Tube Anchor Assembly

A device for supporting a tube is disclosed, the device comprising a flexible base for securing to the skin of a patient and having a first major surface for opposing the skin of the patient and a second major surface opposite the first, the base comprising a channel extending therethrough, the channel opening in the first or the second major surface of the base. The channel may be straight or arcuate. The device finds particular use in holding tubes, drains, cannulae, catheters and the like at the skin of a subject.

Turning toFIG. 1, there is shown a device of a first embodiment, generally indicated as2, adhered to the skin4of a patient. The device is shown secured to an arm of the patient. However, it is to be understood that the device may be secured to any part of the skin of the patient, as required for proper, safe and effective location of the tube being supported.

The device2is supporting a tube6. The tube6is a line connected to a catheter inserted into a vein in the arm of the patient (not shown for clarity). However, it is to be understood that the device may be used to hold and support a wide range of medical tubes and lines required by a patient.

The device2comprises a generally oval base10formed from a flexible, resilient polyester. As shown inFIG. 2, the base has a first major surface12, which in use faces the skin of the patient, and a second major surface14that in use is exposed, as shown inFIG. 1.

The base10has a channel16formed therein. The channel16has an opening18in the second major surface14of the base, as shown inFIG. 1. The channel16is generally circular in cross-section, having a diameter closely matched to that of the tube6, such that once inserted into the channel the tube is firmly held by the resilient action of the base material.

The channel16has a first open end20in one end of the oval base and a second open end22in the second end of the base. As shown inFIG. 1, the channel16extends in a curved path through the base between its open ends20,22. In particular, the channel extends in a compound curve comprising three arc portions, such that the channel curves to one side of a straight line extending between its open ends20,22. In this way, the tube is securely held by the curved channel16and is not free to slide along inside the channel, for example under the normal movement of the patient.

As shown inFIG. 2, the base10has a thicker portion30in the region of the channel16and tapers to a lower thickness at its edge portions32,34. In this way, the base is flexible and is able to flex under the action of movement of the skin of the patient.

A portion of the second major surface14, generally indicated as36, is available for a medical practitioner to write notes on the device.

An adhesive layer38is provided on the first major surface, to adhere the base10to the skin4of the patient.

The region of the base10between the first major surface12and the channel16is indicated inFIG. 2as40. As shown, the region40is of considerably reduced thickness, compared with the other portions of the base10. As a result, the base10is susceptible to flexing along the line of the channel16, allowing the opening18to be widened to accept the tube6. Further, adhering the base10to the skin4of the patient has the effect of urging the walls of channel16together and closing the opening18, thus closing the channel about the tube6, further gripping and securing the tube.

Turning toFIG. 3, there is shown a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the device ofFIGS. 1 and 2, generally indicated as62, adhered to the skin4of a patient. The device may be secured to any part of the skin of the patient, as required for proper, safe and effective location of the tube being supported.

The device62comprises a generally oval base64formed from a flexible, resilient polyester. As shown inFIG. 3, the base has a first major surface66, which in use faces the skin of the patient, and a second major surface68that in use is exposed, as shown inFIG. 3. The base64comprises a first base portion70and a second base portion72. The first and second base portions70,72are spaced apart to form a channel74therebetween, again as shown inFIG. 3. The channel74has an opening76in the second major surface68of the base. The channel16is generally circular in cross-section, having a diameter closely matched to that of a tube78, such that once inserted into the channel the tube78is firmly held by the resilient action of the base material.

The channel74may extend in any shape through the base64. The embodiment shown inFIG. 3is particularly suitable for use with a channel having a curved or arcuate form, such as the channel shown inFIG. 1and described above.

As shown inFIG. 3, the base64has a thicker portion in the region of the channel74and tapers to a lower thickness at its edge portions. In this way, the base is flexible and is able to flex under the action of movement of the skin of the patient.

A portion of the second major surface68of the second portion of the base72, generally indicated as80, is available for a medical practitioner to write notes on the device.

The device62further comprises a layer of flexible material82, such as a resilient polyester, which in use extends between the first and second base portions70,72and the skin4of the subject. Each base portion70,72is secured to the flexible layer82by a respective layer of adhesive84,86. As a result, the base64is susceptible to flexing along the line of the channel74, allowing the opening76to be widened to accept the tube78. Further, adhering the base64to the skin4of the patient has the effect of urging the walls of channel74together and closing the opening76, thus closing the first and second base portions70,72and the channel about the tube78, further gripping and securing the tube.

The device is secured to the skin4of the subject by an adhesive layer88.

As shown inFIG. 3, the flexible layer82extends beyond the edges of the first and second base portions70,72and prevents the skin4being abraded by the edges of the base portions.

Turning toFIG. 4, there is shown a perspective view of a device of a second embodiment of the present invention, generally indicated as102. The device comprises a generally oval base104of a flexible, transparent, resilient polyester.

As shown inFIG. 5, the base has a first major surface106, which in use faces the skin of the patient, and a second major surface108that in use is exposed, as shown inFIG. 4.

The device102is holding a tube110.

The base104has a channel112formed therein. The channel112has an opening114in the first major surface106of the base, as shown inFIG. 5. The channel112is generally circular in cross-section, having a diameter closely matched to that of the tube110, such that once inserted into the channel the tube is firmly held by the resilient action of the base material.

The channel112extends substantially linearly across the base104from opposing edges and has open ends116and118in the opposing edges of the base.

As shown inFIG. 5, the base104is of generally uniform thickness, with the exception that the base is thicker in the immediate region of the channel112, so as to form the channel with a wall120substantially the same thickness as the remaining portions of the base.

An adhesive layer122is provided on the first major surface106of the base on either side of the channel112, for securing the device to the skin of the patient.

In use, the tube110is inserted into the channel112through the opening114. To assist this, the base104may be flexed, to widen the opening114. Once the tube is located in the channel, the device is positioned along the tube. Once in position, the device102is adhered to the skin of the patient, such that the opening114is facing the skin of the patient, holding the tube in place in the channel112. Further, the action of adhering the base to the skin of the patient urges the wall120of the channel112into closer contact with the tube110, thus further gripping the tube.

Turning toFIG. 6, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the device shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. The device ofFIG. 6, generally indicated as202, is generally of the same form and construction as the device ofFIGS. 4 and 5. Accordingly, components common to the two devices have been indicated using the same reference numerals, as described above. In the device ofFIG. 6, the base104is formed with wall members204extending upwards from the base, as viewed in the figure. The wall members204extend either side of the opening114in the base, such that the tube110when present in the channel112is held at a distance from the second major surface108of the base. In this way, the tube110is held away from the skin of the subject when the device is in use. This in turn reduces the tendency for the tube to rub against and abrade the skin of the subject in the region of the device.