Medical Tube Clamp and Adhesive Base for Fluid-Resistant Securement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Securing medical tubes to a person's body can be cumbersome and prone to failure, with existing fasteners being large, cumbersome, complex, requiring assembly, or failing in the presence of bodily fluids.
Innovation Solution
A medical tube securement device with a base member and clamp member that includes adjustable clamping arms and a fastening mechanism, allowing for secure attachment and adjustable sizing, and optionally featuring a bite block to prevent mouth closure during intubation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing fasteners are used to secure medical tubes, then the tube can be secured to the body, but the device becomes large, cumbersome, and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The securement device is divided into distinct functional segments: a base member with adhesive properties for attachment to the body, and a separate clamp member with jaw portions for clamping the tube. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall complexity while maintaining securement reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive attachment function is extracted from the clamping function. The base member provides adhesive securement to the body, while the clamp member provides mechanical tube clamping. This separation eliminates the need for complex integrated mechanisms, simplifying the overall device structure.
2Reliability
If existing fasteners are used to secure medical tubes, then the tube can be secured to the body, but the device becomes cumbersome and requires assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The base member and clamp member are designed to be easily combined through a simple attachment mechanism. The clamp member attaches to the base member without requiring complex assembly tools or procedures, making the device ready for immediate use while maintaining reliable tube securement.
Solution Approach 2:
The base member is prepared with adhesive properties beforehand, and the clamp member is pre-configured with its jaw portions and spring mechanism. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex assembly during patient care, improving ease of operation while ensuring reliable tube securement.
3Reliability
If adhesives are used to attach the base member to the body, then the device can be secured, but the adhesive does not stick well in the presence of bodily fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The base member utilizes composite material properties combining adhesive substances with a substrate that resists bodily fluid interference. This composite construction allows the adhesive to effectively attach to the body while the outer surface remains resistant to degradation from bodily fluids, maintaining attachment reliability in clinical environments.
4Reliability
If a clamp member with multiple parts is used to secure the tube, then the tube can be firmly secured, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp member incorporates a spring mechanism that automatically applies clamping force to the tube when the jaw portions are positioned around it. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for additional actuators or complex control systems, maintaining tube clamping reliability while minimizing device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides a cost-effective, ergonomic, and reliable solution for securing medical tubes, ensuring they remain in place without impacting functionality, suitable for various tube sizes and environments.
Implementation Method 1
the clamp member includes a torsion spring that is coupled to both a first and second arms and that is configured to cause the first and second arms to maintain pressure against the tube when the tube is clamped between the first and second arms
Implementation Method 2
the base member is attachable to the person using medical-grade adhesive affixed to a side of the base member that is placed against the person at the tube insertion site
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for securing a tube to a tube insertion site. An apparatus for a medical tube securement device includes a base member and a clamp member. The base member includes a first tab portion, a second tab portion, and an opening for receiving a tube. The opening is located substantially between the first tab portion and the second tab portion. A clamp member secures the tube within the opening to prevent the tube from moving while the base member is attached to a person and the tube is located at a tube insertion site on the person.