Device for fastening an endotracheal tube

• US 5,237,988 A
• Filed: 11/13/1990
• Issued: 08/24/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wesley G. Mcneese
• Original Assignee: Wesley G. Mcneese
• Inventors: McNeese, Wesley G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, WILLIAM W
• Application Number:
  US07/611,763
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 128/207.17, 128/207.14, 128/DIG. 15, 128/DIG. 26, 604/174, 604/179, 604/180, 24/306, 24/442, 24/448, 24/3 B, 24/370, 24/16 R, 24/3 J, 24/3 C
• US Class Current: 128/207.17
• 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 16/0497 Tube stabilizer
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0213 where the catheter is attached by means specifically adapted to a part of the human body
• 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 2210/0625 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/26 Cannula supporters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2708 Combined with diverse fastener

Abstract

A device for immovably securing an endotracheal tube after it had been inserted into the airway of the patient. A pair of supports are removably fastened to the air inlet end of the tube. A belt is secured to the supports and snugly positioned around the neck of the patient. Each end of the belt includes complementary coupling means for removably fastening on to one of the supports. An adhesive strip is positioned on the belt between the ends thereof for adhering to the back of the neck. The supports may include a pair of jaws acting as a spring for tightly embracing the tube.

Claims

1. A fastening device for securing a hollow tube after the tube is inserted into the airway of the patient, said tube having an air inlet end for positioning on the outside of the patient and an air outlet end, and said device comprising:

support means attached to the air inlet end of the tube;

a belt positioned around the neck of the patient, said belt including a top side, a bottom side and opposite ends;

at least one end of the belt having complementary fastening means for removably securing the belt on said support means; and

an adhesive strip interposed on said belt between the ends thereof for adhering to the neck of the patient.

2. The fastening device of claim 1, wherein said fastening means comprises:

a first fastening member positioned at one end of said belt; and

a second fastening member positioned adjacent said first fastening member, said one belt end being supported on said support means to overlap the adjacent portion to the belt so that the first fastening means removably fastens to said second fastening means.

3. The fastening device of claim 2 further includes:

a third fastening member positioned at the other end of said belt; and

a fourth fastening member positioned adjacent said third fastening member, said other belt end being supported on said support means to overlap the adjacent portion of the belt so that the third fastening means removably fastens to said fourth fastening means.

4. The fastening device of claim 2, wherein one of said fastening means includes a plurality of loops and other of said fastening means includes a plurality of hooks for fastening to said loops.

5. The fastening device of claim 1, wherein said support means includes a clamp for removably positioning on said air inlet end of said tube, said clamp having an opening formed therein, said one end of the belt passing through said opening and overlapping the adjacent portion of the belt, so that said complementary fastening means secure together.

6. The fastening device of claim 5, wherein said clamp includes:

a first jaw and a second jaw having a normal position; and

a first wing having said opening and attached to the first jaw and a second wing attached to said second jaw, said one end of the belt being supported on said first wing, said wings being pressed toward each other for spreading apart said jaws from their normal position when positioned on the air inlet end of said tube.

7. The fastening device of claim 6, wherein each of said wings have a substantially "U" shaped configuration including:

a pair of spaced apart side rods having inner ends attached to one of said jaws;

a linking rod connecting the outer ends of the rod together; and

said one end of the belt passing through the space between said side rods and being supported on said linking rod when overlapping the adjacent portion of the belt, so that said complementary fastening means secure together.

8. A fastening device for securing a hollow tube after the tube is inserted into the airway of the patient, said tube having an air inlet end for positioning on the outside of the patient and an air outlet end, and said device comprising:

support means attached to the air inlet end of the tube;

a belt positioned around the neck of the patient, said belt including a top side, a bottom side and opposite ends;

an adhesive strip interposed on said belt between the ends thereof for adhering to the neck of the patient;

a first fastening member positioned at one end of said belt; and

a second fastening member positioned at a portion of the belt adjacent said first fastening member, said one belt end being supported on said support means to overlap the adjacent portion of the belt so that the first fastening means removably fastens to said second fastening means for securing the belt on the support means.

9. The fastening device of claim 8, wherein said first and second fastening members are positioned on said top side of said belt and said adhesive strip is positioned on the bottom side of said belt.

10. A fastening device for securing an endotracheal tube after the tube has been inserted into the airway of the patient, said tube having an air inlet end and an air outlet end, and said device comprising:

a spring clamp having support means, said clamp including a first jaw and a second jaw, said jaws having a normal position, said jaws resiliently urging toward each other when spread apart from said normal position for positioning on the outside of the air inlet end of the tube;

a belt means for positioning around the neck of the patient; and

said belt means including complementary fastening means located at one end of the belt for removably attaching said belt means to said support means.

11. The fastening device of claim 10, wherein said support means includes a pair of substantially "U" shaped brackets, each of said brackets including spaced apart side bars and a linking bar attaching the side bars together, said one end of the belt being supported on the linking bar of one of said brackets and the other end of the belt being supported on the linking bar of the other bracket.

12. The fastening device of claim 10, wherein said belt means includes a top side, a bottom side and a pair of opposite ends, and said device further comprises:

a first wing including an opening attached to said first jaw;

a second wing including an opening attached to said second jaw; and

said complementary fastening means including;

a first fastening member positioned at one of said belt ends; and

a second fastening member positioned at a portion of the belt adjacent said said first fastening member, said one belt end passing through the opening of said first wing to overlap the adjacent portion of the belt so that the first fastening member removably fastens to said second fastening member, said other end of the belt being associated with said second wing.

13. The fastening device of claim 12 further includes;

a third fastening member attached to the other end of said belt ends; and

a fourth fastening member positioned adjacent said third fastening member, said other belt end passing through the opening of said second wing to overlap the adjacent portion of the belt so that the third fastening member removably fastens to said fourth fastening member.

14. The fastening device of claim 12 wherein said first and second fastening means are attached at the top side of the belt, and said device further includes:

an adhesive strip positioned between said ends of the belt and attached to the bottom side of the belt.

15. The fastening device of claim 14 further includes:

a second spring clamp having a second support means, said second clamp including a third jaw and a fourth jaw, said third and fourth jaws having a normal position and said jaws resiliently urging toward each other when further spread apart from said normal position for positioning on the outside of said air inlet end of the tube; and

a second complementary fastening means located at the other end of the belt for fastening said other belt end to said second support means.