American medical devices developer Catheter Connections has roped in Merit Medical Systems for the distribution of its DualCap technology for IV connector disinfection and protection.

Both firms have entered into a distribution agreement, which calls for an up-front payment of about $1m to Catheter Connections for obtaining the exclusive distribution rights over its technology in the fields of interventional radiology and interventional cardiology.

Catheter Connections chief executive officer Vicki Farrar said that the deal would commercialize the DualCap technology faster, while improving the patient safety.

"This agreement validates our superior position in the IV disinfection market in terms of both our intellectual property and our ability to help hospitals reduce bloodstream infections," Farrar said.

The agreement also allows Merit to gain exclusive rights to Catheter Connections’ proprietary male luer disinfection technology, which broadly forms part of the recently issued patent ‘Disinfecting Caps For Medical Male Luer Connectors’ by the US.

Besides patent protection, Catheter Connections said it possesses FDA approval to market devices that disinfect and protect male luer connectors attached to the end of IV tubing lines.