Medical tube/wire holding device and associated tube/wire holding method

• US 5,520,656 A
• Filed: 03/29/1995
• Issued: 05/28/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Susan F. Johnston
• Original Assignee: Timothy N. Byrd
• Inventors: Byrd, Timothy N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maglione, Corrine M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRING, NOELLE K
• Application Number:
  US08/412,896
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: 604/180, 604/174, 604/93, 604/264, 604/177, 604/178, 604/179, 604/180, 128/DIG. 26
• 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 2025/0273 having slits to place the pad around a catheter puncturing site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body

Abstract

A medical tube/wire holding device and method. The holding device (10) includes a flexible body (14) defining first and second end portions (16, 18), and defining an opening (20) therethrough disposed between the first and second end portions such that the body defines first and second engaging straps (22, 24) disposed on opposite sides of the opening (20) for engaging at least one medical tube (12) or wire. The holding device (10) also includes a mechanism for releasably securing the first end portion of the body of the device to a patient, and a mechanism for securing the first and second engaging straps about at least one medical tube or wire. The holding method includes the steps of releasably securing the first end portion (16) of the body (14) to the patient at a desired location, and positioning at least one medical tube or wire such that it traverses the body (14). The second end portion (18) of the device is then moved around the tube or wire and inserted through the opening (20 ) in the body such that the first and second engaging straps (22, 24) of the holding device engage, and hold the position of, the tube or wire. The second end portion (18) of the body is then secured in place such that it is prohibited from moving back through the opening (20) in the body (14).

Claims

1. A medical tube/wire holding device for securing to a patient and for engaging and maintaining the desired position of at least one medical tube/wire, said holding device comprising:

a flexible body having a lower surface and defining first and second end portions, said body further defining an opening therethrough disposed between said first and second end portions such that said body defines first and second engaging straps disposed on opposite sides of said opening for engaging, and securing the position of, at least one medical tube/wire as said second end portion of said body is directed around at least one medical tube/wire and received through said opening;

a mechanism for releasably securing said first end portion of said body to the patient; and

a mechanism for securing said first and second tube engaging straps about at least one medical tube/wire after said second end portion of said body is received through said opening in said body, said mechanism for securing said first and second engaging straps about at least one medical tube/wire including a locking bar carried by said second end portion of said body, said locking bar defining first and second opposite end portions extending beyond said body for releasably engaging said first and second engaging straps, respectively, whereby said second end portion is releasably prohibited from moving through said opening in said body.

2. A medical tube/wire holding method for releasably securing at least one medical tube/wire to a patient so as to maintain the desired position of the medical tube/wire, said method utilizing a holding device having a body defining first and second opposite end portions and an opening therethrough disposed between the first and second opposite end portions such that the body defines first and second engaging straps disposed on opposite sides of the opening, said method comprising the steps of:

releasably securing a lower surface of the first end portion of the body of the holding device to the patient at a desired location;

positioning at least one medical tube/wire such that said medical tube/wire traverses an upper surface of the body of the holding device;

moving the second end portion of the holding device about the medical tube/wire and inserting the second end portion of the holding device through the opening such that the upper surfaces of the first and second engaging straps of the holding device engage, and hold the position of, the medical tube/wire; and

releasably securing a lower surface of the second end portion of the body of the holding device to the patient at a selected location such that the second end portion is prohibited from moving back through the opening in the holding device such at the medical tube/wire is maintained by the holding device.

3. The medical tube/wire holding method of claim 2 wherein said step of securing a lower surface of the first end portion of the body of the holding device to the patient includes releasably bonding the first end portion of the body to the patient with an adhesive-covered surface portion provided on the lower surface of the first end portion of the body of the holding device.

4. The medical tube/wire holding method of claim 3 wherein said step of releasably securing a lower surface of the second end portion of the body of the holding device includes releasably securing the second end portion of the body to the patient with an adhesive-covered surface portion provided on the lower surface of the second end portion of the body of the holding device.

5. The medical tube/wire holding method of claim 2 wherein said step of releasably securing a lower surface of the second end portion of the body of the holding device includes releasably securing the second end portion of the body to the patient with an adhesive-covered surface portion provided on the lower surface of the second end portion of the body of the holding device.

6. A medical tube/wire holding device for securing to a patient and for engaging and maintaining the desired position of at least one medical tube/wire, said holding device comprising:

a flexible body having a lower surface and defining first and second end portions, said body further defining an opening therethrough disposed between said first and second end portions such that said body defines first and second engaging straps disposed on opposite sides of said opening for engaging, and securing the position of, at least one medical tube/wire as said second end portion of said body is directed around at least one medical tube/wire and received through said opening;

a mechanism for releasably securing said first end portion of said body to the patient including an adhesive-covered surface portion provided on said lower surface of said body proximate said first end portion of said body for releasably bonding said first end portion to the patient; and

a mechanism for securing said first and second tube engaging straps about at least one medical tube/wire after said second end portion of said body is received through said opening in said body including a locking bar carried by said second end portion of said body, said locking bar defining first and second opposite end portions extending beyond said body for releasably engaging said first and second engaging straps, respectively, whereby said second end portion is releasably prohibited from moving through said opening in said body.

7. A medical tube/wire holding method for releasably securing at least one medical tube/wire to a patient so as to maintain the desired position of the medical tube/wire, said method utilizing a holding device having a body defining first and second opposite end portions and an opening therethrough disposed between the first and second opposite end portions such that the body defines first and second engaging straps disposed on opposite sides of the opening, said method comprising the steps of:

releasably securing the first end portion of the body of the holding device to the patient at a desired location;

positioning at least one medical tube/wire such that said medical tube/wire traverses the body of the holding device;

moving the second end portion of the holding device about the medical tube/wire and inserting the second end portion of the holding device through the opening such that the first and second engaging straps of the holding device engage, and hold the position of, the medical tube/wire; and

releasably securing the position of the second end portion of the holding device such that the second end portion is prohibited from moving back through the opening in the body of the holding device such that the medical tube/wire is maintained by the holding device, said step including placing the first and second end portions of a locking bar carried by the second end portion of the body in contact with the first and second engaging straps, respectively, whereby the second end portion is releasably prohibited from moving through the opening in the body of the holding device such that the medical tube/wire is maintained in position by the holding device.

8. A medical tube/wire holding device for securing to a patient and for engaging and maintaining the desired position of at least one medical tube/wire, said holding device comprising:

a flexible body having a lower surface for being secured to the patient and an upper surface for engaging at least one medical tube/wire, said body defining first and second end portions, said body further defining an opening therethrough disposed between said first and second end portions such that said body defines first and second engaging straps disposed on opposite sides of said opening for engaging, and securing the position of, at least one medical tube/wire subsequent to said second end portion of said body being directed around said at least one medical tube/wire and received through said opening;

a mechanism for releasably securing said lower surface of said body proximate said first end portion of said body to the patient; and

a mechanism for releasably securing said lower surface of said body proximate said second end portion of said body to the patient after said second end portion of said body has been received through said opening in said body and about said at least one medical tube/wire, whereby said upper surface of said body at said first and second tube engaging straps engages and secures the position of said at least one medical tube/wire, and whereby said lower surface of said body proximate said second end portion is releasably secured to said patient, thereby prohibiting said second end portion from moving back through said opening in said body and facilitating the securing of the position of said at least one medical tube/wire.

9. The medical tube/wire holding device of claim 8 wherein said mechanism for releasably securing said lower surface of said body proximate said first end portion of said body to the patient includes an adhesive-covered surface portion provided on said lower surface of said body proximate said first end portion of said body for releasably bonding said first end portion to said patient.

10. The medical tube/wire holding device of claim 8 wherein said mechanism for releasably securing said lower surface of said body proximate said second end portion of said body to the patient includes an adhesive-covered surface portion provided on said lower surface of said body proximate said second end portion of said body for releasably bonding said second end portion to said patient.

11. The medical tube/wire holding device of claim 8 wherein said mechanism for releasably securing said lower surface of said body proximate said first end portion of said body to the patient includes an adhesive-covered surface portion provided on said lower surface of said body proximate said first end portion of said body for releasably bonding said first end portion to said patient, and wherein said mechanism for releasably securing said lower surface of said body proximate said second end portion of said body to the patient includes an adhesive-covered surface portion provided on said lower surface of said body proximate said second end portion of said body for releasably bonding said second end portion to said patient.