Vein stabilizer for venous needle insertion

• US 6,524,297 B1
• Filed: 05/09/2001
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force
• Inventors: Newman, George H.
• Primary Examiner(s): MENDEZ, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US09/851,174
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 604/304, 604/305, 604/306, 604/307, 604/308, 604/171, 604/174, 604/506, 604/507, 604/511
• US Class Current: 604/506
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0246 fixed on the skin having a cover for covering the holding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0273 having slits to place the pad around a catheter puncturing site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0111 Aseptic insertion devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0612 Devices for protecting the needle; Devices to help insertion of the needle, e.g. wings or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/425 Protruding skin to facilitate piercing, e.g. vacuum cylinders, vein immobilising means

Abstract

A disposable product used to stabilize rolling veins and bring small veins into position to facilitate needle insertion. Needle insertion is used for transfusions, to draw blood samples, and for variety of other medical necessities. Many patients have either/or both small veins or veins that roll under the skin. Either of these characteristics has the tendency to complicate the process of sticking the needle in. As a result of these characteristics in concert with the mental and physical discomfort described by several recipients of multiple needle stabs, and fact that these characteristics complicate the speed of providing IV emergency care in a moving ambulance, the invention was developed. Invention is a sterile wrapped flexible plastic performed pad with an elongated hole in the middle, and coated on the bottom with bandage type adhesive.

Claims

1. A vein stabilizing process comprising the steps of:

flattening out a flexible plastic preformed pad which has a bottom side with an adhesive, said flexible plastic pad having a longitudinal aperture through which a needle may be inserted into a vein for hypodermic needle use, and said flexible plastic pad having a curved preformed body which is deflected prior to application;

applying the flattened preformed pad so that its longitudinal aperture is aligned with the vein and the adhesive connects the pad so that it holds the surrounding skin; and

releasing the flexible plastic preformed pad so that it resumes its curved preformed body shape to press the skin and vein up into the longitudinal aperture to facilitate hypodermic needle use.