Endotracheal tube holder

• US 8,096,300 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2005
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dale Medical Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dale Medical Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Russo, Ronald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bianco, Patricia
• Assistant Examiner(s): NELSON, KERI JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US11/295,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20060118120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,234 Days
• Field of Search: 604/180, 604/179, 128/877, 128/206.25, 128/207.17, 128/207.14, 128/202.27, 128/912, 128/DIG.26
• US Class Current: 128/207.17
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0488 Mouthpieces; Means for guiding, securing or introducing the tubes guiding or introducing with laryngoscopes A61B1/267; holding devices on the body A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0493 with means for protecting the tube from damage caused by the patient's teeth, e.g. bite block
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0497 Tube stabilizer
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0206 where the catheter is secured by using devices worn by the patient, e.g. belts or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/022 specifically adapted for the mouth
• 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 2025/0266 using pads, patches, tapes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body

Abstract

A tube holder assembly is provided for securing a medical tube such as an endotracheal tube to a patient. In one illustrative embodiment, the holder assembly comprises a support strap for placement around the patient'"'"'s head or neck region, a bracket for holding the endotracheal tube in position relative to the patient'"'"'s mouth, and a face anchoring portion for securing the support strap to the patient'"'"'s face region. The support strap includes a front surface and an opposed, back surface. The bracket may be attached to the front surface of the support strap. The bracket may include an upper bar and an arm extending from the upper bar. The face anchoring device may comprise a first surface configured to adhere to the patient'"'"'s face region, and a second, opposed surface having a strap-engaging portion configured to mechanically engage the back surface of the support strap. The support strap may be configured to be repeatedly releasable and adjustable to the face anchoring device.

Claims

1. A holder assembly for positioning, repositioning, and securing an endotracheal tube in a patient'"'"'s mouth, the holder assembly comprising:

a neckband having a front surface and an opposed back surface, wherein the back surface includes a first mechanical engagement mating element and is configured for placement above the patient'"'"'s upper lip, over the patient'"'"'s cheeks, and around the patient'"'"'s head or neck region;

a bracket for attachment to the front surface of the neckband for holding the endotracheal tube in position relative to the patient'"'"'s mouth, the bracket including an upper bar and an arm extending therefrom; and

a face anchoring device for securing the neckband to the patient'"'"'s face region, the face anchoring device comprising a first surface configured to adhere to the patient'"'"'s face region, and a second, opposed surface having a neckband-engaging portion including a second mechanical engagement mating element capable of mechanical engagement with the first mechanical engagement mating element to enable repeated mechanical engagement and disengagement of the second surface of the face anchoring device with the back surface of the neckband.

2. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the bracket is permanently affixed to a fixed position at the front surface of the neckband.

3. The holder assembly of claim 2, wherein the bracket is permanently affixed to the fixed position at the front surface of the neckband by stitching.

4. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the first mechanical engagement mating element and the second mechanical engagement mating element form an interlocking relationship.

5. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the first mechanical engagement mating element comprises a loop pile material, and the second mechanical engagement mating element comprises a hook material.

6. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the arm extends generally perpendicular to the upper bar.

7. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the arm terminates in a gripping region configured to form a snap-fitting engagement around the endotracheal tube.

8. The holder assembly of claim 7, wherein the gripping portion comprises tabs configured for gripping the endotracheal tube.

9. The holder assembly of claim 8, wherein the tabs are flexible.

10. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the arm further comprises an undercut portion having a generally semi-circular contour.

11. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the arm further includes a surface feature for enhanced engagement with the endotracheal tube.

12. The holder assembly of claim 11, wherein the surface feature is selected from the group consisting of surface roughening, barbs, teeth, or adhesive.

13. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper bar comprises slots for placement of the support strap therethrough.

14. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the arm is integral with the upper bar.

15. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the junction between the upper bar and arm is contoured.

16. The holder assembly of claim 15, wherein the contoured junction is chamfered.

17. The holder assembly of claim 1, further including reinforcement elements extending between the upper bar and the arm.

18. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the neckband comprises releasably attachable closure ends.

19. The holder assembly of claim 18, wherein the closure ends include mechanical engagement surfaces for engaging the front surface of the neckband.

20. The holder assembly of claim 19, wherein the front surface of the neckband comprises a loop pile material and the mechanical engagement surfaces comprise hook material.

21. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the first surface of the face anchoring device comprises an adhesive.

22. The holder assembly of claim 1, further including an adhesive tape for securing the endotracheal tube to the arm.

23. The holder assembly of claim 22, wherein the adhesive tape comprises a foam tape.

24. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper bar comprises a portion of a bite block.

25. The holder assembly of claim 24, wherein the bite block includes a channel for insertion of the endotracheal tube.

26. The holder assembly of claim 25, wherein the channel is configured to form a snap-fitted engagement with the endotracheal tube.

27. A holder assembly for positioning, repositioning, and securing an endotracheal tube to a patient'"'"'s mouth, the holder assembly comprising:

a neckband having a front surface and an opposed back surface, wherein the back surface includes a first mechanical engagement mating element and is configured for placement above the patient'"'"'s upper lip, over the patient'"'"'s cheeks, and around the patient'"'"'s head or neck region;

a bracket for holding the endotracheal tube in position relative to the patient'"'"'s mouth, the bracket including an upper bar attached to the front surface of the neckband and an arm extending therefrom, the arm terminating in a gripping region configured to form a snap-fitting engagement around the endotracheal tube; and

a face anchoring device configured to adhere to the patient'"'"'s face region and mechanically attachable to the back surface of the neckband for securing the neckband to the patient'"'"'s face region, wherein the face anchoring device comprises a neckband-engaging portion including a second mechanical engagement mating element capable of mechanical engagement with the first mechanical engagement mating element to enable repeated mechanical engagement and disengagement of the back surface of the neckband to the neckband-engaging portion of the face anchoring device.

28. The holder assembly of claim 27, wherein the first mechanical engagement mating element and the second mechanical engagement mating element form an interlocking relationship.

29. The holder assembly of claim 27, wherein the first mechanical engagement mating element comprises a loop pile material, and the second mechanical engagement mating element comprises a hook material.

30. The holder assembly of claim 27, wherein the neckband can be repeatedly released and readjusted to the face anchoring device.

31. The holder assembly of claim 27, wherein the arm extends generally perpendicular to the upper bar.

32. The holder assembly of claim 27, wherein the gripping portion comprises tabs configured for gripping the endotracheal tube.

33. A holder assembly permitting positioning, repositioning and securement of an endotracheal tube in a patient'"'"'s mouth, the holder assembly comprising:

a neckband having a front surface and an opposed back surface, wherein the back surface includes a first mechanical engagement mating element and is configured for placement above the patient'"'"'s lip area, over the patient'"'"'s cheeks, and around the patient'"'"'s head or neck region;

a bracket for attachment to the front surface of the neckband for holding the endotracheal tube in position relative to the patient'"'"'s mouth, the bracket including an upper bar and an arm extending therefrom; and

a face anchoring device for securing the neckband to the patient'"'"'s face region, the face anchoring device comprising a first rear surface configured to adhere to the patient'"'"'s face region, and a second frontal surface having a neckband-engaging portion, said neckband-engaging portion having a second mechanical engagement mating element capable of mechanical engagement with the first mechanical engagement mating element enabling repeated mechanical engagement and disengagement of the neckband-engaging portion with said back surface of said neckband and permitting repositioning of the endotracheal tube along the patient'"'"'s mouth when the neckband-engaging portion and the back surface are disengaged, and further permitting securement of the neckband to the patient'"'"'s face region when the neckband-engaging portion and the back surface are engaged capable.

34. A method for positioning, repositioning, and securing an endotracheal tube in a patient'"'"'s mouth via a holder assembly, wherein the holder assembly comprises a neckband having a front surface and an opposed back surface, the back surface including a first mechanical engagement mating element;

and the holder assembly further comprises a bracket attached to the front surface of the neckband and a face anchoring device comprising a first adhesive surface, and an opposed second surface, the second surface having a neckband-engaging portion including a second mechanical engagement mating element capable of mechanical engagement with the first mechanical engagement mating element, the method comprising;

adhering the first adhesive surface of the face anchoring device to a fixed position in the patient'"'"'s face region;

securing the neckband around the patient'"'"'s head by placing the back surface of the neckband over the patient'"'"'s face region, and around the patient'"'"'s head or neck region;

mechanically engaging a first portion of the first mechanical engagement mating element of the neckband with the neckband-engaging portion of the anchoring device at the fixed position;

attaching the endotracheal tube to the bracket in a first position relative to the patient'"'"'s mouth; and

repositioning the endotracheal tube to a second position relative to the patient'"'"'s mouth different from the first position, wherein the repositioning comprises;

mechanically disengaging the first portion from the neckband-engaging portion,

moving the neckband such that a second portion of the first mechanical engagement mating element of the neckband, different from the first portion, contacts the neckband-engaging portion of the anchoring device at the fixed position and such that the endotracheal tube is positioned at the second position relative to the patient'"'"'s mouth, and

mechanically engaging the second portion with the neck-band engaging portion of the anchoring device at the fixed position.

35. A holder assembly for positioning an endotracheal tube in a patient'"'"'s mouth, the holder assembly comprising:

a neckband having a front surface and an opposed back surface, wherein the back surface includes a first mechanical engagement mating element;

a bracket for attachment to the front surface of the neckband for holding the endotracheal tube in position relative to the patient'"'"'s mouth; and

a face anchoring device for securing the neckband to the patient'"'"'s face region, the face anchoring device comprising a first surface configured to adhere to the patient'"'"'s face region, and a second, opposed surface having a neckband-engaging portion including a second mechanical engagement mating element capable of mechanical engagement with the first mechanical engagement mating element to enable repeated mechanical engagement and disengagement of the face anchoring device with the back surface of the neckband.

36. The holder assembly of claim 35, wherein the first mechanical engagement mating element and the second mechanical engagement mating element form an interlocking relationship.

37. The holder assembly of claim 35, wherein the first mechanical engagement mating element comprises a loop pile material, and the second mechanical engagement mating element comprises a hook material.

38. The holder assembly of claim 35, wherein the first mechanical engagement mating element comprises a hook material, and the second mechanical engagement mating element comprises a loop pile material.