Patent Publication Number: US-2007123841-A1

Title: Intravenous tubing attachment

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/740,684, filed Nov. 30, 2005. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to clips attachable to tubing, and particularly to an intravenous tubing attachment that clips onto an intravenous infusion line below the roller clamp to prevent the roller clamp from sliding down the tubing.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      A wide variety of clamping mechanisms are used in combination with intravenous tubing for metering and controlling the flow of medication through the tubing and into a patient. Roller clamps are a common type of clamping mechanism used for medical purposes, particularly in combination with intravenous (IV) drip tubing. Roller clamps have a rotationally-mounted dial or rotor for selectively compressing the IV tubing in order to selectively control the fluid volume and drip-rate of medicinal fluids flowing therethrough.  
      Roller clamps, however, when in the fully open state, have a tendency to slide down the IV tubing. If the IV tubing is long enough to reach the floor, it is inconvenient for a medical practitioner to have to bend down to the floor level to operate the clamp, and further, the roller clamp could be exposed to the unsanitary conditions of the floor.  
      In the past, adhesive tape has been utilized to secure the roller clamp in position on the IV tubing. However, adhesive tape is difficult to remove from the clamp and also leaves adhesive residue on the clamp and on the tubing. The adhesive can pick up dirt and bacteria and create an unsanitary condition for the patient. Consequently, there is a need for a hygienic device that prevents a roller clamp from sliding down IV infusion tubing while maintaining the tubing in a patent condition.  
      Additionally, when used in conjunction with a volume pump, such as a Baxter pump, it would be desirable to have a non-residue device, in that the electronic sensors in the pump may be affected by adhesive and other residue. Further, the roller clamp must be maintained in the fully open position below the volume pump. Thus, it would be desirable to provide an intravenous tubing clamp allowing the user to maintain the position and condition of the roller clamp. For such a clamp, one would require the intravenous clamping device to grasp the intravenous tubing without impinging on the drip rate of the volume pump.  
      Thus, an intravenous tubing attachment solving the aforementioned problems is desired.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The intravenous tubing attachment is a detachable device for restricting movement of a clamp mounted on intravenous tubing. The intravenous tubing attachment includes a main body portion having a pair of opposed planar surfaces, which are sized and shaped for receiving optional adhesive labels. The main body portion is formed from a hard plastic, and the opposed planar surfaces may be smooth for easy attachment and detachment of the adhesive labels, which may identify medication or a specific patient.  
      A pair of arcuate jaws integrally formed on a proximal end of the main body portion define a clip for releasably engaging the intravenous tubing without restricting fluid flow through the intravenous tubing. The jaws define a recess dimensioned and configured for engaging the intravenous tubing. The engagement of the intravenous tubing with the recess maintains the intravenous tubing attachment in one selectable position on the tubing and restricts movement of a clamp mounted on the intravenous tubing, preventing slippage of the clamp on the tubing.  
      These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of an intravenous tubing attachment according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the intravenous tubing attachment according to the present invention with an optional label exploded therefrom.  
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the intravenous tubing attachment according to the present invention. 
    
    
      Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , the intravenous (IV) tubing attachment  10  is adapted for removable attachment to conventional IV infusion tubing  14 . As will be described in further detail below, the IV tubing attachment  10  engages IV tubing  14  in such a manner that IV tubing attachment  10  maintains a stable position on the IV tubing  14  without restricting the flow of fluid through IV tubing  14 .  
      In a conventional IV system, such as that shown in  FIG. 1 , medicinal fluids are stored in IV bag  12 . The medicinal fluids flow by gravity through IV tubing  14  into a patient&#39;s bloodstream. The volume and rate of fluid flow is selectively controlled through the use of a clamp mounted on IV tubing  14 , such as the roller clamp  16  shown in  FIG. 1 . Roller clamps and similar clamping mechanisms, however, can become loose and slide down the IV tubing  14 , particularly when set to their fully open positions. In order to maintain proper positioning of the clamp  16  for both convenience and sanitary reasons, IV tubing attachment  10  restricts movement of clamp  16  on the IV tubing  14 , creating a barrier or block to the downward fall of the clamp  16  under the force of gravity. It should be understood that clamp  16 , tubing  14  and IV bag  12  are shown in  FIG. 1  for exemplary purposes only, and that IV tubing attachment  10  may be used in combination with any suitable IV bag, IV tubing and clamping mechanism.  
      The IV tubing attachment  10  is formed of an easily cleanable, safe and hypoallergenic material, such as, for example, but not limited to, hard plastic. The size and shape of IV tubing attachment  10  are dependent upon the needs and desires of the user. In the preferred embodiment, the IV tubing attachment has a substantially rectangular contour, having a length of approximately 1½ inches, a width of approximately one inch, and a thickness of approximately ⅛ of an inch. The foregoing dimensions are representative for purposes of enablement only, and are not intended by way of limitation.  
      As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the IV tubing attachment  10  includes a main body portion  20  and a clip  24 , which is integrally formed on a proximal end of the main body portion  20 . The main body portion  20 , in the preferred embodiment, has a substantially rectangular contour and has a pair of opposed planar surfaces  22 . Each of the planar surfaces  22  is adapted for receiving an adhesive label  18 , as shown.  
      Each of the opposed planar surfaces  22  provides a surface for the selective attachment and detachment of an adhesive label, such as label  18 , shown in  FIG. 2 . Label  18  may indicate the type of fluid held within IV bag  12 , the name of the patient, or any other suitable or necessary medical or identification information. The distal end of main body portion  20  may have rounded corners, as shown in  FIG. 2 , so that the IV tubing attachment  10  may be easily grasped without the risk of injury to the patient or the user.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the clip  24  is formed on the proximal end of main body portion  20 . The clip  24  has a pair of arcuate jaws defining a recess  28  formed therein for receiving IV tubing  14 . As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the clip  24  is configured so that recess  28  matches the contour of IV tubing  14 . Recess  28  is contoured so that clip  24  securely grasps IV tubing  14  and holds the IV tubing attachment  10  thereto through frictional engagement therewith, but without pinching the IV tubing  14  and restricting fluid flow therethrough. As shown, the proximal ends of clip  24  are slightly tapered, allowing for easy reception of IV tubing  14  within recess  28 , and allowing the IV tubing attachment  10  to be easily slid upon IV tubing  14  to selectively position the attachment  10  thereon. Preferably, the jaws define an arc slightly greater than 180° to retain the clip  24  on the tubing.  
      The intravenous tubing attachment  10  may be formed from substantially rigid material for frictional engagement with the tubing  14 , the tubing  14  being sufficiently flexible and resilient for insertion between the jaws of the clip  24 , or the jaws of the clip  24  may be slightly flexible and resilient in order to expand during insertion and removal of the tubing  14  between the jaws of the clip, but contracting after insertion of the tubing  14  in order to firmly seat the clip  24  for resilient engagement with the tubing  14 , but without constricting the tubing  14 , thereby maintaining the lumen in an unobstructed state so that the flow of fluid is controlled by the roller clamp  16 .  
      Further, as best shown in the side view of  FIG. 3 , clip  24  has a thickness slightly greater than that of main body portion  20 , allowing edge  26  of the clamping portion  24  to form a slightly raised lip, with respect to surfaces  22 . This raised edge or lip provides a guide for the positioning and placement of labels  18  on opposed surfaces  22 .  
      It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.