SURGICAL DRAIN MANAGEMENT APPARATUS

Abstract

A post-surgical drain management pouch is disclosed. The pouch has resilient tubing clamps to hold the tubing in a friction fit arrangement. The guides organize drain tubing and prevent their binding while also providing sufficient slack to prevent the tubing from dislodging or otherwise accidentally discharging the drainage from a surgical site. The clips also prevent the accidental disconnection of the drain tubing from the drain if the tubing is pulled tight.

Claims

1. A post-surgical drain management pouch comprising: a plurality of walls defining an interior space having a closed base and sides, and a resealable opening at the top of said walls; at least one resilient tubing clip disposed within said interior space of the walls; and at least one of a belt or strap to secure said pouch to said user.

2. The pouch of claim 1, wherein said tubing clips are constructed of a resilient material.

3. The pouch of claim 1, wherein said tubing clips are removably attached.

4. A post-surgical management pouch comprising: a plurality of walls defining an interior space having a closed base and sides, and an opening at the top of said walls; at least one tubing clips disposed within the interior space of the walls; at least one slit formed in said walls through which drain tubing may pass; and at least one of a strap or belt to secure said pouch to a user.

5. The pouch of claim 4, wherein said tubing clip retains said drain tubing in a friction fit arrangement.

6. The pouch of claim 5 further comprising a cover disposed over the top of said walls.

7. The pouch of claim 6 further comprising a fastening means for reversibly closing said pouch along the tops of said walls.

8. The pouch of claim 4, wherein said walls are constructed of a mesh fabric.

9. The pouch of claim 4, wherein said walls comprise antibacterial material.

10. The pouch of claim 4, wherein each said tubing clip comprises an arcuate recess bound by a pair of opposing detents.

11. The pouch of claim 7, wherein each one of the opposing detents comprises returnably resilient material having an inward bias.

12. The pouch of claim 4, further comprising a first slit and a second slit, said first slit and said second slit mutually disposed in opposing corners of said interior space.

13. The pouch of claim 4, wherein said securing means comprises an adjustable strap.

14. The pouch of claim 4, wherein said securing means comprises an adjustable belt.

15. A post-surgical pouch comprising: a. a pouch having a plurality of walls having top, bottom, and side members, said pouch having a closed base and sides, an opening at the top of said walls, and further possessing an interior surface and an exterior surface; b. fastening means to reversibly close said opening; c. a plurality of inlets comprising slits in said walls of the pouch; d. at least one tubing clip to retain drain tubing, said clip affixed to said interior surface of said walls; and e. means for retaining said pouch, said pouch retention means disposed on the body of the wearer.

16. The pouch of claim 15, wherein tubing retention means comprises an arcuate recess bound by a pair of opposing detents.

17. The pouch of claim 16, wherein each one of said opposing detents comprises returnably resilient material having an inward bias.

18. The pouch of claim 15, where said clips are removably affixed to the pouch.

19. The pouch of claim 15, wherein said pouch retention means comprises an adjustable strap.

20. The pouch of claim 15, wherein pouch retention means comprises an adjustable belt.

Description

V. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0020] The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a front cutaway elevation view of a pouch.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a partial front view of FIG. 1 with the interior surface and interior space exposed.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the pouch.

VI. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

[0024] It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following detailed description of the embodiments of pet article, as represented in the attached figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the invention.

[0025] The features, structures, or characteristics of the invention described throughout this specification may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. For example, the usage of the phrases “example embodiments”, “some embodiments”, or other similar language, throughout this specification refers to the fact that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “example embodiments”, “in some embodiments”, “in other embodiments”, or other similar language, throughout this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same group of embodiments, and the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0026] In accordance with the figures appended hereto, a device 10 is depicted in FIGS. 1-3 comprising a pouch 12 that provides means for management and storage of surgical drains 16, i.e. bulbs, and tubing 18. The pouch 12 is preferably comprised of a plurality of walls 14 having a base, a top, an interior surface, and an exterior surface. The walls 14 surround an interior compartment or space 15 large enough to house a plurality of drains 16.

[0027] The tubing 18 leads down to a pouch 12 worn typically about the patient's waist. The pouch 12 is worn at a point on the body as to permit some slack in the tubing 18 to facilitate movement without pulling the tubing 18 taught between the drain 16 and incision. In one embodiment, the bases of the walls 14 are affixed to a floor having a top surface and a bottom surface. In another embodiment, the base of the walls 14 are affixed to each other to form the bottom of the pouch 12.

[0028] The pouch 12 is reversibly sealed along the top of the walls 14 by a zipper, loop and hook fabric, snap, or similar fastening means 20. In an embodiment, a cover, lid or flap 22 seals the pouch 12 along the tops of the walls 14.

[0029] It is also envisioned that a slit 24 may be provided in at least one wall 14 that permits the entry of the tubing 18 into the pouch 12. In an embodiment, a plurality of slits 24 are provided and positioned at the top rear corners of the pouch 12. In an embodiment, the pouch 12 is constructed from a washable mesh so as to allow the device 10 to be worn in the shower. In an alternative embodiment, the interior of the pouch 12 is capable of retaining liquids and thus inhibit leaks from the pouch 12. The pouch 12 is also pliable so as to allow the bulbs 16 to be compressed within the pouch 12 by applying pressure to an exterior surface of a wall 14 of the pouch 12. The pouch 12 may be worn with a strap 28 over the shoulder or around the waist. In a preferred embodiment, the straps 28 are adjustable to different lengths. In the event of surgical drains 16 being utilized on both sides of the body, the pouch 12 would be worn in the center of the midsection. In a yet further embodiment, the material from which the pouch 12 is made has antibacterial properties so as to be antiseptic.

[0030] At least one, and preferably a plurality of tubing clips 26 are removably affixed to the interior surfaces of the walls 14 of the pouch 12 to secure the tubing 18 to the walls 14. The tubing clips 26 are preferably arcuate clips adapted and configured to retain the tubing 18 in a friction fit arrangement. The arms or prongs of the clips may be forced open to accept the tubing 18 into an arcuate orifice but are inwardly biased or tensioned and/or comprised of a returnably resilient material so as to close back around the tubing 18 once the tubing 18 is inserted or removed. Notably, the clips 26 do not restrict the free flow of liquids to the bulb 16 but merely surround the exterior of the tubing 18 to secure it within the pouch 12. Clip fasteners 27, e.g. magnets or hook and loop fabric, may be employed to removably affix the clips to the interior surface of the wall 14 within the pouch 12. The clips 26, being made of a resilient material, are preferably removed if the pouch 12 is to be washed so as to prevent a deterioration of their resiliency. Alternatively, the clips 26 are permanently affixed to the walls 14. Nothing within this disclosure is intended to limit the device 10 or clips 26 to the disclosures herein.

[0031] The tubing 18 section is secured near the bulb 16 and bulb discharge port and serves to secure the bulb 16 within the pouch 12 and against the interior surface of a wall 14. Securing the tubing 18 and storing the bulbs 16 in a manner that permits some slack in the tubing 18 while supporting the bulb 16 while permitting a greater freedom of movement of the patient, thus increasing ambulation. Securing the tubing 18 in a friction fit arrangement inhibits the detachment of the tubing 18 from the bulb when the tubing 18 is pulled tight, thus preventing the spilling of body fluids contained within the drain that could present a biohazard.

[0032] It is envisioned that the various embodiments, as separately disclosed, are interchangeable in various aspects, so that elements of one embodiment may be incorporated into one or more of the other embodiments, and that specific positioning of individual elements may necessitate other arrangements not specifically disclosed to accommodate performance requirements or spatial considerations.

[0033] It is to be understood that the embodiments and claims are not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of the components set forth in the description and illustrated in the drawings. Rather, the description and the drawings provide examples of the embodiments envisioned, but the claims are limited to the specific embodiments. The embodiments and claims disclosed herein are further capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting the claims.

[0034] Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which the application and claims are based may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the embodiments and claims presented in this application. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions.

[0035] Furthermore, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially including the practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent and legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the claims of the application, nor is it intended to be limiting to the scope of the claims in any way. It is intended that the application is defined by the claims appended hereto.