Abstract:
The invention protects an intraosseous infusion system from being bumped or displaced. The device is a strap and an implement that holds the intraosseous infusion system. The implement is comprised of two pieces. A U shaped piece that has an opening that holds the intraosseous infusion device. The second piece when snapped into place encircles the intraosseous infusion device to securely hold the intraosseous infusion device in place. To use the invention, the invention is place over the intraosseous infusion device placed in the patient&#39;s leg and the strap is tightened around the patient&#39;s leg. Then the second piece is pushed around the intraosseous infusion device to hold it securely in place.

Description:
This application is a continuation in part of prior application No. 61/816,319 filed Apr. 26, 2013. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the type of devices that are used in intraosseous infusion and more particularly to devices that protects an intraosseous infusion needle from being disturbed or dislodged. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Emergency medical services have recently obtained a new weapon in providing immediate vascular access to the central circulation. This weapon is a small IO device for an IV that is drilled in the tibia just below the kneecap. The inventor, an emergency medical technician, has helped to place many of these I/O devices within individuals. Although the placement of the I/O device is easy, the devices can be accidentally knocked out easily. To solve this problem the inventor has devised a device that holds the needle in place and protects it when inadvertently bumped or knocked. 
     The new small IO has been created by Vidacare and is called EZ-IO intraosseous infusion system. The small IO is comprised of a hollow needle and a cap (catheter hub) that is designed to take a catheter from an IV or a needle for infusing medicine or liquids. The device is used when the patient has poor peripheral vasculature and for whose whom vascular access can be challenging. It is a quick and easy solution at the scene of an accident or on the battlefield where action must be immediate and the injured individual may not be in an ideal position. The EZ-IO is easy to place however it is also come out easily. To overcome this problem the inventor has developed a device that will hold the EZ-IO in place on the leg. The feature that enables the inventor&#39;s device to hold the EZ-IO is a device that constricts around the EZ-IO and a strap that encircle the leg to hold the constricting device and the EZ-IO in place on the leg. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is a device that is designed to hold an intraosseous infusion system in place when the intraosseous infusion system is implanted in an individual&#39;s leg. The invention protects the intraosseous infusion system in place from being bumped and displaced by the environment. The device is a strap and an implement that holds the intraosseous infusion system in place when the intraosseous infusion system is placed in an individual&#39;s leg. In the preferred embodiment the strap can be tighten around the individual&#39;s leg. On each end of the implement an attachment means attaches a strap to the implement. The implement is a constriction device that constricts around the intraosseous infusion device after the intraosseous infusion device is places within the individual&#39;s tibia. 
     In the preferred embodiment the constriction device is comprised of two pieces. The first piece is a U shaped piece that has an opening in its center of a sufficient size that the intraosseous infusion device will fit. The U shape piece is of sufficient height to hold the intraosseous infusion device in place within a patient&#39;s leg. At the ends of the constriction device are openings to which the strap is attached. Extending downward from the opening in the U shaped piece is a partial cylindrical extension. The partial cylindrical extension envelops the intraosseous infusion device. It fits snugly around the intraosseous infusion device to hold the intraosseous infusion device in place. A slot extends from the opening in the center of the U shaped piece to the edge of the U-shaped piece. The partial cylindrical extension also has an opening in its front that corresponds to the slot in the U-shaped piece. Opposite the slot on the back end of the U-shaped piece are two L shaped overhangs. 
     The second piece has a ridge that extends from its top. The second piece is rectangular and thin. It has a large slit that runs down its center starting near its top. The top portion of the slit is small. The middle portion extends outward and is circular in shape. The diameter of the circular shape is slightly smaller than the diameter of the intraosseous infusion device. The bottom portion of the slit is nearly as large as the circular portion and extends to the bottom of the second piece. The slit produces two arms that extend downward from the top of the second piece. These two arms are slightly flexible. The thickness and the width of the second piece will enable it to fit between and under the two L shaped overhangs. 
     Another embodiment the constriction device is comprised of two pieces. The first piece is a U shaped piece that has an opening in its center of a sufficient size that the intraosseous infusion device will fit through. The U shape piece is of sufficient height that it fits over the intraosseous infusion device. At the ends of the constriction device are openings to which the strap is attached. 
     On one side of the opening in the center of the device is a set of gears that partially encircles the side of the opening. On the other side of the opening in the center of the constriction device is another smaller opening. This smaller opening is designed to take an axle from the second piece, the pivotal piece. At one end of the pivotal piece is a set of gears that are designed to intermesh with the gears on the U shaped piece. On the same end of the pivotal piece as the gears, the pivotal piece has a V-shaped opening. The V-shaped opening is of sufficient size that its edges will make contact with the intraosseous infusion device when placed around the intraosseous infusion device. In the center of the pivotal piece is a cylindrical column that is designed to snap into the smaller opening on the U-shaped piece. This column forms an axle and allows the pivotal piece to pivot. At the end of the pivotal piece opposite the end with the gears is a flap. This flap is designed such that when an individual puts pressure on the flap the pivotal piece will pivot. 
     To use the first embodiment, the intraosseous infusion device is placed in the patient&#39;s leg. Then one that takes the constriction device with the strap and places it on the patient&#39;s leg. The strap loosely encircles the patient&#39;s leg. The constriction device and the strap are pulled up the leg to a position over the intraosseous infusion device. The constriction device is then a lowered over the intraosseous infusion device and the intraosseous infusion device is placed through the opening in the center of the U shaped piece. The strap than is tightened on the patient&#39;s leg. 
     The second piece is than place under the L shaped overhangs and pushed forward towards the intraosseous infusion device. The slot between the two arms of the second piece is of sufficient size that when it makes contact with the intraosseous infusion device it flexes outward and the arms begins moving around the intraosseous infusion device. As the second piece is moved forward the middle circular portion of the slot snaps in place around the intraosseous infusion device. The arms of the slot have sufficient flexibility to hold the intraosseous infusion device in place. 
     To use the second embodiment, the intraosseous infusion device is placed in the patient&#39;s leg. Then one that takes the constriction device with the strap and places it on the patient&#39;s leg. The strap loosely encircles the patient&#39;s leg. The constriction device and the strap are pulled up the leg to a position over the intraosseous infusion device. The constriction device is then a lowered over the intraosseous infusion device and the intraosseous infusion device is placed through the opening in the center of the U shaped piece. The strap than is tightened on the patient&#39;s leg. 
     Then one puts pressure on the flap on the pivotal piece causing the pivotal piece to pivot and forcing the edges of the V-shaped cutout in the pivotal piece to make contact with the intraosseous infusion device. When the pivotal piece pivots it ratchets the gears on the top of the pivotal piece and the U shaped piece together. The ratcheting of the gears holds the pivotal piece&#39;s V-shaped cutout against the sides of the intraosseous infusion device. The friction between the edges of the V-shaped cutout and the intraosseous infusion device is sufficient to hold the intraosseous infusion device securely in place even if the patient&#39;s leg is bumped or moved or the intraosseous infusion device is bumped. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the triglide slider  16 . 
         FIG. 3  the top view of the U shaped piece  54  of the constriction device  10  of the first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the second piece  60  of the constricting device  10  of the first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the U shaped piece  54  of the constricting device  10  of the first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4A  is a sectional view of the U shaped piece  54  of the constricting device  10  of the first embodiment of the invention along line A-A of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the constriction device of one embodiment of the invention with the intraosseous infusion device in place before the second pieces snaps around the intraosseous infusion device. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the constriction device of one embodiment of the invention with the intraosseous infusion device in place after the second pieces snaps around the intraosseous infusion device to hold it securely in place. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the U shaped piece  154  of the constricting device  100  of the second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the U shaped piece  154  of the constricting device  100  of the second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the pivoting piece  160  of the constriction device  100 . 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the pivoting piece  160  of the constriction device  100 . 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the U shaped piece  154  with the intraosseous infusion device  14 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of invention. The invention has two parts. Part one is the constriction device  10  or  100 . Attached to both ends of the constriction device  10  or  100  is a strap  12 . Strap  12  is designed to encircle the patient&#39;s leg in which the intraosseous infusion device  14  is to be placed. On the strap  12  is a means for tightening and loosing the strap  12 . In the preferred embodiment the strap  12  is tighten and loosen by a triglide slider.  FIG. 2  shows the triglide slider  16 . Triglide slider  16  has a front bar  36  and a rear bar  38 . The triglide slider  16  has an additional bar  18  extending across its center. An end of the strap  12  is attached the additional bar  18 . On the two ends  24  and  26  of the constriction device  10  or  100  are D shaped loops  28  and  30 . The back of the D shaped loops  28  and  30  attach to the constriction device  10  or  100 . The front of the D is a bar that extends outward to form openings  32  and  34  at each end of the constriction device  10  or  100 . The openings  32  and  34  are of sufficient size that the strap  12  can pass through. End  22  of strap  12 , the end not attached to the bar  18  is ran through openings  32  on constriction device  10  or  100 . End  22  is then run back to the triglide slider  16 . End  22  is loped under the front bar  36  and over the additional bar  18 . End  22  of strap  12  continues on under rear bar  38  and is finally is attached to D shaped loop  28  on the constriction device  10 . End  22  is attached to constriction device  10  by running the end  22  of strap  12  through opening  34  and attaching the end  22  of strap  12  to strap  12 . 
     The strap  12  is loosened around a patient&#39;s leg by moving the triglide slider  16  towards the constriction device  10 . The strap and  12  is tightened by pulling the triglide slider  16  away from constriction device  10  or  100 . 
     The constriction device  10  is made of two different pieces.  FIGS. 1 ,  5  and  6  show the two pieces when they are attached.  FIG. 3  shows the top view of the U shaped piece  54 . At the top of the “U” in the center of the U shaped piece  54  is a center opening  52 . Center opening  52  is of a sufficient size that the intraosseous infusion device  14  will fit through center opening  52  as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 .  FIG. 4  is a side view of U shaped piece  54  of the constriction device  10 .  FIG. 4A  is a sectional view of the U shaped piece  54  along line A-A of  FIG. 3 . These figures show that constriction device  10  has a U shaped configuration. The U-shaped configuration is of a sufficient height that it will hold the intraosseous infusion device  14  when placed in the leg of the patient securely on that leg.  FIGS. 5 and 6  shows the constriction device  10  with the intraosseous infusion device  14  place within. 
       FIG. 4  shows the U shaped piece  54  of the constriction device  10 . On the ends  24  and  26  of the U shaped piece  54  are openings  32  and  34 . The strap  12  fits through these openings  32  and  34 . At the top of the U-shaped piece  54  in its center is center opening  52 . Center opening  52  is of sufficient size that the intraosseous infusion device  14  will fit through center opening  52 . 
     Extending downward from the center opening  52  in the U shaped piece  54  is a partial cylindrical extension  60 . The partial cylindrical extension  60  envelops the intraosseous infusion device  14 . It fits snugly around the intraosseous infusion device  14  to hold the intraosseous infusion device  14  in place. A slot  62  extends from the center opening  52  in the U shaped piece  54  to the edge of the U-shaped piece  54 . The partial cylindrical extension  60  also has a front opening  64  in its front that corresponds to the slot  62  on the top of the U-shaped piece  54 . Opposite the slot  62  on the back end of the U-shaped piece  54  are two L shaped overhangs  56  and  58 . 
     The second piece  70  shown in  FIG. 3A  has a ridge  74  that extends from its top  72 . The second piece  70  is rectangular and thin. It has a large slit  76  that runs down its center starting near its top  72 . The top portion  78  of the slit  76  is small. The middle portion  70  extends outward and is circular in shape. The diameter of the circular shape middle portion  70  is slightly smaller than the diameter of the intraosseous infusion device  14 . The bottom portion  72  of the slit is nearly as large as the circular shape middle portion  80  and extends to the bottom  74  of the second piece  70 . The slit  76  produces two arms  86  and  88  that extend downward from the top of the second piece  60 . These two arms  86  and  88  are slightly flexible. The thickness and the width of the second piece  60  will enable it to fit between and under the two L shaped overhangs  56  and  58 . 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of invention. The second embodiment of the invention just like the first has two parts  12  and  154 . Part one is the constriction device  100 . Attached to both ends of the constriction device  100  is a strap  12 . Strap  12  works exactly the same in this embodiment as it did in the previous embodiment. Strap  12  of this embodiment is designed to encircle the patient&#39;s leg in which the intraosseous infusion device  14  is to be placed. In this embodiment strap  12 &#39;s means for tightening and loosing is a triglide slider  16  that works exactly as in the previous embodiment. 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of U shaped piece  154  of the constriction device  100 . This figure shows that constriction device  100  has a U shaped configuration. The U-shaped configuration is of a sufficient height that it will hold the intraosseous infusion device  14  when placed in the leg of the patient securely on that leg.  FIG. 11  shows the constriction device  100  with the intraosseous infusion device  14  place within.  FIG. 8  shows the top view of the U shaped piece  154 . At the top of the “U” in the center of the U shaped piece  154  is a center opening  152 . On one side of opening  152  is another smaller opening  156 . On the opposite side of opening  152  is a set of gears  158 . This set of gears  158  is semicircular and curves around opening  152 . 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  show the pivoting piece  160  of the constricting device  100 . On one end of pivoting device  160  is a set of gears  162 . This set of gears  162  is designed to interlock with the set of gears  158  of the U-shaped piece  154 . When the pivoting piece  160  is placed upon the U shaped piece  154  the 2 sets of gears  158  and  162  mash and one set of gears  158  or  162  forms a ratchet for the other set of gears  158  or  162 . On the same end of the pivoting piece  160  but closer to the center of the pivoting piece  160  is a V shaped cutout  164 . The V shaped cutouts  164  is of sufficient size that it can fit around the intraosseous infusion device  14 . In the center of the pivotal piece  160  protrudes a circular column  166 . The circular column  166  has slits  168  down its sides. At the top of circular column  160  is a ridge  170  that protrudes perpendicular and outward from column  166 . Ridge  170  has a slanted top. Column  160  with its slanted top ridge  170  is designed to snap into smaller opening  156  in the U-shaped piece  154 . Column  166  is designed to form an axle within opening  156 . The axle formed by column  166  enables pivotal piece  60  to pivot. At the end of the pivotal piece  160  opposite the end with the gears  62  a flap  174  extends upward from the pivotal piece  160 . This flap  174  when pressure is placed upon it will cause the pivotal piece  160  when it is in place on the constriction device  100  to pivot. 
     To the use either of the embodiments of the invention the intraosseous infusion device  14  is placed in the patient&#39;s leg. Then one takes the constriction device  10  or  100  with the strap  12  and places it on the patient&#39;s leg. The strap  12  loosely in circles the patient&#39;s leg. The constricting device  10  or  100  and strap  12  are pulled up the leg to a position over top the intraosseous infusion device  14 . The constricting device  10  or  100  is then lowered over the intraosseous infusion device  14  and the intraosseous infusion device  14  is placed through opening  52  or  152 . The strap  12  is then tightened upon the patient&#39;s leg. 
     In the first embodiment one than puts pressure on the ridge  64  of the second piece  60  pushing it under the L shaped overhangs  56  and  58  and against and around the intraosseous infusion device  14  until the arms  76  and  78  of the second piece  60  snap around the intraosseous infusion device  14  and hold it security within the middle portion  70  of the slit  66 . Even if the patient&#39;s leg is bumped or moved or the intraosseous infusion device  14  is bumped, the intraosseous infusion device will remain in place. 
     Once one has placed the second embodiment of the constriction device  100  on the leg over the intraosseous infusion device  14 , one puts pressure on the flap  174  causing the pivotal piece  160  to pivot and forcing the edges of the V shaped cutout  164  to make contact with the intraosseous infusion device  14 . When the pivotal piece  162  pivots it ratchets gears  158  and  162  together. This ratcheting of gears  158  and  162  holds pivotal piece&#39;s  160  V-shape cut out  164  against the sides of the intraosseous infusion device  14 . The friction between the edges of the V-shaped cutout  164  and the intraosseous infusion device  14  is sufficient to hold the intraosseous infusion device  14  securely in place even if the patient&#39;s leg is bumped or moved or the intraosseous infusion device  14  is bumped. 
     Changes and modifications in the specificity described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the scope of the invention that is intended to limited only by the scope of the appending claims.