Naso-gastric tube retainer
First Claim
1. A naso-gastric tube retainer having a nose end and a tube end defining a longitudinal axis therebetween, the retainer comprising:
- a nose pad at the nose end of the retainer, including a structural layer and an adjacent adhesive layer;
a tube attachment section at the tube end of the retainer, including a structural layer and an adjacent adhesive layer;
a longitudinal neck connecting the nose pad to the tube attachment section, wherein the neck is narrower in a dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal axis than each of the nose pad and the tube attachment section; and
a flexible, substantially inelastic spine extending at least the length of the neck and being affixed to at least two locations on the neck that are spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An adhesive device retains a medical tube, and particularly a naso-gastric tube, in relation to a patient with improved flexibility, strength and adhesion. The device includes a nose pad portion for attaching to a patient'"'"'s nose and a tube attachment section for attaching to the naso-gastric tube. A substantially inelastic spine extends across a narrow or otherwise vulnerable neck portion, which connects the nose pad to the tube attachment section. The spine strengthens the retaining device against tensile and shear forces while allowing flexibility. At the same time, deflection of the spine does not cause internal elastic stresses sufficient to counter adhesion of the retainer to either the patient or the medical tube.
59 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A naso-gastric tube retainer having a nose end and a tube end defining a longitudinal axis therebetween, the retainer comprising:
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a nose pad at the nose end of the retainer, including a structural layer and an adjacent adhesive layer; a tube attachment section at the tube end of the retainer, including a structural layer and an adjacent adhesive layer; a longitudinal neck connecting the nose pad to the tube attachment section, wherein the neck is narrower in a dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal axis than each of the nose pad and the tube attachment section; and a flexible, substantially inelastic spine extending at least the length of the neck and being affixed to at least two locations on the neck that are spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A one-piece naso-gastric retainer having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a neck portion connecting the upper portion to the lower portion, the retainer comprising:
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a first structural layer; an adhesive layer adjacent the first structural layer; a second structural layer adjacent the first structural layer; and a spine secured between the first structural layer and the second structural layer, at least as narrow as the neck portion of the retainer and extending at least the length of the neck portion, comprising a substantially inelastic, flexible material with a tensile strength greater than that of the first and second structural layers. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. An adhesive, external anchoring device for attaching a medical tube to the body of a patient, comprising:
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an first end portion comprising an adhesive pad for securing the device to a patient, having at least a section with a width of greater than about 1 inch and at least a section with a length of greater than about 1 inch; a second end portion comprising an adhesive pad for securing the device to a naso-gastric tube; a neck portion, narrower than the first end portion and the second end portion, connecting the first end portion to the second end portion; and a spine fixed to both the first end portion and the second end portion and extending the length of the neck portion. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A naso-gastric tube retainer, comprising:
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an upper end portion including first means for attaching the retainer to the nose of a patient; a lower end portion including second means for attaching the retainer to a naso-gastric tube; and a flexible, substantially inelastic spine affixed to and extending between the upper end and the lower end portions. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A medical tube retainer, comprising:
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a first pad for attaching to the skin of a patient; a second pad for attaching to a medical tube, said second pad being spaced from the first pad; and means for coupling the first and second pads together and for inhibiting the space between the first and second pads from increasing, while allowing all other degrees of movement of the second pad relative to the first pad without producing substantial internal stress in the retainer.
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Specification