets tailored to a range of clinical needs.

Reduce SKUs with procedure-ready sets designed to meet your specific needs

Choose from our broad portfolio to meet your specific clinical need, letting you avoid ordering multiple components while maximizing shelf space and reducing packaging waste.

Choose from multiple colors, large and small bore, and specified set lengths for distinct clinical applications.
In addition to Clave connectors, choose rotating, fixed, or slip luer connections, clamp type and placement, drip chambers, 0.2 and 1.2 micron integrated filters and more.
Choose from multiple color-coded component options like connector rings, IV tubing, and clamps to help reinforce your facilities’ line-identification initiatives.

Product Information

Publications

Clinical Reports

Disinfect to Protect

  • When placing a new MicroClave Clear connector on a catheter, disinfect the catheter hub and prime the MicroClave Clear connector.
  • Before accessing a MicroClave Clear, connector always disinfect the injection site with the approved antiseptic per facility protocol.
  • Scrub the injection site in accordance with facility protocol for appropriate scrubbing and dry times.

Adminster or Aspirate

  • Attach IV tubing, syringe or blood tube holder to MicroClave Clear connector by inserting the luer and twisting until a friction fit is achieved.
  • Do not over-tighten a luer beyond the friction fit as this may damage both the luer and the MicroClave Clear connector.

Flush after Each Use

  • Flush the MicroClave Clear connector with normal saline or in accordance with facility protocol. After blood use, the MicroClave Clear connector can be flushed clean and does not require change-out.
  • Use routine flushing in accordance with facility protocol in order to maintain catheter patency.
  • Change MicroClave Clear connector in accordance with facility protocol and CDC guidelines.

Functional Attributes

  • Lipid and blood compatible
  • Radiographic imaging compatible (CT compatible)
  • Metal components (MRI compatible)

Tips

  • To disconnect, grasp MicroClave Clear connector and then twist mating luer away from MicroClave Clear until loose.
  • Do not hold catheter hub during disconnect as this may cause accidental removal of MicroClave Clear connector from hub.

MicroClave Clear connector’s saline flush option is designed to help reduce the risk of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).

Product inquiry

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References

  1. Ryder, M., DeLancey-Pulcini, E., Parker, A., & James, G. (2023). Bacterial transfer and biofilm formation in needleless connectors in a clinically simulated in vitro catheter model. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 1-9. doi:10.1017/ice.2023.60
  2. JD Brown, HA Moss, TSJ Elliott. The potential for catheter microbial contamination from a needleless connector. J Hosp Infect. 1997.; 36:181-189.
  3. Yebenes J, Delgado M, Sauca G, Serra-Prat M, Solsona M, Almirall J, et al. Efficacy of three different valve systems of needlefree closed connectors in avoiding access of microorganisms to endovascular catheters after incorrect handling. Crit Care Med 2008;36: 2558–2561.
  4. Bouza E, Munoz P, Lopez-Rodriguez J, et al. A needleless closed system device (Clave) protects from intravascular catheter tip and hub colonization: a prospective randomized study. J Hosp Infect. 2003; 54:279-287.
  5. Guidelines for the Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections, 2011 (Updated Recommendations July 2017)
  6. Data on file at ICU Medical. Low Volume Flush Characteristics of Unique Needlefree Connectors M1-1223 Rev. 1.
  7. Breznock EM, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVS, Sylvia CJ, DVM, MS, BioSurg, Inc. The in vivo evaluation of the flushing efficiency of different designs of clear needlefree connectors, March 2011.
  8. Observational In-Vivo Evaluation of the Neutron Needlefree Catheter Patency Device and its Effects on Catheter Occlusions in a Home Care Setting, 2011.
  9. Dayna Holt, MSN, RN, CRNI, CPN, VA-BC, Stephanie Lawrence, RN, BSN. The Influence of a Novel Needleless Valve on Central Venous Catheter Occlusions in Pediatric Patients. Journal of the Association For Vascular Access, Dec. 2015.
  10. Star Watts BSN RN CRNI VA-BC, Clinical Effect of the Neutron Needlefree Catheter Patency Device in Reducing PICC Line Occlusions and Cath-Flo Usage in a Teaching Hospital.