IV stand cord/tube holder

Abstract

A holder for holding cords and tubes extending from medical apparatus that are attached to an IV stand. The holder has a base rotatably mounted to the IV stand. An arm is supported by the base and extends away from the base such that the arm holds the cords and the tubes extending from the medical apparatus.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a holder attached to an IV stand. The holder is used to hold cords and tubes extending from medical apparatus attached to the IV stand.

[0002] IV stands are used to suspend medical apparatus, such as supply bags for blood, IV fluid containers, pressure infulsers, IV controllers, IIV pumps and monitoring devices necessary for the medical treatment of a patient. Typically the IV stand is positioned near a bed or other stationary location of the patient. The cords and tubes extending from the apparatus are long enough to reach the floor when they are not attached to the patient. The disposition of the cords and tubes are unmanageable for the patient and make it more difficult for the patient to move around. When the patient attempts to move around with the IV stand, the cords and tubes become entangled about the patient and the IV stand because the cords and tubes are being pulled from more than one direction and dragged uncontrolled upon the floor.

[0003] Several devices have been designed to gather cords and tubes hanging from an IV stand. However, all are directed towards gathering and organizing tubes to aid medical personal in their jobs. Prior art devices are generally for use with tubes and not cords. These devices are typically not attached to the IV stand, nor do they allow the patient to add or subtract cords and tubes. It is desired to have a holder attachable to an IV stand for gathering and holding cords and tubes such that the patient is able to add or subtract cords and tubes while allowing the patient a high degree of mobility.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to a holder for holding cords and tubes extending from medical apparatus attached to an IV stand. The holder has a base rotatably mounted to the IV stand. An arm supported by the base extends away from the base, and the arm holds the cords and tubes hanging from the medical apparatus.

[0005] In one preferred embodiment the base and the arm have the form of a helical coil. The base coil rotatably fits around the IV stand. The cords and the tubes are strung through the arm coil by the patient or medical personal. In another preferred embodiment, the base is a C-shaped sleeve that is rotatably mounted to the IV stand. A sleeve forming a channel is attached to an end of the arm not supported by the base. The channel holds the cords and tubes hanging from the medical apparatus. The bases of both embodiments rotate around the IV stand, allowing the patient to move around without becoming entangled with the cords and tubes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a holder mounted to an IV stand.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the holder of the first embodiment for holding cords and tubes hanging from medical apparatus attached to the IV stand.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the holder.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the holder of the second embodiment mounted to the IV stand.

[0010] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the holder.

[0011] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the holder.

[0012] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] The present invention is a holder for gathering and holding cords and tubes hanging from medical apparatus attached to an IV stand 10. FIG. 1 shows IV stand 10 with a first embodiment of holder 12 mounted to the stand. IV stand 10 has a post 14, a base 16 and a head 18. Base 16 is attached to the bottom of post 14 and head 18 is attached to the top of post 14 by fastener 20. Base 16 has multiple legs 22 extending radially outward from post 14 with a caster wheel 24 attached to the end of each leg 22 to roll upon the floor. Head 18 has a plurality of arms 26 with a hook 28 at the end of each arm 26. Medical devices 30 (which may be, for example, an IV pump or controller, or medical monitoring equipment) are attached to post 14, IV fluid containers 32 are held by hooks 28. In the prior art, cords 34 extending from medical devices 30 and tubes 36 extending from medical devices 30 or IV fluid containers 32 hang down to the floor with the ends being attached to the patient. In the present invention, the cords and tubes are gathered together and held by holder 12.

[0014] A first embodiment of a holder 12 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Holder 12 has a base 38 shaped like a helical coil. A coil shaped arm 40 is supported by base 38 and extends away from base 38. Arm 40 preferably extends perpendicularly from base 38; however, arm 40 may extend at any angle away from base 38. A portion 42 of arm 40 is substantially straight to prevent the coil of arm 40 from interfering with the coil of base 38. Cords 34 and tubes 36 are gathered together and strung through arm 40.

[0015] As can be seen in FIG. 1, base 38 wraps around IV post 14 and is rotatable around post 14. Base 38 rests and rotates against medical device 30. Cords 34 and tubes 36 extending from medical devices 30 and IV fluid containers 32 are strung through the coil of arm 40. The ends of cords 34 and tubes 36 are then connected to the patient. Holder 12 keeps cords 34 and tubes 36 off the floor. The rotatable mount between base 38 and post 14 allows holder 12 to pivot around IV stand 10 as the patient moves around, thus allowing greater mobility of the patient compared with prior art IV stands. By keeping cords 34 and tubes 36 off the floor and allowing holder 12 to rotate around post 14, there is no entanglement between the patient, IV stand 10, cords 34 and tubes 36.

[0016] A second embodiment of a holder 44 is illustrated in FIG. 3. Holder 44 has a base 46 comprised of a C-shaped sleeve. An arm 48 extends away from base 46 and is supported by base 46. Preferably arm 48 extends perpendicularly away from base 46, however arm 48 may extend away from base 46 at any angle. Arm 48 has two ends, a first end 50 that is attached to base 46 and a second end 52 that is attached to a sleeve 54. Sleeve 54 is preferably U-shaped or semi-circular and extends horizontally. The open end faces opposite the floor to form a channel 56 for holding cords 34 and tubes 36. Channel 56 is deep enough to hold multiple cords 34 and tubes 36 of varying sizes. Sleeve 54 has a first edge 58 and a second edge 60 that run the length of the sleeve. Each edge 58, 60 has a flange 62, 64 extending substantially perpendicularly away from channel 56. Base 46 has a gusset 66 extending substantially perpendicularly away from base 46 and connected to arm 48 and sleeve 54. Gusset 66 provides additional support for arm 48 and sleeve 54 from base 46.

[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates the second embodiment of holder 44 mounted to IV stand 10. Base 46 fits loosely around post 14 and is rotatable around post 14. In the preferred embodiment of holder 44, base 46 rests upon medical device 30 when it is mounted to post 14 and rotates against medical device 30 around post 14. However in an alternative embodiment, a collar or additional sleeve is mounted around post 14 such that base 46 rotates against the collar or additional sleeve. Cords 34 and tubes 36 extending from medical devices 30 and IV fluid containers 32 are held within channel 56 of sleeve 54. The ends of cords 34 and tubes 36 are then connected to the patient. Holder 44 keeps cords 34 and tubes 36 off the floor. The rotatable mount between base 46 and post 14 allows holder 44 to pivot around IV stand 10 as the patient moves around, thus allowing greater mobility of the patient compared with prior art IV stands. As the patient moves around, holder 44 rotates around post 14 and keeps cords 34 and tubes 36 from wrapping around IV stand 10. By keeping cords 34 and tubes 36 off of the floor and allowing holder 44 to rotate around post 14 there is no entanglement between the patient, IV stand 10, cords 34 and tubes 36.

[0018] In additional embodiments of the holder, a cover is attached to sleeve 54 to enclose cords 34 and tubes 36 within channel 56. The cover also provides more space to carry the cords and tubes within channel 56. FIG. 5 illustrates a third embodiment of a holder 68. Holder 68 includes a cover 70 that is attachable to sleeve 54. Cover 70 has a semicircular shape and is substantially the same size and shape of sleeve 54 such that cover 70 forms a mirror image of sleeve 54. Preferably when cover 70 is attached to sleeve 54, a tube is formed to hold cords 34 and tubes, 36. Cover 70 has a first edge 72 and a second edge 74 running the length of the cover. Each edge 72, 74 has a flange 76, 78 extending substantially perpendicularly away from cover 70. Flange 76 has at least two notches 80 and 82 formed into flange 76, while flange 78 has at least two notches 84 and 86 formed into flange 78. Each flange 62 and 64 of sleeve 54 has at least two knobs (88, 90, 92 and 94) for engaging notches 80, 82, 84 and 86 of cover 70.

[0019] To install or remove cover 70, a nurse, technician or the patient squeezes the sides of cover 70 in order to move flanges 76 and 78 toward one another. Cover 70 is preferably a resilient material such as plastic or nylon. When cover 70 is squeezed, notches 80, 82, 84 and 86 are allowed to slide away from or around knobs 88, 90, 92 and 94 to install or remove cover 70.

[0020] FIG. 6 illustrates a fourth embodiment of a holder 96. Sleeve 54 has a first bendable post 98 and a second bendable post 100 enclose cords 34 and tubes 36 within channel 56 of sleeve 54. Preferably each post 98, 100 has one end engaged to flange 62 of sleeve 54. The other end of each post 98, 100 has a fastener 102, 104, respectively. Fasteners 102 and 104 are preferably knobs. Flange 64 of sleeve 54 has a first notch 106 and a second notch 108. First post 98 is aligned on flange 62 across from first notch 106 formed into flange 64 and second post 100 is aligned on flange 62 across from second notch 108 formed to flange 64. Posts 98 and 100 bend over channel 56 of sleeve 54 to enclose cords 34 and tubes 36 within channel 56. Fastener 102 is engaged to notch 106 and fastener 104 is engaged to notch 108 to secure posts 98 and 100 to flange 64.

[0021] FIG. 7 illustrates a fifth embodiment of a holder 110. Holder 110 has a fold over cover 112 for enclosing cords 34 and tubes 36 within channel 56 of sleeve 54. Cover 112 has a semicircular shape and has substantially the same size and shape as sleeve 54. Preferably once cover 112 and sleeve 54 are attached a tube is formed to hold cords 34 and tubes 36. Cover 112 has a first edge 114 and a second edge 116 running the length of cover 112. Each edge 114, 116 has a flange 118, 120 extending substantially perpendicularly away from cover 112. Flange 118 cover 112 is aligned with flange 62 of sleeve 54 such that flange 18 lies parallel to flange 62. Flange 118 is engaged to flange 62 forming a hinge 122 between cover 112 and sleeve 54. Hinge 122 allows cover 112 to fold over and enclose channel 56. Flange 120 of cover 112 has two notches 124 and 126 formed into the flange. Flange 64 of sleeve 54 has two knobs 128 and 130 attached to flange 64 and aligned along flange 64 the same distance as notches 124 and 126 are aligned along flange 120. When cover 112 is folded over to enclose channel 56, notches 124 and 126 engage hooks 128 and 130. Cover 112 is preferably made of a resilient plastic that allows a nurse, technician or patient to squeeze flange 120 toward flange 118. Squeezing cover 112 allows notches 124 and 126 to slide away from or around knobs 128 and 130 to install or remove cover 112.

[0022] The covers and posts of the present invention are easy to connect and disconnect from sleeve 54. The use of knobs and notches as fasteners eases connection between the covers and sleeve to allow patients to add and subtract cords and tubes to the holder themselves. Additionally, no tools are required to connect and disconnect the covers or add and subtract cords and tubes to the holder, thereby further facilitating the ease and quickness of use by patients and medical personal. The holders of FIGS. 3-7 are preferably made of molded plastic and permit inexpensive fabrication by injection molding or extrusion.

[0023] The need for IV stands to suspend medical devices and IV fluid containers while allowing patients a high degree of mobility is great. The holders of the present invention allow a patient to be mobile and retain the beneficial use of an IV stand. The holders gather and hold the cords and tubes extending from the medical devices and IV fluid containers suspended from the IV stand. Tubes 36 are flexible and are not deformed while they are gathered in the holders, thus allowing fluid to pass freely within tubes 36. Arm 40 and sleeve 54 are large enough and channel 56 is deep enough to accommodate multiple cords and tubes of variant size to be held. Covers over channel 56 add additional space to carry the cords and tubes. The holders are rotatably mounted to the IV stands and pivot around the stands as the patient moves around. The rotation of the holder as the patient moves prevents the cords and tubes from becoming entangled with the patient and the IV stand.

[0024] Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A holder for holding cords and tubes extending from medical apparatus attached to an IV stand, the holder comprising:

a base rotatably mounted to the IV stand; and

an arm supported by the base and extending away from the base such that the arm holds the cords and the tubes.

2. The holder of claim 1 wherein the base comprises a coil.

3. The holder of claim 1 wherein the arm comprises a coil.

4. The holder of claim 1 wherein the base comprises a C-shaped sleeve.

5. The holder of claim 1, and further comprising:

a sleeve forming a channel is attached to an end of the arm for holding the cords and the tubes.

6. The holder of claim 5, and further comprising:

a cover for enclosing the cords and the tubes within the channel, wherein the cover is connected to the sleeve.

7. The holder of claim 6 wherein the cover is comprised of at least one post and each post has one end fixedly attached to the sleeve.

8. The holder of claim 6 wherein the cover has at least one end attached to the sleeve.

9. The holder of claim 1, and further comprising:

a gusset engaged to the base and the arm, wherein the gusset provides additional support of the arm.