Patent Description:
A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC or PIC line), less commonly called a percutaneous indwelling central catheter, is a form of intravenous access that can be used for a prolonged period of time (e.g., for long chemotherapy regimens, extended antibiotic therapy, or total parenteral nutrition) or for administration of substances that should not be done peripherally (e.g., antihypotensive agents a. It is a catheter that enters the body through the skin (percutaneously) at a peripheral site, extends to the superior vena cava (a central venous trunk), and stays in place (dwells within the veins) for days or weeks.

PICCs can remain in situ for extended periods of time (i.e., chronically), from seven days to up to <NUM> months. They are used in both the hospital and community settings. PICCs can be used for intravenous delivery of total parenteral nutrition (TPN), chemotherapy, antibiotics or other medications, and can also be used for blood sampling if the lumen is <NUM> French or larger in size.

<CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> all concern protection of a catheter.

Embodiments according to the invention can provide peripherally inserted central-line catheter (PICC) line support apparatuses including picc line cover skirts and related devices. Pursuant to these embodiments, a PICC line support apparatus can include a flexible conforming material forming a cylinder with a first opening and a second opening at opposite ends of the cylinder. A PICC line opening in the cylinder can be located between the opposite ends of the cylinder and a skirt can include the flexible conforming material, where the skirt can include a first end of the skirt that is coupled to the cylinder and including a second end of the skirt that is open and is separated from the first and second openings.

In some embodiments according to the invention, PICC line support apparatus can include a flexible conforming material forming a cylinder with a first opening and a second opening at opposite ends of the cylinder. A PICC line opening in the cylinder can be located between the opposite ends of the cylinder and a skirt can include a first end of the skirt that is coupled to the cylinder proximate to first opening and can include a second end of the skirt that is open and encircles the cylinder facing the second opening.

In some embodiments according to the invention, a PICC line support apparatus can include a flexible conforming material forming a cylinder with a first opening and a second opening at opposite ends of an axis of the cylinder. A PICC line opening can be in the cylinder located between the opposite ends of the cylinder and a skirt can be moveable along the axis on the cylinder to obscure or expose the PICC line opening without moving the first or second opening in the cylinder.

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The disclosure may, however, be exemplified in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the specific exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a PICC line support apparatus <NUM> in a relaxed (or unused) state including a sleeve in the shape of a cylinder <NUM> and a skirt that is moveable on the cylinder to obscure or expose a PICC line opening (whether in use via an infusion or not) in the cylinder in some embodiments according to the invention. According to <FIG>, the cylinder <NUM> includes a first opening <NUM> and a second opening <NUM> located at the opposite ends of the cylinder <NUM>. The cylinder <NUM> is defined by an axis <NUM> that extends along the longitudinal direction of the cylinder <NUM> and intersects both the first opening <NUM> and the second opening <NUM>. The interior of the cylinder <NUM> defines a sleeve through which a patient's arm (or other body part as illustrated, for example in <FIG>) can be inserted. The cylinder <NUM> has an overall length L1 that extends from the first opening <NUM> to the second opening <NUM> in the relaxed state.

As further shown in <FIG>, the cylinder <NUM> includes a skirt <NUM> that overlaps a portion of the cylinder <NUM> and is coupled to the cylinder <NUM> at a first end of the skirt <NUM> but remains open at a second end of the skirt <NUM> that opposite from the first end of the skirt <NUM>. It will be understood that the first end of the skirt <NUM> can be fastened to the cylinder <NUM> at the position to the left of the PICC line opening <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the second end of the skirt <NUM> is open and is not coupled to the cylinder <NUM>. It will be understood that the use of the term "second end of the skirt" refers to the portion of the skirt <NUM> that forms the opening and does not necessarily mean the material used to form the skirt ends at the opening. For example, in some embodiments as shown in <FIG>, the skirt can be formed by doubling back the material used to form the cylinder.

Moreover, the second end of the skirt <NUM> encircles the cylinder <NUM> and remains free so as to be moveable along the cylinder in the longitudinal direction <NUM>. As shown the second end of the skirt <NUM> extends along the cylinder <NUM> to the right side of the PICC line opening <NUM> so that skirt <NUM> bridges the PICC line opening <NUM> in the relaxed state.

Still referring to <FIG>, the cylinder <NUM> includes a PICC line opening <NUM> that is configured to allow insertion there through by a PICC line that may be chronically inserted into a patient for the administration of therapies under the supervision of a medical doctor. As further shown in <FIG>, the skirt <NUM> is configured to move relative to the first end of the skirt <NUM> to expose the PICC line opening <NUM> in a first position to obscure the pic line open <NUM> in a second position. In some embodiments according to the invention, the skirt <NUM> has a second length L2 that is less than the length L1 of the cylinder <NUM> in the relaxed state.

In some embodiments according to the invention, the cylinder <NUM> is made from a flexible conforming material such as a woven or knitted fabric that includes and an elastic material such that the cylinder <NUM> can be stretched over and conform to an appendage comfortably. In some embodiments according to the invention, the flexible conforming material can be Lycra or other nylon based material. In some embodiments according to the invention, the flexible conforming material can be neoprene.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a PICC line support apparatus in a compressed (or used) state where the cylinder acts as a sleeve on the arm of a patient where the skirt exposes the PICC line opening <NUM> having a PICC line extending therethrough in some embodiments according to the invention. According to <FIG>, when the cylinder <NUM> (sleeve) is in the used state (such as on the arm of a patient) the skirt <NUM> can be folded back toward the first opening <NUM> to expose the PICC line opening <NUM> so that an infusion can be provided to the patient via a catheter <NUM>. It will be understood that although <FIG> shows the PICC line opening <NUM> as exposed during the infusion, the skirt <NUM> maybe moved to cover the PICC line opening <NUM> during the infusion. In some embodiments, the skirt <NUM> and the skirt opening <NUM> are configured to conceal and stabilize a container of medication (such as those used for chemotherapy) during the infusion. In some embodiments, the skirt <NUM> and the skirt opening <NUM> are configured to conceal and stabilize a heat or ice pack.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a PICC line support apparatus <NUM> in a compressed (or used) where the cylinder acts as a sleeve on the arm of a patient and the skirt <NUM> exposes the PICC line opening <NUM> in some embodiments according to the invention. Accordingly, it will be understood that <FIG> can illustrate implementation on the patient after an infusion such as that shown in <FIG>, where the skirt <NUM> is being moved to partially obscure the PICC line opening <NUM> in some embodiments according to the invention. In particular, after the infusion the skirt <NUM> can be folded away from the first opening <NUM> toward the second opening <NUM> to (partially) obscure the PICC line opening <NUM>. As described above in reference to <FIG>, in some embodiments, the skirt <NUM> can be folded to (partially) obscure the PICC line opening <NUM> during the infusion.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a PICC line support apparatus <NUM> in a compressed (or used) where the cylinder acts as a sleeve on the arm of a patient and the skirt <NUM> partially exposes the PICC line opening <NUM> in some embodiments according to the invention. Accordingly, it will be understood that <FIG> can illustrate implementation on the patient after an infusion such as that shown in <FIG>, where the skirt <NUM> is being moved to further partially obscure the PICC line opening <NUM> in some embodiments according to the invention. In particular, relative to the position shown in <FIG>, the skirt <NUM> can be further folded away from the first opening <NUM> toward the second opening <NUM> to more fully obscure the PICC line opening <NUM>. As described above in reference to <FIG>, in some embodiments, the skirt <NUM> can be folded to (partially) obscure the PICC line opening <NUM> during the infusion.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a PICC line support apparatus <NUM> in a compressed (or used) where the cylinder acts as a sleeve on the arm of a patient and the skirt <NUM> fully obscures the PICC line opening <NUM> in some embodiments according to the invention. Accordingly, it will be understood that <FIG> can illustrate implementation on the patient after an infusion such as that shown in <FIG>, where the skirt <NUM> has been moved to fully obscure the PICC line opening <NUM> in some embodiments according to the invention. In particular, relative to the position shown in <FIG>, the skirt <NUM> is further folded away from the first opening <NUM> toward the second opening <NUM> to fully obscure the PICC line opening <NUM>. As described above in reference to <FIG>, in some embodiments, the skirt <NUM> can be folded to fully obscure the PICC line opening <NUM> during the infusion.

<FIG> are cross-sectional views illustrating partial formation of a PICC line support apparatus in a relaxed (or unused) state including a sleeve in the shape of a cylinder and a skirt that is moveable on the cylinder to obscure or expose a PICC line opening in the cylinder by folding a portion of the cylinder in <FIG> back on itself to form a double thickness portion of the cylinder that encircles the adjacent portion of the cylinder and that can be coupled to the cylinder at one end whereas the opposite end of the skirt is left open in some embodiments according to the invention. In some embodiments, the sections of the cylinder can be formed to apply different amounts of compression when worn. For example, the outermost portions (outside the portion concealed by the skirt when worn) can provide a first compression whereas the section between the outermost portions (i.e., the portion concealed by the skirt when worn) applies a second compression which can be less than the first compression to compensate for the doubling of the material that forms the cylinder under the skirt when used to conceal the PICC line opening.

It will be further understood that the apparatus shown herein may also be used on other parts of the body. For example, embodiments may be provided for use on the neck of a patient, the torso, the leg, or other body part, as illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a patient neck and torso having a tracheostomy tube support apparatus <NUM> and a gastrostomy tube support apparatus <NUM> fitted, respectively, in some embodiments according to the invention. It will be understood that the tracheostomy tube support apparatus <NUM> and the gastrostomy tube support apparatus <NUM> can be analogous in structure and function to the other embodiments disclosed herein (such as those shown in <FIG>). As shown in <FIG>, skirts <NUM> and <NUM> are moveable to cover/expose a tracheostomy tube opening <NUM> and a gastrostomy tube opening <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of the tracheostomy tube support apparatus <NUM> of <FIG> in a compressed (or used) state including a sleeve <NUM> in the shape of a cylinder and the skirt <NUM> exposing the tracheostomy tube opening <NUM> in the cylinder where the skirt <NUM> is being moved to cover the tracheostomy tube opening <NUM> in some embodiments according to the invention.

Claim 1:
A peripherally inserted central-line catheter, PICC, line support apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a flexible conforming material forming a cylinder (<NUM>) with a first opening (<NUM>) and a second opening (<NUM>) at opposite ends of the cylinder;
a PICC line opening (<NUM>) in the cylinder located between the opposite ends of the cylinder; and
a skirt (<NUM>) comprising the flexible conforming material, the skirt including a first end of the skirt (<NUM>) that is coupled to the cylinder and including a second end of the skirt (<NUM>) that is open and is separated from the first and second openings.