Intravenous catheter stabilizing device

• US 6,258,066 B1
• Filed: 03/08/1999
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rex W. Urich
• Original Assignee: Rex W. Urich
• Inventors: Urich, Rex W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAYNARD, JENNIFER J
• Application Number:
  US09/264,601
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 604/174, 604/177, 604/178, 604/179, 604/180, 128/DIG.26, 119/712, 119/856
• US Class Current: 604/174
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0253 where the catheter is attached by straps, bands or the like secured by adhesives
• 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 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body

Abstract

The present invention provides a new intravenous catheter stabilizing device comprising a disposable catheter assembly and a reusable strap having a hole or aperture therein. The catheter assembly includes a hub portion and a catheter, as is conventional in the art. The aperture or hole in the strap is configured such that the hub of a catheter assembly may extend at least partially therethrough. The strap of the present invention has attachment means located thereon and proximal to the aperture for attaching the catheter assembly to the strap such that the hub portion of the catheter assembly extends at least partially through the aperture of the strap. The strap further includes fastening means for securing the strap around a limb of a patient. When the device of the present invention is assembled and used as intended on a limb of a patient, the hub of the catheter partially extends through the aperture in the strap thereby allowing attachment of an intravenous tube with a standard luer lock mechanism. In this configuration, the device protects the attached catheter hub and secures it against the limb of a patient and adjacent to the venipuncture site.

Claims

1. An intravenous catheter stabilizing device comprising

a catheter assembly having a hub portion and a catheter portion,

a strap having an aperture therein through which said hub portion of said catheter assembly extends,

said strap adapted to surround a limb of a patient;

said strap further having fastening means for securing said strap around the limb of a patient, and

attachment means located on said strap and proximal to said aperture for attaching said catheter assembly to said strap such that said hub portion extends at least partially through said aperture of said strap;

wherein said attachment means comprises first and second snap elements,

wherein said first and second snap elements are located proximal to said aperture and on opposite sides thereof,

wherein said hub portion of said catheter assembly has first and second opposing tabs extending radially therefrom,

wherein said first opposing tab has a first mating snap element,

wherein said second opposing tab has a second mating snap element,

wherein the distance between said first and second mating snap elements substantially matches the distance between said first and second snap elements of said strap.

2. The intravenous catheter stabilizing device of claim 1

wherein said strap has a first inner surface and a second outer surface,

wherein said fastening means comprises at least one engaging element located on said first inner surface of said strap and at least one mating engaging element located on said second outer surface of said strap.

3. The intravenous catheter stabilizing device of claim 1

wherein said strap has a first end portion and a second end portion,

wherein said strap has a first inner surface and a second outer surface,

wherein said aperture is located on said first end portion of said strap,

wherein said fastening means of said strap comprises at least one engaging element located on said first inner surface of said strap and at least one mating engaging element located on said second outer surface of said strap,

wherein the length of said strap is such that said second end portion of said strap overlaps said first end portion of said strap and covers said aperture when said engaging element(s) attach(es) to said at least one mating engaging element.

4. The intravenous catheter stabilizing device of claim 1 further comprising a second strap,

wherein said strap has a first inner surface and a second outer surface,

wherein said second strap has at least one engaging element located on said first inner surface,

wherein said second strap further has at least one mating engaging element located on said second outer surface,

wherein said first strap is L-shaped having a first leg and a second leg,

wherein said first leg is substantially perpendicular to said second leg,

wherein said first strap has a first inner surface and a second outer surface,

wherein said aperture and said attachment means are located on said first leg of said first strap,

wherein said inner surface of said second strap attaches to said outer surface of said first strap at said second leg thereof.

5. The intravenous catheter stabilizing device of claim 4 wherein said first strap is integrally attached to said second strap.

6. The intravenous catheter stabilizing device of claim 4 or 5 further comprising second attachment means located on said second leg of said strap,

wherein said second leg of said strap has an aperture therein located proximal to said second attachment means.

12. The intravenous catheter stabilizing device of claim 1 further comprising stress relief means located on said strap.

13. The intravenous catheter stabilizing device of claim 4 further comprising stress relief means located on said second strap.

14. The intravenous catheter stabilizing device of claim 1 further comprising a strip attached at the ends thereof to the outer surface of said strap, wherein said strip is adapted to secure an intravenous tube.

16. The intravenous catheter stabilizing device of claims 4 wherein said first and second opposing tabs include adhesive on respective surfaces thereof for contacting and adhering said catheter assembly to the skin of a patient.

7. An intravenous catheter stabilizing device comprising

a catheter assembly having a hub portion and a catheter portion,

a strap having an aperture therein through which said hub portion of said catheter assembly extends,

said strap adapted to surround a limb of a patient;

said strap further having fastening means for securing said strap around the limb of a patient, and

attachment means located on said strap and proximal to said aperture for positively attaching said catheter assembly to said strap such that said hub portion extends at least partially through said aperture of said strap;

wherein said attachment means comprises a U-shaped clip having an inner engaging surface,

wherein said inner engaging surface corresponds to at least a segment of the outer surface of said hub portion of said catheter assembly, and

wherein said U-shaped clip engages said hub portion of said catheter assembly.

8. The intravenous catheter stabilizing device of claim 7, wherein said U-shaped clip releasably engages said hub of said catheter assembly.

9. The intravenous catheter stabilizing device of claim 8 or 7 wherein said hub portion of said catheter has a groove formed therein and extending around the circumference of said hub portion,

wherein said U-shaped clip corresponds to said groove and engages said hub portion in said groove.

10. An intravenous catheter stabilizing device comprising

a strap,

said strap having a first inner surface and a second outer surface,

said strap having an aperture therethrough,

said strap further having an area of a plurality of loop fasteners on said second outer surface and an area of a plurality of hook fasteners on said first inner surface,

and a catheter assembly having a hub portion and a catheter,

wherein said hub portion of said catheter assembly has first and second opposing tabs extending radially therefrom,

wherein said first opposing tab has a first area of a plurality of loop fasteners thereon,

wherein said second opposing tab has a second area of a plurality of loop fasteners thereon,

whereby the user inserts said catheter assembly into the vein of a patient with said first and second areas of loop fasteners facing away from the patient'"'"'s skin, places said strap over said catheter assembly such that said hub portion extends at least partially through said aperture and such that said loop fasteners on said tabs of said catheter assembly engage said hook fasteners on said first inner surface of said strap.

11. An intravenous catheter stabilizing device comprising

a thin, flexible card having a notch therein,

said card having a first surface and a second surface,

a first adhesive strip attached to said first surface of said flexible card and extending over said notch,

a catheter assembly having a hub portion and a catheter,

said hub portion of said catheter assembly positioned in said notch and contacting said adhesive strip,

a second adhesive strip attached to said second surface of said flexible card extending over said notch and contacting said hub portion of said catheter assembly to thereby secure said hub portion to said card,

said card further having a first snap element and a second snap element located on opposing sides of said notch,

and a strap having an aperture therein and first and second mating snap elements on opposite sides of said aperture,

said strap further having attachment means for securing said strap around the limb of a patient.

15. The intravenous catheter stabilizing device of claim 11 wherein said flexible card further includes adhesive on a surface thereof for contacting and adhering said flexible card to the skin of a patient.

17. An intravenous catheter stabilizing device comprising

a strap,

said strap having a first inner surface and a second outer surface,

said strap having an aperture therethrough,

said strap further having a first snap element and a second snap element,

said first and second snap elements located proximal to said aperture and on opposite sides thereof,

said strap having an area of hook fasteners on said first inner surface and an area of loop fasteners on said second outer surface,

a catheter assembly having a hub portion and a catheter portion, and first and second opposing tabs extending from said hub portion of said catheter assembly,

said first opposing tab having a first mating snap element,

said second opposing tab having a second mating snap element,

wherein said first and second mating snap elements are spaced apart so as to releasably secure to said first and second snap elements on said strap.

18. The intravenous catheter stabilizing device of claim 17 wherein said first and second opposing tabs comprise thin, flexible plastic members.

19. An intravenous catheter stabilizing device comprising:

a catheter holder comprising

a flexible member having first and second snap elements at opposite ends thereof, and means for holding a catheter hub between said snaps elements;

a strap having an aperture therethrough and first and second mating snap elements located on opposite sides of said aperture and corresponding to said first and second snap elements on said flexible member;

said strap having a plurality of engaging members on one side thereof and a plurality of mating engaging members on the opposite side of said strap for securing said strap around a limb of a patient.

20. An intravenous catheter stabilizing device comprising:

a catheter holder comprising a first adhesive strip, a second adhesive strip, a first male snap assembly, a second male snap assembly and a catheter assembly having a hub portion and a catheter;

said first adhesive strip attached to said second adhesive strip with said catheter between and attached to said adhesive strips substantially at the midpoint of said strips;

said first male snap assembly attached to a respective end of said first and second strips;

said second male snap assembly attached to the opposite respective end of said strips;

a strap having an aperture therethrough;

said strap further having first and second surfaces, and first and second female snap assemblies,

said first and second female snap assemblies placed for engagement with said male snap assemblies of said catheter holder;

said aperture located between said first and second female snap assemblies and such that said catheter hub extends through said aperture when said female snap assemblies engage said male snap assemblies of said catheter holder;

and strap fastening means,

said strap fastening comprising a hook area on said first surface and a loop(pile) area on said second surface to secure said strap around a limb of a patient.

21. The intravenous catheter stabilizing device of claim 20 further comprising

a second strap

said second strap having a first surface with a first area of pile fabric at one end of said second strap and a second area of pile fabric at the opposite end of said second strap;

said second strap having a second surface comprising an area of hooks;

wherein said first strap is L-shaped having a first longer member and a second shorter member,

whereby said first pile area of said second strap attaches to said hook area of said shorter member of said first strap, wraps around a limb of a patient and, whereby said second pile area of said second strap contacts said hook area of said second strap to secure said second strap around said limb of said patient.