Abstract:
An attachment system for a medical device, wherein the attachment system is compatible with a wide variety of structures, at least in the sense that it may be used to hang the medical device in a level position. Also, a method for attaching a medical device to a wide variety of structures that allows for the medical device to be hung in a level position. The attachment system and method are often used in conjunction with a chest drainage unit as the medical device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to attachment components, systems, and methods. More particularly, the present invention relates to such components, systems, and methods used in conjunction with medical devices.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     In hospitals and other health care facilities, it is often desirable to position a medical device in close proximity to a patient being monitored by the device. As such, some medical devices have hangers or hooks attached to their exterior housings or casings. Other medical devices have hangers or hooks built directly into their exterior housings or casings. These hangers or hooks are then used to hang the medical device from a horizontal bed rail on the side of the hospital bed that the patient is resting in.  
         [0003]     Currently available hooks and hangers are rigid components that are typically made from hard plastic or metallic components. As such, the hooks and hangers are only compatible with certain hospital beds and/or bed rails. The compatibility of such hooks and hangers with hospital beds and/or bed rails is further limited because currently available hooks and hangers are fixed relative to the exterior housings or casing of the medical devices to which they are attached or built into. In other words, the hooks and hangers cannot be drawn together or spread further apart.  
         [0004]     In view of the above, when a medical device is hung from a bed rail by a hook or hanger that is incompatible with the rail, the medical device will be in a tilted position. In other words, the medical device will not be “level” with respect to either the floor or the bed rail. Since some medical devices only function properly when in a substantially “level” (i.e., vertical) position, such incompatible hooks or hangers render the device inoperable.  
         [0005]     Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide components and/or systems that are compatible with a wide variety of structures (e.g., hospital beds and bed rails) so as to allow for medical devices hung therefrom to remain level. In addition, it would also be desirable to provide methods for attaching a medical device to a variety of structures, all the while keeping the attached medical device level.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention wherein, in a first embodiment thereof, an attachment system is provided. The attachment system according to this first embodiment includes an engaging mechanism configured to engage a structure exterior to the attachment system. The attachment system according to this first embodiment also includes an adjustable connection mechanism connected to the engaging mechanism at a proximate portion thereof and to a medical device at a distal portion thereof.  
         [0007]     In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, a method of attaching a medical device to a structure is provided. The method according to this second embodiment includes the step of adjusting a length of an adjustable connection mechanism connected to a medical device at a distal portion thereof. The method according to this second embodiment also includes the step of engaging a structure with an engaging mechanism connected to a proximate portion of the adjustable connection mechanism.  
         [0008]     In accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, another attachment system is provided. The attachment system according to this third embodiment includes means for adjusting a length of an adjustable connection mechanism connected to a medical device at a distal portion thereof. The attachment system according to this third embodiment also includes means for engaging a structure with an engaging mechanism connected to a proximate portion of the adjustable connection mechanism.  
         [0009]     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.  
         [0010]     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
         [0011]     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates an attachment system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the attachment system is connected to a medical device.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1A  illustrates that a hook on the right side of the medical device illustrated in  FIG. 1  may be pulled away from a hook on the left side of the medical device.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates the medical device illustrated in  FIG. 1  hanging, via the attachment system also illustrated in  FIG. 1 , from a cylindrical structure that is exterior to the attachment system.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of the medical device  12  illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 1A , and  2  without the connection mechanism  26  attached thereto. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout.  FIG. 1  illustrates an attachment system  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the attachment system  10  is connected (i.e., attached) to a medical device  12 .  
         [0017]     In  FIG. 1 , the medical device  12  is a chest drainage unit that, for example, may be used to evacuate air and/or fluid from a patient&#39;s chest cavity. Such evacuation helps to re-establish normal intrathoracic pressure in the patient&#39;s chest cavity and also facilitates the re-expansion of the patient&#39;s lungs to restore normal breathing dynamics. However, upon practicing the present invention, one of skill in the art will appreciate that, according to other embodiments of the present invention, the chest drainage unit illustrated in  FIG. 1  may be replaced with another medical or non-medical device.  
         [0018]     The attachment system  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  includes an engaging mechanism  14  that itself includes a pair of engaging portions. With reference to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 1 , each of the pair of engaging portions takes the form of a hook  18 ,  20 .  
         [0019]     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the medical device  12  illustrated in  FIG. 1  may be hung, via the hooks  18 ,  20  of the engaging mechanism  14 , from a cylindrical structure  16  that is exterior to the attachment system  10  (i.e., which is not part of the attachment system  10 ). In other words, the engaging portions of the engaging mechanism  14  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are configured to engage a structure  16  that is exterior to the attachment system  10  at two different locations.  
         [0020]     Although the engagement mechanism  14  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is implemented through the use of two arcuate hooks  18 ,  20  that partially surround the cylindrical structure  16  at two locations, other components that make up part of the engaging mechanism  14  are also within the scope of the present invention. For example, engaging mechanisms according to certain embodiments of the present invention may include clips, loops, non-arcuate hooks, etc. Also, a single hook or more than two hooks may be included in the engaging mechanism  14 .  
         [0021]     The attachment system  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  also includes two straps  22 ,  24  that, together in the embodiment of the present invention illustrated, form an adjustable connection mechanism  26 . Each of the straps  22 , 24  is connected to one of the hooks  18 ,  20  of the engaging mechanism  14  at a proximate end thereof and to the medical device  12  at a distal end thereof. However, it is also within the scope of certain embodiments of the present invention to position the hooks  18 ,  20  and/or the medical device  12  at positions along the straps  22 ,  24  other than the ends. Also, in embodiments of the present invention where the engaging mechanism  14  includes fewer or more than two hooks, one or more straps are typically attached to each hook to form at least part of the connection mechanism  26 .  
         [0022]     The engaging mechanism  14  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is typically relatively rigid, as compared to the connection mechanism  26 . For example, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, the hooks  18 ,  20  included in the engaging mechanism  14  are made either partially or entirely from one or more hard plastic and/or metallic components. In contrast, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, the adjustable connection mechanism  26  includes one or more flexible straps, cables, strings, webbings, and/or other flexible materials.  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates that, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, the hooks  18 ,  20  (i.e., the engaging portions) are configured to engage with one another (or at least to be placed in close proximity to one another) to form a handle with which the medical device  12  may be picked up and/or carried.  
         [0024]     In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 1 , each of the hooks  18 ,  20  is positioned such that an upper portion thereof protrudes above the top surface  28  of the medical device  12 . When the hooks  18 ,  20  abut each other in the manner shown in  FIG. 1  (or are in close proximity to each other), the inner perimeters of their respective arcuate portions together define the outer perimeter of an opening through which a nurse, medical technician, or other individual may insert a portion of his or her hand. Once the portion of the hand is inserted through the opening, the medical device  12  may be picked up in a manner analogous to picking up a suitcase or briefcase with a handle.  
         [0025]     According to certain embodiments of the present invention, when positioned as illustrated in  FIG. 1  to form a handle, each of the hooks  18 ,  20  is removably attached to the lower platform  30  of the medical device  12 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1A , the hook  18  on the right side of the medical device  12  may be pulled away from the hook  20  on the left side of the medical device  12 . Also, in the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 1A , a portion of each of the hooks  18 ,  20  may be slid into or out of a track  40  that is positioned on the lower platform  30  of the medical device  12 . However, it will be appreciated by those of skill in the art upon practicing one or more embodiments of the present invention that the track  40  may be positioned at locations other than the lower platform  30 . It will also be appreciated that a mechanism other than the track  40  may be used to removably attach the hooks  18 ,  20  to the medical device  12 . For the purpose of clarity,  FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of the medical device  12  illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 1A , and  2  without the connection mechanism  26  attached thereto.  
         [0026]     When positioned as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the hooks  18 ,  20  remain fixed relative to the medical device  12  when the hooks  18 ,  20  are pulled in an upward (i.e., vertical) direction. Therefore, the medical device  12  may be picked up and carried in a manner analogous to carrying a briefcase or suitcase. However, when the hooks  18 ,  20  are pulled in a horizontal direction, the hooks  18 ,  20  slide out of the track  40  and may be attached, for example, to the structure  16  illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0027]     In order to prevent undesired horizontal motion of the hooks  18 ,  20  out of the track  40 , some embodiments of the present invention include one or more locking mechanisms that fix the hooks  18 ,  20  at one location relative to the track  40  until the locking mechanism is released. For example, certain embodiments of the present invention include tabs along the track  40  that engage apertures in the hooks  18 ,  20  and that thereby prevent the hooks  18 ,  20  from moving relative to the track  40  until the tabs are disengaged.  
         [0028]     As mentioned above, components other than the track  40  maybe used to connect the hooks  18 ,  20  to the medical device  12 . More generally, a variety of components and/or systems may be used to removably attach or connect engaging portion(s) according to the present invention to a variety of locations on or adjacent to the medical device  12 . Even more generally, any manner of removably attaching an engaging portion to a medical device that becomes apparent to one of skill in the art upon practicing one or more embodiments of the present invention may be used. For example, each of the hooks  18 ,  20  in  FIG. 1  may have one or more protrusions extending therefrom and each of these protrusions may be configured to be engaged with a receiving portion in a region of the casing/housing of a medical device.  
         [0029]     According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the above-discussed adjustable connection mechanism  26  is removably connected to the medical device. For example, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 1A , and  2 , each end of each of the straps  22 ,  24  that is connected to the medical device  12  passes through one of the side protrusions  32 ,  34  of the medical device  12  and forms a loop around the protrusion  32 ,  34 . In the embodiments of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 1A , and  2 , each end of each loop formed around the protrusions  32 ,  34  begins and ends at one of a fastening mechanisms  36 ,  38  (e.g., a buckle) and is held thereby.  
         [0030]     According to other embodiments of the present invention, the region between the protrusions  32 ,  34  and straps  22 ,  24  is sufficiently small that the portions of the straps  22 ,  24  passing through the protrusions  32 ,  34  are spatially fixed relative to the medical device by friction. In other words, according to these embodiments, a portion of each of the strap  22 ,  24  is squeezed in between the side of the medical device  12  housing and the inner face of one of the protrusions  32 ,  34 .  
         [0031]     According to still other embodiments of the present invention, clips (not illustrated) or some other fastening mechanisms (e.g., glue, stitching) are used to close off the loops created at the ends of the straps  22 ,  24 . When clips are used, the clips may be opened, thereby allowing the straps  22 ,  24  to be removed from the protrusions  32 ,  34  and to be replaced by new straps. These new straps may then be re-clipped to again secure a loop around each of the protrusions  32 ,  34 .  
         [0032]     Also illustrated in  FIG. 1, 1A , and  2  as part of the adjustable connection mechanism  26  are two fastening mechanisms  36 ,  38  that are each configured to shorten the adjustable connection mechanism  26 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , according to certain embodiments of the present invention, a double layer of each strap  22 ,  24  extends between the fastening mechanisms  36 ,  38  and the medical device  12 . A single layer of each strap  22 ,  24  also extends from each one of the fastening mechanisms  36 ,  38  to one of the hooks  18 ,  20 . In view of the above, in the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 2 , in order to shorten the overall length of the adjustable connection mechanism  26 , the fastening mechanisms  36 ,  38  may be moved relative to the medical device  12 , thereby changing the proportion of each of the straps  22 ,  24  that forms a loop (i.e., that is “doubled-up”) between the fastening mechanisms  36 ,  38  and the medical device  12 .  
         [0033]     In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , each of the fastening mechanisms  36 ,  38  takes the form of a buckle. However, other fastening mechanisms are also within the scope of the present invention. For example, clips may be used to adjust how much of each of the straps  22 ,  24  is included in the loops between the fastening mechanisms  36 ,  38  and the medical device. Also, according to other embodiments of the present invention, the straps  22 ,  24  may form loops between the fastening mechanisms  36 ,  38  and the hooks  18 ,  20 .  
         [0034]     According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method of attaching a medical device (e.g., the medical device  12  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 3 ) to a structure (e.g., a bed rail) is provided. This method typically includes adjusting a length of an adjustable connection mechanism (e.g., connection mechanism  26 ) connected to the medical device at a distal portion thereof and engaging the structure with an engaging mechanism (e.g., engaging mechanism  14 ) connected to a proximate portion of the adjustable connection mechanism.  
         [0035]     According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the above-mentioned engaging step includes engaging a portion of the structure with a curved portion of the engaging mechanism. When implementing this step, one of the arcuate hooks  18 ,  20  may, for example, be placed about a portion of the side of a bed rail. The engaging step may also be implemented, for example, using an engaging mechanism that is either entirely or partially made up of hooks that are rigid relative to the adjustable connection mechanism. For example, the hooks may be made from hard polymers and/or metallic materials and may be used in conjunction with an adjustable connection mechanism that includes or is made from one or more straps, webbing, cables, strings, and/or other flexible materials that may be adjusted according to the above-mentioned attaching step.  
         [0036]     According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the engaging step includes engaging the structure at a first location with a first portion of the engaging mechanism and engaging the structure at a second location with a second portion of the engaging mechanism. According to some of these embodiments, the two hooks  18 ,  20  illustrated in  FIG. 1  are engaged with the structure  16 . According to other embodiments, more or less than two portions of an engaging mechanism may be used to engage more or less than two locations of a structure such as, for example, a bed rail or some other portion of a hospital bed.  
         [0037]     The above discussed adjusting step, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, includes adjusting a first adjustable portion of the adjustable connection mechanism connected to the first engaging portion. The adjusting step may also include adjusting a second adjustable portion of the adjustable connection mechanism connected to the second engaging portion. These embodiments may be implemented, for example, using the buckles that make up the fastening mechanisms  36 ,  38  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . More specifically, the position of each of the buckles relative to the medical device  12  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  may be adjusted. Even more specifically, the adjustable connection mechanism may be shortened by forming a loop in a portion of the adjustable connection mechanism and securing the loop with a fastening mechanism such as the buckle.  
         [0038]     In addition to the above-mentioned steps, methods of attaching a medical device to a structure may include forming a handle by engaging the first portion of the engaging mechanism and the second portion of the engaging mechanism with each other. Pursuant to such a step being implemented, the hooks  18 ,  20  are typically in the positions illustrated in  FIG. 1 . However, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, the hooks  18 ,  20  are merely adjacent or proximate to each other without actually contacting each other.  
         [0039]     According to still other embodiments of the present invention, the above-discussed method includes removably connecting the adjustable connection mechanism to the medical device at the distal portion of the adjustable connection mechanism. This step may be implemented, for example, by forming loops around side protrusions  32 ,  34  of the medical device illustrated in  FIG. 1  and securing those loops with removable clips.  
         [0040]     The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.