Surgery – Body protecting or restraining devices for patients or infants
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-19
2001-08-21
Brown, Michael A. (Department: 3764)
Surgery
Body protecting or restraining devices for patients or infants
C128S878000, C602S003000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276364
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a protective sleeve for a chronically-implanted intravenous (IV) site. It is constructed of a prophylactic waterproof material which prevents moisture from infiltrating the IV site.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many patients during hospital stays or other medical treatments require nutrients and/or drugs to be administered via an intravenous (IV) procedure. Usually an IV catheter is inserted into a vein in the patient's forearm or leg and then connected to a setup consisting of catheter tubing, IV tubing, and an IV bag containing a solution of nutrients and/or drugs. After the administration of the IV solution, if the patient does not need more solution, or will not need more solution for quite some time, the IV catheter maybe removed from the patient. If the patient thereafter requires more IV solution, a new IV catheter is inserted. If the patient requires more solution immediately, another bag is connected to the IV tubing.
The cost of medical care in general, and the hospital care in particular, has increased substantially in recent years. Because of this increase in cost, many hospitals now send patients home earlier than in years past. In some instances, these patients are sent home to further recover from their illness or injury, and may be attended to by either live-in or part time nurses. The growing tendency of hospitals to discharge patients earlier than in years past has lead to changes in IV procedures.
Specifically, in connection with an early hospital release, a patient may be sent home with a chronically-implanted IV site. A chronically implanted IV site consists of a catheter and its associated catheter tubing which is left implanted in the patient's vein, but which is capped off with a plug and a luer. Whenever a patient is in need of nutrients or drugs, a nurse can remove the plug and luer, and then attach IV tubing and an IV bag to the IV site. This procedure can be done at the patient's home, at an infusion center on outpatient basis, at a nursing home, at an AIDS treatment center, or at a hospice.
One problem however with a chronically-implanted IV site is that any moisture collecting around the IV site may act as a medium for the ingress of bacteria into the patient through the break in the skin where the IV catheter enters a vein. Consequently, an IV site must be protected during exposure to moisture making bathing inconvenient. In fact, showering is, as a practical matter, not permitted when a patient is provided with an implanted IV site.
Because infection of the IV site will lead to costly additional medical treatment, the protection of the site from moisture and subsequent infection is a powerful economic incentive.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to protect a chronically-implanted intravenous (IV) site (or other hazardous site on the arm or leg needing protection from moisture or infection) from exposure to moisture and infection.
It is another object of the invention to protect such a chronically-implanted IV site or other hazardous site from moisture with a sleeve-like covering that the patient can place on his arm without any assistance from a third party.
It is another object of the invention to protect such an IV site from moisture without dragging, snagging, pulling or otherwise interfering with the IV site.
It is yet another object of the invention to protect such an IV site or other hazardous site from exposure to moisture during showering.
A feature of this invention is that the sleeve is made from a single piece of latex material that is smooth on the inner and outer surface, includes an opening in the fore and aft ends and a means for providing a seal that tightly fits against the skin of the patient at In one embodiment a bead is located at each end which requires a rolling of the end to form the bead. In another embodiment an indentation is formed adjacent the aft and fore ends and the indentation which is an annular groove molded directly on the sleeve body. A plurality of spaced indentations at one end that is tapered may be included so that the patient can cut between indentations to size the sleeve to that particular patient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a protective sleeve for a chronically-implanted intravenous (IV) site or other hazardous site needing protection from moisture or infection. Such an IV site is usually located in the arm, but can also be located in the leg. The sleeve is constructed of a prophylactic waterproof material, and it protects the IV site from moisture when the IV tube is disconnected from the IV site, particularly during bathing, swimming or showering. Protecting a chronically-implanted IV site from moisture is essential because moisture which collects around an IV site can serve as a medium for bacteria to enter through the break in the skin caused by an IV catheter entering the vein.
The sleeve is pliable and cylindrical in shape with two open ends. The circumference of the sleeve is greater in the middle than on either end, and the circumference of one of the ends is normally greater than the other end. In one embodiment, the end with the larger circumference fits around the upper portion of a patient's arm and the end with the smaller circumference fits around the patient's forearm. The circumference of both ends are such that a gasket-like watertight seal is formed between the patient's arm and the sleeve. The shape of both ends of the sleeve is preferably formed in one embodiment of this invention by circular beads constructed from the same or similar prophylactic material as is used for the body of the sleeve. Instead of beads, the ends of the sleeve could be formed by a thickening of the sleeve material or by an indentation in the sleeve near each end opening of the sleeve.
The larger circumference of the middle portion of the protective sleeve causes it to be baggy or billowy when worn by a patient. This bagginess creates a dead air space around the IV site and prevents the sleeve from snagging, dragging or otherwise interfering with the implanted IV catheter, especially during the donning of the sleeve.
Before the IV site is exposed to moisture, such as during showering, the sleeve is placed over the IV site thereby protecting it from moisture. The end with the larger circumference allows the patient to easily slip his hand into the sleeve. The patient then moves the sleeve over the implanted site and the elbow, and up to the upper arm where the watertight seal is formed. Since only one hand can be used to don the sleeve, the elasticity of the beads allows the patient to use the underside of his arm as a stretch point, while placing his free hand on the opposite side of the bead and using that as another stretch point. The sleeve can then be moved up the arm by oscillating the stretch point formed by the free hand over an arc. The opposite end of the sleeve is likewise easily drawn over the hand and positioned on the forearm of the patient.
In another embodiment where the water-tight seal is formed by indentations or banding, at the reduced circumferential end adjacent the wrist, for example, a plurality of indentations axially spaced along a tapering or reduced circumference for in situ sizing the sleeve to fit the patient. In the preferred embodiment the thickness of the sleeve throughout is constant except in the bead configuration where the bead is made thicker than the remaining body portion.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3416518 (1968-12-01), Samuels
patent: 5143762 (1992-09-01), Ho
patent: 5228851 (1993-07-01), Burton
patent: 5592953 (1997-01-01), Delao
Brown Michael A.
Friedland Norman
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