Surgery – Means for introducing or removing material from body for... – Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-22
2003-02-18
Hayes, Michael J. (Department: 3763)
Surgery
Means for introducing or removing material from body for...
Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
C602S021000, C128S879000, C128SDIG006
Reexamination Certificate
active
06520940
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to intravenous (I/V) administration apparatus, and, more particularly, to I/V apparatus especially adapted for retaining an I/V needle in a desired position on a patient's extremity.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When an I/V needle is in a patient's extremity, such as a patient's arm, it is important that the I/V needle not be moved or dislodged from its intravenous position in the patient. Patients who are children often have a special propensity for disturbing an I/V needle from its desired intravenous position. In this respect, it would be desirable if a device were provided that can be used with young patients to retain an I/V needle in a desired intravenous position.
Presently, to retain an I/V needle in a desired intravenous position in a patient's forearm, a hard board splint is placed under the forearm, and a portion of the I/V apparatus, the patient's forearm, and the splint are taped together. Yet, even with this splint technique, the portion of the I/V needle that is outside the patient's arm can be touched or disturbed by the patient. In this respect, it would be desirable if a device were provided that covers the portion of the I/V needle that is outside the patient's arm so as to prevent the patient from touching or disturbing the I/V needle.
Another difficulty that may arise from using the splint technique just described is related to the accessibility to the patient of the portion of the I/V line that is near the I/V needle. If the portion of the I/V line that is near the I/V needle is pulled, such pulling may disturb the portion of the I/V needle that is in the patient. In this respect, it would be desirable if a device were provided that protects the portion of the I/V line that is adjacent to the I/V needle from being pulled by the patient.
Even if the portion of the I/V line adjacent to the I/V needle is protected from interference by the patient, there is the possibility that if the I/V line is pulled on a significant distance away from the I/V needle, the pulling force can be transmitted through the I/V line to the I/V needle. To prevent such forces on the I/V line from being transmitted along the I/V line to the I/V needle, it would be desirable if a device were provided that blocks a distal pulling force on an I/V line from being transmitted through the I/V line to the I/V needle.
Still other features would be desirable in a patient mounted I/V protector apparatus. For example, it would be desirable if an I/V protector apparatus could be easily fixed to an removed from a patient's forearm. It would also be desirable if an I/V protector apparatus were ornamented with attractive decorations, such as cartoon characters, which are appealing to children. Also, it would be desirable if an I/V protector apparatus could be written upon to receive personalized messages or signatures of friends and loved ones.
It is noted that the present inventor has patented U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,568, incorporated herein by reference. The patient mounted I/V protector apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,568 provides for straps and well known VELCRO(™) material located on the outside of limb reception portions. Being on the outside of the limb reception portions, the straps and VELCRO(™) material can be tampered with by children's hands. As a result, a persistent child may be able to disconnect the straps and remove the top limb reception portion from the bottom limb reception portion to expose the I/V connection to the child. In this respect, it would be desirable if a patient mounted I/V protector apparatus were provided which precludes a child from disconnecting a top limb reception portion from a bottom limb reception portion.
To further improve the security of the patient mounted I/V protector apparatus, it would be desirable if when the top limb reception portion is connected to the bottom limb reception portion in such a way that a key is needed to disconnect the top limb reception portion from the bottom limb reception portion.
For ease of fitting the top limb reception portion onto the bottom limb reception portion, it would be desirable if the top limb reception portion were connected to the bottom limb reception portion, in part, by a hinge or pivoting motion.
For ease of securing the top limb reception portion to the bottom limb reception portion, it would be desirable if the top limb reception portion has a snap lock connection to the bottom limb reception portion.
Thus, while the foregoing indicates it to be well known to use a splint to protect an I/V needle in a patient, the foregoing does not teach or suggest a patient mounted I/V protector apparatus which has the following combination of desirable features: (1) can be used with young patients to retain an I/V needle in a desired intravenous position; (2) covers the portion of the I/V needle that is outside the patient's arm so as to prevent the patient from touching or disturbing the I/V needle; (3) protects the portion of the I/V line that is adjacent to the I/V needle from being pulled by the patient; (4) blocks a distal pulling force on an I/V line from being transmitted through the I/V line to the I/V needle; (5) can be easily fixed to an removed from a patient's forearm; (6) can be ornamented with attractive decorations, such as cartoon characters, which are appealing to children; (7) can be written upon to receive personalized messages or signatures of friends and loved ones; (8) precludes a child from disconnecting a top limb reception portion from a bottom limb reception portion; (9) needs a key to disconnect the top limb reception portion from the bottom limb reception portion; (10) provides that the top limb reception portion is connected to the bottom limb reception portion, in part, by a hinge or pivoting motion; and (11) provides a snap lock connection between the top limb reception portion and the bottom limb reception portion. The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique patient mounted I/V protector apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, briefly described, provides a patient mounted I/V protector apparatus which includes first limb reception portion which is placed under a patient's arm. The first limb reception portion includes locking finger reception channels. A second limb reception portion is connected to the first limb reception portion. The second limb reception portion includes locking fingers which are placed in registration with the locking finger reception channels for locking the second limb reception portion to the first limb reception portion. When the first limb reception portion and the second limb reception portion are connected together on a patient's arm, an I/V needle and tubing connected to the patient's arm is prevented from being disturbed by the patient.
The first limb reception portion includes straps for securing the patient's arm to the first limb reception portion. Each of the straps includes strap ends, wherein one of the strap ends includes a quantity of a hook-or-loop connector and another of the strap ends includes a quantity of complimentary loop-or-hook connector.
The locking fingers are flexible. The locking fingers include barbed finger ends. The locking finger reception channels include barb engagement ledges for engaging the barbed finger ends. The locking fingers are located on a front side of the second limb reception portion, and the locking finger reception channels and the barb engagement ledges are located on a front side of the first limb reception portion. Key reception channels are adjacent to the locking finger reception channels in the first limb reception portion. One or more unlocking keys are provided, each
Han Mark
Hayes Michael J.
Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
LandOfFree
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