Abstract:
An improved method for securing a tracheal tube, an adjunct tube, and oropharyngeal tube, a nasogastric tube, a laryngeal tube or laryngeal mask airway to a patient utilizing an elongated strip of adhesive tape, which is specifically adapted therefor.

Description:
[0001]    This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/028,895, filed on Feb. 16, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/338,205, filed on Feb. 16, 2010. The teachings of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/338,205 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/028,895 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The instant invention relates to apparatus comprising adhesive tape for securing a tracheal tube or the like to a patient. Various apparatus comprising adhesive tape are available for securing a tracheal tube or the like (such as an airway adjunct tube, an oropharyngeal tube, a nasogastric tube, a laryngeal tube or laryngeal mask airway) to a patient. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,927,676 discloses tape having a central non-adhesive portion extending around the back of the neck of the patient, the tape having bifurcated adhesive coated ends for wrapping around a tracheal tube and then attachment back to the tape to secure the tracheal tube to the patient. U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,778 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,233 disclose tape having a central non-adhesive portion extending around the back of the neck of the patient, the tape having bifurcated adhesive coated ends for wrapping around a tracheal tube and attachment to the patient to secure the tracheal tube to the patient. U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,938 discloses tape having a central non-adhesive portion extending around the back of the neck of the patient, the tape having bifurcated adhesive coated ends for wrapping around a tracheal tube and attachment to the upper lip to secure the tracheal tube to the patient. U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,814 discloses tape attached to central non-adhesive strap extending around the back of the neck of the patient, the tape having a central adhesive coated X-shaped portion for wrapping around a tracheal tube to secure the tracheal tube to the patient. 
         [0003]    Despite the advances made in the art of apparatus and methods for securing a tracheal tube or the like to a patient, such apparatus and methods have not supplanted the use of un-sterilized rolls of adhesive tape even though the use of such tape may provide a means for cross-contamination and infection. Therefore, there remains a need for apparatus and methods for securing a tracheal tube or the like to a patient that are easily used and which reduce the possibility for cross-contamination and infection. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The instant invention provides an apparatus and method for securing a tracheal tube, an adjunct tube, an oropharyngeal tube, a nasogastric tube, a laryngeal tube or laryngeal mask airway to a patient. The apparatus is easily used and can be packaged in a sealed and sterilized single-use package thereby reducing the possibility for cross-contamination and infection. More specifically, the instant invention in one embodiment is an apparatus for securing a tracheal tube, adjunct tube, an oropharyngeal tube, a nasogastric tube, a laryngeal tube or a laryngeal mask airway to a patient, comprising: (a) an elongate strip of adhesive tape having an adhesive side and a non-adhesive side; (b) a first peel-away tab on and covering the adhesive side of more than half the length of the adhesive tape; and (c) a second peel-away tab on and covering the adhesive side of the remaining portion of the adhesive tape. 
         [0005]    In another embodiment, the instant invention is an improved kit of components for securing a tracheal tube, an adjunct tube, an oropharyngeal tube, a nasogastric tube, a laryngeal tube or a laryngeal mask airway to a patient, the kit of components contained in a sealed and sterilizable pouch, wherein the improvement comprises an improved adhesive tape, comprising: (a) an elongate strip of adhesive tape having an adhesive side and a non-adhesive side; (b) a first peel-away tab on and covering the adhesive side of more than half the length of the adhesive tape; and (c) a second peel-away tab on and covering the adhesive side of the remaining portion of the adhesive tape. 
         [0006]    In yet another embodiment, the instant invention is an improved method for securing a tracheal tube, an adjunct tube, an oropharyngeal tube, a nasogastric tube a laryngeal tube or a laryngeal mask airway to a patient using an elongate strip of adhesive tape, comprising the steps of (a) peeling a first peel-away tab on and covering the adhesive side of more than half the length of an elongate strip of adhesive tape having an adhesive side and a non-adhesive side, the adhesive tape additionally having a second peel-away tab on and covering the adhesive side of the remaining portion of the adhesive tape; (b) wrapping the adhesive side of the central portion of the thus exposed adhesive side of the adhesive tape around the tube or airway, (c) applying the remaining portion of the adhesive side of the adhesive tape of step (a) to the cheek or upper lip of the patient; (d) peeling the second peel-away tab from the adhesive tape and applying the thus exposed adhesive side of the adhesive tape to the other cheek or upper Iip of the patient thereby securing the tube or airway to the patient. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a side view in full of an apparatus embodiment of the instant invention showing two peel-away tabs on and covering the adhesive side of an elongate strip of adhesive tape; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view in full of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a rear view in full of a portion of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  after the longer peel-away tab has been removed and the central portion of the apparatus is wrapped around a tracheal tube or the like; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a front view in full of the system shown in  FIG. 3  in position to pull the remaining peel-away tab from the tape; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a front view in full of the system shown in  FIG. 4  as the remaining peel-away tab is pulled from the tape end to adhere the tape end to the patient&#39;s cheek or upper lip: 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a side cross-sectional view of a kit of components for securing a tracheal tube, an adjunct tube, an oropharyngeal tube, a nasogastric tube, a laryngeal tube or a laryngeal mask airway to a patient, the kit of components contained in a sealed and sterilizable pouch and including the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is an upper view in full of the kit of components of  FIG. 6  showing additional tape apparatus useful when securing a tracheal tube, an adjunct tube, an oropharyngeal tube, a nasogastric tube, a laryngeal tube or a laryngeal mask airway to a patient. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , therein is shown a side view in full of an apparatus embodiment  10  of the instant invention. The apparatus  10  comprises an elongate strip of adhesive tape  11  having an adhesive side and a non-adhesive side. A second peel-away tab  13  is positioned on and covering less than half the length of the adhesive side of the adhesive tape  11 . A first peel-away tab  12  is positioned on and covering more than half the length of the adhesive side of the adhesive tape  11 . The pair of peel-away tabs  12  and  13  preferably have tab ends  12   a  and  13   a  so that the tabs  12  and  14  can be more easily peeled off the tape  11 . Referring now to  FIG. 2 , therein is shown a perspective view of the apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0015]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , therein is shown a rear view in full of a portion of the apparatus  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  after the first peel-away tab has been removed and the central portion of the tape  11  has been wrapped around a tracheal tube  14 . Referring now to  FIG. 4 , therein is shown a front view in full of the system shown in  FIG. 3  in position to pull the remaining peel-away tab  13  from the tape  11 . Referring now to  FIG. 5 , therein is shown front view in full of the system shown in  FIG. 4  as the peel-away tab  13  is pulled from the tape  11  to adhere the remaining end of the tape  11  to the patient&#39;s cheek or upper lip thereby securing the tracheal tube to the patient. 
         [0016]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , therein is shown a side cross-sectional view of a kit of components  19  for securing a tracheal tube to a patient, the kit of components contained in a conventional sealed and sterilizable pouch comprised on an upper formed transparent plastic film portion  20  sealed at the edges thereof to a lower paper portion  21 , the kit  19  including the apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 . Referring now to  FIG. 7 , therein is shown an upper view in full of the kit of components  19  of  FIG. 6  showing additional tape apparatus  17  and  18  useful for securing nasogastric tubes to a patient and as eye tapes. Apparatus  17  is comprised of a piece of adhesive tape having an adhesive and non-adhesive sides and a bifurcated end. Peel-away tabs  17   a,    17   b  and  17   c  are positioned on and covering the adhesive side of the adhesive tape. Apparatus  18  is simply comprised of a piece of adhesive tape having adhesive and non-adhesive sides. Peel-away tab  18   a  is positioned on and covering the adhesive side of the adhesive tape. The kit of components  19  can be sterilized and stored for use. 
         [0017]    The adhesive tape used in the instant invention is preferably of the type suited for attachment to the skin, which can be sterilized by conventional means (such as exposure to ethylene oxide) and which will release the peel-away tabs without undue force. Such adhesive tape is well-known in the art. The peel-away tabs are preferably made of plastic coated paper and are also well-known in the art.