Cathether securement device

Abstract

An anchoring system includes a simply-structured suture-like device which permits a fluid tube or similar medical article to be easily attached to the patient without the use of needles and without suturing anything to the patient. The anchoring device desirably includes two threads or filaments and two corresponding receptacles. The filaments include protuberances which cooperate with apertures of the receptacles to permit easy insertion of the distal ends of the filaments into the receptacles, but inhibit retraction of the filament distal ends from the receptacles. A health care provider simply wraps the filament around the fluid tube or threads the filament through a suture hole in the medical article, and then threads the distal end of the filament through the receptacle aperture until the filament holds the medical article tightly against an anchor pad of the anchoring system. The anchor pad in turn includes an adhesive bottom surface which can be attached to the patient's skin.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to an anchoring system for securing medical items such as catheters, fluid supply and drainage tubes, pacemaker and transmitter wires, and the like to the body of a patient. Background technique [0002] The use of intravenous (IV) catheters to infuse fluids and drugs directly into the blood is very common in the treatment of patients. In many cases, especially in cardiac treatments, intravenous catheters are inserted into a central or large vein close to the patient's heart. A typical catheter used in a central vein is called a "central venous catheter" ("CVC"), while a catheter that is inserted peripherally into the central circulatory system through a vein in the arm is sometimes called a "peripherally inserted central catheter" (PICC) . [0003] In these cases, prolonged intravenous infusion often requires the catheter to be kept in one position for many days. To secure such central venous catheters or other types o...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Although the central venous catheter can be reliably secured to the patient with this technique, the patient's pain and discomfort are noticeable

Moreover, this prior retention process is also time-consuming and inconvenient, with the danger of needle poking for medical staff and the risk of suture infection for patients

Additionally, the suture material does not grip the tube or catheter very well and may cut into the catheter's spreading wings

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