Patent ID: 9227040
Filing Date: 2016-01-05
CPC Classification: A61B,A61M

Claim Text:
1. A method for using an anchor device to subcutaneously anchor a catheter to a patient, comprising: inserting a catheter through an opening in a skin layer and into a targeted body lumen; advancing first and second flexible anchors of an anchor device through the same opening in the skin layer and into a subcutaneous region adjacent to and under the skin layer, wherein the anchor device comprises: a catheter retainer body including a catheter engagement portion extending in a longitudinal direction, the catheter engagement portion being configured to releasably engage with an outer surface of the catheter, a longitudinal extension apparatus that is secured to the catheter retainer body, that is spaced apart from the catheter engagement portion, and that extends in a direction that is generally parallel to the longitudinal direction of the catheter engagement portion, wherein the first and second flexible anchors are configured to extending outwardly away from a distal region of the longitudinal extension apparatus, wherein a free end of the first flexible anchor terminates at a non-sharp tip, and wherein a free end of the second flexible anchor terminates at a non-sharp tip; deploying the first and second flexible anchors in the subcutaneous region under the skin layer such that the free end of the first flexible anchor extends generally oppositely away from the free end of the second flexible anchor and such that the first and second flexible anchors abut an underside of the skin layer, wherein the catheter retainer body engages with the outer surface of the catheter to anchor the catheter relative to the opening in the skin layer.