SAFETY APPARATUS

Abstract

A safety apparatus is provided for use in a procedure comprising at least first and second devices, wherein the first device and second device are for use in a medical procedure. The apparatus includes a disabling mechanism that is adapted to releasably retain and thereby prevent use of the said second device until release by a release procedure using the first device. A method is provided of carrying out a procedure comprising the steps of using the first device, applying the first device to a disabling mechanism to release the second device, and using the second device.

Claims

1. A safety apparatus for use in a procedure comprising at least first and second devices, wherein the first device and second device are for use in a medical procedure, the apparatus comprising a disabling mechanism that is adapted to releasably retain and thereby prevent use of the second device until release by a release procedure using the first device, wherein the disabling mechanism comprises a channel dimensioned to accommodate the first device, wherein the first device is a guide wire.

2. A safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second devices comprise devices for use in an invasive surgical procedure.

3. A safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the disabling mechanism is adapted to render the second device inoperable until release by the first device.

4. A safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the disabling mechanism may be adapted to substantially enclose the second device to prevent its use.

5. A safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the disabling mechanism is adapted to retain the first device as part of the release procedure for the second device.

6. A safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the disabling mechanism is adapted such, that release of the second device is only achieved upon and/or as a result of substantial enclosure of the first said, device by the disabling mechanism.

7. A safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the disabling mechanism comprises a receptacle having an openable and closable lid, a first interior volume adapted to contain the second device, and a lock mechanism for the lid that is operable by use of the first device.

8. A safety apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the disabling mechanism comprises a second interior volume adapted to retain and substantially enclose the first device when the lock mechanism has been actuated.

9. A safety apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the shape of the second interior volume substantially corresponds to the shape of the first device.

10. A safety apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the second interior volume forms a channel within the lid.

11. A safety apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the channel has a first aperture for the first device to enter the second interior volume and a second aperture for the first device to exit the second interior volume.

12. A safety apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the second interior volume is loop or arch shaped.

13. A safety apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the receptacle comprises a lower base surface, at least four side walls, and the lid to define the first interior volume, wherein the openable and closable lid has an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the closed configuration the lid forms a substantially planar surface to the top of the at least four side walls of the receptacle such as to prevent opening of the lid without the first device.

14. A safety apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the lock mechanism comprises magnets.

15. A safety apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the magnets are located on the lid.

16. A safety apparatus according to claim 13, wherein magnets are located on the lid and the lower base surface of the receptacle.

17. A safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the disabling mechanism includes indicating means to a user that it has been used.

18. A safety apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the indicating means comprises a transparent part.

19. A safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second device is means for suturing and/or dressing a wound.

20. A kit for carrying out a procedure, comprising the safety apparatus of claim 1 and the second device.

21. A kit according to claim 20 further comprising the first device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The invention will further be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which,

[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus according to the invention;

[0032] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0033] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a base of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0034] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a lid of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0035] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a part of the lid of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0036] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a first position;

[0037] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a second position;

[0038] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of apparatus according to the invention; and

[0039] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of apparatus according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Referring to the drawings there is illustrated safety apparatus 1, for use in a procedure comprising at least first and second devices, the apparatus comprising a disabling mechanism 2 that is adapted to releasably prevent use of the said second device until release therefrom by the first device.

[0041] In this example the apparatus 1 is intended for use in a Seldinger Technique catheter insertion procedure. Thus in this example the first device is a guide wire and the second device can be any or all of the devices used thereafter in the procedure, namely dressings, stitch or other suture devices, or adhesive.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 1, the disabling mechanism 2 takes the form of a rectangular box formed from an injection moulded plastics material. The box 2 includes integrally moulded base 3, sides 4 and front and back sides 7 and 8 that define an opening. A lid 5 completely closes the opening. As can be seen from FIG. 1, when the lid 5 is closed it fits flush with the top edges 6 of the sides 4 within the opening and with only a small gap therebetween. The lid is attached to the box by hinge pins (not shown).

[0043] FIGS. 3 and 6 show the interior volume of the box 2. The back side 8 is lower, relative to the other three sides 4, 7 and its top edge 9 includes a flange 10 that extends inwardly towards the interior volume. Sides 4 are provided with through holes 11 above flange 10. Front side 7 has substantially the same vertical extent as sides 4 but also includes a flange 12, but in this case the flange 12 includes a first flat land 13 in the same plane as the top edges 6 of the sides 4, and a second flat land 14 in the same plane as flange 10. In some embodiments, the flat land 14 may be a recessed shelf.

[0044] FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show details of the lid 5. The lid 5 comprises a substantially rectangular moulded plastics plate, including an upper surface 15, a lower surface 16 and a hinge formation 17. Hinge formation 17 comprises an elongate body 18 integrally formed at and extending downwardly (in use) from the lower surface 16 of the lid adjacent its back edge. The hinge formation 17 includes a blind bore 19 extending inwardly as viewed from each end (FIG. 4).

[0045] At its front edge the lid 5 is provided with two parallel channels 20 spaced equally from and parallel to a longitudinally extending central axis. The channels 20 extend about one tenth of the longitudinal extent of the lid. Each channel 20 includes a floor 21 that slopes downwardly, as viewed, at angle of about 30 degrees from the level of the upper surface 15 of the lid towards apertures 22 that open out through the lower surface 16.

[0046] A guide wire retaining channel 23 is located on the lower surface 16 of the lid 5. In this embodiment the guide wire retaining channel 23 comprises an elongate moulded plastics tube which includes first and second linear sections 24, 25 connected by a curved section 26. The tube includes a through bore 27 that extends its entire length and is dimensioned to accommodate a guide wire. The tube is attached to the lower surface 16 of the lid so that each end of the through bore 27 is in register with an aperture 22 of the channels 20. The through bore 27 is configured to be a few centimetres shorter than the length of the guide wire with which it is intended to be used. As will be appreciated, different configurations of guide wire retaining channel 23 can be provided, for example, by forming an open channel in the lower surface of the lid and covering it with a simple flat cover (FIG. 8).

[0047] The guide wire retaining channel 23 must be large enough to accommodate all sizes and gauges of guide wires which may be used, allowing for ease of passage of the guide wire.

[0048] As can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 7, when the lid 5 is in the closed position its front and rear edges are supported upon flange 10 and land 14 so that the lid cannot fall into the box. The lid 5 can be made to be a simple interference fit with the sides, back and front 4, 7, 8 when it is in the closed position, or alternatively a latch mechanism can be provided. In a second embodiment, the lid may be secured in the closed position using magnets. In this embodiment (shown in FIG. 8), a magnet 30 is provided on both the front lower lid 5 and the recessed shelf or land 14 to hold the recessed lid in the closed position.

[0049] In use, the box 2 is provided to a user including dressings, stitch or other suture devices, or adhesive. The lid 5 is closed and cannot easily be opened because of frictional forces. After use of a guide wire, the user must insert the guide wire into the guide wire retaining channel 23 by feeding it into one of the channels 20 so that it passes around the curved section 26 and reappears from the other channel 20. The guide wire itself can then be used to apply upward pressure to the lid to open it and gain access to the contents.

[0050] From the above description it will appreciated that in this embodiment the invention provides a box or container or packaging that is locked closed and requires the wire to be placed in the proximity of, placed on or inserted into a hole in the box which unlocks the box and allows the clinician access to the contents. The description of catheter placement as described above, indicates that a clinician who has forgotten to remove the wire, would normally proceed to stitch or otherwise secure the wire to the patient's skin and place a sterile dressing over the insertion site. Using the current invention, the dressing and/or the stitch or other suture devices, or adhesives required to complete the procedure could only be accessed if the clinician uses the guide wire to open the container. This means the guide wire must have been removed.

[0051] One alternative embodiment of the invention has a hole in which the end of the wire is threaded which manually pushes and unlocks a locking mechanism.

[0052] A further embodiment of the invention has a slot that the side of the wire can be slotted into to manually push elements which will unlock the container.

[0053] A further embodiment of the invention has a pathway for a wire which encircles or partially encircles the container and an encircling or partially encircling wire can be pulled tight by both ends to enable friction to pull open the locking mechanism.

[0054] A further embodiment of the invention is a packaging for a stitch or other suture devices that is difficult to open unless a wire is placed through a hole thereby enabling the package to be easily ripped open.

[0055] A further embodiment of the invention has an opening mechanism that traps the guide wire so that it cannot be removed thereby preventing the clinician from using the guide wire prior to catheter placement to open the invention.

[0056] A further embodiment of the invention can be sterilised to enable it to be used within a sterile field.

[0057] In a further embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the guide wire retaining channel 23 is located in a separate component affixed to the lower surface 16 of the lid 5. In this embodiment, the guide wire retaining channel 23 comprises a separate plate 40 which slots into hooks 41. The guide wire retaining channel comprises a channel which includes first and second linear sections 24, 25 connected by a curved section 26. The tube includes a through bore 27 that extends its entire length and is dimensioned to accommodate a guide wire. The through bore 27 is in register with an aperture 22 of the channels 20 (not shown) on the upper surface of the lid 5 such that the guide wire may be inserted through the channels 20 (not shown) on the upper surface of the lid 5 and into the guide wire retaining channel 23 in the plate 40.

[0058] In order to test the efficacy of this approach an experiment was performed as follows:

[0059] Materials and Methods: A Safety Procedure Pack (SPP) was prepared consisting of a box 2 containing the stitch, stitch holder and anti microbial dressing required to complete the procedure. The SPP had a recessed lid which could only be opened by inserting a guidewire into a hole labelled “insert guidewire here”. With IRB approval and written consent, doctors experienced in independent CVC placement were randomised to routine practice (RP) or SPP groups. All were presented with a scenario whereby a colleague who was mid-CVC insertion had been called away to an emergency. Participants were asked to safely complete the procedure. The manikin model had the CVC inserted with the guide wire left intra-luminally in the distal lumen, visible through the transparent tubing to the hub and retrievable with forceps from the hub. No guidewire was present on the trolley or in the otherwise empty sharps bin. A cardio monitor showed ectopic beats. If specifically asked, the only information that the junior assistant knew was that the SPP was a new safety procedure pack recently introduced into the hospital containing the sutures and dressings which could be used as a sharps repository after placement.

[0060] Results and Discussion: The SPP completely prevented guidewire retention (80% RP v 0% SPP retention, n=20, p<0.001 by Fishers Exact test). In the control RP group 8 completed simulation of suturing, dressing and returning the patient to the ward with the guidewire left in place. In the SPP group participants underwent searches of combinations of trolley, floor, sharps bin and domestic bin before the realisation of the intra-luminal location of the wire. All wires were eventually removed without complications. A structured questionnaire for the SPP group examined feedback for their first use of the SPP. All participants indicated the SPP improved practice in terms of guidewire safety, convenience and sharps/wire disposal safety.

[0061] Conclusions: The SPP was 100% successful in preventing the never event of CVC guidewire retention alongside facilitating normal insertion.