Medical catheter external bolster having strain relief member
First Claim
1. An external bolster for a medical catheter implanted in a patient at an insertion site, said external bolster comprising:
- (a) a base, said base being enlarged relative to the insertion site of the medical catheter, said base having an opening through which the medical catheter may be inserted;
(b) a strain relief member, said strain relief member being coupled to said base and through which the medical catheter may be inserted, said strain relief member comprising a tube having a first end distal to said base, a second end proximal to said base, and a longitudinal lumen extending from said first end of said tube to said second end of said tube, said strain relief member further comprising a hook positioned on the exterior of said tube proximate to said second end of said tube; and
(c) a tether, said tether having a first end and a second end, said first end of said tether being secured to said tube at a point proximate to said first end of said tube, said second end of said tether comprising an opening through which said hook is removably received to maintain the tube in a bent shape, so that said tube is reversibly transformable between the bent shape comprising first and second arms positioned relative to one another at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees and a straight shape comprising a single arm, wherein said tube, when in said bent shape, causes the medical catheter to assume a bent shape and, when in said straight shape, causes the medical catheter to assume a straight shape.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An external bolster for a medical catheter, the external bolster comprising an integral strain relief member for diminishing the effect of an externally-directed force applied to the medical catheter. In a preferred embodiment, the external bolster is a flexible, unitary member comprising a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion comprises an annular base, the base having a top surface, a bottom surface and a central opening. A plurality of spaced apart feet extend downwardly from the bottom surface of the base. A sleeve extends upwardly from the top surface of the base in alignment with the central opening, the sleeve and the central opening jointly defining a bore of uniform cross-section. The upper portion comprises an elbow-shaped tubular member having a vertical portion, a horizontal portion and a longitudinal lumen. The vertical portion of the tubular member is disposed on top of the sleeve, with its lumen aligned with the bore. The upper portion also includes a tether for maintaining the tubular member in a bent state, the tether having a first end secured to the horizontal portion and a second end secured to the vertical portion.
45 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An external bolster for a medical catheter implanted in a patient at an insertion site, said external bolster comprising:
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(a) a base, said base being enlarged relative to the insertion site of the medical catheter, said base having an opening through which the medical catheter may be inserted; (b) a strain relief member, said strain relief member being coupled to said base and through which the medical catheter may be inserted, said strain relief member comprising a tube having a first end distal to said base, a second end proximal to said base, and a longitudinal lumen extending from said first end of said tube to said second end of said tube, said strain relief member further comprising a hook positioned on the exterior of said tube proximate to said second end of said tube; and (c) a tether, said tether having a first end and a second end, said first end of said tether being secured to said tube at a point proximate to said first end of said tube, said second end of said tether comprising an opening through which said hook is removably received to maintain the tube in a bent shape, so that said tube is reversibly transformable between the bent shape comprising first and second arms positioned relative to one another at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees and a straight shape comprising a single arm, wherein said tube, when in said bent shape, causes the medical catheter to assume a bent shape and, when in said straight shape, causes the medical catheter to assume a straight shape. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. The combination of:
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(a) a medical catheter, said medical catheter including a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal lumen; and (b) an external bolster for the medical catheter, said external bolster comprising; (1) a base, said base being enlarged relative to the insertion site of the medical catheter, said base having an opening through which the medical catheter is inserted; (2) a strain relief device coupled to said base, said strain relief device comprising a flexible tubular member including a first arm terminating in a first end distal to said base, a second arm terminating in a second end proximal to said base, and a longitudinal lumen extending from said first end of said tubular member to said second end of said tubular member, said first arm and said second arm being disposed relative to one another at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees, said medical catheter being inserted into said strain relief device, with said first end of said medical catheter extending beyond said first end of said first arm and said second end of said medical catheter extending beyond said second end of said second arm, said strain relief device further comprising a hook positioned on the exterior of said tubular member proximate to said second end of said tubular member; and (3) a tether, said tether having a first end and a second end, said first end of said tether being secured to said tubular member at a point proximate to said first end of said tubular member, said second end of said tether comprising an opening through which said hook is removably received to maintain the tubular member in a bent shape, so that said tubular member is reversibly transformable between the bent shape comprising first and second arms positioned relative to one another at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees and a straight shape, wherein said tubular member, when in said bent shape, causes the medical catheter to assume a bent shape and, when in said straight shape, causes the medical catheter to assume a straight shape. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An external bolster for a medical catheter implanted in a patient at an insertion site, said external bolster comprising:
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(a) a base, said base being enlarged relative to the insertion site of the medical catheter, said base having an opening through which the medical catheter may be inserted; and (b) a strain relief member, said strain relief member being coupled to said base, said strain relief member comprising a tube having a longitudinal lumen through which the medical catheter may be inserted, said strain relief member further including a catch positioned on the exterior of said tube; and (c) a tether, said tether having a first end and a second end, said first end of said tether having means for releasably engaging said catch to maintain the tube in a bent shape, so that said tube is transformable between the bent shape comprising first and second arms positioned relative to one another at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees and a straight shape comprising a single arm, wherein said tube, when in said bent shape, causes the medical catheter to assume a bent shape and when in said straight shape, causes the medical catheter to assume a straight shape. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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23. An external bolster for a medical catheter implanted in a patient at an insertion site, said external bolster comprising:
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(a) a base, said base being enlarged relative to the insertion site of the medical catheter, said base having an opening through which the medical catheter may be inserted; (b) a strain relief member, said strain relief member being coupled to said base and through which the medical catheter may be inserted, said strain relief member comprising a tube having a first end distal to said base, a second end proximal to said base, and a longitudinal lumen extending from said first end of said tube to said second end of said tube, said strain relief member further comprising a hook positioned on the exterior of said tube; and (c) a tether, said tether having a fixed end and a free end, said fixed end of said tether being fixedly secured to said tube, said free end of said tether having an opening through which said hook is removably received so that, when said hook is received within said opening and, thus, said free end of said tether is secured to said tube, said tube assumes a bent shape comprising first and second arms positioned relative to one another at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees, and so that, when said hook is not received within said opening and, thus, said free end of said tether is not secured to said tube, said tube assumes a straight shape comprising a single arm.
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Specification