Abstract:
A medical stabilization device that directs medical tubing onto a compressible foam block where it is attached and stabilized to the patient&#39;s body allowing it to be secured against excessive movement, tube dislodgement and positioned in a time efficient manner to prevent obstruction of patient treatment.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     During surgery of the head and neck existing methods of securing nasotracheal tubing can be a hindrance to the surgeon, either obstructing access to or blocking a clear view of the surgical area. One of the methods used to direct the nasotracheal tubing away from the surgical area is to secure the tubing to the patient&#39;s head using operating room tape. This method results in a number of problems. It is difficult to readjust placement of the tape, difficult to remove the tape, and the patient&#39;s hair is pulled out when the tape is removed. 
     Another method is to place a towel between the nasotracheal tubing and the forehead. This method does not provide adequate support to stabilize the tubing if it is inadvertently contacted during surgery, and may result in an accidental extubation. 
     Another method involves custom cutting a piece of foam, however this is time consuming and non-standardized. The performance of this method is variable depending on the nature of the foam and on how well the foam is fashioned into a cushion for the tubing in each instance. The raw edges created by the cuts also impose a hazard of microscopic flecks of foam being dispersed and potentially contaminating the surgical area. 
     Accordingly, prior to the development of the present invention, positioning the nasotracheal tubing securely away from the surgical area has been laborious and lacking in predictable stability. Most importantly, other methods do not adequately prevent accidental extubation. The present invention solves the problems of the current methods in practice by implementing a substantially U-shaped foam block which provides a conduit onto which a nasotracheal tubing can be attached to keep the tubing stabilized and the surgical area of the face, neck, jaws, or oral area unobstructed. The foam block, or medical tubing stabilization device, may be retained to a flexible band that wraps around the head. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a superior view of a nasotracheal stabilization device mounted on a human head in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a human head with the nasotracheal stabilization device mounted thereon in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a medical tubing stabilization device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a posterior view of a medical tubing stabilization device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5A through 5D  are posterior views of a medical tubing stabilization device illustrating various configurations in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with the invention the foregoing advantages have been achieved through the present nasotracheal tubing stabilizing device. The present invention includes a substantially U-shaped compressible foam block. The block being comprised of opposing, substantially parallel superior and inferior surfaces and opposing substantially parallel anterior and posterior sides substantially perpendicular to the superior and inferior surfaces. The block further being comprised of opposing left and right sides and having a superior central depression, or channel, along its superior surface extending from the anterior to posterior surfaces, said channel having a depth of less than half of the length of the sides of the block. The length being determined as the distance from the anterior to the posterior surfaces. 
     Standard nasotracheal tube diameters vary from 4.5 mm to 8.5 mm depending on the size of the patient. In the preferred embodiment, the superior central depression would have a depth of half to twice the diameter of the tubing to be supported. A piece of operating room tape extending from the headband across the tubing resting in the foam block and attaching to the headband again on the other side provides maximum compression of the foam block resulting in a secure attachment. In another embodiment the tape may be substituted by a VELCRO®-type (hook and loop fastener-type) connecting surface. In another embodiment the tape may have an elastic property to securely position the tube in the channel. In another embodiment a friction fit may be used to position the tubing securely in the channel. 
     The substantially U-shaped foam block lies with the inferior surface toward the forehead of the patient, and the posterior side oriented toward the nose of the patient. The superior central depression is aligned with the nose in a vertical fashion across the plane of the face. The foam block can be attached to a flexible band with operating room tape or a VELCRO®-type, hook and loop fastener. The foam block is comprised of compressible foam that can deform to allow the block to envelop a nasotracheal tubing when the tubing is directed through the superior central depression and affixed to the foam block with standard operating room tape. Due to the compressible nature of the foam, the tubing is redirected from the surgical area with great stability, thus not impeding the progress of surgery to readjust the nasotracheal tubing. The band can also be fashioned of foam, soft cotton, flannel, or any other or similar material that would not induce pressure on tissues. 
     In another embodiment, the band and foam block may be used to position tubing and leads on other parts of a patient&#39;s body where there is a need to secure the devices to the surface of the patient&#39;s body without the extensive discomfort often caused by tape. The band, block, and channel of the device could be varied in size to secure medical devices to a patient&#39;s body to accommodate any needs for patient care such as intravenous lines, catheters, drain lines, electrocardiogram leads, etc. 
     In another embodiment, the block may be fashioned from a different material and covered on a plurality of surfaces with foam or cotton or other such materials to reduce pressure at the points of contact. 
     In another alternate embodiment, the block&#39;s left and right sides would angle out from the inferior surface of the block thus forming a trapezoidal prism shape. This would make the block wider on the inferior surface, where it contacts the patient&#39;s body, and narrower on the superior surface, where it secures the tubing. This shape would increase stability of the block on the curved surface of the patient&#39;s body, and still allow sufficient compressibility around the tubing to ensure its stable “grip” or positioning of the tubing. 
     In another alternate embodiment of the invention, the block could have a curved inferior surface to more closely adapt to the contour of the patient surface to be contacted, therefore providing more security from inadvertent displacement. 
     In another alternate embodiment of the invention, the block and band could be permanently attached as a single piece. In another embodiment the block and band could be molded as a single form. In this embodiment the band would extend substantially from one side of the block to be curved around the patient&#39;s extremity and joined to the other side of the block by surgical tape, VELCRO®-like (hook and loop fastener-like) closure, or some other suitable repositionable fastener. 
     In another alternate embodiment of the invention, reliefs could be cut out of the band to prevent compression of tissue such as ears when used as a headband. Such reliefs could also be used to avoid covering other areas of tenderness or injury on the patient. 
     In another alternate embodiment of the invention, hook and loop tape could be affixed to the surfaces of the foam block, and on both ends of the band, thus eliminating the need for operating room tape. 
     The present invention enables the surgeon to be unencumbered with nasotracheal tubing whilst performing surgery on the head, neck, and oral cavity. Further, the tubing is able to be repositioned or removed. 
     In  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  the medical tubing stabilization device is illustrated as worn on the head of the patient to stabilize nasotracheal tubing. A foam band  120  extends across the forehead, above the area of the ears, and around the back of the patient&#39;s head. The free end portions  121  and  122  of the band are shown above the left eye of the patient, but can be drawn together at another location along the anterior or side of the head. In the figure the ends are fastened together with standard operating room tape  140 ; but, one skilled in the art would appreciate other methods by which a repositionable connection can be accomplished. The U-shaped foam block  100  is connected to the band  120  at the location of the patient&#39;s forehead with the superior central channel  110  aligned with the nose in a vertical fashion across the frontal view of the face. The nasotracheal tubing  175  extends up from the nose and into the superior central depression  110  of the foam block  100 . In the embodiment shown, the foam block  100  is positioned over the band  120  and a single piece of operating room tape  140  is used to secure the ends of the band  121  and  122  as well as securing the tubing  175  in the superior central depression  110 . The compressible nature of the foam block  100  allows the tubing  175  to be securely enveloped and stabilized. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a foam block  100  having anterior  103  and posterior  104  sides that are perpendicular to the superior surface  105  into which a superior central depression or channel  110  is formed. The foam block  100  is situated atop the band  120  having ends  121  and  122 . The left and right sides  101  and  102  of the foam block  100  can be formed at right angles to the superior and inferior sides  103  and  104 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the foam block  100  having sloping right and left sides  101 ′ and  102 ′, and inferior surface  106 . In  FIG. 4 , the inferior surface  106 ′ of the foam block is concaved. These features can increase stability and fit while decreasing pressure points. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates  FIGS. 5A-5D  illustrate several embodiments having alternative methods of securing the band, tubing, and block to the patient. 
       FIG. 5A  shows the band  120  positioned under the block  100 . The ends of the band  121  and  122  are secured by tape  140  running over the block  100 , over the tubing  175 , which is in the channel  110 , and to the band  120 . In this configuration, the tape  140  secures the tubing to the block  100  preventing any slippage. 
       FIG. 5B  shows the band  120  positioned over the block  100  and secured with tape  140 . In this configuration, the tubing  175  is held to the block  100  through friction between the sides and bottom of the channel  110  and the band  120 . In an alternative embodiment, an additional piece of tape  140  could be used to further secure the tubing  175  to the block  100 . 
       FIG. 5C  shows the band  120  positioned over the block  100  and positioned by the use of a VELCRO®-type (hook and loop fastener-type) closure on the ends  121 ′ and  122 ′ of the band  120 . As in  FIG. 5B , the tubing  175  is secured either through friction or tape  140 . 
       FIG. 5D  shows the band and block as a single piece  200 . In this embodiment, the block forms one end of the band. The superior surface of the block is coated in one half of a VELCRO®-type (hook and loop fastener-type) closure and the end of the band  122 ′ is covered in the other half of a VELCRO®-type (hook and loop fastener-type) closure. In another embodiment, the superior surface of the block is covered with an adhesive substance to which the end  122 ′ of the band will adhere. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the band may also be fastened by other means comprising: magnets, clips, staples, or clamps.