STABILIZING FITTING FOR INTRAVENOUS CATHETER

Abstract: A stabilizing fitting for securely holding an intravenous catheter to a patient's skin at a venipuncture site comprises a laminar base member (10) with an adhesive lower surface (22) and a catheter hub retaining cradle (12) on its upper surface. After insertion of the catheter into a vein and connection to an infusion tube, the catheter hub (36) is pressed into the cradle (12) which locates the hub laterally and longitudinally and the fitting is dabbed onto the patient's skin. Stabilization is then achieved by affixing criss-cross tapes (42) over the assembly.

Description: TITLE: STABILIZING FITTING FOR AN INTRAVENOUS CATHETER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to fittings for use in intravenous infusion procedures for securing an intravenous cathether in a stabilized manner to a patient's skin. A venipuncture can be made in many areas of the body, such as the forearm, back of the hand, upper arm, ankle or foot. In this procedure, a catheter is normally inserted into a vein by means of a hollow needle which is then withdrawn to avoid damage to the walls of the punctured vein. The catheter remains attached to the patient and is connected to a source of infusion liquid. It is then necessary to stabilize the catheter to prevent movement tending to work the catheter loose and leading to potential source of infection or irritation. to the patient at the point of catheter insertion. This stabilization is • generally done by taping the catheter hub and associated tube fittings to the patient's skin in an area -adjacent to the point of catheter insertion. It is important to obtain secure stabilization of the inserted catheter and if the stabilizing procedure relies on the individual taping technique of a person performing the venipuncture, this is a possible source of insecurity of stabilization. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a fitting which can be used to provide a standardized technique for securely stabilizing an intravenous catheter to a patient in an intravenous infusion procedure. O PI It is a further objected of the invention to provide a fitting for securely holding the hub of an intr venous catheter and its associated tubing so as to allow efficient stabilization of the catheter at any selected infusion site. Another object of the invention is to provide a catheter securing an stabilizing fitting which allows the catheter to be held securely in place while still facilit ting access to the point of the catheter insertion into the skin and visual access to the point of blood flashbac in the infusion tubing. A further object of the invention is to provide a fitting for cradling and securely holding a catheter in place on a patient's skin with the catheter hub being held out of contact with the skin and at a suitable angle to avoid crimping or bending of the catheter itself. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A disposable catheter stabilizing fitting of synthetic plastics material is provided which comprises a catheter hub-retaining cradle on a laminar base member having an adhesive undersurface and a tab grip extending rearwardly of the cradle. In use, when the catheter has been inserted into a patient's vein and the catheter hub has been connected to an infusion tube, the hub is pressed with a snap-fit into the cradle and the fitting with attached hub and tubing is dabbed onto the patient's skin (after removal of a protective covering for the adhesive on the fitting's undersurface). Then, the fitting can be securely stabiliz in position by overlaying it with criss-cross adhesive tap The cradle is designed to hold the catheter hub at a suitable angle to avoid bending or crimping of the catheter and with the catheter itself projecting forwardly from the front end of the fitting. This facilitates access to the point of catheter insertion into the skin so OM . that a gauze pad or the like can be attached over this point and removed if required for inspection purposes without disturbing the secure attachment of the fitting. Further, the cradle and base member are designed to provide visual access to. the point of blood flashback rearwardly • of the catheter, hub even when the fitting is secured by the criss-cross tapes. In one preferred form of the invention, the base member is provided with laterally extending rearwardly inclined elongated wings positioned to serve as guides over which the criss-cross tapes are laid and the fitting may be supplied with such tapes having their ends pre- attached to these wings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of an intravenous infusion site in a patient's forearm showing the use of a stabilizing fitting in accordance with the invention; Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views of a conventional form of over the needle catheter set in retracted and assembled conditions respectively; Figure is a perspective view of one form of stabilizing fitting in accordance with the invention showing a catheter hub and associated infusion tube fitting about to be attached thereto; Figure 5 is a plan view of the fitting shown in Figure ; Figure 6 is an underneath view of the same fitting; Figure 7 is a secion on line 7-7 of Figure 5; Figure 8 is a plan view -of an infusion site showing the use of a modified form of fitting in accordance with the invention; Figure 9 is a perspective view of an alternative type of stabilizing fitting and catheter; Figure 10 is a plan view of another form of stabilizing fitting; fURE4£^ O PI - . . . ' - '. ' - * *<- * * V - — -> " - Figure 11 is a perspective view of part of a still further form of stabilizing fitting; Figure 12 is a plan view of the fitting shown in Figure 11 with a catheter hub and associated infusion tubing in place; Figure 13 is an underneath view of the fitting shown in Figures 11 and 12; Figure 1*4 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 12; Figure 15 is a similar view to that shown in Figure 14 but with the catheter hub shown in a different position on the fitting; Figure 16 is a perspective view of part of anoth form of stabilizing fitting;- Figure 17 is a view similar to Figure Iβ showing a catheter hub in place; Figure 18 is a perspective view of yet another form of stabilizing fitting; Figure 19 is an underneath plan of the fitting shown in Figure 18; and Figure 20 is a longitudinal section through the fitting shown in Figure 18 in a bent condition. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As best illustrated in Figures -4-7, a first preferred form of catheter stabilizing fitting comprises a laminar base member 10 of synthetic plastics material such as PVC, polyethylene or the like and a catheter hub- retaining cradle 12 of like or similar material on the upper surface of the base member. The cradle and base member may be separately formed as by molding or stamping and adhesively assembled together or alternatively the entire fitting may be integrally formed as a single molded item. The base member is symmetrical about a. longitudi axis 14, has a forward end 16 and laterally extending rearwardly inclined elongated wings 18 with an included angle therebetween of about 120°. A tab grip 20 is provided as a rearward extension of the base member and the entire undersurface of the base member, except for the tab grip, is provided with a coating of any suitable pressure-sensi- tive adhesive 22 (Figure 6) and a protective strippable covering sheet--24. The cradle 12 has side walls 26 of resilient plastics, which converge upwardly towards their free upper edges, and which are provided internally with longitudinal ridges 28. Each side wall has a central opening 30 and rearwardly of the side walls the cradle is extended into a section including elongated reudced height extensions 3 of the side walls. The cradle is dimensioned to accept a standard catheter hub _S and associated infusion tube fittings 38 as shown in Figures 1 and 4 by press fitting the hub into the cradle between the side walls. In this condition, the resiliency of the side walls and their internal ribs firmly locate the hub in position and positive longitudinal location of the hub is obtained by the hub boss fitting in the wall openings 30. The stabilizing fitting is conveniently supplied in a kit including for example an over the needle catheter, antiseptic liquid and applicator, adhesive tapes, and gauze padding. A preferred method of using the fitting in an intravenous infusion procedure is illustrated in Figures 1-4. A venipuncture is made in the normal way and the needle 40 is withdrawn from the catheter. After checking the blood flashback, the catheter hub 36 is then the stabilizing fitting 10, held by means of tab 20, is brought from below the hub and the hub is snapped into the cradle 12. The protective covering sheet 24 having been stripped from the undersurface of the fitting, the fitting is dabbed onto the patient's skin to temporarily stabilize the catheter and after forming a conventional bight in the infusion tubing as shown in Figure 1, the fitting is taped down with criss-cross adhesive tapes 42 passing over the wings 18 which serve as alignment guides for the tapes. A conventional gauze pad and covering tape 44 is placed over the point of insertion of the catheter into the patient's skin. As shown in Figures 1 and 4 in the assembled condition of the equipment, the enlarged diamete portion 34 of the forward fitting of the infusion tubing sits on-; the reduced height side wall extensions 32. This . establishes a suitable angle for the catheter after taping down, to prevent crimping or kinking of the catheter. It will be seen that by using the stabilizing fitting in the described manner, a simple means is provide for securely stabilizing the catheter according to a standardized procedure in a rapid and effective manner. Mo over, with the catheter projecting from the front end of t stabilizing fitting ready access is available to the point of catheter insertion, for inspection purposes, by removin the gauze pad without disturbing the stabilization of the catheter. Further, the point of blood flashback in the tubing behind the catheter hub is at all times visible due to the positioning of the criss-cross tapes over the wings 18 which are designed to cross the tapes over the hub boss as shown (to this end the center lines of the respective wings pass substantially through the centers of the openin 30). Figures 8-10 show modified forms of fittings in accordance with the invention. The fittings shown in Figure 8 are substantially similar to that previously described except that it is supplied with adhesive tapes 42a provided with suitable release paper and having the en pre-attached to the upper surfaces of the wings 18. Figur 9 shows a fitting in which the openings 30a in the side wa are wider than in the previous embodiments to receive and longitudinally locate a catheter hub having lateral wings ' 50. Figure 10 shows a fitting in which the wings 12 are omitted. It will be appreciated that the fittings shown i Figures 8-10 are in their essential features equivalent I to the fittings shown in the previous figures and their manner of use is essentially similar. Figures 11-15 show a further form of fitting having a modified type of cradle. In other respects and in its manner of use, this fitting is similar- to those shown in Figures 1-9 -and like references are used to denote these similar parts. The cradle 12 in this case has side walls 2β and a trough-like cradle section 58 rearwardly of walls 26 formed with three longitudinally spaced part-circular abutment ribs 60. At its rear, the cradle terminates in a lateral wall 62 having a part-circular opening 64. The fitting is used in the same way as those previously described and in use, as shown in Figures 12, 14 and 15, when the forward end of a catheter hub 3 is pressed into place between the side walls, the boss 36a of the hub will be longitudinally located by resting between the rear end of the walls 26 and the forwardmost rib 60 or by resting between a pair of the ribs 60 and with the forward end of the infusion fitting 3 resting in the opening 64 in rear wall 62 of the cradle. Longitudinal and transverse location of the catheter hub is therefore provided by the walls 26, the ribs 60 and the opening 64, and the heighth of the rear wall 62 beneath the opening 64. establishes the correct catheter angle to prevent kinking or crimping. The construction is such that the catheter boss 36a can be located between walls 26 and the forwardmost rib 60 or between adjacent pairs of ribs to longitudinally maintain the hub in position. As indicated, the fitting shown in Figures 11-15 is used in like manner to those previously described and can likewise be provided with criss- ross tapes 42 on its wing portions 18. The fitting shown in Figures 16 and 17 is similar to that shown in Figures 11-15 and like references are again used to denote like parts. In this case, the side walls 26 are extended somewhat rearwardly compared with the J J EX^ OΛ'-PI — - - ~ . - . embodiment .of Figures 11-15 and the forwardmost rib 60 is eliminated. One of the walls 26 carries a snap-over stra or cover 66 with a thumb grip 68, the cover 66 being integrally molded with the wall 26 about a hinge line 70 5 of reduced cross section. Cover 66 terminates in a latch member 72 which engages a complementary latch member 74 at the top of the opposite wall 26. Use of this fitting is similar to the previously described embodiment. The catheter hub is pressed into 10 place between walls 26, with the cover 66 open. The boss 36a of the catheter hub is axially located as shown and the cover 66 is then brought across and latched into place The material of the walls 26 and of the cover should provi sufficient flexibility to enable the cover to conform to 15 the outer surface of the catheter hub and to accomodate th slight misalignment between the axis of the catheter hub and the line of the hinge 70. The snap-over cover allows this form of fitting to dispense with the use of criss-cross tapes, and when 20. required, the latch members 72 and 74 can be released and the cover opened by inward pressure on walls 26. Figures 18-20 show a fitting which is again similar to that shown in Figures 11-15. This time however the fitting is provided with means for reducing the bendin 5 resistance of the fitting along a line substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the fitting. Such means take the form of substantially V-shaped notches 80 in the walls of the cradle-like trough section 58 between a pair of the ribs 60. These notches facilitate bending 0 or folding of the fitting as shown in Figure 20 which assists in manipulating the fitting when this is being applied to a patient's skin. ' Further, the release paper o the underneath surface of the fitting is in this case provided in two halves 24a and 24b which meet on the bendi 5 axis so that when the fitting is bent as shown, this also facilitates removal of the release paper. Any of the OMPI other fittings herein disclosed can also be provided with similar bending resistance reducing means and split release paper. While several examplary embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, the invention is not limited to-the specific features thereof and modifica¬ tions can be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims: THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS: 1. A stabilizing fitting for securing an intra venous catheter to a patient's skin comprising a laminar base member having a longitudinal axis, an upper surface and lower surface, pressure-sensitive adhesive means on a least a part of said lower surface of said base member, a catheter hub-retaining cradle on said upper surface of said base member, said cradle having a forward end, a rearward end and resilient side walls substantially paral to and symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis, said side walls being formed to receive and laterally locate a catheter hub pressed into said cradle, locating means associated with said cradle for maintaining said hub in position longitudinally of said axis with the catheter projecting substantially axially f said forward end of said cradle and a tab .grip forming an extension of said base member rearwardly of said cradle, further including a snap-over cover hinged to the upper e of one of said side walls, a first latch member on said co and a second latch member on the other of said side walls, said latch members being mutually engagable for holding th cover ' in place over a catheter hub fitting into the cradle 2. The fitting of Claim 1 wherein said cradle includes a trough-like portion rearwardly of said side wal and said locating means includes laterally extending rib means in said trough-like portion. 3. The fitting of Claim 2 ^ wherein said trough¬ like portion includes a laterally extending rear wall havi an opening for receiving and laterally locating an infusio fitting associated with a catheter hub. TTURE 4. The fitting of Claim 3 wherein said rear wall has a surface for supporting said infusion fitting at a height establishing an angle of the catheter hub avoiding kinking of the catheter. 5. The fitting of Claim 1 wherein said base member includes, a laterally-extending rearwardly-inclined elongated wing-like member on each side of said longitudinal axis. 6. A stabilizing fitting for securing to a patient's skin an intravenous catheter having a catheter hub of the type which includes a boss with an expanded trans¬ verse dimension, said fitting comprising: a laminar base member having a longitudinal axis, an upper surface and a lower surface; pressure-sensitive adhesive means on said lower surface; a catheter hub-retaining cradle secured on said upper surface and having a bottom, an open top, a forward end, a rearward end and resilient side walls substantially parallel to and symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis proximate -said forward end, said side walls being formed to resiliently engage and laterally locate the catheter hub pressed downwardly to the bottom of said cradle through said open top, said side walls being spaced to engage the catheter hub forwardly of said boss, said rearward end being defined by a rear support wall having a top edge which is recessed to a height above said bottom of said cradle to receive and support the catheter hub at a hub location rearward of said boss such that the catheter hub,, when supported ^ in said cradle, is disposed at a small angle relative to said upper surface wherein the hub diverges from said upper surface in a rearward direction, the sides of said cradle between said resilient side walls and said rear support wall being open to accomodate catheter hubs having expanded tranverse dimensions; locating means comprising part of said cradle and disposed between said side walls and said support wall for maintaining the catheter hub in position longitudinally of said axis with the catheter projecting substantially axially from said forward end of said cradle; and a tab grip forming an extension of said base member extending from and substantially co-planar with said base member from a location on said base member outside the area on which said adhesive means is disposed, said tab grip being free of said adhesive means. 7. The fitting according to Claim 6 wherein said adhesive means is disposed on all of said lower surface. 8. The fitting according to Claim 6 wherein said locating means comprises a plurality of further support walls arranged parallel to said rear support walls, said further support walls being recessed to progressively highe levels above said bottom of said cradle with the forward- most further support wall being recessed to the lowest leve 9. The fitting according to Claim 8 wherein the longitudinal spacing between successive further support walls is slightly greater than the longitudinal dimension of the catheter hub. ' 10. The fitting according to Claim 9 wherein the recesses in said rear support wall and said further support walls are arcuately configured. 11. The fitting according to Claim 6 wherein said resilient side walls are configured generally concave in¬ wardly to define a generally C-shaped cross-section which is open at its top, whereby the uppermost portions of said resilient side walls are substantially closer to one another than the spacing between said side walls along said bottom. 12. The fitting according to Claims 6 or 7 wherei said base member includes laterally-extending and rearwardl inclined wing-like portions on each side of said longitudinal axis, coated with said adhesive means on said lower surface so as to conform to the patient's skin. 13- The fitting according to Claim 6 wherein said tap grip is formed integrally with said rear support wall. 14. The fitting according to Claim 6 including means for reducing the bending resistance of the fitting along a bending axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and located intermediate the forward and rearward ends of said cradle. 15- The fitting according to Claim 14 wherein said cradle includes a trough-like portion rearwardly of said side walls and said bending resistance reducing means comprises notch means formed in opposed side wall portions of said trough-like portion. 16. The fitting according to Claim 15 wherein said trough-like portions includes a pair of laterally extending catheter hub-locating ribs and said notch means is located between said ribs. 17- The fitting according to Claim 14 including a pair of release papers covering said pressure sensitive adhesive means, said release papers meeting on a line corresponding with said bending axis. 18. A stabilizing fitting for securing an intra¬ venous catheter to a patient's skin comprising a laminar base member having a longitudinal axis, an upper surface and a lower surface, pressure-sensitive adhesive means on at least a part of said lower surface of said base member, a catheter hub-retaining cradle on said upper surface of said base member said cradle having a forward end, a rearward end and resilient side walls substantially parallel to and symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis, said side walls being formed to receive and laterally locate a catheter hub pressed into said cradle, locating means associated with said cradle for maintaing said hub in position longitudinally of said axis with the catheter projecting substantially axially from said forward end of said cradle and a tab grip forming an extension of said base member rearwardly of said cradle, including gripping formations on internal surfaces of said side walls, wherein said gripping formations comprise longitudinall extending rib means on said internal surfaces; wherein said locating means includes an opening formed in each of said side walls; wherein said openings are dimensioned to receive and locate lateral wings extending from a catheter hub; wherein said openings are dimensioned to receive and locate a boss of a catheter hub; and wherein said side walls have rearward extensions of reduced height defining said upper surface means. UR£4 _0 PI__

Inventors: GORDON M
Applicants: WHITMAN MED CORP, WHITMAN MEDICAL CORP
Application year: 1980
Main classification: A61M5
IPC codes: A61M5, A61M25