Patent ID: 9138563
Filing Date: 2015-09-22
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A method for retaining a skin penetrating medical tube at an implant site, the method including the steps of: selecting a retainer including a base portion attached to a subcutaneous portion of a medical tube spaced from a discharge end of the medical tube; an expandable width portion adapted to be coupled to the base portion; and the expandable width portion having at least two configurations including an expanded configuration with a width greater than the base portion, and a collapsed configuration with a width less than the width of the expanded configuration, the retainer attached to the medical tube; implanting the medical tube with the distal discharge end penetrating a body lumen or vessel and adapted to transfer fluids between the body lumen and the medical tube, with the retainer outside of the body lumen or vessel that the medical tube penetrates and below the skin; and transitioning the expandable width portion of the retainer from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration with the expandable width portion below the skin and outside of the body lumen or vessel that the medical tube penetrates; wherein said implanting step includes the steps of: wherein said selecting step includes the base portion of the retainer configured to include a fixed sleeve adapted to at least partially surround the subcutaneous portion of the medical tube and be affixed to the medical tube at a location on the medical tube spaced from the discharge end and outside of the body lumen, the retainer including a sliding sleeve having a bore with a portion of the medical tube routed through the bore, the sliding sleeve adapted to slide along the medical tube, and with an expandable width wing interposed between the sliding sleeve and the fixed sleeve; the further step of sliding the sliding sleeve toward the fixed sleeve to transition the retainer from a narrower form to a wider form, such that the expandable width portion is transitioned from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration beneath the skin and outside of the body lumen; and wherein said sliding sleeve includes a pair of tabs extending toward said fixed sleeve, and wherein said fixed sleeve includes a pair of grooves, said grooves at least as wide as said tabs, said tabs sliding into said grooves during said sliding step.