Intravenous tubing securing device for protecting tubing

Abstract

A disposable device which secures tubing to a bedrail is disclosed. A mechanism for attaching and securing the disposable device is also disclosed. In today's hospitals, it is becoming apparent that the number of nosocomial infections or hospital acquired infections is growing. Thus, it is desired in the health care industry to have devices that can be disposable, cost effective, and easily used that can assist in decreasing these infections. Accordingly, an adjustable, disposable device which secures intravenous tubing to the bedrail as to assist in prevention of contamination of the tubing which may ultimately contaminate the insertion site of the catheter is proposed. The device will also assist in prevention of inadvertently pulling the intravenous catheter out of its insertion site. This will ultimately have the effect of decreasing infection by decreasing the number of times the skin is opened up for microorganisms to potentially invade, while at the same time decreasing unnecessary pain to the patient.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. utility application Ser. No. 10/863952 which was filed on Jun. 9, 2004.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to medical devices, and more specifically to an adjustable, disposable device which secures tubing to a bedrail.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When in the hospital the majority of patients requires intravenous fluids and frequently requires more than one type of fluids or intravenous medications. These intravenous fluids and medications are delivered to the patient via intravenous tubing that is connected to an intravenous catheter of some type. The primary tubing is of significant lengths to allow for patient movement. However, due to the length the tubing frequently ends up lying on the floor or gets tangled underneath the bedrails or patient.

When Intravenous tubing touches the floor it can be inadvertently contaminated leading to an intravenous catheter infection which can lead to a more serious infection and could potentially cause the loss of life. If intravenous tubing gets tangled under the bedrails or underneath the patient they can also become contaminated or the intravenous catheter can accidentally be pulled out. In most cases this means that the patient would require being stuck again for another intravenous access site. This also increases potential for infection as well as causes pain for the patient.

Intravenous tubing hanging loosely from underneath the bedrail or lying on the floor also could be a potential fall hazard to visitors and health care workers. As well as posing a potential infection risk to the patient.

Also, intravenous access catheters are not always located in the same sites of a patient's body and at times intravenous access sites have to be changed frequently. Since the site may change frequently, the location of the device on the bedrail will need to be relocated to accommodate for adequate movement of the tubing. Thus, the need for an easy movable, adjustable device for securing I.V. tubing is desired.

At times a patient may require numerous different fluids and/or medications that require numerous different tubing to be hooked to the patient. At this point it may be desired to use more than one securing device for easy identification of the type of fluids running through the tubing.

In performing their duties, nurses and other medical practitioners are partially measured by time, and their ability to perform task effectively and efficiently. Accordingly, a complex and complicated device for securing tubing would just be ignored. To simplify addressing this problem, nurses will sometimes use medical tape to secure Intravenous tubing to a bedrail. When it is removed such tape leaves a sticky residue on the tubing and on the bedrail which collects dirt and germs. Such tape is usually removed and replaced numerous times in order to move the patient, and/or change the tubing, thus leaving more and more sticky residue. This sticky residue is not easily removed and makes the bedrails dirty as well as collecting germs. It often stays on the bedrail from one patient to another. Sticky residue could be a good media for microorganisms. These microorganisms could potentially be passed from patient to patient.

Also, tape does not allow for adequate movement of patients and could inadvertently cause the loss of an intravenous access site. This could possibly mean that another access would be obtained putting the patient, again, at risk for infection, while also causing pain during insertion. Due to the increasing growth of catheter related nosocomial infections a disposable device that allows for adequate patient movement while still securing the tubing is desired.

It should also be noted that the simplicity of this device is one of it most appealing characteristics. Due to its simplicity it can be inexpensively made and easily stocked which accredits to its cost effectiveness. Therefore it is a simple, cost effective way of assisting the health care industry in their fight against nosocomial infections, and more specifically, catheter related nosocomial infections.

Accordingly, a disposable cost effective means of easily and quickly securing intravenous tubing to bedrails is desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A shows a side view of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-2, in an open position;

FIG. 3B shows a side view of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-2, in a closed position;

FIG. 4A shows an end view of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 4B shows the end view of the present invention opposite that shown in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5 shows a present-day conventional hospital room environment;

FIG. 6 shows a hospital room environment improved by the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4; and

FIG. 7 shows an additional proposed implementation of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 and 6.

FIG. 8 shows an additional embodiment of FIGS. 1-4

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In today's growing number of nosocomial infections or hospital acquired infections it is desired in the health care industry to have devices that can be disposable, cost effective, and easily used that can assist in decreasing these infections. Thus, proposed is an invention that relates to medical devices and more specifically to an adjustable, disposable device which secures intravenous tubing to the bedrail as to assist in prevention of contamination of the tubing which may ultimately contaminate the insertion site of the catheter and will also assist in prevention of inadvertently pulling the intravenous catheter out of its insertion site. The present invention also helps decrease infection by decreasing the number of times the skin is opened up for microorganism to potentially invade, while at the same time decreasing unnecessary pain to the patient.

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the securing device 100 of the present invention. From FIG. 1 it is apparent that the securing device 100 consists of two parts, a larger bedrail-securer 104, with a smaller tube-securer 108 fixedly attached thereto. A securing mechanism 112, such as but not limited to a velcro pad, is attached to the tubing securer 108, while a longer securing mechanism 116 is attached to the bedrail securer 104. As shown in FIG. 1, the securing mechanisms 112 and 116 can be made of the same material, or of a different material.

FIG. 2 shows the other surface of the securing device 100, in a view opposite that of what is shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3A shows the securing device 100 in an unfolded, unsecured configuration, while FIG. 3B shows the securing device with all securing mechanisms attached. From FIG. 3B it can be seen that an aperture 304 is formed when the tube-securer 108 is closed. It is intended that I.V. tubing is enclosed within the aperture 304.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show additional views of the securing device 100 in the closed position as shown in FIG. 3B. From FIGS. 4A and 4B it can be seen that an aperture 404 is formed when the bedrail-securer 104 is closed. It is intended that the frame or rail of a hospital bed is enclosed within the aperture 404.

FIG. 5 shows a conventional hospital room environment, with an I.V. transport mechanism 512 carrying two I.V. bottles 504 and being located next to a hospital bed 516. The I.V. tubing 508 is strewn about the floor, increasing the chance of infection. Note also that the I.V. tubing 508 hangs under the rails of the bed 516 thus potentially interfering with their operation. FIG. 5 also shows various mechanical devices underneath the bedrail that the I.V. tubing 508 can get tangled within.

FIG. 6 shows the same hospital room environment, but with the securing device 100 of the present invention implemented therein. As shown in FIG. 6, the bedrail-securer 104 is meant to be attached to the frame or rails of a hospital bed 516, while the tube-securer 108 is meant to be loosely wrapped around a patients I.V. tubing 508.

FIG. 7 shows a proposed implementation of the securing device 100, although the present invention should not be considered as exclusively limited thereto. From FIG. 7 it is apparent that the I.V. tubing 508 can be slid horizontally and without resistance in the directions shown by arrows A and B. However, any movement of the I.V. tubing 508 in the lateral direction, as shown by arrows C and D, is extremely restricted. The resulting effect of the securing device 100 is to slidably and movably secure the I.V. tubing 508 to the frame or rail of the hospital bed 516, thereby keeping it off the floor and potentially other unwanted or contaminated surfaces. Such an arrangement also prevents the I.V. tubing 508 from tangling underneath the bedrail of the bed 516 or with the mechanisms contained therein.

FIG. 8 shows another proposed embodiment of the invention 100 with a hook 110 to allow for less restrictive securement of the tubing while still being attached to the larger bedrail securing component 104. This allows ambulatory patients the convenience of just lifting the tubing off the hook rather than having the tubing in an enclosement that might require extra effort to be undone. The hook 110 can also be attached in a slanted configuration or horizontal configuration rather than the vertical configuration shown.

The securing device 100 is intended to be manufactured at low cost. Suggested compositions for the securers include but are not limited to Polyurethane, Tyvek, or other low-cost hybrid combinations of cloth and/or plastic. The securing mechanisms 112 and 116 can be affixed to the securers 104 and 108 by any of heat-stamping, epoxy combinations, sewing, or other means for securely attaching cloth and semi-cloth articles.

It is anticipated that various changes may be made in the arrangement and operation of the system of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A device for securing intravenous tubing to a bedrail, comprising:

a larger bed-securer portion, forming a first aperture and having a first securing means, the bed-securer portion to be attached to a bedrail enclosed within the first aperture;

a smaller tubing-securer portion, forming a second aperture and having a second securing means, wherein the tubing-securer portion is permanently affixed to the bed securer-portion, the tubing-securer portion to be attached to tubing enclosed within the second aperture;

and further wherein the sizes of the first and second apertures are manually adjustable through varying an attachment point of the first and second securing means, thereby accommodating a variety of sizes of bedrails and also tubing.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is composed of a cloth and/or plastic combination.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said first and second securing means are velcro.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is disposable.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device permits horizontal movement of the intravenous tubing through the second aperture, along the axis of the bedrail.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device will assist in prevention of the intravenous catheters being accidentally pulled out.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the device will assist in preventing the intravenous tubing from becoming inadvertently contaminated.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device will assist in preventing the tubing from becoming tangled underneath the bedrail.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the tubing securer may have a hook attachment.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the device secures said tubing for ambulatory patients without being fully restrictive and without completely enclosing said tubing.