Abstract:
Apparatus and method to secure an appliance to a person is provided. The apparatus may have a base that attaches to a selected portion of a person&#39;s skin or other desired surface. A tongue may extend from the base and wrap around the appliance. At least a portion of the tongue may be alternately engaged with and disengaged from the tongue to accommodate securing and releasing the associated apparatus.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/602,403, filed Aug. 18, 2004, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The present invention is related in general to apparatus and methods associated with securing appliances to a person and more specifically to an apparatus and method to removably secure appliances or devices to a person&#39;s skin or other surfaces.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Various medical devices, or portions thereof, often include generally tubular structures, such as catheters, intravenous tubing, and various types of electrical and fiber optic conductors. Many times there is a need to secure a device to or near a patient&#39;s body so that the device can appropriately function. For example, catheters are often used in medical procedures for transporting various types of fluids to and from the body of a patient. These devices generally include long, tubular conduits made from flexible materials and extend from the patient to a nearby, stationary receptacle or source of fluid. Therefore, it is often necessary to secure a catheter tube near an insertion point on a patient&#39;s body to ensure proper placement and functioning as well offering some degree of comfort and mobility to a patient.  
         [0004]     Practitioners initially used strips of conventional, medical grade adhesive tape to secure medical devices directly to the patient&#39;s skin. This technique often proved unsuccessful. Tape tends to become loose each time an associated device is adjusted or temporarily removed. Also, frequently removing adhesive tape from a patient&#39;s skin may cause irritation and discomfort.  
         [0005]     Various types of catheter or tubular holding devices have been developed to provide desired restraint and to overcome disadvantages associated with the use of strips of adhesive tape. For example, some conventional devices include a strap which encircles the limb of a patient. To adequately restrain an associated catheter or other tubular structure, the strap must be kept fairly tight, which may cause discomfort and restrict blood flow to the patient&#39;s limb. Since the strap may generally be applied only to a limb, practitioners are often limited as to the number and type of locations to which such catheter tube holders may be secured.  
         [0006]     Another type of catheter or tubular holding device includes a segment of material having one side coated with adhesive which may be applied directly to the patient&#39;s skin. A central tab may extend from the segment of material with a fastener for securing a catheter or other tubular structure. Disadvantages associated with such devices include fasteners which function properly for only particular tube sizes. Hospitals may therefore be required to stock different sizes of securing devices in order to accommodate different tube diameters. In addition, these devices may suffer from an inability to adequately restrain an associated tube in its longitudinal direction.  
         [0007]     Many catheter tube holders and other devices used to releasably secure appliances with a patient include hook and loop materials. Such materials are relatively expensive as compared with medical grade adhesive tape.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     In accordance with teachings of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for releasably securing an appliance on or adjacent a person. For some applications the apparatus may include a base and a flap or tongue attached to the base. The tongue may be wrapped around portions of an appliance and then attached to the base to releasably secure the appliance to the base. The base may be formed from a first layer of material. The tongue may be formed from a second layer of material disposed on the first layer. One or more of the layers may be formed from medical grade adhesive tape or any other type of generally flexible material compatible with placement on a person&#39;s skin. Some embodiments of the present invention may include multiple tongues to releasably secure one appliance or multiple appliances to a single base.  
         [0009]     Technical benefits of the present invention include providing a reliable, relatively low cost device to releasably secure an appliance on a person or on a surface adjacent to the person. The device may be opened and closed (reclosable) multiple times. The present invention eliminates the use relatively high cost hook and loop materials associated with some conventional tube holders.  
         [0010]     Further technical benefits of the present invention include providing simple, relatively low cost methods to manufacture a reclosable holding device from two or more layers of material such as medical grade adhesive tape. The present invention also includes relatively simple and easy to learn methods to attach an appliance to a person or on a surface adjacent to the person. The holding device may be opened and closed multiple times to adjust the position of an associated appliance relative to a person or to remove one appliance and attach another appliance. Holding devices and securing devices may be formed in accordance with teachings of the present invention to accommodate releasably securing appliances having a wide variety of sizes and shapes. The present invention is not limited to releasably securing tubular structures.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     A more complete and thorough understanding of the present invention and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing showing a top or front plan view of one apparatus satisfactory for use in releasably securing an appliance in accordance with teachings of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a schematic drawing showing a bottom or back plan view with portions broken away of the apparatus in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing showing an isometric view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  prior to releasably attaching an appliance in accordance with teachings of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a schematic drawing showing a top or front plan view of another apparatus satisfactory for use in releasably securing an appliance in accordance with teachings of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a schematic drawing showing a bottom or back plan view with portions broken away of the apparatus in  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a schematic drawing showing an isometric view of the apparatus of  FIG. 4  prior to releasably attaching an appliance in accordance with teachings of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a schematic drawing showing an isometric view with portions broken away of a generally tubular appliance in the process of being releasably attached to a patient in accordance with teachings of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a schematic drawing showing an isometric view with portions broken away of the generally tubular appliance in  FIG. 7  releasably attached to the patient in accordance with teachings of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is a schematic drawing showing a top plan view of an apparatus having a pair of tongues which may be releasably engaged with a single appliance in accordance with teachings of the present invention; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 10  is a schematic drawing showing a top plan view of an apparatus having a pair of tongues which may be releasably engaged with a respective first appliance and a respective second appliance in accordance with teachings of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]     Various embodiments of the present invention and its advantages are best understood by reference to  FIGS. 1-10  wherein like numbers refer to same and like parts.  
         [0023]     Apparatus and methods incorporating teachings of the present invention may be satisfactorily used to releasably secure a wide variety of appliances to a person or surface adjacent to a person. Various features of the present invention may be described with respect to releasably securing medical appliances with a patient&#39;s skin or surfaces adjacent to a patient. However, apparatus and methods incorporating teachings of the present invention may also be satisfactorily used to releasably secure a wide variety of appliances to a person or surfaces adjacent to a person. Examples of such appliances include wires, fiber optic conductors or other conduits associated with communication equipment or monitor equipment. The present invention is not limited to medical appliances associated with treatment of patients. The present invention is not limited to attachment to a person&#39;s skin.  
         [0024]     Various features of the present invention, will be described with respect to using apparatus such as reclosable holding devices  20 ,  120 ,  120   a  and  120   b  to releasably securing catheter tubes or other types of tubular members with a person&#39;s skin. See  FIGS. 1, 4 ,  9  and  10 . However, apparatus and methods incorporating teachings of the present invention may be satisfactorily used to releasably secure a wide variety of appliances including, but not limited to, lumens, tubes, wires, fiber optic conductors, communication equipment, monitoring equipment, feeding tubes, water tubes and oxygen tubes. Such appliances may be releasably secured to a person&#39;s skin (see  FIGS. 7 and 8 ), clothing (not expressly shown) or a surface adjacent to a person (not expressly shown). Examples of such surfaces include, but are not limited to, hospital bed rail, desk, night stand, hospital gurney and surgery table.  
         [0025]      FIGS. 1, 4 ,  9  and  10  show schematic top plan views of securing devices  20 ,  120 ,  120   a  and  120   b  which incorporate various teachings of the present invention. Securing devices  20 ,  120 ,  120   a  and  120   b  may also be described as general purpose releasable holding devices. For some specific applications securing devices  20 ,  120 ,  120   a  and  120   b  may be referred to as “reclosable tube holders” or “reclosable wire holders” as appropriate.  
         [0026]     For embodiments such as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  3  securing device  20  may include two or more layers of material. For example, device  20  may include first layer or base  30  with first release liner  40  attached thereto. For some applications release liner  40  may be formed in two segments,  40   a  and  40   b,  to aid in removal of release liner  40  from base  30 . See  FIGS. 2 and 5 . Securing device  20  may also include top layer  50  with second release liner  60  disposed therebetween. See  FIG. 3 . Release liners  40  and  60  may be formed from various types of material such as paper or plastic film. Release liners  40  and  60  may also be referred to as “removable liners”.  
         [0027]     For embodiments such as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  3 , securing device  20  may have a generally elongated rectangular configuration with generally rounded corners  22 . Corners  22  cooperate with each other to reduce potential stress concentrations which might result in inadvertent peeling of base  30  when attached to a person or a surface adjacent to a person.  
         [0028]     First layer or base  30  and second layer or top layer  50  may be formed from respective sheets or strips of medical grade adhesive tape. However, other materials may be satisfactorily used to form first layer  30  and second layer  50 . Examples of such materials include but are not limited to medical grade foam, medical grade film and/or relatively thin, flexible sheets or strips of plastic.  
         [0029]     Various types of medical grade adhesive tapes may be satisfactorily used to form first layer  30  and second layer  50 . Examples of such adhesive tapes includes Durapore™ surgical tapes available from 3M Corporation. However, a wide variety of other medical grade adhesive tapes may be satisfactorily used. A wide variety of woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, urethane foam and polyethylene films may also be satisfactorily used to form either first layer  30  and/or second layer  50 . Other types of skin-friendly materials may also be satisfactorily used.  
         [0030]     For many applications first layer  30  and second layer  50  may preferably be formed from breathable materials. For some applications material used to form second layer  50  may be stronger than material used to form first layer  30 . Second layer  50  and particularly flap or tongue  70  may be formed from nonstretchable material. Material selections will depend upon intended use of the resulting holding device, desired length of time that the holding device will be in active use and cost associated with various materials.  
         [0031]     Base  30  preferably includes first surface  31  and second surface  32 . Top layer  50  may also include first surface  51  and second surface  52 . First surface  31  of base  30  and first surface  51  of top layer  50  may be covered with various types of medical adhesive material. See  FIGS. 2 and 3 . First release liner  40  may be disposed on first surface  31  of base  30  to protect associated adhesive material prior to placement of base  30  on a patient&#39;s skin or a surface adjacent to a patient.  
         [0032]     For some applications, a second release liner  60  may be disposed between portions of base  30  and top layer  50 . See  FIG. 3 . Tongue or flap  70  may be formed from top layer  50  using various manufacturing techniques. Second release liner  60  may be used to protect base  30  during the formation of tongue or flap  70 . For example, release liner  60  may be used when a rotary die kiss cutting process is used to form tongue  70  in second layer  50 . Release liner  60  may prevent potential damage to adjacent portions of base  30  during cutting of tongue  70 .  
         [0033]     For some applications, tongue or flap  70  may have a generally elongated configuration defined in part by longitudinal edges  72  and  74  which extend generally parallel with each other from attached portion  76 . Flap or tongue  70  may include a generally arcuate or curved end  78  disposed opposite from attached portion  76 . Tongue  70  may be formed in top layer  50  by cutting edges  72 ,  74  and end  78 . Attached portion  76  connects tongue  70  with top layer  50  and allows movement of tongue  70  relative to base  30 . Attached portion  76  is indicated by dotted lines in  FIGS. 1 and 3  for purposes of illustrating various features of the present invention. For some applications attached portion  76  may function similar to a hinge or flexible connection which allows rotation or lifting of tongue  70  relative to base  30  and placing tongue  70  over an appliance.  
         [0034]     A flap or tongue may be formed in top layer  50  with a wide variety of configurations. The present invention is not limited to the configuration of flap  70 . Also, flap  70  may be cut from a second layer of material and attached to base  30  (not expressly shown) without any other portions of the second layer of material being placed on or bonded with base  30 . Various bonding techniques such as sonic welding or heat sealing may be used to secure portion  76  of flap  70  to second surface  32  of base  30 .  
         [0035]     For some applications, strip  80  may be placed on top layer  50  prior to forming tongue or flap  70 . Strip  80  may be formed from paper or plastic film. During formation or cutting of tongue  70 , segment  80   a  will be separated from strip  80 . Segment or tab  80   a  disposed adjacent to end  78  provides a convenient location for grasping tongue  70 . Segment or tab  80   a  may be particularly beneficial when trying to manipulate flap  70  while wearing gloves. Various types of advertising information and/or operating instructions may be printed on strip  80 . Strip  80  and segment  80   a  may be used to identify end  78  of tongue  70  to assist in moving or lifting tongue  70  relative to base  30 .  
         [0036]     The portion of base  30  immediately adjacent to tongue  70  may be described as an attachment location for releasably securing an appliance with base  30 . For the embodiments such as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the associated attachment location has been designated as  32   a.  For some applications tongue  70  and attachment location  32   a  may be approximately centered relative to second surface  32  of base  30 .  
         [0037]     The material used to form base  30  and particularly attachment location  32   a  along with adhesive material placed on first surface  51  of tongue  70  are preferably selected to allow multiple opening and closing of tongue  70  relative to base  30 . Since attachment location  32   a  is generally protected from contact with a patient&#39;s skin and associated skin oils, tongue  70  may be engaged and disengaged multiple time with base  30 . Adhesive material disposed on first surface  51  will generally prevent undesired movement of an attached appliance relative to base  30  and/or tongue  70 . However, for some applications portions of the adhesive material on surface  51  may be removed (if desired) to prevent the adhesive material from contacting an associated appliance.  
         [0038]     Various color combinations of materials may be used to form first layer  30  and second layer  50 . Also, the adhesives placed on first layer  31  and first layer  51  may have different colors to indicate characteristics of the associated adhesive. For example, the adhesive used on first layer  31  may be compatible with attachment to a person&#39;s skin or may be compatible with attachment to clothing worn by a person. Each type of adhesive material may have a different color to indicate a respective type of use. Adhesive material placed on first surface  51  of tongue  70  may be selected for compatibility with attachment location  32   a.    
         [0039]     For embodiments such as shown in  FIGS. 4, 5  and  6 , securing device  120  may have a generally elongated, rectangular configuration with generally rounded corners  22 . Securing device  120  may include some of the same features and benefits as previously described with respect to securing device  20 . Securing device  120  may be formed with first layer or base layer  30  and release liner  40  as previously described with respect to device  20 . However, second layer or top layer  150  of securing device  120  may be formed from material satisfactory for machining tongue  70  using kiss cutting techniques. Therefore, securing device  120  does not include second release liner  60  as previously described with respect to securing device  20 .  
         [0040]     Second layer or top layer  150  preferably includes first surface  151  and second surface  152 . First surface  151  of top layer  150  may be covered with a wide variety of medical adhesive materials. For some applications the same adhesive material may be used on first surfaces  31  and  151 . See  FIG. 6 .  
         [0041]     Respective strips  180  of paper or plastic film may be disposed between top layer  150  and base  30  at approximately desired locations for end  78  of each tongue  70 . Strip  180  may be formed from the same material as release liner  40  or any other suitable paper or plastic film. The materials used to form top layer  150  are preferably compatible with die rotary die kiss cutting cutting tongue  70  without damage to base  30 . One example of such material includes 3M Durapore.  
         [0042]     For some applications strip  180  may be disposed between top layer  150  and base  30  prior to forming tongue or flap  70 . As a result during the formation or cutting of tongue  70 , segment  180   a  of strip  180  will be separated from strip  180 . Segment or tab  180   a  disposed adjacent to end  78  provides a convenient surface for grasping tongue  70 . Segment or tab  180   a  may be particularly beneficial when trying to manipulate flap  70  while wearing gloves. Various types of advertising information and/or operating instructions may be printed on strip  180 . Strip  180  and segment  180   a  may be used to identify end  78  of tongue  70  to assist in moving or lifting tongue  70  relative to base  30 .  
         [0043]     Materials used to form second layer or top layer  150  may be relatively translucent such that operating instructions and/or advertising material printed on strip  180  may be read by a person using associated securing device  120 . As a result of forming tab or segment  180   a,  tongue  70  may be manipulated without engaging adhesive material disposed on other portions of first surface  151 .  
         [0044]     Securing devices  20  and  120  may be formed using various manufacturing techniques and procedures incorporating teachings of the present invention. One process associated with securing device  20  may include forming an elongated strip or blank with multiple layers of material (not expressly shown) defined in part by a first layer of release liner material, a second layer of material satisfactory for forming base  30 , a third layer of release liner material and a fourth layer of material satisfactory for forming top layer  50 . Respective strips  80  of paper or plastic film may be placed on the fourth layer of material (second surface  52  of layer  50 ) at locations corresponding approximately with desired locations for end  78  of each tongue  70 .  
         [0045]     One process associated with securing device  120  may include forming an elongated strip or blank with multiple layers of material (not expressly shown) defined in part by a first layer of release liner material, a second layer of material satisfactory for forming base  30 , intermittent strips  180  disposed on the second layer of material (second surface  31  of base  30 ) and a third layer of material satisfactory for forming top layer  150 . The first, second and third layers of material may extend generally longitudinally relative to each other. Strips  180  may be placed laterally between the second layer of material and the third layer of material at locations corresponding approximately with desired locations for end  78  of each tongue  70 .  
         [0046]     Preprinted instructions and/or advertising may be placed on one or more of the respective material rolls. The position of the instructions or advertising on each material layer may be selected to correspond with each securing device formed therefrom. Also, rolls of material with different colors may be used. For example, different colors may be used to indicate different types of uses for the resulting securing device. Each strip or blank of multiple layers of material may be formed by a wide variety of manufacturing techniques such as feeding material from respective rolls of release liner and medical grade adhesive tape in sequential order to form the desired strip.  
         [0047]     Various types of cutting and/or stamping procedures may be used to form devices  20  and  120  from associated blanks. For example, rotary die kiss cutting techniques (such as kiss cutting) may be used to cut device  120  from the respective strip of multiple layers of material and to cut tongue  70  in top layer  150  without damage to base  30 .  
         [0048]     Adhesive material on first surface  51  and first surface  151  is preferably compatible with the material used to form second surface  32  of associated base  30 . For some applications, portions of first surface  51  and first surface  151  may not be covered with adhesive material to avoid undesired contact between the adhesive material and the associated appliance when respective tongue  70  releasably secures the appliance to associated base  30 .  
         [0049]     Various methods and techniques incorporating teachings of the present invention may be used to releasably secure an appliance with a patient using securing devices  20  or  120 . For example, release liner portions  40   a  and  40   b  may be removed from first surface  31  of base  30 . Forming liner  40  with segments  40   a  and  40   b  facilitates wearing gloves while applying device  20  or  120  to a patient&#39;s skin. Base  30  may then be placed at a desired location on a patient&#39;s skin or on a surface adjacent to the patient.  
         [0050]     For securing device  20 , segment or tab  80   a  provides a convenient location to grasp and lift tongue  70  relative to base  30 . Release liner  60  may then be removed from first surface  51 . See  FIG. 3 . An appliance such as a catheter tube or an electrical wire may be placed on attachment location  32   a  and releasably secured thereto by engaging end  78  and adjacent portions of first surface  51  of tongue  70  with attachment location  32   a.    
         [0051]     For securing device  120 , segment or tab  180   a  provides a convenient location to grasp or lift tongue  70  relative to base  30 . As previously noted, securing device  120  does not include release liner  60 . See  FIG. 6 . An appliance such as a catheter tube or an electrical wire may be placed on attachment location  32   a  and releasably secured thereto by engaging adjacent portions of first surface  51  of tongue  70  with attachment location  32   a.  Segment or tab  180   a  also provides a convenient location to grasp or lift tongue  70  to release an associated appliance. Segment or tab  180   a  facilitates multiple opening and closing of securing device  120 .  
         [0052]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are schematic drawings showing various steps associated with using securing device  120  to releasably engage tubular structure  24  at a desired location on arm  26  of a patient. For some applications tubular structure  24  may be a catheter. After release liner  40  has been removed from base  30 , first surface  31  of securing device  120  may be applied at the desired location on arm  26 . Segment or tab  180   a  may be lifted from top layer or second layer  150  to lift tongue  70  and expose attachment location  32   a.  A portion of tubular structure  24  may be placed on attachment location  32   a.  See  FIG. 7 . When tubular structure  24  is in the desired location, tab  180   a  may be used to releasably engage portions of first surface  151  of flap  150  with tubular structure  24  and attachment location  32   a.    
         [0053]      FIGS. 9 and 10  show alternative embodiments of the present invention. For the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 , securing device  120   a  includes a pair of flaps or tongues  170   a  and  170   b  formed in second surface or top layer  150 . Flaps  170   a  and  170   b  may be disposed generally parallel with each other. Flaps  170   a  and  170   b  may be used to releasably secure a single appliance with respective attachment locations  32   a  (not expressly shown).  
         [0054]     For the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 , securing device  120   b  includes tongues  170   c  and  170   d  formed in second layer or top layer  150 . Tongues  170   c  and  170   d  may be disposed generally in series and aligned with each other along the length of top layer  150 . Securing device  120   b  allows attaching multiple appliances such as two respective tubular structures  24  beneath respective tongues  170   c  and  170   d  (not expressly shown).  
         [0055]     Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alternations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.