Retention bolsters for percutaneous catheters

• US 5,484,420 A
• Filed: 12/07/1993
• Issued: 01/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wilson-Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wilson-Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Russo, Ronald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swiatek, Robert P.
• Application Number:
  US08/163,843
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 604/174, 604/177, 604/178, 604/179, 604/250
• US Class Current: 604/178
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0233 specifically adapted for attaching to a body wall by means which are on both sides of the wall, e.g. for attaching to an abdominal wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body

Abstract

Retention bolsters for a percutaneous catheter which have a convexly curved exterior surface which contacts the epidermal surface of a patient, and which also provide protection against the catheter kinking. The retention bolsters slide over a catheter until contacting the skin of the patient at the catheter exit site. When secured in place, the bolsters rock along contacting portions between their convexly curved surface and the epidermal surface of the patient in response to movement of the catheter about the exit site, thereby alleviating the added pressure that would otherwise be applied by this movement. Upon the release of lateral pressure against the catheter device, the bolsters return to their original upright position. One bolster incorporates an elongated collar which is flexibly resilient to supportively allow the catheter to be laterally bent away from the exit site without kinking. A removable twist lock is placed around the collar portion of the bolster to securely lock the bolster to the catheter and can also be easily disengaged if the user desires to adjust the bolster or temporarily loosen it so that the surface underneath the bolster can be cleaned. A second bolster prevents kinking of the bolster by means of a curved passageway therein which orients the catheter toward a side exit which is substantially parallel to the skin surface. The side exit bolster also facilitates attachment by means of a slit therein which allows the bolster to be easily advanced over the catheter and pivoted into position thereon.

Claims

1. A retention bolster for retaining a tubular medical device against the epidermal surface at the exit site of the device from the body of a patient, said bolster comprising:

a main body having a convexly curved exterior surface portion for contacting the epidermal surface and an upstanding cylindrical portion extending therefrom; and

means plural for securely attaching said main body to the tubular medical device including a longitudinal bore adapted for slidably receiving the tubular medical device therethrough, said longitudinal bore extending through said convexly curved exterior portion and said upstanding cylindrical portion, and means for securely retaining the tubular medical device within said longitudinal bore;

wherein said main body is attachable to the tubular medical device with said convexly curved exterior portion in contact with the epidermal surface, and wherein said main body is rockable along contacting portions between said convexly curved exterior portion and the epidermal surface in response to movement of the tubular medical device about the exit site; and

wherein said upstanding cylindrical portion is elongated and is resiliently flexible to thereby supportively allow the tubular medical device to be bent therein laterally away from said exit site without kinking.

2. The retention bolster of claim 1 in which said means for securely retaining the tubular medical device within said longitudinal bore includes a removable and reusable locking member which is positionable about said upstanding cylindrical portion and which is removably closeable thereabout to apply inward pressure upon a tubular medical device received within said longitudinal bore.

3. A retention bolster for retaining a tubular medical device against the epidermal surface at the exit site of the device from the body of a patient, said bolster comprising:

a main body having a convexly curved exterior surface portion for contacting the epidermal surface, and an upstanding portion extending therefrom, said upstanding portion defining a side opening; and

means for securely attaching said main body to the tubular medical device including a passageway adapted for receiving the tubular medical device therethrough, said passageway extending through said convexly curved exterior portion and said upstanding portion to said side opening, and means for securely retaining the tubular medical device within said passageway;

wherein said main body is attachable to the tubular medical device with said convexly curved exterior portion in contact with the epidermal surface, and wherein said main body is rockable along contacting portions between said convexly curved exterior portion and the epidermal surface in response to movement of the tubular medical device about the exit site; and

wherein said passageway has a curved portion within said main body which curves towards said side opening to thereby bend and orient a tubular medical device therein toward and through said side opening and laterally away from the exit site of the device from the body without kinking.

4. The retention bolster of claim 3 in which said main body defines a slit therethrough which is oppositely disposed on said main body from said side opening, for allowing passage of a tubular medical device therethrough and into said passageway, wherein the advancement of said bolster along the tubular medical device may be facilitated by advancing the tubular medical device through said slit and out through said side opening, and wherein said bolster may be pivoted into a mounting arrangement on said tubular medical device by bending the tubular medical device through said slit and into said curved portion of said passageway.

5. A retention bolster for retaining a tubular medical device against the epidermal surface at the exit site of the device from the body of a patient, said bolster comprising:

a main body having an exterior surface portion for contacting the epidermal surface, and an upstanding portion extending therefrom, said upstanding portion defining a side opening; and

means for securely attaching said main body to the tubular medical device including a passageway adapted for receiving the tubular medical device therethrough, said passageway extending through said exterior surface portion and said upstanding portion to said side opening, and means for securely retaining the tubular medical device within said passageway;

wherein said main body is attachable to the tubular medical device with said exterior surface portion in contact with the epidermal surface; and

wherein said passageway has a curved portion within said main body which curves towards said side opening to thereby bend and orient a tubular medical device therein toward and through said side opening and laterally away from the exit site of the device from the body without kinking, and

wherein said main body defines a slit therethrough which is oppositely disposed on said main body from said side opening, said slit being resiliently openable to allow passage of a tubular medical device therethrough and into said passageway, wherein the advancement of said bolster along the tubular medical device may be facilitated by advancing the tubular medical device through said slit and out through said side opening, and wherein said bolster may be pivoted into a mounting arrangement on said tubular medical device by bending the tubular medical device through said slit and into said curved portion of said passageway.