Abstract:
An IV guard having a cover with an open back for use in conjunction with an intravenous connection comprising a cannula that is inserted into a vein of an individual. The cannula being inserted through an insertion point in the individual&#39;s skin. The cover having an inner hollow cavity defined by a top, a front, and pair of sidewalls that together create a shape of an animal. The open back of the cover allows examination of the cannula and the insertion point which are contained in the inner hollow cavity when the cover is in place over the insertion point.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to protecting an insertion point of either an intravenous (IV) infusion or injection. More particularly, the invention pertains to an IV guard. 
     IV&#39;s have become a widely used and standard technique to introduce a substance into a vein of an individual. The substance can be introduced rapidly by an intravenous injection, or slowly by an intravenous infusion. IV&#39;s are typically used to introduce or administer blood or plasma during a blood transfusion; a mixture of glucose (sugar) and saline (salt) or other varied or concentrated nutrients for artificial feeding or hydration; and various drugs or medicines to treat pain, illness or disease. 
     IV&#39;s are typically comprised of a bag or bottle, a tube and a cannula. The bag or bottle store and contain the substance that is to be administered to the individual and is suspended from a holder above the insertion point of the IV. The tube is generally made of clear plastic for easy examination. The tube is connected at one end to the bag or bottle suspended from the holder. The opposite end of the tube is connected to the cannula. The cannula is inserted into the vein of the individual through the skin at the insertion point. After the cannula is inserted into the vein and connected to the tube, it is generally secured in place by surgical tape to the skin surrounding the insertion point. The cannula is secured in place to prevent damage which could otherwise result from its movement relative to the vein or insertion point through the skin. 
     IV&#39;s work well for adults and older children who can understand and appreciate the purpose of the IV and who can comprehend the significance of not disrupting the IV once it is in place. On the other hand, young children are not familiar with and do not understand the importance of an IV. They also can not comprehend for any length of time that they should leave the IV alone. Rather, young children tend to either fear the IV and want it out or are curious of the IV and want to play with it. 
     Children&#39;s fear of the IV arises not only from the pain associated with the cannula being inserted through their skin and into their vein, but also from the presence of the IV after it is inserted. The pain from the insertion or the mere presence of the IV can create extreme anxiety in the child causing them to become scared of the IV and want it removed. The child may also become curious of the tubes, rather than anxious or scared, and try to remove or play with the IV. Movement of the cannula inserted into the individual&#39;s arm can result in serious damage to the vein or surrounding tissue, such as being torn or punctured. The cannula can also break apart either partially or completely with a portion partially exposed or completely lodged underneath the surface of the skin. There is no known device that protects the insertion point of an IV while either helping to calm the child&#39;s fear or redirect the child&#39;s curiosity of the IV. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An IV guard comprising an open-backed cover having an inner hollow cavity that includes a top, a front, and a pair of side walls. The top, front and pair of side walls are connected together to create a shape of an animal. An open bottom of the cover is set upon an area of skin so that the cover surrounds and contains an insertion point of an IV. The IV exits out of the hollow cavity through the open-back of the cover. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention placed on a child&#39;s arm over an insertion point of an IV. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a back view of the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an IV guard  10 . The IV guard  10  is placed over an insertion point  12  of either an intravenous infusion or injection  14 , more commonly referred to as an IV  14 . IV&#39;s are typically inserted in a hand or forearm area of an arm  16 . IV&#39;s  14  are typically comprised of a bag or bottle  18  which contains a substance that is generally inserted or injected into a vein of an individual. A tube  20  connects the bag  18  to a cannula  22  that is inserted through the individual&#39;s skin and into the vein. The cannula  22  is shown in phantom in FIG. 1 beneath the IV guard  10 . Placing the bag  18  above the point of entry of the cannula  22  in the skin will force the solution out of the bag  18 , through the tube  20  and the cannula  22 , and into the vein of the individual by gravity. FIG. 1 provides a simplified view of the IV  14  for general reference and orientation. IV&#39;s  14  also typically include valve(s) for controlling the flow of fluid into the vein and ports for injecting fluids, such as medication, into the tube  20 . IV&#39;s  14  can also include an IV controller or IV pump that controls the flow of fluid from the bag or bottle  18  to the cannula  22 . IV&#39;s  14  can be used for blood transfusions, artificial feeding, rehydration, or administering drugs or medications. 
     The use of IV&#39;s  14  has become standard practice in the medical field. They are very effective for use with adults and older children. Younger children, however, have a difficult time not moving or pulling on the tube  20  of the IV  14  due to either fear or curiosity. The child&#39;s handling of the IV  14  can result in pulling the cannula  22  out of the vein or skin causing damage to the vein or surrounding tissue. The cannula  22  can also be bent or can break off causing further injury and requiring additional medical attention. 
     IV&#39;s  14  are typically inserted into the arm  16  on the outside or back of the hand, wrist or forearm area. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the IV guard  10  is placed over an insertion point  12  of the IV  14  through the skin. The IV guard  10  is formed in the shape of an animal, such as a beaver as illustrated in FIG.  1 . The IV guard  10  is placed on the arm  16 , or over the insertion point  12  so that it faces the individual or child when they look in the general area of the IV  14  or the insertion point  12 . The IV guard  10  is preferably colored or painted with characteristics to match the shape of the animal it is formed in. The IV guard  10  is preferably made from polyvinyl chloride and formed by injection molding. Placing the IV guard  10  over the insertion point  12  of the IV  14  directs the individual&#39;s or child&#39;s attention toward a cute, friendly and familiar animal or object, rather than the unfamiliar IV  14 . 
     The IV guard  10  also preferably includes a window  23 . The window  23  allows medical personnel to directly view and examine the cannula  22  and the insertion point  12  that are covered by the IV guard  10 . The window  23  is preferably a flat piece of plastic to avoid a distorted view of the area of interest. The window  23  fits into a cut out section of the IV guard  10 . The window  23  has a generally oval shape due to the sliced or cut out section of the IV guard  10 , which has a curved contour, and the flat surface of the window  23 . The window  23  is preferably approximately 18.0 millimeters wide and 13.0 millimeters long. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the IV guard  10  also includes a pair of adhesive strips  24  which extend from the IV guard  10  to secure it over the insertion point  12 . The adhesive strips  24  are preferably non-latex and made of polyvinyl chloride foam or polyester foam. They also have an adhesive placed on an underside that is covered by a tear away strip that is removed prior to use. The adhesive strips  24  are approximately 35.0 to 50.0 millimeters long and 22.0 millimeters wide. Notations can also be made on a top surface of the adhesive strip  24  to indicate when the IV  14  was first inserted, last checked, or other related information. Medical personnel thus have a readily available record of information pertaining to the IV  14 . Alternative materials could also be used to construct the adhesive strips  24  provided they are safe to use on the surface of the skin, such as skin safe adhesives and strips that are produced by 3M Medical Specialties. 
     The IV guard  10  preferably has a front  26  and a back  28 . The IV guard  10  is placed over the top of the insertion point  12  of the IV  14  so that the front  26  is seen by the individual or child when they look in the vicinity of the insertion point  12  of the IV  14 . The back  28  of the IV guard  10  is at least partially open to allow the tube  20  of the IV  14  to exit from under the IV guard  10 . The IV guard  10  is positioned so that the window  23  is directly over the insertion point  12  and cannula  22  to allow for their examination therethrough. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the IV guard  10  illustrating what the individual or child would see when they look in the direction or vicinity of the insertion point  12  of the IV  14 . The front  26  of the IV guard  10  preferably includes facial features of the animal on a head  29 , such as a pair of ears  30 , a set of eyes  32 , a nose  34  and a mouth  36 . A pair of teeth  38  are also preferably included to fit the beaver design of the IV guard  10  as illustrated in FIGS. 1-5. The facial features are preferably created with a warm and friendly appearance to assure the individual or child and help calm any fear or anxiety they may experience. The facial features of the beaver, or any other animal, are preferably shown smiling to appear friendly. Placing the facial features of the animal at the front  26  will direct the child&#39;s attention to the IV guard  10 , rather than the IV  14 . 
     Focusing the child&#39;s attention on the IV guard  10  will make it less likely that the individual or child will notice or pay attention to the IV  14 . The individual or child will instead play with or pet their new animal friend rather than pull out the IV  14 . 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the IV guard  10 . As illustrated in FIG. 3, the IV guard  10  is further constructed from a pair of sidewalls  40 , a top  42 , and a bottom  44 . The sidewalls  40  are preferably symmetrical about a center line through the IV guard  10  from the front  26  to the back  28 . The sidewalls  40  preferably run from the front  26  to the back  28  and from the bottom  44  to the top  42 . In a preferred embodiment, a length L of the sidewalls  40  along the bottom  44  (or a length of the IV guard  10  at the bottom  44 ) is approximately 51.0 millimeters. The sidewalls  40  of the IV guard  10  preferably have a height H of approximately 33.0 millimeters. The length L and height H of the sidewalls  40  should be large enough to ensure that the insertion point  12  and the cannula  22  fit under the IV guard  10 . 
     The shape of the IV guard  10  preferably further includes all of the characteristics of the animal the IV guard  10  is shaped in. The IV guard  10  thus includes a body  50 , a set of legs  52  and a tail  54 . Other characteristics may also be included depending on what animal the IV guard  10  is shaped in. The IV guard  10  can also be painted in alternative colors than are typical for the shape of the animal. 
     A portion of the window  23  is also shown cut out of the body  50  behind the head  29  of the IV guard  10 . FIG. 3 illustrates the curved nature of the body  50  where the window  23  has been cut in resulting in the generally oval shape of the window  23 . The window  23  allows direct viewing from above the IV guard  10  of the insertion point  12  of the IV  14  and the cannula  22 . The height H of the IV guard  10 , or the sidewalls  40 , is also preferably large enough to allow medical personnel to view the cannula  22  and the insertion point  12  of the IV  14  through the open back  28  of the IV guard  10 . 
     FIG. 4 is a back view of the IV guard  10 . As illustrated in FIG. 4, the back  28  of the IV guard  10  is open. This allows the tube  20  of the IV  14  to exit out from under the IV guard  10 . As illustrated in FIG. 4, the IV guard  10  has an open cavity  56  that is created by the pair of sidewalls  40 , the top  42 , and the front  26 . The cavity  56  is sufficiently large to surround the insertion point  12  and cannula  22  of the IV  14 . The tube  20 , which is connected to the cannula  22 , exits the cavity  56  out of the open back  28  of the IV guard  10 . The back  28  of the IV guard  10  is preferably completely open to allow easier access and visual inspection of the insertion point  12  and the cannula  22 . 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the IV guard  10 . As illustrated in FIG. 5, the bottom  44  of the IV guard  10  is preferably open to allow for placement of the IV guard  10  on the surface of the individual&#39;s skin to cover the insertion point  12  of the IV  14 . The bottom  44  of the IV guard  10  is preferably U-shaped and includes a pair of slots  58  that run along the pair of sidewalls  40 . The slots  58  provide a means for mounting a pair of anchors  60  that are secured to and attach the adhesive strips  24  along the side of the IV guard  10 . The anchors  60  can either be permanently or replaceably secured in the slots  58 . One of the tear away strips placed over the adhesive on the underside of the adhesive strips  24  is shown partially peeled back in FIG.  5 . The bottom  44  of the IV guard  10  preferably has a width W of approximately 22.2 millimeters to ensure that the insertion point  12  and the cannula  22  of the IV  14  can be contained within the IV guard  10 . 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance, the IV guard can be shaped in the form of different animals or include different features. The IV guard can also be made out of a different material or secured over the insertion point by other means such as surgical tape. The IV guard provides protection to the insertion point of an IV while helping to calm the child&#39;s fear and redirect the child&#39;s curiosity of the IV.