Protective bubble

Abstract

A bubble for use with various medical equipment or other sites on the body such as IV ports, feeding tube locations, PODs, CGMs (Continuous Glucose Monitors) or other equipment connected to the body, whereby the bubble assists in protecting the site, and hopefully prevents medical equipment from being dislodged, if installed, to provide for strenuous activity or even application of water, such as bathing, showering, etc.

Claims

1. A method of using a protective device comprising the steps of: covering a site with a bubble, said bubble comprising a cover, said cover extending over an upper most surface of the site external to the user and above a perimeter of the site when connected, an access device whereby upon activating the access device, the cover is opened while the base remains connected to the skin permitting access internal to the cover, the access device having a pull connected to a line, said line pulling through the cover to expose the site, and a foot having a predetermined inner perimeter connected to the cover and an initially planar base, said base adhering to the skin and forming at least a water-resistant connection against the skin of the user under the cover, said cover extending a distance beyond the inner perimeter of the foot when compressed; and securing the bubble to a body part with an adhesive at the base about the site, said site having a medical device connected to the user with the bubble providing a water resistant covering over the medical device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the site having the medical device has the medical device selected from the group of feeding tube connections, IV ports, insulin pumps, PODs, continuous glucose monitors, chemotherapy pumps, and glucose pumps.

3. The method of claim 2 where the seal is a waterproof seal.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising a gap between the upper most surface of the medical device and the cover when covering the connected medical device with the bubble, with an air cavity located in the gap about the medical device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the cover is one of translucent and transparent and is non-planar with the base.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the cover is one of flexible and rigid.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the cover is spaced by a gap from the upper most surface of the medical device when covering the medical device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the foot of the cover against the skin forms a watertight seal.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the cover is opened to fully expose the site in a fully opened configuration.

10. A method of using a protective device comprising the steps of: covering a site with a bubble, said bubble comprising a cover, said cover extending over an upper most surface of the site external to the user and above a perimeter of the site when connected, and a foot having a. predetermined inner perimeter connected to the cover and an initially planar base, said base forming at least a water-resistant connection against the skin of the user under the cover, said cover extending a distance beyond the inner perimeter of the foot when compressed; and a port along the bubble and further comprising the step of directing a fluid through the port into the medical device, the medical device having a connection which cooperates with a first connection portion of the port at least temporarily connecting the connection to the first connection portion, and a needle extending through the port into the medical device from external to the bubble, and securing the bubble to a body part with an adhesive at the base about the site, said site having a medical device connected to the user with the bubble providing a water resistant covering over the medical device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The particular features and advantages of the invention as well as other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention with a medical device shown in phantom inside connected to a user;

(3) FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a side pan view of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 in an opened configuration;

(5) FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 installed on a from the user;

(6) FIG. 5 is a side plan view of a first alternative embodiment similar to FIGS. 1-4;

(7) FIG. 6 is a side plan view similar to FIG. 5 in an opened configuration;

(8) FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 1 with an optional port; and

(9) FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view showing the structure of FIG. 7 in an installed configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(10) The figures show a protective bubble illustrated as a goggle or bubble 10 having a construction calculated to at least assist in protecting a medical device 12 or other item, such as a wound, etc. at a site 13. Medical devices 12 usually have a penetration through the skin 14 of a user, such as illustrated. Medical devices 12 could be a feeding tube connection, an IV port, insulin pumps, PODs, Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs), chemotherapy pumps, glucose pumps and/or other delivery and/or sensor systems, some of which have penetrations such as a needle 16 extending into the skin 14. For this application, “connected medical devices’ are defined as medical devices 12 having a continuous penetration through the skin 14 and are connected to a supply or monitoring apparatus like a pump, glucose monitor, etc. . . . . “Disconnected medical devices” could refer to feeding tubes, IV ports, and the like, which are disconnected from a source, and need to be re-attached to be functional.

(11) Goggle 10 preferably provides a cover 20 which may take a variety of forms but some embodiments preferably extend above an outer or upper most surface 22 of the medical device 12 and/or site and extend to an inner perimeter 32, possibly of a foot 26, which may, or may not directly contact the skin 14 at a base 25, depending upon the embodiment. Base 25 may be at least initially planar for many embodiments. Inner perimeter 32 is preferably pre-determined in shape for many embodiments. Cover 20 may be transparent or translucent to be able to see the medical device 12, when installed (which could be helpful to be able to read a number or other indicia, such as a reading on the CGM or other medical device 12), or not. Cover 20 may also be at least partially flexible or rigid, depending upon the embodiment. Cover 20 may also be transparent or translucent in some embodiments to view the medical device 12 (such as to verify there are no current issues).

(12) Foot 26 may directly contact skin 14 for some embodiments, it may not for other embodiments. Foot 26 and/or base 25 may have adhesive layer 27 initially protected with release strip 28. Release strip 28 may be removed to expose the adhesive layer 27 which may be applied about the site 13 and/or medical device 12.

(13) Foot 26, as illustrated, may be able to contact skin 14 and assist in forming a water resistant, if not water proof, seal with the skin 14 about at least the penetration at the inner perimeter 32 which is preferably a predetermined configuration and might be substantially circular, as illustrated, or other shape, illustrated as needle 16, if not about an inner perimeter 32 of the foot 26 about the medical device 12 to provide an air cavity 35 about, and preferably at least partially above, the device 12 and or site 13 and internal areas of the cover 20 relative to the skin 14. The cover 20 may have a predetermined configuration to facilitate maintaining the air cavity 35 about the medical device 12 when installed as well. The cover 20 is preferably non-planar with the base 25 and, in fact, even if pressed against the base 25, material would remain so that a flat planar sheet could not be provided for many embodiments.

(14) Since many medical devices, such as PODs are stuck onto the skin, having the cover contact the skin 14 at a first pre-determined perimeter 30 of the medical device 12 can keep the medical device 12 secured to the skin 14 as it is designed to do. Inner surface 34 of cover 20 may contact the upper most surface 22 of the device, or not, such as by being spaced by gap 35 above upper most surface 22 while the cover 20 may still surround the medical device 12 with the skin 14.

(15) Adhesive layer 27 may be selected from appropriate adhesives, whether water soluble, or not. Some adhesive layers 27 may not be soluble in water, but could be soluble with other solvents, such as alcohol, etc.

(16) The covers 20 may, or may not, be manufactured to cooperate with specific medical devices 12 such as by having an inner surface 50 calculated to either contact or not contact the medical 12 at certain locations and/or be appropriately spaced therefrom. Of course, covers 20 could be at least somewhat generic to the medical device(s) they retain.

(17) The span 46 of the cover 20 is illustrated extending beyond the perimeter 30 of the medical device 12 (and possibly beyond perimeter 32 of foot 26), particularly if the cover 20 is compressed against the base 25 to be parallel with the base 25. Cover 20 can be provided with a predetermined shape with the air cavity 35 about the medical device 12 maintained in that predetermined shape for many embodiments. For many embodiments, this construction differs from a planar sheet with a seal about an exterior perimeter put about a medical device because such a construction would tend to require precision not to dislodge the medical device when connected while maintaining a water resistant/water proof seal. Of course, planar embodiments of covers 20 or bubbles 10 (or not) could be employed with an access device 48 and/or a port 140 which are not believed to exist at this time.

(18) One can quickly recognize the benefits of the goggle or bubble 10 over prior art constructions in being able to protect medical devices 12 without necessarily applying pressure to the medical device 12 preferably without any bands which might otherwise be looped about body parts, such as a torso, a leg, an arm, etc. . . . . Not only can wet activities, like swimming, waterskiing, jet skiing, surfing, or other water related activities be enjoyed while limiting contact of external water with the medical device 12, but also physical activities like sports (basketball, tennis, and/or others) could be enjoyed with the medical device 12 more likely to be retained in position with the bubble 10 so that the user need not worry if it might be dislodged during those activities. Additionally, non-connected medical devices 12 may be protected so that one can get wet, such as in a shower or bath. By providing the bubble 10 in a single-use configuration, it may be provided in a per-unit packaging so as to be disposable after use.

(19) Many embodiments of the bubble 10 will have an access device 48 such as a pull strip 50 connected to an internal line 52 which could be a string, wire, sheet or other material whereby when the pull strip 50 is pulled, the line 52 tears or otherwise opens the cover 20 at a desired location and/or amount so that one may relatively quickly access the cavity 35 and/or the medical device 12. Many embodiments of the goggle 10 will be at least water resistant, if not water proof.

(20) Some embodiments may have a laterally directed line 52 which may be parallel to base 25 as is shown in FIGS. 1-3. Other embodiments may have a vertically directed line 52 as is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 which is perpendicular to the base 25. The embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 (FIG. 4 is generic to both) can be viewed as a ripping off of the cover 20 relative to the base 25 in an emergency or for removal of the goggle 10. The embodiment of FIGS. 5-6 has a line configured so that the cover 20 is somewhat split (like a clamshell as illustrated to provide access into the cavity 35. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the cover 20 may or may not be fully removed when activating the release mechanism or access device 48.

(21) FIGS. 7 and 8 show an alternatively preferred embodiment of a bubble 110 having an inner surface 134 defining a cavity 135 above the skin 114 of a user when installed, such as shown in FIG. 8. A port 140 can be provided which permits connection to a medical device at a first end 142 connected to the skin 114, such as with a needle 116. Port 140, for many embodiments, may have a first connection portion 148 which cooperates possibly with a connector 146 of a medical device 112, such, but not limited to an IV or other port or pic, which may, at least periodically, be connected to a fluid supply to provide fluids, medicine and/or other liquids to a patient through the medical device 112.

(22) The connector 146 and first connection portion 148 can connect to secure the medical device 112 to the bubble 110 in the cavity 135. Outside the bubble 110, at least a guide, if not a second connection portion 150 can receive a needle 151 or other fluid supply 152 to direct fluid into the medical device 112 through the bubble 110. Some embodiments with ports 140 may be very simple, such as guides extending from interior and exterior surfaces of the bubble 110, while other may have integral valves, connectors and/or other structure. It may be that the bubble 110 has a resilient material at interface 154 which can reseal after use for at least some embodiments. Still other embodiments may have other features.

(23) While many embodiments contemplate connecting a medical device 112 to a fluid supply 152 as a source through the goggle 110, some embodiments may communicate information through the port such as through a wire or other structure, if not wirelessly provided.

(24) Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to the preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.