Universal tube lumen catheter holder

• US 5,292,312 A
• Filed: 01/08/1993
• Issued: 03/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Struckmeyer Corporation
• Inventors: Cheatwood, Sharon D., Bowen, Michael L., Delk, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirsch, Paul J.
• Application Number:
  US08/002,313
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 604/174, 604/179, 604/180, 128/DIG. 26, 128/DIG. 6
• US Class Current: 604/180
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/26 Cannula supporters

Abstract

A medical conduit holder for securing medical conduits to the skin of a patient is made of two major portions. The first portion is a base plate or patch for adhesively securing to the skin. The second portion is a strap which wraps back through a slot in the strap to fully encircle the conduit or group of conduits. Pressure sensitive VELCRO type attachment surfaces are present on the upper surface of the base plate and the lower surface of the strap. The externally exposed parts of both the base patch and the strap are smooth so as not to snag on surrounding materials. The surface of the strap which contacts the conduit is made of or coated with a high friction material to prevent axial slipping of the encircled conduit. Typical conduits which may be conveniently held in place with this invention include tubes, lumens, catheters, electrical wiring, and optical fibers. The conduits may easily be oriented in any direction and may be removed or replaced without the necessity of removing the adhesive from the patient.

Claims

1. A conduit holder for releasably securing medical conduit to the external skin surface of a patient comprising:

base plate means having substantial area and comprising;

a pliable support substrate easily contourable to a skin surface;

a generally smooth upper attachment area; and

a lower surface coated with medical grade adhesive for semi-permanent attachment to the skin of the patient;

strap means having a substantial length for looping around said conduit and adjustably but firmly securing said conduit generally parallel to the skin surface and orthogonal to said strap length; and

pressure sensitive attachment means for holding said strap means to said upper attachment;

said strap means being fully detachable from said plate means, and having wide and narrow ends and a generally smooth transition zone between said ends; and

said strap means further comprising;

a generally smooth upper surface;

a generally rough lower surface which, together with said generally smooth upper attachment area of said base plate means, forms said pressure sensitive attachment means; and

a slot centrally located in said wide end near said transition zone, said slot having a width just sufficient to allow unimpeded passage of said narrow end through said slot and at the same time restraining said narrow end to remain axially aligned with said wide end after looping around said conduit;

said generally smooth upper surface of said strap means including a central band of high friction material for tightly gripping said conduit after looping around said conduit, said high friction band extending fully across the width of said strap and from approximately the region of said transition zone toward said narrow end of said strap means;

said generally rough lower surface of said strap means being interrupted by a relatively smooth central band for presenting a smooth exposed surface after looping around said conduit, said smooth central band extending fully across the width of said strap and from approximately the region of said transition zone toward said narrow end of said strap means.

2. The conduit holder according to claim 1, wherein said strap means is looped exactly 360 degrees around said conduit by passing under said conduit, up around said conduit, back down through said slot and back under said conduit.

3. The conduit holder according to claim 1, wherein said generally rough lower surface of said strap means is interrupted by a relatively smooth central band for presenting a smooth exposed surface after looping around said conduit, said smooth central band being located directly opposite said high friction band on said upper surface of said strap means.

4. The conduit holder according to claim 1, wherein said base plate means further comprises a sheet for covering said adhesive coating which is easily removed when it is desired to attach said base plate means to the skin of the patient.

5. The conduit holder according to claim 1, wherein said base plate means may be easily trimmed to fit awkward areas of the patient without compromising its effectiveness in providing secure attachment means for said medical conduit.

6. A conduit holder for releasably securing medical conduit to the external skin surface of a patient comprising:

base plate means comprising;

a pliable support surface easily contourable to a skin surface;

a generally smooth upper attachment area; and

a lower surface coated with medical grade adhesive for semi-permanent attachment to the skin of the patient; and

strap means having a substantial length for looping around said conduit and adjustably but firmly securing said conduit generally parallel to the skin surface and orthogonal to said strap length, said strap means being fully detachable from said plate means, and having wide and narrow ends and a generally smooth transition zone between said ends and comprising;

a generally smooth upper surface including a central band of high friction material for tightly gripping said conduit after looping around said conduit, said high friction band extending fully across the width of said strap and from approximately the region of said transition zone toward said narrow end of said strap means;

a generally rough lower surface which, together with said generally smooth upper attachment area of said base plate means, forms said pressure sensitive attachment means; and

a slot centrally located in said wide end near said transition zone, said slot having a width just sufficient to allow unimpeded passage of said narrow end through said slot and at the same time restraining said narrow end to remain axially aligned with said wide end after looping around said conduit; and

pressure sensitive attachment means for holding said strap means to said upper attachment area.

7. A conduit holder according to claim 6, wherein said base plate means has a substantial area so as to allow said pressure sensitive attachment means to hold said strap means to said upper attachment area in any direction throughout a full 360 degree range.

8. The conduit holder according to claim 6, wherein said strap means is looped exactly 360 degrees around said conduit by passing under said conduit, up around said conduit, back down through said slot and back under said conduit.

9. The conduit holder according to claim 6, wherein said base plate means further comprises a sheet for covering said adhesive coating which is easily removed when it is desired to attach said base plate means to the skin of the patient.

10. The conduit holder according to claim 6, wherein said base plate means may be easily trimmed to fit awkward areas of the patient without compromising its effectiveness in providing secure attachment means for said medical conduit.

11. A conduit holder for releasably securing medical conduit to the external skin surface of a patient comprising:

base plate means comprising;

a pliable support surface easily contourable to a skin surface;

a generally smooth upper attachment area; and

a lower surface coated with medical grade adhesive for semi-permanent attachement to the skin of the patient; and

strap means having a substantial length for looping around said conduit and adjustably but firmly securing said conduit generally parallel to the skin surface and orthogonal to said strap length, said strap means being fully detachable from said base plate means, and having wide and narrow ends and a generally smooth transition zone between said ends and comprising;

a generally smooth upper surface;

a generally rough lower surface which, together with said generally smooth upper attachment area of said base plate means, forms said pressure sensitive attachment means, wherein said generally rough lower surface of said strap means is interrupted by a relatively smooth central band for presenting a smooth non-tacky exposed surface after looping around said conduit, said smooth central band extending fully across the width of said strap and from approximately the region of said transition zone toward said narrow end of said strap means; and

a slot centrally located in said wide end near said transition zone, said slot having a width just sufficient to allow unimpeded passage of said narrow end through said slot and at the same time restraining said narrow end to remain axially aligned with said wide end after looping around said conduit; and

pressure sensitive attachment means for holding said strap means to said upper attachment area.

12. A conduit holder according to claim 11, wherein said base plate means has a substantial area so as to allow said pressure sensitive attachment means to hold said strap means to said upper attachment area in any direction throughout a full 360 degree range.

13. The conduit holder according to claim 11, wherein said strap means is looped exactly 360 degrees around said conduit by passing under said conduit, up around said conduit, back down through said slot and back under said conduit.

14. The conduit holder according to claim 11, wherein said base plate means further comprises a sheet for covering said adhesive coating which is easily removed when it is desired to attach said base plate means to the skin of the patient.

15. The conduit holder according to claim 11, wherein said base plate means may be easily trimmed to fit awkward areas of the patient without compromising its effectiveness in providing secure attachment means for said medical conduit.