Patient -Worn Medical Tube (Cannula) Holder Vest And Apparatuses

Abstract

The present invention addresses the security of medical tubes (including, but not limited to, cannulae and catheters) that are inserted into a patient's internal organ or cavity and / or passed through the patient's skin. Specifically, the invention provides a patient-worn garment in the form of a vest and accompanying apparatuses which secure the tubes in order to redistribute physical and / or gravitational force away from the tube anchoring (or exit) sites (including, but not limited to, suture sites) onto the vest. This minimizes the risk of tug trauma, kinking, and accidental dislodging of the tubes. Thus the invention allows for increased patient mobility during post-operative recovery, after medical device implant(s), and during pre-organ transplant wait periods.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This nonprovisional utility patent claims the benefit of the prior filed provisional application USPTO provisional patent application No. 61 / 271,849 filed on Jul. 26, 2009. Note that the sections titled DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART and BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION in the provisional application now appear in sequence under BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION in this nonprovisional application.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH[0002]Not ApplicableREFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX[0003]Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]This invention relates generally to medical device support equipment and more specifically to a vest for securing medical tubes, especially cannulae, to a portion of a human body.[0005]Many hospital and ICU patients require continuous medical treatment offered by medical tubes for assistance with a variety of functions including, but not limited to,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]Some existing medical tube holders do attach to parts of the patient's body in order to facilitate some movement (U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,312, No. 5,300,037, No. 5,626,565, and No. 5,681,290). For example, Delk et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,312 provides a medical conduit holder which is adhesively secured to the skin. However, adhesive-based tube holders can loosen from perspiration, bodily fluids, stretching of the skin, and physical movement. These adhesive tube holders may also cause skin irritation / discomfort and do not offer sufficient protection against tug trauma or accidental dislodging of the medical tubes.

[0043]The present invention redistributes physical and / or gravitational force away from the medical tube anchoring (or exit) sites in / on the patient's body. The physical and / or gravitational force affecting each medical tube is redistributed onto the vest via strap mechanisms and tube holder apparatuses that are attached to the vest, which is tightly fastened to the patient's body. A combination of at least two apparatuses and the rear straps fully secures the medical tubes against gravity or pulling. In addition, the apparatuses grip the medical tube around its entire circumference, providing security and stability superior to that of the prior art in this field. Any number of other clamps or medical tube holders may be attached to the vest via hook and loop fasteners to further secure the medical tubes. Non-angled or and non-elevated tubes may be secured by a hook and loop fastener strap attaching the tube to the vest. Unlike prior inventions in this field, a hook and loop fastener fabric is adhered to the medical tube at the location where it is fastened to the apparatus to increase friction and prevent sliding. Thus, the vest allows for increased patient mobility while reducing the risk of tug trauma, tube kinking, and accidental tube dislocation.

Problems solved by technology

While somewhat secure, this and similar tube-holding devices limit the patient's movement and often confine the patient to the bed.

These devices also fail to protect against tube dislodgment caused by accidental movement or force affecting the tubes at their anchoring sites.

However, adhesive-based tube holders can loosen from perspiration, bodily fluids, stretching of the skin, and physical movement.

These adhesive tube holders may also cause skin irritation / discomfort and do not offer sufficient protection against tug trauma or accidental dislodging of the medical tubes.

Although this band is more versatile than prior inventions, it does not provide adequate protection against gravitational force or incidental pushing / pulling that may dislodge medical tubes from the patient.

There is insufficient friction and fixation strength to resist a force applied to the tube (i.e. pulling vertically on the tube or accidentally lifting the tubes forward).

Another problem with the band is that it can change the angle of the tube at the exit site, subsequently affecting the flow of fluid in the tube.

First, this garment is difficult to put on a patient who already has tubes exiting his / her body.

Villipiano suggests cutting pieces off the garment to make way for medical tubes but this is highly inconvenient, weakens the integrity of the garment, and loosens the garment's attachment to the patient's body.

Second, the tension loops, which rely on hook and loop fasteners or VELCRO®, can be pulled apart due to the limited VELCRO® contact points and the lack of friction between the tube and the VELCRO® surfaces (this is the same problem mentioned above for Madden et al.).

The small contact point offers little friction, offering little or no protection against vertical pulling or gravitational force (if the tube is pressurized) when the patient stands up (this is the same problem mentioned above for Madden et al.).

Sliding and lateral or vertical movement can stress the tube exit site and disrupt the contact points between the strap and the garment, risking loosening and dislodging of the tube.

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