Endotracheal tube holder

• US 20060118120A1
• Filed: 12/05/2005
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dale Medical Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dale Medical Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Russo, Ronald D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,096,300 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/207.140
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0488 Mouthpieces; Means for guiding, securing or introducing the tubes guiding or introducing with laryngoscopes A61B1/267; holding devices on the body A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0493 with means for protecting the tube from damage caused by the patient's teeth, e.g. bite block
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0497 Tube stabilizer
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0206 where the catheter is secured by using devices worn by the patient, e.g. belts or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/022 specifically adapted for the mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/026 where the straps are releasably secured, e.g. by hook and loop-type fastening devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0266 using pads, patches, tapes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body

Abstract

A tube holder assembly is provided for securing a medical tube such as an endotracheal tube to a patient. In one illustrative embodiment, the holder assembly comprises a support strap for placement around the patient'"'"'s head or neck region, a bracket for holding the endotracheal tube in position relative to the patient'"'"'s mouth, and a face anchoring portion for securing the support strap to the patient'"'"'s face region. The support strap includes a front surface and an opposed, back surface. The bracket may be attached to the front surface of the support strap. The bracket may include an upper bar and an arm extending from the upper bar. The face anchoring device may comprise a first surface configured to adhere to the patient'"'"'s face region, and a second, opposed surface having a strap-engaging portion configured to mechanically engage the back surface of the support strap. The support strap may be configured to be repeatedly releasable and adjustable to the face anchoring device.

Claims

1. A holder assembly for securing an endotracheal tube in a patient'"'"'s mouth, the holder assembly comprising:

a support strap for placement around the patient'"'"'s head or neck region, the support strap comprising a front surface and an opposed, back surface;

a bracket for attachment to the front surface of the support strap for holding the endotracheal tube in position relative to the patient'"'"'s mouth, the bracket including an upper bar and an arm extending therefrom; and

a face anchoring device comprising a first surface configured to adhere to the patient'"'"'s face region, and a second, opposed surface having a strap-engaging portion configured to mechanically engage the back surface of the support strap to secure the strap to the patient'"'"'s face region;

2. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the bracket is affixed to the front surface of the support strap.

3. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the back surface of the support strap includes a mating element and the strap-engaging portion includes a complementary mating element to form an interlocking relationship.

4. The holder assembly of claim 3, wherein the mating element comprises a loop pile material, and the complementary mating element comprises a hook material.

5. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the arm extends generally perpendicular to the upper bar.

6. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the arm terminates in a gripping region configured to form a snap-fitting engagement around the endotracheal tube.

7. The holder assembly of claim 6, wherein the gripping portion comprises tabs configured for gripping the endotracheal tube.

8. The holder assembly of claim 7, wherein the tabs are flexible.

9. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the arm further comprises an undercut portion having a generally semi-circular contour.

10. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the arm further includes a surface feature for enhanced engagement with the endotracheal tube.

11. The holder assembly of claim 10, wherein the surface feature is selected from the group consisting of surface roughening, barbs, teeth, or adhesive.

12. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper bar comprises slots for placement of the support strap therethrough.

13. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the arm is integral with the upper bar.

14. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the junction between the upper bar and arm is contoured.

15. The holder assembly of claim 14, wherein the contoured junction is chamfered.

16. The holder assembly of claim 1, further including reinforcement elements extending between the upper bar and the arm.

17. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the support strap comprises releasably attachable closure ends.

18. The holder assembly of claim 17, wherein the closure ends include mechanical engagement surfaces for engaging the front surface of the support strap.

19. The holder assembly of claim 18, wherein the front surface of the support strap comprises a loop pile material and the mechanical engagement surfaces comprise hook material.

20. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the first surface of the face anchoring device comprises an adhesive.

21. The holder assembly of claim 1, further including an adhesive tape for securing the endotracheal tube to the arm.

22. The holder assembly of claim 21, wherein the adhesive tape comprises a foam tape.

23. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper bar comprises a portion of a bite block.

24. The holder assembly of claim 23, wherein the bite block includes a channel for insertion of the endotracheal tube.

25. The holder assembly of claim 24, wherein the channel is configured to form a snap-fitted engagement with the endotracheal tube.

26. A holder assembly for securing an endotracheal tube to a patient'"'"'s mouth, the holder assembly comprising:

a support strap for placement around the patient'"'"'s head or neck region;

a bracket for holding the endotracheal tube in position relative to the patient, the bracket including an upper bar and an arm extending therefrom, the arm terminating in a gripping region configured to form a snap-fitting engagement around the endotracheal tube; and

a face anchoring device configured to adhere to the patient'"'"'s face region and attachable to the support strap for secure engagement of the strap to the patient'"'"'s face region.

27. The holder assembly of claim 26, wherein the face anchoring device comprises a strap-engaging portion configured to mechanically engage the support strap for securing the strap to the patient'"'"'s face region.

28. The holder assembly of claim 27, wherein the support strap includes a mating element and the strap-engaging portion includes a complementary mating element to form an interlocking relationship.

29. The holder assembly of claim 28, wherein the mating element comprises a loop pile material, and the complementary mating element comprises a hook material.

30. The holder assembly of claim 26, wherein the support strap can be repeatedly releasable and adjustable to the face anchoring device.

31. The holder assembly of claim 26, wherein the arm extends generally perpendicular to the upper bar.

32. The holder assembly of claim 26, wherein the gripping portion comprises tabs configured for gripping the endotracheal tube.

33. A holder assembly for securing an endotracheal tube to a patient'"'"'s mouth, the holder assembly comprising:

a support strap for placement around the patient'"'"'s head or neck region;

a bracket affixed to the support strap for holding the endotracheal tube in position relative to the patient, the bracket including an upper bar and an arm extending generally perpendicular therefrom, the arm terminating in a gripping region including tabs for forming a snap-fitting engagement around the endotracheal tube; and

a face anchoring device configured to adhere to the patient'"'"'s face region and attachable to the support strap for secure engagement of the strap to the patient'"'"'s face region.

34. A holder assembly for securing a tube in a patient'"'"'s mouth, the holder assembly comprising:

a support strap for placement around the patient'"'"'s head or neck region;

a bracket for attachment to the support strap for holding the tube in position relative to the patient'"'"'s mouth; and

a face anchoring device to secure the support strap to the patient'"'"'s face.