The present disclosure relates to a securing system. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a securing device having at least one tube receiving channel secured to a footprint portion that is adapted to be attached to a patient's skin. The securing device can be used to anchor tubing to a desired location on a patient's body.
Various medical procedures sometimes necessitate the use of medical tubing (e.g., chest tubes, femoral lines, arterial lines, port lines and the like) on infants or patients with extremely weak skin tissue, such as the elderly or burn victims. Regardless of the age of the patient, it is always desirable to ensure that the position and/or location of the medical tubing is not inadvertently disturbed. It is known to use tape or sutures to secure the medical tubing in a desired position and/or location. However, the use of tape and/or sutures in this specific application is not ideal when working with weak tissue patients. For example, neonatal infants cannot utilize tape or sutures due to the fragility of their skin. Therefore, there is a need to provide an apparatus that can reliably secure medical tubing in a desired location while not damaging the fragile skin of an infant or weak skin tissue patient.
One aspect of the present disclosure is a device for securing medical tubing to a patient. The device includes a tube receiving channel that extends along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end. The tube receiving channel includes a lower portion and an upper portion. The upper portion has a plurality of flexible clasps that are spaced from one another along the longitudinal axis. A footprint portion is secured to the tube receiving channel. The footprint portion has a substantially hour-glass shaped perimeter. A plurality of reinforcement arms are provided on the footprint portion. Each of the plurality of reinforcement arms are curved so as to point toward one of the first end and the second end. A plurality of relief grooves are provided on the footprint portion. A single groove of the plurality of relief grooves is provided between adjacent reinforcement arras of the plurality of reinforcement arms. At least one of a non-woven fabric and an adhesive pad is secured to the footprint portion.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is another embodiment of a
device for securing medical tubing to a patient. The device includes a tube receiving channel that extends along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end. The tube receiving channel includes a lower portion and an upper portion. The upper portion has a plurality of flexible clasps that are spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis. A footprint portion is secured to the tube receiving channel. The footprint portion includes a plurality of arms that extend radially outward from a midpoint between the first end and the second end along the longitudinal axis. The footprint portion further includes a plurality of reinforcement hoops. The reinforcement hoops are concentric about the midpoint and interconnect adjacent arms of the plurality of arms. At least one of a non-woven fabric and an adhesive pad is secured to the footprint portion.
Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is a method of securing medical tubing to a patient. The method includes the step of providing a device having a tube receiving channel that includes a lower portion and an upper portion. The upper portion has a plurality of flexible clasps that are spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal axis. A footprint portion is secured to the tube receiving channel. A non-woven fabric is secured to the footprint portion. The method further includes the step of applying liquid skin protectant to a desired area of the patient's skin and allowing the liquid protectant to dry to form a solid protectant. The securing device is placed on the patient such that the non-woven fabric engages the solid protectant. Additional liquid protectant is applied to the interface between the non-woven fabric and the solid protectant so as to impregnate the non-woven fabric with additional liquid protectant, and the additional liquid protectant is allowed to dry. Medical tubing is inserted into the tube receiving channel.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present disclosure relates upon consideration of the following description of the disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals, unless otherwise described refer to like parts throughout the drawings and in which:
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure.
The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
Referring now to the figures generally wherein like numbered features shown therein refer to like elements having similar characteristics and operational properties throughout unless otherwise noted. The present disclosure relates to a tube securing device 20. The tube securing device 20 can be used to anchor tubing 41 (e.g., chest tubing, facial tubing, tubing, such as catheters, central venous catheters, spinal catheters, ascetic tap catheters, peritoneal dialysis catheters, and the like, as illustrated in
Referring to
The tube receiving channel 22 includes a lower portion 38 and an upper portion 40. The lower portion 38 has a cross section that approximates a semi-circle having an inner diameter that is slightly larger than the tube 41. Illustrated in
In the illustrated example embodiment of
Each clasp 42 is formed by a flexible, resilient member, which facilitates easy insertion of the tube 41 into the tube receiving channel 22 while also ensuring that the tube 41 is securely retained by the tube securing device 20. In the example embodiment illustrated in
The body 21 is secured to a footprint portion 44 that is provided at on a bottom side of the body. In one example embodiment, the footprint portion 44 is formed of a polymeric material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, plastic and the like. When viewed from the perspective shown in
The footprint portion 44 includes a plurality of reinforcement arms 52, full length relief grooves 54, and part length relief grooves 56. As can be seen in
The full length relief grooves 54 are recesses in the body 21 and footprint portion 44 that extend outwardly from the lower portion 38 of the tube receiving channel 22 and intersect the perimeter of the footprint portion 44. The full length relief grooves 54 are provided between adjacent first side facing arms 52a and second side facing arms 52b that point away from one another, and are arranged to extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 28.
The part length relief grooves 56 are recesses in the body 21 and footprint portion 44 that extend outwardly from the lower portion 38 of the tube receiving channel 22. In comparison to the full length relief grooves 54, the part length relief grooves 54 terminate just short of intersecting the perimeter of the foot print portion 44. The part length relief grooves 56 are provided between adjacent first side facing arms 52a and second side facing arms 52b that point, toward one another. Additional part length relief grooves 56 are provided at the first end 24 and the second end 26 of the securing device 20. The part length relief grooves 56 are arranged to extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 28. The part length relief grooves 56 and full length relief grooves 54 facilitate flexibility of the footprint portion 44 during use on a patient, such that the footprint portion bends and flexes with movement of the patient, and to adhere to uneven surfaces comprised on the surface of the patient.
Referring to
Referring now to
The tube securing device 120 includes three tube receiving channels 122a, 122b, 122c that extend between a first end 124 and a second end 126 of the tube securing device 120. Each of the three tube receiving channels 122 extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis 128 of the tube securing device 120. The longitudinal axis 128 divides the tube securing device 120 into a left side 130 and a right side 132. One of the tube receiving channels 122a is aligned with the longitudinal axis 128, and the remaining two channels 122b, 122c are equally arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis 128. In alternative embodiments, the tube securing device includes fewer or greater tube receiving channels.
Each of the tube receiving channels 122 includes a lower portion 138 and an upper portion 140. The lower portion 138 extends as an uninterrupted continuous surface along the longitudinal axis 128 between the first end 124 and the second end 126. The upper portion 140 is segmented into spaced apart individual, flexible, resilient clasps 142 that extend along the longitudinal axis 128 between the first end 124 and the second end 126. Together, the upper portion 140 and the lower portion 138 have a substantially circular cross section having an inner diameter that is slightly larger than the tube 41 that the tube securing device 120 is intended to anchor in place.
The body 121 includes the tube receiving channels 122 that are secured to a footprint portion 144 that is provided at a bottom side of the body 121. The footprint portion 144 includes four arms 162 that are arranged so as to substantially form an “X” shape. Each of the arms 162 is part of the body 121 and are substantially resilient and flexible so as to be able to conform to a patient's body. In the illustrated embodiment the arms 162 are arranged such that, beginning at the longitudinal axis 128 at the first end 124 of the securing device 120 and moving rotationally clockwise in direction of arrow A, there is an arm 162 at approximately 45°, 135°, 225°, and 315°. However, in another example embodiment, the arms 162 are arranged at 90°, 180°, 270°, and 360° relative to the longitudinal axis at the first end 124 of the tube securing device 120. In yet another example embodiment, fewer or greater arras are provided and are arranged to form any desired shape with any desired spacing between the arms.
The securing device of
Referring to
The tube receiving channel 222 extends between a first end 224 and a second end 226 of the tube securing device 220 along a longitudinal axis 228. The tube receiving channel 222 includes a lower portion 238 and an upper portion 240. The lower portion 238 extends as an uninterrupted continuous surface between the first end 224 and the second end 226 except for a central opening 266 provided midpoint between the first and second ends 224, 226. The upper portion 240 is segmented into spaced apart individual flexible, resilient clasps 242 that extend along the longitudinal axis 228 between the first end 224 and the second end 226. Together, the upper portion 240 and the lower portion 238 have a substantially circular cross section having an inner diameter that is slightly larger than the tube that the tube securing device 220 is intended to anchor in place.
The body 221 is secured to a footprint portion 244 that is provided at a bottom side of the body. The footprint portion 244 includes six arms 262 that extend radially outward from the central opening 266. Each of the arms 262 is substantially resilient and flexible so as to be able to conform to a patient's body or facial region,
In the illustrated embodiment, the arms 262 are arranged such that, beginning at the longitudinal axis 228 at the first end 224 of the tube securing device 220 and moving rotationally clockwise in the direction of arrow A, there is an arm at approximately 45°, 90°, 225°, 270°, and 315°. However, other configurations are possible. For example, in another embodiment, the tube securing device includes greater than six arms that are spaced at regular or irregular intervals relative to the longitudinal axis at the first end of the tube securing device. Reinforcing hoops 268 extend between adjacent arms 262. The reinforcing hoops 268 are concentric with the central opening 266. In the illustrated embodiment, two reinforcing hoops 268 are provided. However, in other example embodiments, fewer or greater reinforcing hoops are provided.
The securing device 220 of
Referring now to
The tube securing device 320 includes a body 321 having a tube receiving channel 322 that extends between a first end 324 and a second end 326 of the tube securing device 320 along a longitudinal axis 328. The tube receiving channel 322 includes a lower portion 338 and an upper portion 340. The lower portion 338 extends as an uninterrupted continuous surface along the longitudinal axis 328 between the first end 324 and the second end 326. The upper portion 340 is segmented into spaced apart individual flexible, resilient clasps 342 that extend along the longitudinal axis 328 between the first end 324 and the second end 326. Together, the upper portion 340 and the lower portion 338 have a substantially circular cross section having an inner diameter that is slightly larger than the tube that the tube securing device 320 is intended to anchor in place.
The body 321 is secured to a footprint portion 344 that is provided at a bottom side of the body. The footprint portion 344 includes four arms 362 that are arranged so as to substantially form an “X” shape. Each of the arms 362 is substantially resilient and flexible so as to be able to conform to a patient's body. In the illustrated embodiment, the arms 362 are arranged such that, beginning at the longitudinal axis 328 at the first end 324 of the tube securing device 320 and moving rotationally clockwise in a direction indicated by arrow A, there is an arm at approximately 45°, 135°, 225°, and 315°. However, other configurations are possible. For example, in another example embodiment, the arms are arranged at 90°, 180°, 270°, and 360° relative to the longitudinal axis 328 at the first end 324 of the tube securing device 320. Additionally, in another example embodiment, more than four arms are provided. Each arm 362 includes a first member 370 and a second member 372 with a bridge member 374 extending therebetween.
Referring now to
The securing device 420 of
In the illustrated example embodiment of
As illustrated in
In one example embodiment, the inner channel ridges 423A comprise a series of first extended bodies 506 or second extended bodies 508 as illustrated
In another example embodiment, the footprint portion 444 comprises one or more additional tube receiving channels having a plurality of bendable clasps 442 (not shown). In one example embodiment, a second tube receiving channel, of the one or more additional tube receiving channels, is formed in a first groove 425 A of the footprint portion 444, and/or a third tube receiving channel, of the one or more additional clasp assemblies, is formed in a second groove 425B of the footprint portion 444. The first groove 425A and the second groove 425B are equally arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis 428. In one example embodiment, the tube securing device 420 can house three or more tubes, in the tube receiving channel 222 and the one or more additional tube receiving channels. In one example embodiment, the bendable clasps 442 of the tube receiving channel 422 may be staggered relative to second bendable clasps (not shown) of the second tube receiving channel to prevent the bendable clasps 442 and the second bendable clasps from overlapping and/or interfering with each other.
As best seen in
In the illustrated example embodiments of
In each of the above embodiments, the tube securing device is manufactured as a single piece out of a polymeric, such as material having a durometer rating of SHORE A 35-60 hardness. However, in another example embodiment, the tube securing device 20-420 is manufactured out of several separate pieces that are subsequently assembled. Additionally, in another example embodiment, the tube securing device 20-420 is manufactured out of any suitable material that is flexible enough to allow the tube securing device to bend to the contours of a patient's body, yet stiff enough to resist inadvertent removal of a tube from the tube securing device.
Referring back to
For patients younger than 35 weeks old or burn victims, or patients with similar weak skin tissue, a securing device 20 having non-woven fabric attached to the footprint portion 44 is utilized. Use of the securing device for the younger than 35 weeks old application begins by preparing an area of the patient's skin where the securing device 20 will be located with Marathon® Liquid skin protectant or other appropriate adhesive. The skin protectant is then allowed to dry. Then, the tube securing device 20 is placed on the patient such that the non-woven fabric is engaged with the dried skin protectant. Next, the interface between the non-woven fabric and the dried skin protectant is treated with additional liquid skin protectant. The additional liquid skin protectant impregnates the non-woven fabric and fuses the tube securing device 20 to the dried skin protectant, thereby attaching the tube securing device to the patient. The tube 41 can then be inserted into the tube receiving channel 22 as desired. When utilizing this method, removal of the tube securing device 20 can be achieved by way of a suitable solvent.
For patients older than 35 weeks old, a tube securing device 20 having an adhesive pad 45 attached to the footprint portion 44 is utilized, as illustrated in
In yet another example embodiment, the securing device 20 includes the body 21, the footprint portion 44, and the adhesive pad 45 coupled to a tab 47. The adhesive pad 45 includes an adhesive on the side attached to the footprint portion and on the opposite side of the pad that contacts the patient's body or skin. The tab 47 is coupled to the adhesive pad 45 in such a way that upon pulling on the tab in a direction parallel to the footprint portion, the shear stress to the adhesive has a lower yield point than the patient's skin or tissue, leaving the tissue or skin of the patient uncompromised on the patient side and the adhesive's low yield strength on the footprint side gives to break away from the footprint on the other side of the pad, hence releasing the securing device 20 from the patient.
In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings.
The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The disclosure is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has”, “having,” “includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any other variation thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a”, “has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”, “approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the terra is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein is defined as connected or in contact, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.
The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/398,145 filed Sep. 22, 2016 entitled TUBE SECURING DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE. The entire contents of the above-identified application are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2017/052957 | 9/22/2017 | WO | 00 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62398145 | Sep 2016 | US |