U.S. patent number 3,782,388 [Application Number 05/260,115] was granted by the patent office on 1974-01-01 for medical tube holder.
Invention is credited to Sarah J. Page.
United States Patent |
3,782,388 |
Page |
January 1, 1974 |
MEDICAL TUBE HOLDER
Abstract
An article for attaching a medical tube to the body of a patient
comprising a clip releasably connectable to the medical tube, a pad
having an adhesive on one side thereof for adherence to the body of
the patient, and a flexible, stretechable band connected between
the clip and the pad.
Inventors: |
Page; Sarah J. (Fullerton,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
22987830 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/260,115 |
Filed: |
June 6, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/180;
128/DIG.26; 24/304; 248/205.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
25/02 (20130101); Y10T 24/33 (20150115); A61M
2025/0266 (20130101); Y10S 128/26 (20130101); A61M
2025/024 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
25/02 (20060101); A61m 025/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/348,349R,35R,214R,215,133,DIG.26 ;24/73R,73VA,81B,129B
;248/74R,74A,25A |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Truluck; Dalton L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hinderstein; Phillip M.
Claims
I claim:
1. An article for attaching a medical tube to the body of a patient
comprising:
clip means releasably connectable to said medical tube;
pad means having an adhesive on one side thereof for adherence to
the body of a patient; and
flexible, stretchable elastic means connecting said clip means and
said pad means, said connecting means being sufficiently flexible
to permit orientation of said clip means in any position relative
to said pad means, said connecting means also being sufficiently
stretchable to permit expansion thereof and a significant increase
in the spacing between said clip means and said pad means.
2. An article according to claim 1 wherein said clip means
comprises:
a resilient annulus having an inner diameter greater than the
diameter of said medical tube, said annulus having a slit therein
permitting opening thereof to receive said tube, said annulus
returning to a substantially planar configuration when
released.
3. An article according to claim 2 wherein said annulus is a solid,
substantially flat member.
4. An article according to claim 2 wherein said annulus is a
doughnut-shaped member.
5. An article according to claim 1 wherein said clip means
comprises:
a resilient annulus having an inner diameter slightly smaller than
the outer diameter of said medical tube, said annulus having a slit
therein permitting opening thereof to receive said tube.
6. An article according to claim 1 wherein said connecting means
comprises:
a rubber band, one end of said rubber band being connected to said
clip means, the other end of said rubber band being connected to
said pad means.
7. An article for attaching a medical tube to the body of a patient
comprising:
a solid, substantially flat, resilient annulus releasably
connectable to said medical tube and having a slit therein
permitting opening thereof to receive said tube, said annulus
further having a V-shaped cutout therein;
pad means having an adhesive on one side thereof for adherence to
the body of a patient; and
a flexible, stretchable rubber band connecting said annulus and
said pad means, one end of said rubber band being positionable over
said cutout in said annulus, the other end of said rubber band
being connected to said pad means.
8. An article for attaching a medical tube to the body of a patient
comprising:
clip means releasably connectable to said medical tube;
pad means having an adhesive on one side thereof for adherence to
the body of a patient;
flexible, stretchable means connecting said clip means and said pad
means; and
sleeve means surrounding said connecting means and extending from
said clip means to said pad means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a medical tube holder and, more
particularly, to an article for attaching a medical tube to the
body of a patient which greatly enhances patient comfort and safety
during a variety of medical procedures.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many medical and surgical procedures require use of drainage or
injection tubes. Such tubes include Foley catheters, bladder
catheters, nose tubes, drainage tubes, intravenous tubes, and the
like. In use, such tubes extend from the body of a patient to a
fluid source or drainage receptacle. Between the ends of the tube,
it is necessary to provide support to prevent dislodging of the
tubes or fittings.
The usual procedure for supporting a medical tube is to tape the
tube directly to the body of the patient. As a result, the
connection is rigid and inflexible. This rigid, inflexible
connection becomes more uncomfortable as it remains in place and is
a frequent source of patient complaints. Furthermore, if the
patient moves too far or in the wrong way, the medical tube or
fitting may become dislodged. These dislodgings can result in
leakage or drainage. The result is a hazardous and unsafe
condition, especially if a patient is in a critical condition.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided an article
for attaching a medical tube to the body of a patient which not
only provides patient comfort but prevents the easy dislodgement of
all types of medical tubes. The present medical tube holder
eliminates the rigid, inflexible attaching technique of the prior
art and replaces it with a holder having a built-in stretch which
permits relative movement between the medical tube and the body of
the patient.
Briefly, the present medical tube holder comprises a clip which is
releasably connectable to a medical tube, a pad having an adhesive
on one side thereof for adherence to the body of a patient, and a
flexible, stretchable band connected between the clip and the pad
so that slight patient movement is permitted without discomfort or
the possibility of catheter or tube dislodgement.
OBJECTS
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
medical tube holder.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an
article for attaching a medical tube to the body of a patient which
permits slight patient movement without discomfort or the
possibility of tube dislodgement.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a
simple, inexpensive, disposable medical tube holder.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a flexible
attachment between medical tubes and the body of a patient.
Still other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the
present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art
from a reading of the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiment constructed in accordance therewith, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals
designate like parts in the several figures and wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a medical tube holder constructed
in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; and
FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a patient showing the
medical tube holder of FIG. 1 in use.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an article, generally
designated 10, for attaching a medical tube 11 to the body of a
patient 12. Tube 11 may be any one of the many available types of
drainage or injection tubes such as Foley catheters, bladder
catheters, nose tubes, drainage tubes, intravenous injection tubes,
and the like. Holder 10 is adapted to connect tube 11 to patient 12
with a sufficient amount of flexibility or "give" to permit some
slight movement of patient 12 without discomfort or the possibility
of dislodgement of tube 11.
Holder 10 comprises a clip portion 20 which is adapted to be
releasably connectable to tube 11. According to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention, clip portion 20 comprises a
resilient annulus 21 which may conveniently be made from a plastic
material. Annulus 21 has a slot 22 therein to permit opening
thereof to receive tube 11, as shown in phantom in FIG. 1.
Preferably, the plastic material of which annulus 21 is formed is
sufficiently flexible to permit opening thereof to receive tube 11,
but sufficiently resilient so that annulus 21 returns to a
substantially planar configuration when released. Plastic or rubber
materials meeting these requirements are well known to those
skilled in the art.
According to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1,
annulus 21 is a solid, substantially flat member. However, annulus
21 could obviously be doughnut-shaped, either solid or hollow,
depending upon the materials used therefor.
Holder 10 further includes a pad 30 having a suitable medical
adhesive on one side 31 thereof to permit pad 30 to adhere to the
body of patient 12. The adhesive on side 31 of pad 30 may be
protected from inadvertent adherence by positioning thereon a
removable protective sheet in a manner well known to those skilled
in the art.
Clip 20 and pad 30 are interconnected by means of a flexible,
stretchable member, generally designated 40. According to the
preferred embodiment of the present invention, member 40 is a
conventional rubber band of sufficient stretchability to provide up
to two inches of expansion. Alternatively, member 40 may be a
single length of stretchable band, or may be in the form of a
ribbon of stretchable, flexible material. In any event, one end of
member 40 is connected to clip 20 and the other end is connected to
pad 30. Such connections may be made in any suitable manner. For
example, annulus 21 may be provided with a V-shaped cutout 23,
spaced from slit 22, whereby one end of rubber band 40 may be
positioned over cutout 23, as shown. By positioning the apex of
cutout 23 away from band 40, stretching of band 40 will not tend to
remove band 40 from cutout 23. Other means for connecting member 40
to clip 20 will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
The other end of member 40 may be conveniently connected to the
other side 32 of pad 30. For example, rubber band 40 may be split
to form arms 41 and 42 which are positioned flat against side 32 of
pad 30. A second pad 33 having an adhesive on one side thereof may
then be used to connect arms 41 and 42 to surface 32 of pad 30. Pad
33 may be conveniently positioned concentrically with pad 30 and
have a central opening 34 through which member 40 extends. Other
means for connecting member 40 to pad 30 will be apparent to those
skilled in the art.
If member 40 comprises a conventional rubber band, the two halves
thereof may be positioned within a plastic or rubber cover or
sleeve 50 for the protection thereof. The length of sleeve 50
should be approximately equal to the unstretched length of member
40 between clip 20 and pad 30.
In operation, article 10 may be used for attaching medical tube 11
to the body of patient 12. Assume, for example, and as shown in
FIG. 2, that tube 11 is a bladder drainage tube. Tube 11 would,
therefore, typically be draped over one leg of patient 12 and
connected thereto at two locations. To use article 10, the
removable protective sheet on side 31 of pad 30 would first be
removed and one or more pads 30 attached to the body of patient 12,
as desired. Thereafter, annulus 21 would be grasped and opened, in
the manner shown in phantom in FIG. 1, to permit the insertion
thereinto of tube 11.
Once in place, clip 20 will securely grip tube 11 preventing
movement thereof. Such firm connection may result in many different
ways. First of all, the inner diameter of annulus 21 may be made
slightly smaller than the outer diameter of tube 11 so that a
slight pinching action occurs. Alternatively, annulus 21 may have a
sticky surface thereof to achieve the same result. However, neither
of these possibilities may be necessary because of the well known
fact that a cylindrical member passing through a thin annulus, at
an angle thereto, tends to be gripped by the inner edges of the
annulus and to prevent axial motion relative thereto.
The resultant attachment of tube 11 to the body of patient 12
greatly enhances patient comfort and safety during a variety of
medical procedures. With article 10, the rigid, inflexible
attaching techniques of the prior art are eliminated and replaced
by a holder having built-in stretch which permits relative movement
between medical tube 11 and the body of patient 12. As a result,
slight patient movement is permitted without discomfort and the
possibility of catheter or tube dislodgement is significantly
reduced. Article 10 is simple and may be manufactured and sold
inexpensively so that it may be used only once and thereafter
discarded.
While the invention has been described with respect to a preferred
physical embodiment constructed in accordance therewith, it will be
apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and
improvements may be made without departing from the scope and the
spirit of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that
the invention is not to be limited by the specific illustrative
embodiment, but only by the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *