Catheter device with easily deployed retainer

• US 5,215,532 A
• Filed: 03/26/1991
• Issued: 06/01/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meredith C. Atkinson
• Original Assignee: Meredith C. Atkinson
• Inventors: Atkinson, Meredith C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gutowski, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US07/675,436
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 604/164, 604/174, 604/177-180, 128/DIG. 26, 602/54, 602/903
• US Class Current: 604/180
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0253 where the catheter is attached by straps, bands or the like secured by adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/26 Cannula supporters

Abstract

There is disclosed a catheter device with easily deployed retainer useful in securing medical appliances such as catheters, sensors, tubing, or the like, to a human or other patient. The device includes a catheter, or the like, with a self-adhesive tape which is attached and extends perpendicularly thereto. The self-adhesive tape may be a strip of conventional surgical or first aid adhesive tape and has each of its ends rolled towards the catheter in a scroll-like fashion; the tape preferably is pre-attached to the catheter by adhesive, heat sealing, or the like, and may have a medicine saturated pad on the bottom side to help prevent infection at the wound area. The adaptation of the device with any intravenous catheter does not change standard use in any way in relation to preparation of the site, or actual insertion of the catheter. After the vein has been accessed, the tape is simply unrolled by the thumb and index finger with moderate pressure to secure the catheter to the patient'"'"'s skin. This allows the nurse or technician a free hand to prepare connection of tubing, or the like. Alternatively, the self-adhesive tape can be attached to the catheter by means of a stud which captures the tape by engaging a hole therein. The stud allows the tape to pivot and be positioned relative to the catheter in a somewhat oblique fashion. The stud or other fastener also allows one of several different sizes of tape to be attached immediately before use.

Claims

1. Apparatus in the form of a catheter body with associated means for retaining it in operative position on a patient comprising:

a catheter body;

an elongated flexible tape with a pressure sensitive adhesive on one surface thereof, and a non-adhesive portion on the opposite surface;

said flexible tape having each of its opposite ends rolled adhesive surface outwardly towards the mid-point of said flexible tape;

means integral with said body for attaching said flexible tape near its mid-point transversely to said catheter body;

an absorbent pad secured on the underside of said catheter body; and

whereby said catheter body can be secured in operative position on a patient with the thumb and a finger of one hand.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said flexible tape to said catheter body comprises an adhesive.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said flexible tape is at least three inches long.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said flexible tape is at least one-quarter inch in width.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for attaching further includes a second tape secured to the underside of said catheter body.

6. Apparatus in the form of a catheter body with associated means for retaining it in operative position on a patient comprising:

a catheter body;

an elongated flexible tape with a pressure sensitive adhesive on one surface thereof, and a non-adhesive portion on the opposite surface;

said flexible tape having each of its opposite ends rolled adhesive surface outwardly towards the mid-point of said flexible tape;

means integral with said body for attaching said flexible tape near its mid-point transversely to said catheter body;

wherein said means for attaching said flexible tape to said catheter body further comprises a second tape secured on the underside of said catheter body; and

whereby said catheter body can be secured in operative position on a patient with the thumb and a finger of one hand.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 6 further comprising an absorbent pad secured on the underside of said catheter body.

8. Apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said means for attaching said flexible tape to said catheter body comprises an adhesive.

9. Apparatus in the form of a catheter body with associated means for retaining it in operative position on a patient comprising:

a catheter body

an elongated flexible tape with a pressure sensitive adhesive on one surface thereof, and a non-adhesive portion on the opposite surface.

said flexible tape having each of its opposite ends rolled adhesive surface outwardly towards the mid-point of said flexible tape;

means integral with said body for attaching said flexible tape near its mid-point transversely to said catheter body;

wherein said flexible tape has an opening near its mid-point and said means for attaching said flexible tape to said catheter body is a stud adapted to engage said opening in said tape; and

whereby said catheter body can be secured in operative position on a patient with the thumb and a finger of one hand.

10. Apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said stud pivotally connects said flexible tape to said catheter body.

11. A clinical catheter-to-patient attachment apparatus for a catheter having a body and extending ears comprising:

a top elongated flexible tape at least twice as wide as the ears of the catheter and at least as long as wide with a pressure sensitive adhesive on one surface thereof, and a non-adhesive surface on the opposite side thereof;

said top elongated flexible tape having its opposite ends rolled towards the mid-point of said elongated flexible tape.

a bottom elongated flexible tape of about the same width as said top elongated flexible tape and a length at least about the width of the catheter body with a pressure sensitive adhesive on at least one surface thereof; and

said top and bottom elongated flexible tapes being attached together and to said catheter at about the mid-point of said top and bottom elongated flexible tapes,

whereby said catheter can be secured to the patient with the thumb and finger of one hand.

12. Apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said elongated flexible tapes are attached to said catheter by an adhesive.

13. Apparatus as recited in claim 11 further including an absorbent pad secured on the lower surface of said bottom elongated flexible tape.