Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a medical tube fixing apparatus which includes an adhesive member for securing the medical tube. The medical tube is inserted into the incised surgical site of the patient to discharge blood, body fluids, and the like to the outside. The surgical site where the medical tube is inserted is sutured with staples or suture threads. The adhesive member is made of a strip or band shaped tape-like material. The adhesive member is fixedly coupled at one end to the staple or the suture thread which sutures the patient&#39;s skin, and adheres to the outer surface of the medical tube to fix the medical tube together with the staple or suture. An operator can quickly and conveniently fix the medical tube to the patient&#39;s skin using the adhesive member. It is easy to manufacture the medical tube fixing apparatus, and manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a U.S. National Stage Application of International application No. PCT/KR2015/014255, filed on Dec. 24, 2015. This application claims priority to and benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0102628, filed on Jul. 20, 2015 before the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to a medical tube fixing apparatus, and more particularly to a medical tube fixing apparatus by which a medical tube can be easily fixed by using a band-shaped adhesive member, which may allow to obtain the same results regardless of a practitioner and to reduce the operation time and the risk of infection after surgery. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In general, after patients have been treated in a surgery, body fluids such as blood or pus may be caught inside of the patient&#39;s body. In this case, a drainage apparatus is used, which allows the medical staff to quickly discharge the body fluids generated in the patient&#39;s organs to the outside for quick recovery of the patient. 
         [0006]    In the drainage apparatus, a medical tube for discharging the body fluids to the outside is fastened and used. The medical tube may include widely used ones which are a catheter used for discharging bile or abscess from the liver or stomach to the outside of the human body, a urethral catheter inserted into the bladder for discharging the excrements, or a drain tube for discharging the body fluid generated in the internal organs of the patient to the outside in a state that its one part is inserted into the human body and its other part is exposed to the outside of the body. 
         [0007]    In recent years, a medical skin stapler has been widely used for sealing a surgical site in a state where the medical tube is inserted after a patient&#39;s operation is completed. The medical skin stapler, meaning a device for sealing the skin using staples, is an improvement of the conventional method in which an incised site of the skin is sealed with a suture thread and a needle at the time of a surgical operation or a cosmetic surgery. The staple used in the skin stapler has a substantially           shape. The staple is loaded on a cartridge of the skin stapler, and both ends of the staple are bent inward to seal the skin when it is pushed by and released from the skin stapler. In order to fix the medical tube exposed to the outside in such a sealed state, it is fixed to the skin using a method of directly tying it with a thread to a general medical band or the skin. 
         [0008]    However, the medical band has a problem that the adhesive strength is weakened when it is used for a long time and therefore it should be frequently replaced. It also has a problem that a gap is grown between the medical band and the medical tube whenever the patient moves and the adhesive force becomes weakened, which causes the medical tube to be pushed out to the outside. 
         [0009]    There is also a problem that the medical tubing may be detached and organs of the patient may be damaged due to insufficient adhesive force of the medical band. There are also other problems such as occurrence of infection due to leakage of pleural fluid caused by the detachment of the medical tube, and induction of emphysema of the lung due to air infiltration. 
         [0010]    In addition, the fixing method of tying with the thread is not robust, so that the medical tube can be moved and thus the medical tube inserted into the inside of the patient&#39;s body can be released to the outside. 
         [0011]    In view of these points, there is a prior art which is Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1064844 (published on Sep. 14, 2011) entitled “A Medical Tube Fixing Apparatus.” 
         [0012]    However, the fixing apparatus for the medical tube has the following disadvantages. A fixed cap, a tube guide member, a tape, and the like must be separately manufactured, so that the manufacturing cost will be increased. In addition, it takes a long time to install the fixing apparatus of the medical tube fixed by the tape on the patient, and it is not fixed firmly during long-term use. 
         [0013]    In addition, since the tape directly adheres to the skin, inflammation or the like may be caused during repeated use for a long period of time. The fixing apparatus is expensive to use because it is used as a disposable medical apparatus due to the nature of the medical apparatus attached directly to the patient&#39;s body and because when the fixing apparatus of the medical tube is replaced, the whole apparatus must be replaced. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0014]    The present disclosure is directed to providing a medical tube fixing apparatus which can easily fix a medical tube to obtain the same result regardless of a practitioner. 
         [0015]    The present disclosure is also directed to providing a medical tube fixing apparatus which can shorten the operation time and reduce the risk of infection after surgery. 
         [0016]    In addition, the present disclosure is directed to providing a medical tube fixing apparatus using a medical adhesive member. 
         [0017]    According to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, a medical tube fixing apparatus may include an adhesive member which is coupled to a staple and adheres to an outer surface of a medical tube. By fixing the medical tube to the staple using the adhesive member, the fixing operation of the medical tube becomes simpler and easier, so that the same result can be obtained irrespective of the practitioner. The risk of infection after surgery can be reduced. 
         [0018]    According to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a medical tube fixing apparatus, including: a staple for suturing an incised site of a patient&#39;s skin into which a medical tube is inserted; and an adhesive member, being fixed at one end to a center of the staple and adhering to an outer surface of the medical tube, for fixing the medical tube to the staple. 
         [0019]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the adhesive member may be formed in a strip or band shape extending by a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction of the medical tube, and be adhesively wound around the outer surface of the medical tube in a plurality of turns in a spiral shape along the longitudinal direction. 
         [0020]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the adhesive member may include a first portion fixedly coupled to a center of the staple and a second portion extending from the first portion in a direction perpendicular to the medical tube by a predetermined length so as to form a bent strip or band shape, and be adhesively wound in a horizontal direction around the outer surface of the medical tube at least one time. 
         [0021]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the adhesive member may include a main adhesive portion, extending in a longitudinal direction of the medical tube by a predetermined length, for adhering to the outer surface of the medical tube in the longitudinal direction; a fixing portion having one end of the main adhesive portion fixedly coupled to the center of the staple; a first auxiliary adhesive portion, extending from both sides of the main adhesive portion adjacent to the fixing portion in opposite horizontal directions, for adhesively wrapping the outer surface of the medical tube in the horizontal direction; and a second auxiliary adhesive portion, positioned above the first auxiliary adhesive portion and extending from both sides of the main adhesive portion in opposite horizontal directions, for adhesively wrapping the outer surface of the medical tube in the horizontal. 
         [0022]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the adhesive member may include a transparent or semi-transparent tape; an adhesive formed on one side of the tape and adhering to the outer surface of the medical tube; and a release paper which is attached to the adhesive and is removed when adhering to the outer surface of the medical tube. 
         [0023]    According to other exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a medical tube fixing apparatus to be used with a suture thread. 
         [0024]    The medical tube fixing apparatus may include a suture thread, being joined to a needle, for suturing an incised site of a patient&#39;s skin into which a medical tube is inserted; and an adhesive member, being provided in a strip or band shape and fixedly coupled to the suture thread at one end, for adhesively wrapping an outer surface of the medical tube together with the suture thread a plurality of times outside the skin sutured by the suture thread, and fixing the medical tube by the suture thread. 
         [0025]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the adhesive member may include a stopper for engaging with one end of the suture thread in the longitudinal direction of the suture thread. 
         [0026]    In another exemplary embodiment, the adhesive member may include a stopper for engaging with one end of the suture thread in the width direction of the suture thread. 
         [0027]    As described above, the medical tube fixing apparatus of the present disclosure can be easily manufactured, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of it and the medical cost burden on the patient. In addition, with the medical tube fixing apparatus it is possible to fix the medical tube at the same time as sealing the incised surgical site. Therefore, the operator can quickly and conveniently install it. 
         [0028]    Further, the medical tube fixing apparatus of the present disclosure can shorten the operation time and reduce the risk of postoperative infection by fixing the medical tube using staples, suture threads, and the like. 
         [0029]    In addition, the medical tube fixing apparatus of the present disclosure can provide the same result regardless of the practitioner by easily fixing the medical tube using the adhesive member. 
         [0030]    In addition, the present disclosure provides the medical tube fixing device in various forms using staples, suture threads, and the like, thereby fixing the medical tube to be suitable for an incised skin at the time of surgery. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  illustrates a configuration of a medical tube fixing apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view showing a configuration of the medical tube fixing apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is a view showing a state where the medical tube is fixed using the medical tube fixing apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  illustrates a configuration of a medical tube fixing apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  is a view showing a state where the medical tube is fixed using the medical tube fixing apparatus shown in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  illustrates a configuration of a medical tube fixing apparatus according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0037]      FIG. 7  is a view showing a state where the medical tube is fixed using the medical tube fixing apparatus shown in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 8  illustrates a configuration of a medical tube fixing apparatus according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0039]      FIG. 9A  and  FIG. 9B  are views showing a state where the medical tube is fixed using the medical tube fixing apparatus shown in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0040]      FIG. 10  illustrates a configuration of a medical tube fixing apparatus according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0041]      FIG. 11A  and  FIG. 11B  are views showing a state where the medical tube is fixed using the medical tube fixing apparatus shown in  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0042]    The embodiments of the present disclosure may be modified into various forms, and the scope of the present disclosure should not be construed as being limited by the embodiments described below. The present embodiments are provided to enable those skilled in the art to more fully understand the present disclosure. Accordingly, the shape and the like of the elements shown in the drawings may be exaggerated in order to emphasize a clearer description. 
         [0043]    Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 11 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 1  is a view showing a configuration of a medical tube fixing apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the medical tube fixing apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 3  is a view showing a state in which the medical tube is fixed using the medical tube fixing apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a medical tube fixing apparatus  100  according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is to fix a medical tube  20  for quickly discharging a blood tube, a body fluid, and the like generated in a lesion or an affected part of a patient to the outside when the patient is operated. 
         [0046]    When the medical tube  20  is inserted into the surgical site of the patient, the medical tube fixing apparatus  100  couples the adhesive member  120  to the staple  110  that seals the surgical site where the medical tube  20  is inserted, attaching the adhesive member  120  to the outer circumferential surface of the medical tube  20  so as to firmly fix the medical tube  20  to the patient&#39;s skin. 
         [0047]    Specifically, in an exemplary embodiment, the medical tube holding apparatus  100  of this embodiment may include the staple  110  and the adhesive member  120 . 
         [0048]    The staple  110  may be fastened to the periphery of the patient&#39;s affected part of into which the medical tube  20  is inserted, for example, using a skin stapler or the like to seal the incised surgical site. 
         [0049]    The adhesive member  120  may be provided with a strip- or band-shaped medical adhesive tape having a predetermined length and width. In an exemplary embodiment, the adhesive member  120  may include a tape  122 , an adhesive  124  adhering to one surface of the tape  122 , and a release paper  126  adhering to the other surface of the adhesive  124 . The adhesive member  120  is provided with a fixing portion  128 , one end of which is fixedly coupled to the center of the staple  110 . 
         [0050]    In an exemplary embodiment, the tape  122  may be made of a transparent or semitransparent material such as a resin film, a fiber material, or the like. The tape  122  may be made of a material having an elastic force. 
         [0051]    In an exemplary embodiment, the adhesive  124  may be made of a double-sided adhesive tape that its one side adheres to one surface of the tape  122  and the release paper  126  is attached to its the other side. The other side of the adhesive  124  may be coated. The adhesive  124  may be made of an adhesive material of which adhesive force is not affected by the body temperature of the patient. The adhesive  124  may adhere to the outer circumferential surface of the medical tube  20  by a detachable adhesive material. The adhesive  124  may be made of an adhesive material such as an acrylic adhesive, a rubber adhesive, a urethane adhesive, or a silicone adhesive for use in medical bandages and tapes. These adhesive materials are already well known in the art, so a detailed description of them would not be given here. 
         [0052]    In an exemplary embodiment, the release paper  126  may adhere to the coated surface of the adhesive  124  to protect an adhesive force of the adhesive  124 . A partial portion  126 ′ of the release paper  126  may be separated from the adhesive  124  so as to be easily separated from the coated surface of the adhesive  124  when the adhesive member  120  adheres to the outer circumferential surface of the medical tube  20 . When the adhesive member  120  adheres to the outer surface of the medical tube  20 , the release paper  126  is removed. 
         [0053]    In an exemplary embodiment, one end of the adhesive member  120 , which forms the fixing portion  128 , may be fixedly coupled to the center of the staple  110 . The fixing portion  128  may be fixedly coupled to the staple  110  by the adhesive  124  and the tape  122 . 
         [0054]    In an exemplary embodiment, the adhesive member  120  may be formed in the strip or band shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the medical tube  20  by a predetermined length as shown in  FIG. 3 . The adhesive member  120  may be adhesively wound around and along the outer surface of the medical tube  20  plural times in the form of spiral. 
         [0055]    Therefore, the medical tube fixing apparatus  100  of this embodiment may be is so configured that when the medical tube  20  is inserted into the inside of the surgical site of the patient, the adhesive member  120  fixedly coupled to the staple  110  can adhere to the medical tube  20  while wrapping the medical tube  20  along the outer circumferential surface of the medical tube  20  plural times in the form of spiral. 
         [0056]    The medical tubing fixing apparatus  100  can easily fix the medical tube  20  to the skin  10  of the patient using at least one staple  110 , which seals the incised surgical site adjacent the medical tubing  20 , and the adhesive member  120 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 4  is a view showing a configuration of a medical tube fixing apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 5  is a view showing a state in which a medical tube is fixed using the medical tube fixing apparatus shown in  FIG. 4 . Here, description of the elements of which functions are the same as or similar to those in the first exemplary embodiment will be omitted. 
         [0058]    With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a medical tube fixing apparatus  100   a  according to an exemplary embodiment may include a staple  110  for sealing or suturing the incised skin  10  of the patient near the medical tube  20  inserted into the patient&#39;s skin  10 , and an adhesive member  120   a,  being fixedly coupled to the center of the staple  110  and adhering to the outer circumferential surface of the medical tube  20 , for fixing the medical tube  20  to the staple  110 . 
         [0059]    Unlike the first embodiment, the adhesive member  120   a  of this embodiment may include a main adhesive portion  121  adhering to the medical tube  20  in the longitudinal direction of the medical tube  20 , and first and second auxiliary adhesive portions  123  and  125 , each of which extends in opposite horizontal directions from both lateral ends of the main adhesive portion  121 , for adhesively wrapping upper and lower positions of the medical tube  20  adjacent to the staple  110 , respectively. 
         [0060]    In an exemplary embodiment, the adhesive member  120   a  may be formed by sequentially laminating a tape  122   a,  an adhesive  124   a  and a release paper  125   a  so as to have the same sectional structure as that of the first exemplary embodiment. A fixing portion  128   a  which is fixedly coupled to the center of the staple  110  may be formed at an end of the adhesive member  120   a.    
         [0061]    The main adhesive portion  121  is extended in the longitudinal direction of the medical tube  20  by a predetermined length and adheres to the outer surface of the medical tube  20  in the longitudinal direction. Here, the fixing portion  128   a  is disposed at one end of the main adhesive portion  121 . 
         [0062]    In an exemplary embodiment, the first auxiliary adhesive portion  123  may be formed by the portions which extend from both lateral ends of the main adhesive portion  121  adjacent to the fixing portion  128   a  in both opposite horizontal directions, respectively. The first auxiliary adhesive portion  123  is attached to the outer surface of the medical tube  20  while horizontally and adhesively wrapping the outer circumferential surface of the medical tube  20 . 
         [0063]    The second auxiliary adhesive portion  125  may be spaced apart from the first auxiliary adhesive part  123  by a predetermined distance and may be formed by the two portions, extending from the other both lateral ends of the main adhesive portion  121  in opposite horizontal directions, respectively, so that they can adhesively wrap the outer circumferential surface of the medical tube  20  in the horizontal direction. 
         [0064]    Therefore, the medical tube fixing apparatus  100   a  of this embodiment can firmly fix the medical tube  20  by the first and second auxiliary adhesive portions  123  and  125  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 6  illustrates a configuration of a medical tube fixing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 7  shows a state in which the medical tube is fixed using the medical tube fixing apparatus shown in  FIG. 6 . Here, description of the elements of which functions are the same as or similar to those in the first embodiment will be omitted. 
         [0066]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the medical tube fixing apparatus  100   b  of this embodiment may include a staple  110  and an adhesive member  120   b.  The adhesive member  120   b  may have a shape bent at a right angle, and include a fixing portion  128   b  for being fixedly coupled to the center of the staple  110 , and a band-shaped portion bent from the fixing portion  128   b  in a direction perpendicular to the medical tube  20  and extended by a predetermined length. 
         [0067]    The adhesive member  120   b  may be formed by sequentially laminating a tape  122   b,  an adhesive  124   b  and a release paper  125   b  so as to have the same sectional structure as that of the first embodiment. The adhesive member  120   b  may have, at an end, a fixing portion  128   b  which is fixedly coupled to the center of the staple  110 . 
         [0068]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , in the medical tube fixing apparatus  100   b  of this embodiment the adhesive member  120   b  may be adhesively wound around the outer surface of the medical tube  20  at least once in the horizontal direction. 
         [0069]    The medical tube fixing apparatuses  100 ,  100   a  and  100   b  of the first to third embodiments described above can firmly fix the medical tube  20  to the patient&#39;s skin  10  using the staple  110 . 
         [0070]      FIG. 8  illustrates a configuration of a medical tube fixing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIGS. 9A and 9B  are views showing a state in which the medical tube is fixed using the medical tube fixing apparatus shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0071]    Referring to  FIGS. 8 to 9B , the medical tube fixing apparatus  200  of this embodiment may fix the medical tube  20  using a suturing member  210 . 
         [0072]    To this end, the medical tube fixing apparatus  200  may include the suturing member  210  and an adhesive member  220 . 
         [0073]    The suturing member  210  may include a needle  214  and a suture thread  212 . The needle  214  is coupled to one end of the suture thread  212  and the adhesive member  220  is fixedly coupled to the other end. The suturing member  210  can suture the incised skin near the medical tube  20  inserted into the patient&#39;s skin  10 . 
         [0074]    In an exemplary embodiment, the adhesive member  220  may be provided in a strip or band shape. One end of the adhesive member  220  may be fixedly connected to the suture thread  212 . The adhesive member  220  may adhesively wrap the outer surface of the medical tube  20  along with the suture thread  212  plural times outside of the surgical site of the skin  10  sutured by the suture thread  212 . This adhesive member  220  can fix the medical tube  20  to the patient&#39;s skin  10  by fixing the medical tube  20  to the suture thread  212 . In this embodiment, the adhesive member  220  may be coupled to the other end of the suture thread  212  in the longitudinal direction of the suture thread  212 . 
         [0075]    In an exemplary embodiment, the adhesive member  220  may be made of a medical adhesive tape having a strip or band shape and a predetermined length and width. The adhesive member  220  may include a tape  222 , an adhesive  224  bonded to one surface of the tape  222 , a release paper  226  attached to the other surface of the adhesive  224 , and a stopper  228  with which the suture thread  212  is coupled. The stopper  228  may be made of, for example, a hardened material and be fixed to the center of one end of the adhesive member  220 . The stopper  228  may function to couple the suture thread  212  with the adhesive member  220 , and to prevent the adhesive member  220  from being inserted into the patient&#39;s skin  10  by being followed by the suture thread  212  when the patient&#39;s incised skin  10  is sealed using the suturing member  210 . 
         [0076]    Therefore, as shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the medical tube fixing apparatus  200  of this embodiment may be configured such that the incised site of the patient&#39;s skin  10  is sutured with the suture thread  212  and the needle  214 . Then, the medical tube  20  may be wrapped plural times together with the suture thread  212  to be fixed by the adhesive member  220 . 
         [0077]      FIG. 10  is a view showing a configuration of a medical tube fixing apparatus according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 11A  and  FIG. 11B  are views showing a state in which the medical tube is fixed using the medical tube fixing apparatus shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0078]    With reference to  FIGS. 10 to 11B , in the medical tube fixing apparatus  200   a  of this embodiment, the adhesive member  220   a  may be coupled horizontally at the center portion of the suture thread  212  unlike the fourth embodiment. 
         [0079]    In an exemplary embodiment, the adhesive member  220   a  may be made of a medical adhesive tape having a strip or band shape and a predetermined length and width. The adhesive member  220   a  may include a tape  222   a,  an adhesive  224   a,  a release paper  226   a , and a stopper  228   a.  The stopper  228   a  also provides materials, shapes, and functions that are generally similar to those in  FIG. 8 . However, the stopper  228   a  of this embodiment is fixed in the width direction at an end of the adhesive member  220   a.  The stopper  228   a  may be installed such that the adhesive member  220   a  can be fixed at a proper position of the suture thread  212 . Here, the adhesive member  220   a  may be provided so as to be adjustable in its position along the longitudinal direction of the suture thread  212  by the stopper  228   a.    
         [0080]    Therefore, as shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B , the medical tube fixing apparatus  200  of this embodiment may be configured such that the incised site of the patient&#39;s skin  10  is sealed with the suture thread  212  and the needle  214 . Then, the medical tube  20 , together with the suture thread  212 , may be adhesively wrapped plural times by the adhesive member  220   a  to fix the medical tube  20 . 
         [0081]    The medical tube fixing apparatuses  200  and  200   a  of the fourth and fifth embodiments described above can firmly fix the medical tube  20  to the patient&#39;s skin  10  using the suture thread  212 . 
         [0082]    The foregoing is illustrative of exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplary embodiments have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the present inventive concepts. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present inventive concepts as defined in the claims. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of various exemplary embodiments and is not to be construed as limited to the specific exemplary embodiments disclosed, and that modifications to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, as well as other exemplary embodiments, are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.