Supports: racks – Of wire
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-15
2001-06-26
Gibson, Jr., Robert W. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Of wire
C211S133400, C211S133500, C005S503100, C604S259000, C604S322000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250482
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to fluid recovery systems for draining fluid from the body of a patient and, more particularly, to a holder for mounting such fluid recovery systems to a support.
Various fluid recovery systems have been developed to drain and collect fluids, such as blood from a body cavity. Such systems typically attach at least one tube to a body cavity of a patient for the removal of blood or other fluid following trauma or surgery. A one-way valve or fluid seal is provided in the system to prevent reflux of atmospheric air into the body cavity. The blood or other fluid is collected in a collection chamber provided within the fluid recovery system.
Medical professionals often recommend that patients attempt to leave their hospital beds and be mobile prior to removal of the fluid recovery system from the patient. As a result, unless a medical professional is available, the patient, who is often weak, must carry the fluid recovery system as the patient attempts to move. The patient may inadvertently drop or tip the chest drain. Perhaps, more importantly, the patient may not be physically strong enough to carry the fluid recovery system without assistance.
More generally speaking, in a hospital setting fluid recovery systems are occasionally bumped, jarred or even knocked-over. The destabilization of a fluid recovery system can present a number of problems which may adversely effect the operation of the system. For example, in the event the system is destabilized or knocked over, the one-way valve or fluid seal can be compromised by fluids within the system moving between the chambers of the fluid recovery system. Additionally, when collected fluid spills from the collection chamber to another chamber as a result of the system being destabilized, the volume of fluid removed from the patient must be recalculated to account for the volume of fluid spilled from the collection chamber. Furthermore, the siphon potential of the fluid recovery system can be diminished in the event of system destabilization.
In the case of fluid recovery systems such as thoracic cavity drains or chest drains, the chest drain preferably maintains a selected orientation relative to the patient, i.e., below the thoracic cavity or chest of the patient, in order to function best. Otherwise, fluid may not drain from the patient's body.
Therefore, there is a need for a holder for a fluid recovery system that facilitates the transport of the fluid recovery system by a patient or medical professional while concomitantly maintaining the fluid recovery system in a stable, upright, and operational position. There is also a need for a holder for mounting a fluid recovery system on a support, such as a mobile IV pole or a bedstand, that maintains the fluid recovery system in an operational position relative to the patient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a holder for a fluid recovery system that facilitates the transport and support of the fluid recovery system while the system is attached to a patient. A fluid recovery system holder having features of the present invention includes a housing for carrying the chest drain and a mounting assembly coupled to the housing for removably and replaceably mounting the housing on the support. The housing has an opening sized and shaped to receive the fluid recovery system.
A fluid recovery system holder according to one embodiment of the invention, permits the fluid recovery system to be mounted on a support, such as a mobile IV pole or a bedstand. Mounting a fluid recovery system to a mobile IV pole provides mobility to the recovering patient without necessitating separation of the fluid recovery system from the patient. In addition, mounting a fluid recovery system, in particular a thoracic cavity drain, to a support inhibits destabilization of the thoracic cavity drain and can assist in ensuring that the thoracic cavity drain remains in the proper orientation relative to the patient. The holder, together with the support, can thus minimize jarring, tipping, or complete knock-over of the drain that can result in fluids spilling between the chambers of the drain, adversely effecting the operation of the drain.
The housing can include a base member, a top member opposed to the base member, and a connecting assembly for connecting the base member and the top member. The top member has an opening sized and shaped to receive the fluid recovery system. The housing has a front face and an opposed back face. The connecting member is configured to allow visual inspection of the chest drain through the front face of the housing when the chest drain is positioned in the holder.
The connecting member can include first and second U-shaped rods having an open portion and an opposed closed portion. Each rod is preferably oriented substantially perpendicularly to the top member and to the bottom member. The top member is connected to the U-shaped rods in selected proximity to the open portion of the U-shaped rods. The bottom member is connected to the U-shaped rods in selected proximity to the closed portion of the U-shaped rods.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the mounting assembly can include a hook coupled to the housing. The hook preferably includes a proximal fastening element for fastening the hook to the housing, a generally C-shaped element coupled to the fastening element, and a spring-loaded distal element coupled to the C-shaped element. The C-shaped element is preferably configured to conform to a support having a generally circular cross-section with a preselected diameter. The distal element can be configured to extend and contract so as to allow the hook to receive the support. The mounting assembly can further include a hook securing element, such as a clasp for securing the hook to the support.
Alternatively, the mounting assembly can include first and second hooks coupled to the housing. In particular, the first and second hooks are coupled to the top member and to the bottom member, respectively. In addition, the first and second hooks are preferably positioned to open in opposite directions.
The holder can further include a handle coupled to the housing. The handle is preferably coupled to the housing in selected proximity to the top member and can be positioned at an angle to the front face of the housing so that the handle does not interfere with positioning the fluid recovery system in the holder.
An alternative embodiment of the invention provides a chest drain mount for mounting a chest drain on a support. The chest drain mount can include a first connecting element for connecting the mount to the chest drain, and a second connecting element for removably and replaceably connecting the mount to the support.
Yet another embodiment of the invention provides a chest drain assembly including a chest drain, and a holder for mounting the chest drain on a support. The holder can include a housing for carrying the chest drain, and a mounting assembly for removably and replaceably mounting the housing on the support. The housing preferably has an opening sized and shaped to receive the chest drain.
Still another embodiment of the invention provides a chest drain support assembly including a support, and a holder for mounting a chest drain on the support. The holder preferably includes a housing for carrying the chest drain, and a mounting assembly for removably and replaceably mounting the housing on the support. The housing has an opening sized and shaped to receive the chest drain. In a preferred embodiment the support is a stand, e.g., a mobile IV pole.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a clamp for connecting a chest drain holder to a support. The clamp can include a fastening element coupled to the holder for fastening the clamp to the holder, and a support engaging member coupled to the fastening element and configured to conform to the support.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 35225 (1996-04-01), Herweck et al.
patent: D. 328790 (1992-08-01), Herweck et
Cochran Thomas S.
Harris Jeff
Want Nicholas
Atrium Medical Corporation
Gibson , Jr. Robert W.
Lahive & Cockfield LLP
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