Apparatus and System to Facilitate Patient Mobility with Drainage Device

Abstract

An apparatus and system comprised of an upper strap, upper strap fastening members, a center strap, a lower strap, lower strap fastening members and a holster to support a bulb for a bulb drainage system.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional patent application No. filed Feb. 25, 2008.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of medical drainage devices, and more specifically to an apparatus and system for facilitating the mobility of a patient required to use such a device.

BACKGROUND

After surgery or following an infection or injury, fluids requiring drainage may build up at the site of infection or injury. It is common medical practice to use a bulb drain or bulb drainage system to drain excess fluids. Bulb drainage systems that are commercially available and commonly known in the art include the Jackson Pratt drain (or JP drain), but many other medical drainage systems employing similar principals involving a bulb and tubing are contemplated for use with the invention described herein, including bulb drainage systems which are not commercially available but which may specially created or adapted for a specific environment or patient needs in the future.

One common commercially available bulb drainage system is the Jackson-Pratt system, which is comprised of a thin rubber tube and hollow bulb made of a material sufficiently flexible to be squeezed. One end of the rubber tube is placed in the area where body fluids may build up through a small incision. The other end protrudes from the body through the incision or at the injury or surgical site. The tube is connected to the bulb. This bulb drainage system removes fluids by creating suction which pulls the fluids into the tube. To produce the initial suction, the bulb is compressed to reduce the air pressure and is then connected to the tube protruding from the body. Suction is created as the bulb sucks in air from the tube, and this suction operates to pull fluid out from the area where the drain was placed and into the rubber tubing. The fluid then travels through the tubing and into the bulb.

This action causes fluid to be gradually sucked out of the body and into the bulb component. The bulb may be repeatedly be opened (with a plug) to empty the collected fluid and/or squeezed again to restore suction. It is best to empty drains before they are more than half full to avoid the discomfort of the weight of the drain pulling on the internal tubing.

The objective of a bulb drainage system is to facilitate healing of the body by reducing fluid in a body area. Excess fluid may cause swelling, pain and increased healing time and risk of infection. It is thus desirable to design an apparatus and system which encourages patients to use a bulb drainage system by increasing their mobility and comfort. For example, it is desirable to have a system which physically enables a patient to walk to the bathroom without medical assistance. It is further desirable for patient's to maintain physical activity and muscle tone after an injury.

Glossary

As used herein the term “bulb drain” or “bulb drainage system” means a drainage device used to pull excess fluid from the body by constant suction. Generally, a bulb drain includes a flexible plastic, hollow vessel (bulb) which is generally spherically or oval shaped and which connects to a an internal plastic drainage tube (drainage tube) which includes a removable plug (plug). When the plug is removed from the bulb and the bulb is squeezed to remove the air. This reduces the air pressure within the drainage tube and creates a suction effect. One example of a bulb drain which is commercially available and commonly known in the art is a Jackson-Pratt drain.

As used herein the term “waist support component” means any strap or device which may be used to secure or support any object, including itself, around the waist of a user.

As used herein the term “leg support component” means any strap or device which may be used to secure or support any object, including itself, around the leg of a user.

As used herein, the term “closure device” means a hook, snap velcro, seam, adhesive layer, continuous closed surface or plurality any of the foregoing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of on embodiment of an apparatus and system to facilitate patient mobility with a drainage device, which is shown laid flat on a surface.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective of apparatus and system to facilitate patient mobility with a drainage device which is positioned on a patient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed herein, is a receptacle for supporting a drainage device used for a drainage device located below the chest of the user. In various embodiments, the invention may utilize a plurality of attachable and detachable waist and leg securing components with various types of closures. The device also utilizes a leg securing component which is secured to the leg of a user; and at least one waist securing component. The invention further includes at least one receptacle for supporting a drainage device, and may be comprised of any numbers of attachable or detachable components, and may be disposable, sterile and/or reusable in various embodiments. The apparatus may also be fashionable or ornamental and adapted for any size of any user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the present invention, references are made in the text hereof to embodiments of an apparatus and system to facilitate patient mobility with a drainage device. It should nevertheless be understood that no limitations on the scope of the invention are thereby intended. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that modifications such as the dimensions, size, and shape of the components are readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Some of these possible modifications are mentioned in the following description. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed apparatus or manner.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In addition, in the embodiments depicted herein, like reference numerals in the various drawings refer to identical or near identical structural elements.

Moreover, the term “substantially” or “approximately” as used herein may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of on embodiment of an apparatus and system to facilitate patient mobility with a drainage device 100, which is shown laid flat on a surface. In the embodiment shown, apparatus and system to facilitate patient mobility with a drainage device are comprised of upper strap 112 which includes upward facing fastening member 110 and downward facing fastening member 114. Also shown is lower strap 122 which includes downward facing fastening member 118 and upward facing fastening member 120. In the embodiment shown, fastening members are Velcro tabs secured to upper strap 112 and lower strap 122, but other embodiments may utilize other types of fastening members such as hooks, buckles, snaps, carabineers, or elastic members. The straps may be of varying length and will be adjustable and some embodiments may be stretched, cut or altered to fit varying body types.

Also shown in FIG. 1 is holster 124 which is securely attached to lower strap 122, at an approximately central point or otherwise positioned to facilitate balance and stability. Center strap 116 is securely attached to upper strap 112 and lower strap 122 at approximately central points, or otherwise balances to facilitate balance and stability and to prevent tangling in the patient's clothing or unwanted pressure or tugging on a tube or tubing.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, holster 124 is used to provide a repository and to securely contain a bulb or functionally equivalent component used in a bulb drainage system. In the embodiment shown, holster 120 is a fabric sack-like structure, but in other embodiments holder 124 may be constructed of plastic, additional straps or a functionally equivalent supporting structure. In still other embodiments, holster 124 may be a rigid structure or may include apertures for ventilation or through which tubing may be placed. Holster 124 may also be sized to fit a range of commercially available or specially designed bulbs, and may be made detachable or washable.

In the embodiment shown, central strap 116 is securely attached to lower strap 120 and to upper strap 112, but other embodiments may include fewer or additional straps and straps may be made detachable. In the embodiment show, central strap 116, lower strap 120 and upper strap 112 are constructed of washable fabric, but in other embodiments may be made of leather, plastic or any natural or synthetic material known in the art from which straps may be constructed.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, fastening members 110, 114, 118 and 120 are made of Velcro, and are positioned to face upward and downward, when the device is laid flat as shown in FIG. 1. Other embodiments may utilize different types of fastening members, including but not limited to snaps, buckles, pins, hooks, carabineers or any other fastening or connecting device known in the art.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective of apparatus and system to facilitate patient mobility with a drainage device 100 which is positioned on patient 50. In the embodiment shown, holster 124 is positioned over the mid to upper thigh of patient 50, and secured by lower strap 122. Center strap 116 connects and stabilizes the apparatus and system and connects upper strap 112 and lower strap 122. However, positioning of holster 124 and upper strap 112 and lower strap 122 may vary and still be within the embodiments contemplated herein. Other embodiments may be made disposable or covered in detachable sterile packaging to prevent germs and bacteria from coming in contact with the patient or the drainage site. Also shown in FIG. 2 is bulb 126, tubing 130 and point of drainage 135 on the body at which fluids are to be drained.

Claims

1. At least one receptacle for supporting a drainage device which is secured to a leg securing component which is secured to the leg of a user; and

at least one waist securing component.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes at least one connecting component between said leg component and said waist securing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said waist securing component has the appearance of a belt.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is washable.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one receptacle for supporting a drainage device is a pouch adapted to receive a Jackson Pratt™ drain.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receptacle for supporting a drainage device is a pouch adapted to receive a bulb drain of any shape or configuration

7. The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes at least one fastening member

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is disposable.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is sold enclosed in sterile packaging.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is comprised of straps which may be reusable and are constructed from a material selected of plastic or nylon.

11. A personalized apparatus for a single user comprised of:

a waist strap having an inner surface facing toward the body and outer surface facing away from the body;

a leg strap having an inner surface facing toward the body and outer surface facing away from the body;

a plurality of Velcro tabs attached to said at least one surface; and

at least one receptacle for supporting a drainage device

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said at least one receptacle for supporting a drainage device is a support pouch is adapted to receive a Jackson Pratt™ drain.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein at least one receptacle for supporting a drainage device is support pouch is adapted to receive a bulb drain of any size or configuration.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 which further wherein said waist securing component, said leg securing component and said connecting strap are adjustable.

15. An apparatus for supporting a drainage device comprising:

A waist support component having an inner facing side to which at least one closure device is affixed;

a leg support component strap to which at least one closure device is affixed;

a connecting strap which is affixedly attached to said upward facing side of said waist strap at lower strap; and

a support pouch fixedly attached at the approximate center, point of said lower strap and at the center strap so that said pouch is facing outward from said leg.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said at least one receptacle for supporting a drainage device is a support pouch adapted to receive a Jackson Pratt Drain™.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said at least one receptacle for supporting a drainage device is a support pouch is adapted to receive a bulb drain.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said apparatus is disposable.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said apparatus is sold in sterile packaging.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said apparatus is comprised of straps which may be reusable and are constructed from a material selected of plastic or nylon.