Device affixing tubes to a cannula

A medical device including: a cannula, a first tube joined to the cannula; a second tube joined to the cannula; and a unitary fastener secured to the first tube, cannula and second tube, the fastener being subject to opposing forces from the first and second tubes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Patients on various life support have tubes placed into the lungs or stomach. Such tubes are affixed to a cannula, a form of junction box a few inches from the mouth of the patient. Tubes can be replaced, added and removed from the cannula as medical treatment needs are modified.

Cannulas, however, have a known problem. The tubes are positioned into portions of the human body known to issue moisture. The moisture in turn pools and collects in and around junctures between the tubes and cannula. The moisture weakens or degrades the manners of affixing the tubes to the cannula, which are typically tape wrapped circularly about the junction, forming a poor seal. As moisture pools in the junction, it attacks the underside of the tape causing it to separate from the tube and/or cannula. The moisture continues to pool until it separates enough of the tape from the tube/cannula to allow escape of the fluids. At this point, the tape is generally too degraded to provide the necessary hold. A shift of the patient, causes tubes to become dislodged, depriving the patient of needed medical care.

Hospital procedures have been developed to overcome this problem, including frequent examination of the tubes and cannula to assure connection. This examination has led to higher labor costs than necessary if the tubes would remain fixed until medical personal wanted them removed. Often the equipment needs to be replaced prematurely due to separation of components, causing higher material costs.

What is needed is a device that secures to the tube and the cannula. Ideally, the fastener, preferably tape, receives opposing forces from the cannula and at least one other tube, while leaving at least a portion of the junction open to release fluid. For instance, a length of tape is joined to a tube and cannula, but desirably is also joined to at least one other tube positioned in a direction opposing the first tube. More preferably, one length of tape secures three tubes and the cannula in opposing directions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a fastener that secures a tube to a cannula. The fastener, preferably tape, ideally receives opposing forces from the cannula and at least one other tube, while leaving at least a portion of the junction open to release fluid. For instance, a length of tape is joined to a tube and cannula, but is also joined to at least one other tube positioned in a direction opposing the first tube. In its preferred form, the fastener, perhaps length of tape, secures three tubes in opposing directions across the cannula.

In a preferred embodiment the medical device has a cannula. A first tube and a second tube are joined to the cannula. A unitary fastener is secured to the first tube, cannula and second tube such that the fastener is subject to opposing forces from the first and second tubes across the cannula.

Advantageously, the fastener may be positioned to allow a path of water vapor emitted by a patient.

As a further advantage, the fastener is not subject to weakening or degradation from interaction with water vapors of a patient.

As still yet another advantage, tubes remain secured to the cannula and reduce the human labor and materials needed to maintain the medical apparatus.

Also advantageously, the present invention can be extended to secure a number of tubes.

These and other advantages will be understood through reading the below detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a medical device10and may include a cannula12, first tube14, second tube16and a unitary fastener18. The first tube14may be selectively joined to the cannula12at a junction14a. The first tube14may be a proximal tube20, a distal tube22, a right tube24or a left tube26.

The second tube16may also be selectively joined to the cannula12at a junction16a. The second tube16may be a proximal tube20, a distal tube22, a right tube24or a left tube26and is positioned in a direction opposing the first tube14. That is, the second tube may be a member selected from the group including proximal tube20, a distal tube22, a right tube24or a left tube26not being the same member as the first tube14. The ends14b,16bof the first and second tubes14,16, as shown inFIG. 3, join the respective tubes14,16to the cannula12while the end16bof the second tube16is fixed in a position relative to the cannula12in a direction opposing the end14bof the first tube14. The end14bof the first tube14is in a fixed position relative to the cannula12. “Opposing” is intended to carry the meaning biased in an angular, 75 degrees through 285 degrees, fashion, ex., differing sides of a cannula12.

Third and fourth tubes28,30may also be selectively joined to the cannula12at junctions28a,30arespectively and may be a proximal tube20, a distal tube22, a right tube24or a left tube26. All such tubes,14,16,28,30may be joined to the cannula12in an opposing manner with respect to each other.

A unitary fastener18, e.g., one piece, may secure to the first tube14, cannula12and the second tube16, such that the fastener18preferably is subject to opposing forces the first and second tubes14,16across the cannula12. Desirably, the unitary fastener18is non-stretchable, where non-stretchable is defined to be any amount of stretch less than is necessary to allow the first tube14or second16to disengage from the cannula12. The fastener18in its preferred form is tape32, preferably medical grade, such as product 1525L (Single coated medical tape) sold by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, Inc. In a preferred mode, the unitary fastener18secures the first, second and third tubes14,16,28in an opposing manner across the cannula12. That is, the unitary fastener18secures three tubes to the cannula12in opposing directions.

A segment of medical tape32desirably has a length, perhaps six or more inches, greater than its width, perhaps one-half or greater inches. Each end38,40of the tape32may be wrapped about the first and second tubes14,16, leaving at least a position of junctions14aand16aexposed to release water vapor. The tape32may also have a midpoint34along the length. Where three tubes are joined to the cannula12, the midpoint34may be secured to the middle tube, which may be the proximal tube20.

The mid-point34desirably is disposed about a first tube,14, perhaps the proximal tube20, leaving at least a position of junction14aexposed to release water vapor. The tape32may be positioned in an X configuration36across the cannula12, and each end38,40of the tape32wrapped, perhaps circularly, about second and third tubes16,28, which may be the right and left tubes24,26respectively. The X configuration36may be positioned over a center42of the cannula12. The ends38,40may be adhered to tubes16,28in a manner that leaves at least a position of junctions16aand28aexposed to release water vapor.

The tape32is non-stretch, where non-stretch is defined to be any amount less than the stretch necessary to allow dislodging any of the tubes14,16,28,30from the cannula12. Preferably, the tape32is sufficiently clear such that a viewer may visually examine moisture migration, if any, under the tape32. The preferred embodiment of the present invention has the length of tape32, clear, securing three tubes and the cannula12in opposing directions.

The present invention has been described disclosing the best mode of making and using the present invention. Changes may be made in form and in substance without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For instance a cover, such as cover50may maintain the integrity of an adhesive until use.