Surgery – Means for introducing or removing material from body for... – Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
Reexamination Certificate
1997-03-21
2001-05-08
Mendez, Manuel (Department: 3763)
Surgery
Means for introducing or removing material from body for...
Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06228064
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a feed anchor system, and more particularly, to an intravenous feed anchor system (IVFAS) for preventing certain environmental forces from interrupting intravenous (IV) treatment due to unintentional removal or breaking of a patient's IV inserted needle.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, nutrients or medications are administered using intravenous (IV) lines and systems. Frequently, IV treatment is interrupted by unintentional movement, blockage or removal of the IV supply line from the patient due to “pulling forces” exerted on the IV supply line. This occurs particularly with active children and patients in considerable distress. The “pulling forces” can be a result of the IV line being snagged or pulled by environmental animate or inanimate objects.
Health care providers normally secure the position of an IV line using adhesive tape to fix it against a patient's skin. The inserted needle is also reinforced against movement using tape. However, taping has limited effectiveness and undesirable features, such as irritating skin, causing pain when removed, etc. As noted above, patients can move in a manner that inadvertently pulls on the tubing or catches the tubing on an object. In addition, some patients, such as small children or those with mental illness, will knowingly or unknowingly tug on an IV line. In non-critical situations, this is an inconvenience and results in patient discomfort. In critical situations, interruption of the IV supply can result in health risks, discomfort, pain, or even death. Further, the IV must be reinserted when the IV is pulled from a patient's body. This increases the number of skin punctures and increases the risk of infection and contingencies. It is also costly with respect to additional staff demands and treatment.
Numerous IV support and anchoring devices have been proposed to overcome the above-mentioned problem. An example of such a device includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,933 which discloses an arrangement of an IV feeding tube affixed to a strap wrapped loosely around a patient's limb at a location intermediate to the ends of the tube so that a loop is formed. Thus, any tension applied between a fluid reservoir and an intermediate point on the IV tube is transmitted to the strap and then to a patient's limb (an arm) and not to the IV line. A protective sleeve covers the limb and the IV device to prevent patient access to the IV device. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,354,282 and 5,578,013 disclose an anchoring system that includes a flexible, adhesive base pad that supports an IV tube clip and a retainer. The retainer slides relative to the base pad to precisely position the retainer relative to the IV line. U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,608 discloses a protective stabilizing sleeve for an IV needle. The sleeve is secured around a patient's arm or hand. The sleeve protects the site where the needle is inserted and stabilizes the connecting tube.
However, the prior art devices fall short of desired ease of application and performance and are not always effective in preventing inadvertent IV line removal. Further, the prior art devices are relatively expensive, difficult to manufacture and difficult to use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an easy to use intravenous anchor assembly that includes an IV line attach device, a patient attach device and a device to secure an adjustable tie down.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an IV feed anchor tube clamp (IVFATC) at any exposed section of an IV line.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device for preventing certain environmental forces from interrupting IV treatment due to unintentional removal or breakage of a patient's IV inserted needle.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an intravenous feed anchor system for application on many parts of a body.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a low cost, highly effective, throwaway intravenous feed anchor system.
The above objects of the present invention are obtained by providing an intravenous anchor assembly including an IV line clamp device clamping an IV line, an attach device for receiving and securing the IV line clamp device and a securing device for securing an adjustable tie down to a patient. The securing device includes a high surface friction strap. The attach device includes a friction interface, a first rotatable member for receiving a first end of the strap, a second rotatable member, opposite the first rotatable member, for receiving and securing it second end of the strap, and a latching arm which secures the IV line clamp device. The friction interface is a high friction material which prevents the IVFAS from sliding on a patient's skin.
The latching arm includes a cantilever beam for receiving the IV attach device. The cantilever beam can be latched and unlatched to perform adjustments.
The present invention also provides a method for securing an intravenous anchor assembly to a patient. The method includes securing a first end of a strap into a first opening in an attach device, wrapping the strap around an area of a patient's body, securing a second end of a strap into a second opening, opposite the first opening, in the attach device, inserting an IV line section into a receiving region in an IV line clamp device, locking the IV line section in the receiving section of the IV line clamp device, inserting the IV line clamp device onto a top beam member of the attach device and latching the top beam member to secure the IV line clamp device to the attach device. The IV line clamp device is latched in a free floating condition. The IV line section can be repositioned by unlocking the IV clamping device from the secured IV attach device.
These objects, together with other objects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully described and claimed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2606555 (1952-08-01), Solomon
patent: 3167072 (1965-01-01), Stone et al.
patent: 4397647 (1983-08-01), Gordon
patent: 4416664 (1983-11-01), Womack
patent: 4453933 (1984-06-01), Speaker
patent: 4585443 (1986-04-01), Kaufman
patent: 5000741 (1991-03-01), Kalf
patent: 5167630 (1992-12-01), Paul
patent: 5188608 (1993-02-01), Fritts
patent: 5354282 (1994-10-01), Bierman
patent: 5413562 (1995-05-01), Swauger
patent: 5578013 (1996-11-01), Bierman
patent: 5709665 (1998-01-01), Vergano et al.
Abita Joseph L.
Ossing Daniel A.
Krivak Carla Magda
Mendez Manuel
The Johns Hopkins University
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