Abstract:
The present invention provides a hose support system that can be used to support hoses, tubes, wires, cables, etc., from medical devices. The invention comprises a base unit, a support arm and a flexible rod with fasteners attached. The base unit stabilizes the other connected components by placement under a mattress, a cushion or other weighted item next to both the medical device and the patient. At least one fastener is attached to the flexible rod to hold the line (i.e., hose, cable, wire, tube, etc.) from the medical device up off of the bed which allows delivery of the precise amount of the line needed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/827,282 filed Sep. 28, 2006 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/908,813 filed Mar. 29, 2007. These applications are incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a hose support system that can be used to support hoses or other wires, cables, etc., associated with medical devices. Suitably, the hose support system can be used to support the hose from a continuous positive airflow pressure (“CPAP”) device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    CPAP machines are utilized in the treatment of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the throat relax and the throat eventually closes off. After 20 to 30 seconds the brain senses oxygen deprivation and brings the patient to a lower level of sleep in order to start breathing again. Consequently, patients with sleep apnea often do not get enough deep sleep which results in daytime sleepiness and often other more serious health problems. 
         [0004]    A CPAP machine is a simple respiratory ventilator used mainly by patients in the home treatment of sleep apnea. The CPAP machine prevents a patient&#39;s throat muscles from closing off by delivering a constant stream of compressed air via a mask connected to a hose. As a result, patients with sleep apnea are able to get more deep sleep because they are no longer cycling through the episodes of oxygen deprivation resulting from the throat muscles closing off. 
         [0005]    The CPAP machine usually sits next to the patient&#39;s bed and is connected to a hose. The hose is generally around six feet in length and attaches to a rotating connector on the mask. The arrangement of the mask and connected hose presents common problems for patients as they use the CPAP machine during sleep, including: rolling over onto a hard, cold hose; rolling over while on the hose and yanking it loose from the mask or pulling the machine itself from its placement; getting the hose tangled in the headgear, around one&#39;s pillow or around one&#39;s neck; overflow air blowing onto an arm, a shoulder or a bed partner; mask becoming displaced or dislodged due to movement with a tangled hose. 
         [0006]    A solution is needed whereby the hose of the CPAP is suspended away from the patient using the CPAP, allowing the patient a full range of movement without getting tangled in the hose. Similarly, such a solution is needed for patients hooked up to other medical devices attaching cords, tubes, wires, etc., to a patient. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides a hose support system that can be used to support hoses, tubes, wires, cables, etc., from medical devices, such that a patient, particularly a patient in a bed, can have a full range of movement without getting tangled in the hoses, wires, cables, tubes, etc. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, the invention provides a hose support system comprising a base unit, a support arm and a flexible rod with fasteners attached. The support arm is connected to the base unit at one end and a movable joint portion at the other end. The movable joint has a receiving section for the flexible rod. The flexible rod is connected to the moveable joint by the receiving section. The base unit stabilizes the other connected components by placement under a mattress, a cushion or other weighted item next to both the medical device and the patient. Alternatively, the base unit may be built into or connected to a table or other base of a medical device that is situated near the patient. At least one fastener is attached to the flexible rod to hold the line (i.e., hose, cable, wire, tube, etc.) from the medical device up off of the bed which allows delivery of the precise amount of the line needed. The flexible rod extends over the patient&#39;s bed and is adjustable to a point above the patient&#39;s head so as to allow the line to hang down and not impede the patient&#39;s movements during sleep. When a hose delivering air is used (such as with a CPAP machine), this also helps to maintain a tight seal on the patient&#39;s mask attached to the hose. The hose support system can easily be assembled and disassembled without the use of tools, allowing the unit to be easily portable and easily stored. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, the invention provides a flexible air mask interface between a breathing mask and an air hose. The interface comprises a base and a flexible coupling cylinder connected to the base at one end and the air hose at another end. The base of the interface can be connected directly to a breathing mask, or can be connected to an elbow connection piece that is attached to a breathing mask. The base of the interface is designed in a way that is allows the base to rotate 360 degrees around the latitudinal axis of the base. 
         [0010]    Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the hose support system shown secured in place under a bed, the hose support system including the base, support arm and flexible arm. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of one embodiment of the hose support system shown secured in place under a bed, the hose support system including the base, support arm and flexible arm. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the support arm, the joint connecting cap, the joint connecting sleeve, and the moveable joint. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a close up view of the support arm and the joint connecting cap. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an exploded, partially cut-away view of the support arm, the joint connecting cap, the joint connecting sleeve, and the moveable joint. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is an assembled cut-away view of the support arm, the joint connecting cap, the joint connecting sleeve, the moveable joint and the flexible arm. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the support arm, the joint connecting cap, the joint connecting sleeve, the moveable joint and the flexible arm. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a close up view of the flexible arm connectors in a connected configuration. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a close up view of the male and flexible arm connectors in an unconnected configuration. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a cut-away view of the flexible arm connectors in a connected configuration. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the base and support arm of the hose support system. 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is an exploded view of the base showing the base housing, the extended legs and the leg caps. 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the hose support system shown secured in place under a bed, the hose support system including the base, support arm and flexible arm, with CPAP air hose being attached to the flexible arm. 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is a close up perspective view showing the CPAP air hose attached by the clips to the flexible arm. 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is a close up perspective view showing the CPAP air hose attached by the distal end clip to the flexible arm. 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  is a close up of the end of the flexible arm with a distal end clip attaching the CPAP air hose to the flexible arm. 
           [0027]      FIG. 17  is an exploded view of the air mask interface and the air mask. 
           [0028]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the air mask interface connected directly to an air mask. 
           [0029]      FIG. 19  is a top view of the air mask interface. 
           [0030]      FIG. 20  is an exploded side view of the air mask interface. 
           [0031]      FIG. 21  is a side view of a CPAP air hose attached to the flexible coupling cylinder of the air mask interface. 
           [0032]      FIG. 22  is a side perspective view of an air mask attached to a connection elbow. 
           [0033]      FIG. 23  is a side exploded view of an air mask attached to a connection elbow, a redirective connection elbow, the base on the flexible coupling cylinder of the air mask interface. 
           [0034]      FIG. 24  is a side view of an air mask with a connection elbow attached to the redirective connection elbow attached to the air mask interface. 
           [0035]      FIG. 25  is a side view of an air mask which is attached to another embodiment of an air mask interface comprising a first elbow connector which is attached to a second elbow connector. 
           [0036]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of an air mask which is attached in another embodiment of an air mask interface comprising a ball and socket interface. 
       
    
    
       [0037]    Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. The use of the term “attached” is meant that the elements listed as attached to each other are either secured to each other, affixed to each other, attached to each other, or integral to each other (i.e., present in the same piece). 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0038]    In one aspect, the present invention provides a hose support system that can be used to support hoses, tubes, wires, cables, etc., from medical devices. The hose support system is best show in  FIGS. 1-17 . 
         [0039]    In one embodiment, the hose support system  10  comprises a base  12 , support arm  14 , a moveable joint  16 , and a flexible arm  18 . 
         [0040]    The base unit  12  consists of a housing connected to a leg unit for placing under a mattress that a patient lies on, and a central extension unit that is attached to a support arm. The leg section can be any structural arrangement that would provide support to the base unit  12 . The leg section can be a flat board or panel arrangement or can consist of extended legs. One embodiment of the base  12  can be seen in  FIGS. 11-12 . In this embodiment the base  12  comprises a base housing  20 , a pair of extended legs  22 , and leg caps  24 . The components of the base  12  can be made of any sturdy material, including but not limited to, plastic, metal, ceramics, or other composites. The base housing  20  has a central extension  26  which has an aperture to receive one end of the support arm  14 , and two angled extensions  28 , each angled extension having an aperture to receive an extended leg  22 . The central extension  26  of the base unit can suitably be disposed at any angle with respect to the extended legs  22 . The extended legs  22  are received by the angled extensions  28  on one end of the extended legs  22 . The other end of the extended legs  22  can be capped by leg cap  24  sections. The extended legs  22  can be attached to the base housing  20  by a friction fit with the angled extensions  28 . The extended legs  22  may alternatively be attached by way of any standard interlocking tab means, or may be screwed into the angled extensions  28  by a threaded arrangement. The leg caps  24  can also be attached to the extended legs  22  by a friction fit, standard interlocking tabs, a screwed threaded arrangement, or any other connection arrangement. When the hose support system  10  is being used, the extended legs  22  of the base  12  are placed between the mattress and box spring of the bed the patient is sleeping on. The leg caps  24  of the base  12  help aid the extended legs  22  from slipping out from the mattresses. Alternative embodiments may allow for the base of the delivery system to attach, for example but not limited to, a medical device, a table next to a patient&#39;s bed, the patient&#39;s headboard or the ceiling above the patient&#39;s bed. 
         [0041]    One end of the support arm  14  has a first and second end. The first end is received by the central extension  26  of the base housing  20 . This connection, in one embodiment, can be a movable joint connection. The support arm can be made of any sturdy material such as plastic, metal, ceramics, or other composites. The second end of the support arm  14  is attached to the moveable joint  16 . The arrangement is best shown in  FIGS. 3-6 . In one embodiment, the end of the support arm  14  is connected to a joint connecting cap tube  30 . The joint connecting cap tube  30  has a sleeve section  100  having an inside  102  and a collar section  104 . The support arm  14  is received by the inside  102  of the sleeve section  100 . In one embodiment this connection can be a tab connection as shown in  FIG. 4 , or can be a friction fit, screwed threaded arrangement, or any other suitable connection. 
         [0042]    The movable joint portion  16  has a joint  32 , a stem  34  and a flexible arm receiving section  36 . In one embodiment, the stem  34  of the moveable joint  16  is secured to the support arm  14  by way of a joint connecting sleeve  38 . This arrangement is best shown in  FIG. 6 . The joint connecting sleeve  38  has an outer collar  40  having an inside  106  and an outside  108 , and an inner collar  42  having an inside  110  and an outside  112 . The stem  34  of the movable joint  16  is received by the inside  106  of the inner collar  42  and an aperture in the support arm  14 . A portion of the joint connecting cap  30  is captured between the outside  112  of the inner collar  42  and the inside  106  of the outer collar  40  of the joint connecting sleeve  38 . In another arrangement, the stem  34  can be connected to the support arm  14  by a friction fit, a tabbed connection, a screwed threaded arrangement, or any other suitable connection. The stem could also, alternatively, be connected to the joint connection cap tube  30  or joint connecting sleeve  38  by any such arrangement. The movable joint portion  16  may be adjusted and moved to obtain an ideal position for hose delivery to the patient. The joint  32  may be a ball joint, a flexure joint, a spring joint or any other type of movable joint suitable to maximize the effectiveness of the hose delivery system. 
         [0043]    The flexible arm receiving section  36  of the movable joint  16  is designed to receive and secure the flexible arm  18 . Suitably, the flexible arm receiving section  36  allows for the detachment of the flexible arm  18  for ease of travel and storage. The flexible arm  18  can be connected to the arm receiving section  36  by a friction fit, standard interlocking tabs, a screwed threaded arrangement, or any other connection arrangement. 
         [0044]    The flexible arm  18  can suitably be one piece, or consist of a number of pieces, allowing the flexible arm to be collapsible for easy portability. The flexible arm  18  is suitably made from any durable flexible material, such as plastic, graphite composites, or other suitable material. When the flexible arm  18  is comprised of multiple sections  44 , the sections  44  may be inflexible, but connected by at least one flexible joint such that the multiple sections  44  are flexible relative to each other. At least one flexible joint may be made from any durable flexible material, such as plastic, graphite composites, or other suitable material. The flexible joint may include, but not be limited to, a ball and socket joint, a hinged joint, an accordion-fold joint, a spring-type joint, a swivel joint, or a pivot joint or any other suitable joint. 
         [0045]    Alternatively, when the flexible arm  18  is comprised of multiple sections  44 , the sections  44  can be connected by male  46  and female  48  connecting sections. This arrangement is best shown in  FIGS. 7-10 . The male connecting section  46  comprises a connection collar  50  and an elongated shaft  52 . The female connection section  48  comprises a connection collar  50  that has a hollow portion that is designed to receive the elongated shaft  52  of the male connecting section  46 . One of the connection collars  50  has a male threaded portion  54  and the other has a female threaded portion  56 . These portions  54 ,  56  can be screwed together to connect the sections  44  of the flexible arm  18 . 
         [0046]    A hose  60  can be secured to the flexible arm  18  by means of clips  62 . In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 14 , the clips  62  comprise an arm securing section  150 , which receives a portion of the flexible arm  18 , and a hose securing section  152  which clips to a portion of the hose  60 . The fasteners of the flexible arm  18  can also include a distal end clip  154 , as shown in  FIGS. 15-16 . The distal end clip  154  has an arm securing section  156  which receives a portion of the flexible arm  18 . The distal end clip  154  also comprises a hose clamp section  158  which has a first hose receiving section  160  which is connected to the arm securing section  156  at one end and is hingedly connected to a second hose receiving section  162  on the other end. The second hose receiving section  162  has an aperture  164  designed to receive a tab  166  on the arm securing section  156  of the distal end clip  154 . When the tab  166  is snapped into the aperture  164 , the second hose receiving section can be locked into place around a portion of the hose  60 . The distal end clip  164  is suitably positioned between an intermediate stopping section  168  and an end stopping section  170  of the flexible arm  18 . This positioning stops the distal end clip  164  from sliding down the flexible arm  18 . Alternatively, the hose  60  can be connected to the flexible arm  18  by any other suitable fastener means, including an enclosure that encircles the hose  60  that is closed by Velcro, a snap, an interlocking tab arrangement, or other suitable fastener arrangements. The flexible arm  18  holds the hose  60  off the bed and allows the hose  60  to slide through the clips  62  to constantly adjust to a patient&#39;s hose  60  needs. 
         [0047]    In another embodiment of the invention, the invention provides a flexible air mask interface  70  between a breathing mask  72  and an air hose  60 . This aspect of the invention is best shown in  FIGS. 17-24 . The flexible air mask interface  70  comprises a base  74  and a flexible coupling cylinder  76  connected to the base  74  at one end and the air hose  60  at another end. The base  74  of the flexible air mask interface  70  can also have small holes  82  that allow excess air to escape. The flexible coupling cylinder  76  is made from flexible material, including but not limited to corrugated material, that allows the cylinder  76  to bend in any direction. The flexible cylinder  76  can be made from any diameter necessary for the desired flexibility. The base  74  is designed in a way that it can rotate 360 degrees around the latitudinal axis of the base. 
         [0048]    In one embodiment, the base  74  of the interface can be connected directly to a breathing mask  72 . In another embodiment the base  74  connects to a redirective connection elbow  78  that is connected to the standard connection elbow  80  of a breathing mask  72 . The redirective connection elbow  78  can be made of any sturdy material such as plastic. 
         [0049]    In another alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 25 , the air mask interface can be comprised of at least two elbow connectors. A first elbow connector  84  is connected to an air hose  60  and a second elbow connector  86  is connected to the breathing mask  72 . Each end of the elbow connectors  84 ,  86  can be rotationally connected to either each other, the air hose  60  and/or the breathing mask  72 . Each elbow can provide 360 degrees of rotation in two dimensions, so that when they are attached to each other they provide 360 degrees of three dimensional rotation. This allows for the freedom for the breathing mask  72  to be moved without tangling the air hose  60 . 
         [0050]    In yet another alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 26 , the air mask interface can be comprised of a ball and socket interface  88  that is connected to an air hose  60  at one end and the breathing mask  72  at the other end. The ball and socket interface  88  allows for 360 degrees of three dimensional free rotation. This allows for the freedom for the breathing mask  72  to be moved without tangling the air hose  60 . 
         [0051]    When the flexible air mask interface  70  of the invention is used with the hose support system  10  of the present invention, the air hose  60  extends straight up from the air mask interface to the flexible arm  18  of the hose support system  10 . In this arrangement, regardless of user movement in any direction, the air mask interface moves continuously to point in an upward direction, eliminating pull or drag caused by the pivot movement that is necessary when using a standard elbow connection  80 . The flexibility and continuous upward pointing allows for a smooth, unnoticeable transition for the user when moving from one position to another. 
         [0052]    Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It is understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or figures. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.