This invention relates to an apparatus to be attached to the wall port for dialysate tubing to assist hemodialysis medical staff with disconnecting the dialysate tubing wand from its wall port. Dialysate tubing refers to the line for dialysate solution to flow from the wall port, through the wand, to the hemodialysis machine.
In every hemodialysis clinic, medical staff needs to prepare a hemodialysis machine for each patient before treatment starts. The process includes disconnecting the dialysate tubing wand from its current wall port, and connecting the wand to the appropriate wall port that dispenses the correct dialysate concentration. It is very important to use the correct dialysate concentration based on the patient's health requirements. Once connected, the dialysate solution flows from the wall port, through the wand, to the hemodialysis machine.
Generally speaking, there are three levels of acid dialysate liquid and one bicarb/alkaline dialysate liquid for hemodialysis. Therefore, there are a total of four wall ports to dispense these four different types of liquid. There are two dialysate tubing lines on the hemodialysis machine, and they connect to the wall ports through wands. One wand stays inserted into the bicarb/alkaline dialysate port and does not need to change place from one treatment to the next. The other wand is inserted into one of three acid dialysate ports, depending on the requirements of each patient. That means the medical staff has to pop out the wand from one of the three acid dialysate ports and then insert it into another port before treating each patient.
The dialysate tubing wand and wall port are constructed to fit tightly together once clicked in. The wand has a C-shape ring that contracts under pressure to form a circle in order to click into a groove on the inside of the wall port. Once clicked in, the ring expands to its original C-shape to lock in the wand. When disconnecting the wand from the port, medical staff must pull hard on the wand to force the C-shaped ring to contract, allowing the wand to pop out of the port. This motion requires significant force because of the locking mechanism, and the force may cause a violent backswing of the elbow.
Because all wall ports are behind a hemodialysis machine and the space within which to move a hemodialysis machine is limited, medical staff has little room to operate the disconnection and connection of the dialysate tubing. The backswing of the elbow while popping a disalysate tubing wand from a wall port often slams into the hemodialysis machine, causing pain and workplace injury.
To operate the current procedure:
The objective of the present invention is to overcome these problems and to provide a safer and easier way for medical staff to disconnect the dialysate tubing wand from its wall port. The apparatus uses the lever mechanism to minimize the force applied in this procedure and changes the forceful pulling motion to an effortless squeezing of the hand. Once the procedure is complete, the apparatus remains attached to each of the wall ports and is available for repeated use. This apparatus does not affect the construction or function of the dialysate tubing wand and wall port. It attaches to the outside of wall port and assists with the disconnecting procedure to prevent a common workplace injury.
The invention shall be described in more detail in the following with reference to accompanying drawings in which:
The apparatus (11) illustrated in the drawings is intended to assist with disconnecting a dialysate tubing wand from its wall port in a hemodialysis clinic. The apparatus (11) substantially comprises a holder (12), an L-shaped lever (14), and a straight pin or axle (15). The holder (12) has a round hole (13) through which a wall port can fit snugly and grooves (16) that fit and allow movement of an L-shaped lever (14). When the apparatus (11) is attached to the wall port, the end of the port extends slightly out of the holder, allowing the port's connection to the dialysate tubing wand to remain unchanged.
The L-shaped lever (14) attaches to the holder (12) via a straight pin or axle (15). The lever (14) has two ends: the handle and the working end. The handle of the lever (14) is at least two times as long as the working end of the lever (14). The working end of the lever (14) has two prongs, one on each side of the inside of the round hole (13) of the holder (12), giving the round hole (13) two straight sides to fit around the wall port perfectly.
The holder (12) and lever (14) have small holes (17) that are aligned to allow a straight pin through. The length of the straight pin (15) is slightly greater than the width of the holder (12), with the pin's (15) two ends enlarged to keep the pin in place. The pin (15) goes through the small holes on the holder (12) and lever (14), holds the holder (12) and lever (14) together, and forms an axle along which the lever rotates.
Operating the apparatus (11) requires one hand to grasp the apparatus (11) and squeeze the handle of the lever (14). When the handle of the lever (14) is squeezed, the working end of the lever (14) protrudes out of the holder (12) and pushes out the dialysate tubing wand from its attached wall port.
The described design uses the lever mechanism to minimize the force applied in disconnecting dialysate tubing wand from its wall port. Because all wall ports for dialysate tubing are of the same external diameter, the apparatus (11) can be used for all such wall ports in hemodialysis clinics.
The apparatus (11) is made of plastic or stainless steel to ensure its sturdiness and allow for repeated use.