Medication fluid tube stabilization device

• US 7,731,132 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fricker/Raines/Sinnott LLC
• Original Assignee: Fricker/Raines/Sinnott LLC
• Inventors: Raines, Larry Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schell; Laura C
• Application Number:
  US11/513,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20080086090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 604174-180, 128/DIG.6, 128/DIG.26, 248/689, 248/77, 248/510, 248/229, 248/229.16, 248/74.2, 248/21.3, 248/214, 248/67.7, 248/68.1, 248/72, 248/74.1, 248/74.3
• US Class Current: 248/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0503 Holders, support devices for receptacles, e.g. for drainage or urine bags hanging-up devices for infusion A61M5/1414
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0524 characterised by integrated accessories, e.g. bed control means, nurse call or reading lights
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1418 Clips, separators or the like for supporting tubes or leads
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/06 Intravenous injection support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/26 Cannula supporters

Abstract

An interactive fluid tube stabilization device for an intravenous feeding tube is formed of an acrylic material that has a cylindrical shape. A lengthwise slit forms two overlapping sides for the device that can be manually spread apart to fit over and clamp onto the top bed rail of a hospital bed. A flap formed in the side of the device that is opposite to the slit has an arcuate end and a fold line spaced from the end through a distance that is greater than the diameter of the intravenous feeding tube. When the arcuate end is bent toward the top of the bed rail, it forms a gap that accommodates the feeding tube between the device and the flap, enabling most of the drag applied by the feeding tube to be borne by the device and to permit relatively free movement of the tube transverse to the bed rail to accommodate the movement of the patient.

Claims

1. A stabilization device for intravenous tubes for selective attachment to a lengthwise bedrail comprising an inherently resilient and arcuate member having a lengthwise opening forming two sides to said member each for clamping a respective portion of the bedrail there between, more than one flap, each of said flaps having an end thereof formed in said member and a bend in each of said flaps spacing each flap from said opening, means having lengths formed in each of said flap ends, said flap ends means being generally transverse to said opening and the lengthwise bedrail and spaced from said respective flap ends a distance for enabling at least a portion of the drag of at least one of the intravenous tubes to be borne by the bedrail and to move freely and transversely relative to the bedrail.

2. A stabilization device according to claim 1 in which said inherently resilient and arcuate member comprise said two sides thereof that overlap.

3. A stabilization device according to claim 1 wherein each of said flap end means further comprise shapes, said shapes having respective tips thereof to bear against the bedrail to form gaps between said flap ends means and surfaces on said arcuate member adjacent to said respective flap ends means to establish portions of said gaps that are generally equal to the diameters of the intravenous tubes.

4. A stabilization device according to claim 1 in which said member further comprises an acrylic plastic.

5. A stabilization device according to claim 1 wherein said flap ends means comprise distances from said respective flap ends greater than the diameters of the intravenous tubes to enable said respective flap ends means to bear against the bedrail.