Abstract:
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.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to medical cannulas and more particularly device for affixing tubes to a cannula, claiming priority from U.S. Provisional Application 61/011,725, filed Jan. 22, 2008. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    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 fmedical treatment needs are modified. 
         [0003]    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. 
         [0004]    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. 
         [0005]    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 
       [0006]    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. 
         [0007]    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. 
         [0008]    Advantageously, the fastener may be positioned to allow a path of water vapor emitted by a patient. 
         [0009]    As a further advantage, the fastener is not subject to weakening or degradation from interaction with water vapors of a patient. 
         [0010]    As still yet another advantage, tubes remain secured to the cannula and reduce the human labor and materials needed to maintain the medical apparatus. 
         [0011]    Also advantageously, the present invention can be extended to secure a number of tubes. 
         [0012]    These and other advantages will be understood through reading the below detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings. 
     
    
     
       IN THE FIGURES 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of the preferred fastener of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the preferred fastener of the present invention, showing a cover being pealed from the fastener; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the preferred fastener securing the preferred number of tubes to a cannula. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The present invention is a medical device  10  and may include a cannula  12 , first tube  14 , second tube  16  and a unitary fastener  18 . The first tube  14  may be selectively joined to the cannula  12  at a junction  14   a.  The first tube  14  may be a proximal tube  20 , a distal tube  22 , a right tube  24  or a left tube  26 . 
         [0017]    The second tube  16  may also be selectively joined to the cannula  12  at a junction  16   a.  The second tube  16  may be a proximal tube  20 , a distal tube  22 , a right tube  24  or a left tube  26  and is positioned in a direction opposing the first tube  14 . “Opposing” is intended to carry the meaning biased in an angular, 75 degrees through 285 degrees, fashion, ex., differing sides of a cannula  12 . 
         [0018]    Third and fourth tubes  28 ,  30  may also be selectively joined to the cannula  12  at junctions  28   a,    30   a  respectively and may be a proximal tube  20 , a distal tube  22 , a right tube  24  or a left tube  26 . All such tubes,  14 ,  16 ,  28 ,  30  may be joined to the cannula  12  in an opposing manner with respect to each other. 
         [0019]    A unitary fastener  18 , e.g., one piece, may secure to the first tube  14 , cannula  12  and the second tube  16 , such that the fastener  18  preferably is subject to opposing forces the first and second tubes  14 ,  16  across the cannula  12 . Desirably, the unitary fastener  18  is non-stretchable, where non-stretchable is defined to be any amount of stretch less than is necessary to allow the first tube  14  or second  16  to disengage from the cannula  12 . The fastener  18  in its preferred form is tape  32 , preferably medical grade, such as product 1525L (Single coated medical tape) sold by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, Inc. In a preferred mode, the unitary fastener  18  secures the first, second and third tubes  14 ,  16 ,  28  in an opposing manner across the cannula  12 . That is, the unitary fastener  18  secures three tubes to the cannula  12  in opposing directions. 
         [0020]    A segment of medical tape  32  desirably has a length, perhaps six or more inches, greater than its width, perhaps one-half or greater inches. Each end  38 ,  40  of the tape  32  may be wrapped about the first and second tubes  14 ,  16 , leaving at least a position of junctions  14   a  and  16   a  exposed to release water vapor. The tape  32  may also have a midpoint  34  along the length. Where three tubes are joined to the cannula  12 , the midpoint  34  may be secured to the middle tube, which may be the proximal tube  20 . 
         [0021]    The mid-point  34  desirably is disposed about a first tube,  14 , perhaps the proximal tube  20 , leaving at least a position of junction  14   a  exposed to release water vapor. The tape  32  may be positioned in an “X” configuration  36  across the cannula  12 , and each end  38 ,  40  of the tape  32  wrapped, perhaps circularly, about second and third tubes  16 ,  28 , which may be the right and left tubes  24 ,  26  respectively. The “X” configuration  36  may be positioned over a center  42  of the cannula  12 . The ends  38 ,  40  may be adhered to tubes  16 ,  38  in a manner that leaves at least a position of junctions  16   a  and  38   a  exposed to release water vapor. 
         [0022]    The tape  32  is non-stretch, where non-stretch is defined to be any amount less than the stretch necessary to allow dislodging any of the tubes  14 ,  16 ,  28 ,  30  from the cannula  12 . Preferably, the tape  32  is sufficiently clear such that a viewer may visually examine moisture migration, if any, under the tape  32 . The preferred embodiment of the present invention has the length of tape  32 , clear, securing three tubes and the cannula  12  in opposing directions. 
         [0023]    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 cover  50  may maintain the integrity of an adhesive until use.