Abstract:
An application for a drainage bag support includes a belt that has at least one way to engaging with an animate object (person). The belt has an inwardly facing surface that rests against the animate object and an outwardly facing surface facing away from the animate object. At least one fastening station is/are positioned on the outwardly facing surface of the belt. One or more fasteners interface one or more drainage bags to one or more of the fastening stations, thereby supporting the drainage bags by the belt.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to the field of medicine and more particularly to an apparatus for supporting a drainage device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    After a surgery, the individual often has one or more drainage bags for draining the incision. The drainage bags are connected to tubes that interface with the incision, thereby draining any seepage from the incision through the tube(s) and into the drainage bag(s). Many times, the drainage bags are simply supported by the tubes, placing stress on the incision, causing discomfort to the patient and increasing the risk of the tubes being pulled out of the incision. 
         [0003]    To improve this situation, the drainage bag(s) are sometimes affixed to the patient&#39;s surgical dressing or gown with a safety pin. Attaching to the dressing initially works when the dressing is substantial, but as the patient heals, the size and thickness of the dressing reduces, making it difficult to support the drainage bag(s). Attaching to the gown helps, but there is still the risk of pulling the tubes out of the incision. 
         [0004]    Other solutions have been attempted. Healing Enhancements (see www.healingenhancements.com/surgical drainbags.aspx) markets a waist purse that holds one or more drainage bags. This device is similar to a fanny pack, is large and more complicated than is needed. 
         [0005]    What is needed is an apparatus that will hold one or more drain bags without undue material. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In one embodiment, a drainage bag support is disclosed including a belt that has at least one way to engaging with an animate object. The belt has an inwardly facing surface that rests against the animate object and an outwardly facing surface facing away from the animate object. At least one fastening station is/are positioned on the outwardly facing surface of the belt. One or more fasteners interface one or more drainage bags to one or more of the fastening stations, thereby supporting the drainage bags by the belt. The animate object is preferably a person and the belt is typically installed around the waist of the person, though it is anticipated that the present invention is equally applicable to other animate objects (e.g. livestock, pets, wild animals, etc.) and/or other areas of the animate objects (e.g. around a neck, arm, leg, wing, tail, fin, etc.). 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, a method of supporting a drainage bag is disclosed including providing a drainage bag support that has a belt and one or more fastening stations. The belt is made of a continuous loop of a stretchable material and has an inwardly facing surface facing toward the center of the continuous loop and an outwardly facing surface facing away from the center of the continuous loop. The fastening station(s) are positioned on the outwardly facing surface of the belt. The method includes stretching the belt to engage the belt with an area of an animate object then releasing the belt, the belt therefore contracting around the area of the animate object do to the force of contraction of the belt. Once released and in place, one or more drainage bags are affixed to one or more of the fastening stations. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, a method of supporting a drainage bag is disclosed including providing a drainage bag support that includes a belt and at least one fastening station. The belt has an inwardly facing surface and an outwardly facing surface facing opposite of the inwardly facing surface. The belt also has hook and loop material on the outwardly facing surface at a first end of the belt and mating hook and loop material on the inwardly facing surface at a second end of the belt. The fastening stations are positioned on the outwardly facing surface of the belt. The method includes passing the belt around an area of an animate object (e.g. the waist of a person) then engaging the hook and loop material with the mating hook and loop material, thereby securing the belt around the area of the animate object. Once secured around the area of the animate object, one or more drainage bags are affixed to one or more of the fastening stations. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a system of the prior art. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates a second perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of both embodiments of the present invention using a clip to fasten the drainage bag. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of both embodiments of the present invention using a hook and loop system to fasten the drainage bag. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a system of the prior art is shown. After an operation, often a drainage bag  50  is interfaced to the wound  42  (shown with sutures  44 ) through a drainage tube  52  that interfaces with a nipple  53  on the drainage bag. Although shown as a typical drainage bag  50 , there are many known shapes and types of drainage bags  50  and the present invention is not limited to any particular type, shape, size or compositions of drainage bag  50 . This exemplary drainage bag  50  has a drain  54  used, for example, to empty the contents of the drainage bag. The drainage bag  50  also has an appendage  56  that provides a way to fasten the drainage bag  50  to something. In this example of the prior art, the drainage bag  50  is attached by a safety pin  58  that interfaces with both the appendage  56  and the dressing  40  that covers the wound  42 . Note the dressing  40  is not shown covering the wound  42  to illustrate the operation of the drainage bag  50  and drainage tube  52 . 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The drainage bag support system  10  of the present invention includes a belt  12  having one or more fastening stations  14  on an external surface of the belt  12 . The belt  12  is placed around a person&#39;s waist, body or appendage and fastened to itself with hook and loop material  16 / 18 , keeping the belt in place around the waist, body or appendage. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a second perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The drainage bag support system  10  as described with  FIG. 2  is shown positioned around a person&#39;s waist  38  and fastened to itself with the hook and loop material  16 / 18 , keeping the belt in place around the waist  38 . The drainage bag  50  is pinned to one of the fastening stations  14  with a safety pin  58  or other suitable fastener that interfaces the appendage  56  of the drainage bag  50  to one of the fastening station  14 . It is anticipated that multiple drainage bags  50  are fastened to one or more of the fastening stations  14 , as needed. 
         [0020]    For brevity reasons, the drainage bag drain  54  and nipple  53  are shown. In typical use, a drainage tube  52  (see  FIG. 1 ) is connected at one end to the nipple  53  and at a distal end the drainage tube  52  interfaces with the wound  42  (see  FIG. 1 ) requiring drainage. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. The drainage bag support system  10   a  is shown positioned around a person&#39;s waist  38 . In this version of the drainage bag support system  10   a , the belt portion  12   a  is stretchable as would be the waist band of underwear. The belt portion  12   a  is stretched to allow the belt portion  12   a  to be placed around the person&#39;s waist  38  (as shown), body or appendage. Once in place, the elastic action of the belt portion  12   a  keeps the belt in place around, for example, the person&#39;s the waist  38 . As in the prior example, the drainage bag  50  is pinned to one of the fastening stations  14  with a safety pin  58  or other suitable fastener that interfaces the appendage  56  of the drainage bag  50  to one of the fastening station  14 . It is anticipated that multiple drainage bags  50  are fastened to one or more of the fastening stations  14 , as needed. 
         [0022]    As in  FIG. 3 , the drainage bag drain  54  and nipple  53  are shown. In typical use, a drainage tube  52  (see  FIG. 1 ) is connected at one end to the nipple  53  and at a distal end the drainage tube  52  interfaces with the wound  42  (see  FIG. 1 ) requiring drainage. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a perspective view of both embodiments of the present invention using a clip to fasten the drainage bag is shown. The drainage bag support system  10 / 10   a  as described with  FIG. 2  is shown positioned around a person&#39;s waist  38  and held in place by, for example, the hook and loop material  16 / 18  or the elastic belt portion  12   a , keeping the belt in place around the waist  38 . In this example, the drainage bag  50  is clipped to one of the fastening stations  14  with a clip  60 , interfacing the appendage  56  of the drainage bag  50  to one of the fastening station  14 . It is anticipated that multiple drainage bags  50  are fastened to one or more of the fastening stations  14 , as needed, using one or more clips  60 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a perspective view of both embodiments of the present invention using a hook and loop system to fasten the drainage bag is shown. The drainage bag support system  10  as described with  FIG. 2  is shown positioned around a person&#39;s waist  38  and held in place by, for example, the hook and loop material  16 / 18  or the elastic belt portion  12   a , keeping the belt in place around the waist  38 . In this example, the drainage bag  50  is secured to one of the fastening stations  14  with a loop  62  on the appendage  56  that fastens to itself as known in the industry. For example, the end portion has hook and loop material that holds to mating hook and loop material on a mid-portion of the appendage  56 . Another example uses a snap at the end portion that snaps to a mating snap on a mid-portion of the appendage  56 . Another example uses a button on the mid-portion of the appendage  56  that interfaces with a button hole located on the end of the loop. The loop  62  affixes the appendage  56  of the drainage bag  50  to one of the fastening station  14 . It is anticipated that multiple drainage bags  50  are fastened to one or more of the fastening stations  14 , as needed, using one or more clips  60 . 
         [0025]    Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
         [0026]    It is believed that the system and method of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.