Bumper retention device

• US 5,451,212 A
• Filed: 01/21/1994
• Issued: 09/19/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CORPAK MedSystems, Inc. (Avanos Medical, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Corpak Inc (Avanos Medical, Inc.)
• Inventors: Andersen, Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CERMAK, ADAM
• Application Number:
  US08/184,560
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 604/174, 604/175, 604/178, 604/264, 604/280, 604/256
• US Class Current: 604/174
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/028 having a mainly rigid support structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a device for securing a tube, such as a medical catheter or feeding tube, at the site of a body opening. More specifically, the invention is directed to a bumper retention device for retaining a feeding tube in an angular fixation externally against the skin of a patient, so as to prevent slippage, dislodgement, or unnecessary migration of the feeding tube into the stomach, small intestine or other internal body cavity of a patient. The bumper retention device may be used with a conventional catheter or feeding tube and a conventional retention bar. The bumper retention unit comprises a retention stem portion connected to a loop portion. The loop portion is placed around the outer diameter of the feeding tube and when the tube is bent, the stem portion is inserted into an end aperture of the retention bar so that the tube is retained at an approximately 90° angle.

Claims

1. A system for enteral feeding of a patient comprising:

a tube used for the delivery or extraction of fluids or gases into or from said patient, said tube having a distal end, a proximal end, and a tubular shaft;

a retention bar having a central opening through said bar and an end aperture, said tube being inserted through said central opening; and

,

a bumper retention unit connecting the tube and the retention bar for retaining said tube in angular fixation with respect to the retention bar, said bumper retention unit having a loop portion attached to a stem portion, said loop portion being dimensioned for placement around said tubular shaft of said tube and being movably adjusted to a position along said tubular shaft, said stem portion of said bumper retention unit being inserted into said end aperture of said retention bar, so as to retain said tube in angular fixation.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said loop portion has an inner loop diameter and an outer loop diameter, said inner loop diameter being of a size sufficient to fit substantially tightly around an outer tube diameter of said medical tube.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said retention bar end aperture defines an inner diameter, said stem portion comprises a stem and a cap, said stem having an outer diameter of sufficient size to form a tight interference fit with said inner diameter of said retention bar.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said cap is substantially round in shape.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein said cap is substantially flat in shape.

6. A system for the delivery or extraction of fluids or gases into or from a patient, the system comprising:

a medical tube;

a retention bar; and

,

means detachably and reattachably connecting the medical tube and retention bar for maintaining a desired angular fixation between the medical tube and the retention bar.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the means for maintaining a desired angular fixation comprises a retention stem portion and a loop portion attached to the retention stem portion.

8. A method for retaining a medical tube in a fixed angular relationship with a retention bar comprising the steps of:

providing a resilient medical tube;

providing a retention bar having a central opening and an end aperture;

providing a bumper retention unit having a loop portion connected to a retention stem portion;

inserting the medical tube through the retention bar central opening;

bending the medical tube about a central portion of the medical tube;

placing the loop portion about the medical tube; and

,

inserting the retention stem portion into the retention bar end aperture.