Catheter stabilization fitting having a snap-over cover

• US 4,397,647 A
• Filed: 03/02/1982
• Issued: 08/09/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1979
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whitman Medical Corp
• Original Assignee: Whitman Medical Corp
• Inventors: Gordon, Marvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US06/353,928
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 128/214, 128/133, 128/214.4, 128/215, 128/347, 128/348, 128/349, 128/DIG. 6, 128/DIG. 26, 604/180, 604/174, 604/178
• US Class Current: 604/180
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/024 having a clip or clamp system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0246 fixed on the skin having a cover for covering the holding means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/26 Cannula supporters

Abstract

A disposable stabilizing fitting for a catheter tube includes a laminar base member having an adhesive coated underside and a tube-retaining cradle. A snap-over cover engages the catheter tube in the cradle. Specifically, gripping members in the cradle are non-aligned with one or more gripping members in the cover such that the gripping members engage the catheter tube by bending the tube slightly without restricting flow. In one preferred embodiment, the cradle is subdivided into two longitudinal sections having respective covers which hinge in opposite directions and are latchable in a plurality of positions corresponding to various catheter tube diameters.

Claims

1. A stabilizing fitting for securing a catheter to a patient'"'"'s skin comprising a laminar base member having an upper surface and a lower surface, pressure-sensitive adhesive means on at least a part of said lower surface of said base member, a catheter tube-retaining cradle secured to said upper surface of said base member, said cradle having a forward end, a rearward end, and resilient substantially parallel side walls, said side walls being spaced to receive a catheter tube placed longitudinally in said cradle, a tab grip extending beyond the periphery of said base member, a snap-over cover hinged to the upper edge of one of said side walls and including means for positively contacting said catheter tube and urging the catheter tube toward said lower surface, and latching engagement means on the other of said side walls for holding the cover in place in a flexibly removable engagement over a tube disposed in said cradle.

4. The stabilizer fitting according to claims 1 or 3, wherein said cradle is divided into two longitudinally aligned sections spaced by transversely aligned first and second notches defined in respective side walls of said cradle, said snap-over cover being coextensive with the first of said cradle sections, said stabilizer fitting further comprising a second snap-over cover hinged to the upper edge of said other of said side walls and latching means secured on said one of said side walls for providing a resilient engagement holding said further cover in place over said catheter hub fitting, whereby said covers are arranged to hinge in opposite directions over a catheter tube disposed in said cradle.

2. A stabilizing fitting for securing a catheter to a patient'"'"'s skin comprising a laminar base member having an upper surface and a lower surface, pressure-sensitive adhesive means on at least a part of said lower surface of said base member, a catheter tube-retaining cradle secured to said upper surface of said base member, said cradle having a forward end, a rearward end, and resilient substantially parallel side walls, said side walls being spaced to receive a catheter tube placed longitudinally in said cradle, a tab grip extending beyond the periphery of said base member, a snap-over cover hinged to the upper edge of one of said side walls, and latching engagement means on the other of said side walls for holding the cover in place in a flexibly removable engagement over a tube disposed in said cradle;

and further including at least one upstanding rib member in said cradle disposed parallel to said forward end, said upstanding rib member being arcuately recessed to support a catheter tube therein;

a further rib member secured to said cover and depending downwardly toward said cradle, said further rib member being upwardly recessed to receive a catheter tube;

wherein said upstanding rib member and said further rib member are longitudinally spaced from one another such that, with said cover closed, the recesses in said rib members engage a catheter tube in said cradle at different locations.

3. The stabilizer fitting according to claim 2, wherein the recesses in said rib members are configured to crimp a catheter tube in said cradle when said cover is closed to thereby positively prevent longitudinal movement of such catheter tube.

5. A stabilizing fitting for securing a catheter to a patient'"'"'s skin comprising a laminar base member having an upper surface and a lower surface, pressure-sensitive adhesive means on at least a part of said lower surface of said base member, a catheter tube-retaining cradle secured to said upper surface of said base member, said cradle having a forward end, a rearward end, and resilient substantially parallel side walls, said side walls being spaced to receive a catheter tube placed longitudinally in said cradle, a tab grip extending beyond the periphery of said base member, a snap-over cover hinged to the upper edge of one of said side walls, and latching engagement means on the other of said side walls for holding the cover in place in a flexible removable engagement over a tube disposed in said cradle;

and

further comprising means for positively engaging a catheter tube, said means comprising;

an arcuate recess defined in said forward end of said cradle;

at least one upstanding rib member disposed in said cradle longitudinally spaced and parallel to said forward end, said rib member having an arcuate recess defined therein in longitudinal alignment with the recess in said forward end;

a further rib member depending from said other in longitudinally spaced relationship to said forward end and said first-mentioned rib member, said further rib member having an arcuate recess which is aligned with the arcuate recesses of said forward end and said first-mentioned rib member when said cover is closed, said arcuate recesses and said rib member being sized to slightly bend a catheter tube disposed longitudinally between the recesses.

6. The stabilizing fitting according to claim 5, wherein said cover includes a longitudinally extending inward projection and said latching engagement means includes a plurality of longitudinally extending spaced ribs on said other side wall arranged to be resiliently engaged by said projection.

7. A stabilizing fitting for securing a catheter to a patient'"'"'s skin comprising a laminar base member having an upper surface and a lower surface, pressure-sensitive adhesive means on at least a part of said lower surface of said base member, a catheter tube-retaining cradle secured to said upper surface of said base member, said cradle having a forward end, a rearward end, and resilient substantially parallel side walls, said side walls being spaced to receive a catheter tube placed longitudinally in said cradle, a tab grip extending beyond the periphery of said base member, a snap-over cover hinged to the upper edge of one of said side walls, and latching engagement means on the other of said side walls for holding the cover in place in a flexibly removable engagement over a tube disposed in said cradle;

wherein said cradle and said cover comprise an integral injection-molded unit.

8. A stabilizing fitting for a flexible catheter tube comprising:

a flexible base member having a pressure-sensitive adhesive-coated underside, said base member being sufficiently flexible to conform to the contours of a patient'"'"'s skin;

a cradle member secured to said base member, said cradle member having first and second longitudinally aligned sections for receiving respective longitudinal portions of said catheter tube, said cradle member having first and second side walls;

a first cover member coextensive with said first longitudinal section of said cradle, and hinged to said first side wall;

first latching means for securing said first cover member to said second side wall of said first cradle section;

a second member hinged to said second side wall; and

second latching means for resiliently engaging said second member to said first side wall.

9. The stabilizer fitting according to claim 8, further comprising means for positively gripping said catheter tube between said cradle and said first and second cover members.

10. The stabilizer fitting according to claim 9, further characterized by means of a notch defined in said first and second side walls between said first and second longitudinal sections of said cradle to permit bending of said cradle at said notch.

11. A stabilizing fitting for securing a catheter to a patient'"'"'s skin comprising a laminar base member having an upper surface and a lower surface, pressure-sensitive adhesive means on at least a part of said lower surface of said base member, a catheter tube-retaining cradle secured to said upper surface of said base member, said cradle having a forward end, a rearward end, and resilient substantially parallel side walls, said side walls being spaced to receive a catheter tube placed longitudinally in said cradle, a tab grip extending beyond the periphery of said base member, a snap-over cover hinged to the upper edge of one of said side walls, and latching engagement means on the other of said side walls for holding the cover in place in a flexibly removable engagement over a tube disposed in said cradle, wherein the cover includes a longitudinally extending inward projection and said latching engagement means includes a plurality of longitudinally-extending spaced ribs on said other side wall arranged to be resiliently engaged by said projection.

12. A stabilizing fitting for securing a catheter to a patient'"'"'s skin comprising a base having an upper surface and a lower surface, pressure-sensitive adhesive means secured to at least a part of said lower surface of said base, a catheter tube-retaining cradle secured to said upper surface of said base member, said cradle having a forward end, a rearward end, and resilient side walls, means for receiving a catheter tube placed longitudinally in said cradle between said side walls, a snap-over cover hinged to one of said side walls to move between opened and closed positions and including means for positively contacting said catheter tube in said closed position to urge the catheter tube toward said base, and latching engagement means on the other of said side walls for holding the cover in place in a flexibly removable engagement over a catheter tube disposed in said cradle, wherein said cover includes a latching through hole and wherein said latching engagement means comprises a latching projection secured to said other side walls, said through hole being positioned to align with and resiliently fit over said latching projection when said cover is in said closed position.

17. The stabilizer fitting according to claim 12, wherein said cover, said base, said side walls, and said latching projection are part of an integrally-formed elastomeric structure.

18. The stabilizer fitting according to claim 12, wherein said cover is a strap-like member having a top side and a bottom side, and wherein said strap-like member includes a sloped surface portion positioned adjacent said through hole to contact said latching projection when said through hole is fitted over said latching projection, said sloped surface providing a camming action when the latched cover is lifted so as to facilitate disengagement of said latching projection and said through hole.

19. The stabilizer fitting according to claim 18, wherein said positively contacting means comprises a latching projection from said bottom side of said strap-like member, and latching projection having a perimeter at its distal end which is smaller than its perimeter at its proximal end.

13. A stabilizing fitting for securing a catheter to a patient'"'"'s skin comprising a base having an upper surface and a lower surface, pressure-sensitive adhesive means secured to at least a part of said lower surface of said base, a catheter tube-retaining cradle secured to said upper surface of said base member, said cradle having a forward end, a rearward end, and resilient side walls, means for receiving a catheter tube placed longitudinally in said cradle between said side walls, a snap-over cover hinged to one of said side walls to move between opened and closed positions and including means for positively contacting said catheter tube in said closed position to urge the catheter tube toward said base, latching engagement means on the other of said side walls for holding the cover in place in a flexibly removable engagement over a catheter tube disposed in said cradle;

and further including;

at least one upstanding rib member in said cradle disposed parallel to said forward end, said upstanding rib member being arcuately recessed to support a catheter tube therein;

a further rib member secured to said cover and depending downwardly toward said cradle, said further rib member being upwardly recessed to receive a catheter tube;

wherein said upstanding rib member and said further rib member are longitudinally spaced from one another such that, when the cover is closed, the recesses in said rib members engage a catheter tube in said cradle at different longitudinal locations; and

wherein the recesses in said rib members are configured to crimp a catheter tube in said cradle when said cover is closed to thereby positively prevent longitudinal movement of said catheter tube.

14. A stabilizing fitting for securing a catheter to a patient'"'"'s skin comprising a base having an upper surface and a lower surface, pressure-sensitive adhesive means secured to at least a part of said lower surface of said base, a catheter tube-retaining cradle secured to said upper surface of said base member, said cradle having a forward end, a rearward end, and resilient side walls, means for receiving a catheter tube placed longitudinally in said cradle between said side walls, a snap-over cover hinged to one of said side walls to move between opened and closed positions and including means for positively contacting said catheter tube in said closed position to urge the catheter tube toward said base, and latching engagement means on the other of said side walls for holding the cover in place in a flexibly removable engagement over a catheter tube disposed in said cradle;

wherein said base is an annular member having a generally circular hole at its center, wherein said side walls are arcuate upstanding walls disposed about the periphery of said circular hole, and wherein said means for receiving comprises a pair of diametrically opposed recesses defined between facing ends of said arcuate side walls.

15. The stabilizing fitting according to claim 14, wherein said recesses each have a top neck portion which is narrower than the diameter of said catheter tube and a bottom circular portion having a diameter substantially equal to that of said catheter tube.

16. The stabilizer fitting according to claim 15, wherein said cover includes a latching through hole and wherein said latching engagement means comprises a latching projection secured to said other side wall, said through hole being positioned to align with and resiliently fit over said latching projection when said cover is in said closed position.