MEDICAL ANCHOR DEVICE

Abstract

A medical anchor device (1) for securing a medical article to a subject comprising an upper medical article attachment portion (2) and a lower insertion portion (3) for securing the medical anchor device (1) to the subject wherein the insertion portion (3) comprises a spiral anchor (5) so that the medical anchor device (1) is securable to and detachable from the subject by rotating the medical anchor device (1) in a clockwise or an anti-clockwise manner as required by the direction of the spiral anchor (5).

Claims

1. A medical anchor device (1) for securing a medical article to a subject comprising: an upper medical article attachment portion (2) and a lower insertion portion for securing the medical anchor device subcutaneously to a subject wherein the insertion portion comprises a spiral anchor (5) disposed substantially in a single plane.

2. A medical anchor device (1) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spiral anchor defines an Archimedean spiral shape.

3. A medical anchor device (1) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the spiral anchor (5) extends laterally outwards from the medical article attachment portion (2).

4. A medical anchor device (1) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the spiral anchor (5) is flexible.

5. A medical anchor device (1) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the spiral anchor comprises a free insertion end (18) for insertion in a subject.

6. A medical anchor device (1) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 further comprising a skin receiving interstice (24) between the medical article attachment portion (2) and the spiral anchor (5).

7. A medical anchor device (1) as claimed in claim 6 wherein the interstice (24) comprises a slot-like interstice (24).

8. A medical anchor device (1) as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the interstice (24) is defined by a spacer arm (25) between the medical article attachment portion (2) and the spiral anchor (5).

9. A medical anchor device (1) as claimed in claim 8 wherein the spacer arm (25) is configured to define a curved skin abutting face (26).

10. A medical anchor device (1) as claimed in claim 9 wherein the curved skin abutting face (26) comprises a concave skin abutting face (26).

11. A medical anchor device (1) as claimed in any of claims 8 to 10 wherein the spacer arm comprises a non-flexible spacer arm (26).

12. A medical anchor device (1) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the spiral anchor (5) is attached to the medical article attachment portion (2) at a medical article attachment portion end (17) contiguous with the medical article attachment portion.

13. A medical anchor device (1) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12 wherein the medical article attachment portion comprises a platform.

14. A medical anchor device (1) as claimed in claim 13 wherein the platform comprises a substantially cylindrical platform (4).

15. A medical anchor device (1) as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14 wherein the platform comprises a lumen (9).

16. A medical anchor device (1) as claimed in claim 15 wherein the lumen comprises a top opening (10) and a bottom opening (11).

17. A medical anchor device (1) as claimed in any of claims 13 to 15 wherein the platform comprises a medical article mounting (12,15).

18. A medical anchor device (1) as claimed in claim 17 wherein the medical article mounting (12) comprises a top medical article mounting (13) at the top opening (10).

19. A medical anchor device (1) as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18 wherein the medical article mounting (12,15) comprises a bottom medical article mounting (15) at the bottom opening (10).

20. A medical anchor device (1) as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19 wherein the top medical article mounting (12) and/or the bottom medical article mounting (15) comprises a screw thread (14).

21. A medical anchor device (1) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 20 wherein the medical anchor device (1) is a unitary medical anchor device (1).

22. A medical anchor device (1) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 21 wherein the medical anchor device 1 is a multi-part medical anchor device (1).

23. A medical anchor device (1) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 22 wherein the medical anchor device (1) is a catheter anchor device.

24. A medical anchoring system for securing a medical article to a subject comprising a medical anchor device (1) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 23 and a medical article engageable with the medical anchor device (1).

25. A medical anchoring system for securing a medical article to a subject as claimed in claim 24 wherein the medical article comprises an elongate element engageable with the medical anchor device.

26. A medical anchoring system for securing a medical article to a subject as claimed in claim 25 wherein the elongate element is a catheter or a drainage tube.

27. A medical anchoring system for securing a medical article to a subject as claimed in claim 24 wherein the medical article comprises a pump.

28. A medical anchoring system for securing a medical article to a subject as claimed in claim 24 wherein the medical article comprises a sensor

29. A medical anchoring system for securing a medical article to a subject as claimed in any of claims 24 to 28 wherein the medical anchor device (1) and the medical article comprise formations configured for inter-engagement to lock the medical article to the medical anchor device (1).

30. A medical anchoring system for securing a medical article to a subject as claimed in claim 29 wherein the formations comprise threads.

31. A medical anchoring system for securing a medical article to a subject as

29. in claim 29 or claim 30 wherein the formations comprise friction-fit formations.

32. A medical anchoring system for securing a medical article to a subject as claimed in any of claims 29 to 31 wherein the formations comprise re-entrant slot formations.

33. A method for attaching a medical article to a subject by securing it subcutaneously with a medical anchor device (1) comprising: creating an incision in the subject at an insertion site; inserting a medical anchor device having an upper medical article attachment portion (2) and a lower insertion portion (3), in which the insertion portion (3) comprises a spiral anchor (5) disposed substantially in a single plane, in the incision by inserting an insertion end of the spiral anchor in the incision, and rotating the medical anchor device subcutaneously in the incision to secure the medical anchor device to the subject.

34. A method as claimed in claim 33 wherein a single incision is created at the insertion site.

35. A method as claimed in claim 34 wherein the single incision is a subcutaneous single incision.

36. A method as claimed in any of claims 33 to 35 wherein the medical anchor device (1) is rotated through at least one half of a turn (180°), three-quarters of a turn) (270°), or at least one full turn (360°).

37. A method as claimed in any of claims 33 to 36 wherein the medical anchor device (1) is rotated in a clockwise or anti-clockwise manner depending on the direction of the spiral anchor.

38. A method as claimed in any of claims 33 to 37 wherein the medical anchor device (1) is fully inserted after one full rotation.

39. A method as claimed in any of claims 33 to 38 wherein the method further comprises the step of attaching a medical article to the medical attachment portion (2).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0059] FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above and one side of a first embodiment of a medical anchor device in accordance with the invention having a medical article attachment portion and a spiral or helical anchor for securely inserting the medical anchor device in a subject and securing a medical article to the medical anchor device and subject;

[0060] FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above and one side of the underside of the medical anchor device;

[0061] FIG. 3 is an image from above and one side of a first medical anchor device placed on a subject prior to insertion at an insertion site in the subject and of a second medical anchor device with the spiral anchor of the medical anchor device inserted in the subject at an insertion site defined by a single incision mark visible through the lumen of the medical anchor device;

[0062] FIG. 4 is a side image of the post-insertion medical anchor device of FIG. 3 with the outer skin layers partially cutaway to reveal the spiral anchor secured in the subcutaneous layer (hypodermis) of the subject;

[0063] FIG. 5 is an enlarged image from above of the post-insertion medical anchor device of FIGS. 3 and 4 with the incision mark visible through the lumen;

[0064] FIG. 6 is a perspective view from above and one side of a second embodiment of a medical anchor device in accordance with the invention in which the device is provided with space in the form of a slot-like interstice defined by a spacer arm between the medical article attachment portion and the spiral anchor for receiving and a subject's skin;

[0065] FIG. 7 is a perspective view from below and one side of the medical anchor device of FIG. 6;

[0066] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the medical anchor device;

[0067] FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the medical anchor device;

[0068] FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the medical anchor device;

[0069] FIG. 11 is a partially rotated side elevation of the medical anchor device, and

[0070] FIG. 12 is a fully rotated side elevation of the medical anchor device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0071] As shown in the drawings, a medical anchor device for securing a medical article to a subject is indicated by the reference numeral 1 and generally comprises an upper medical article attachment portion 2 for receiving medical articles such as catheters, tubes and the like and a lower insertion portion 3 for subcutaneous insertion in a subject to secure the medical anchor device 1 to the subject. More particularly, the medical article attachment portion 2 is made up of a cylindrical platform 4 while the insertion portion 3 is made up of a substantially flat spiral anchor 5 having a substantially flat pitch to prevent boring into a subject—i.e. the spiral anchor 5 is substantially in a single plane so that the spiral anchor 5 is non-boring. The spiral anchor 5 is therefore adapted to enter the skin to an incision depth which is typically approximately equivalent to median skin depth i.e. the spiral anchor is positioned under the dermis. The spiral anchor 5 therefore anchors the medical anchor device 1 of the invention subcutaneously (i.e. under the dermis) by distributing an anchoring force in a lateral horizontal plane defined by the spiral anchor 5 rather than a vertical anchoring force boring into the skin. Accordingly, the spiral anchor 5, and in particular the elongate body 16 creates and defines a planar or Archimedean spiral shaped channel in the fatty tissue (hypodermis) below the dermis and the epidermis to anchor the medical anchor device 1 of the invention below the skin. If desired, the channel for receiving the elongate body 16 can also be created via the incision with a scalpel.

[0072] In the present embodiment, the spiral anchor 5 also extends laterally outwards from the cylindrical platform 4 to further increase the horizontal anchoring force. The spiral anchor 5 is rotatably insertable in a subject in a clockwise or an anti-clockwise manner as required by the direction of the spiral anchor 5 to secure the medical anchor device 1 to the subject without excessive boring into the subject and is detachable from the subject by reversibly rotating the medical anchor device 1.

[0073] The cylindrical platform 4 is made up of a circular sidewall 6 having a bottom edge 7 disposed towards the spiral anchor 5, a top edge 8 and a central lumen 9 extending between the bottom and top edges 7,8 respectively to define a bottom opening 10 and a top opening 11 in the cylindrical platform 4 so that medical articles and equipment can be passed through the central lumen 9 via the bottom and top openings 10,11 respectively.

[0074] The top edge 8 of the cylindrical platform 4 is provided with a top medical article mounting or fitting 12 at the top opening 11 for securing external medical articles to the medical device anchor 1. The top mounting or fitting 12 can be shaped or configured as required in accordance with the type and size of medical article to be attached to the medical device anchor 1. In the present embodiment, the top mounting 12 is in the form of a recessed groove 13 defined in the top edge 8 which is provided with a screw thread 14 for attachment to a complementary fitting on a medical article.

[0075] Similarly, the bottom edge 7 of the cylindrical platform 4 is provided with a bottom medical article mounting or fitting 15 at the bottom opening 10 for securing medical articles such as an internal catheter or tube to the medical anchor device 1.

[0076] The spiral anchor 5 of the insertion portion 3 is made up of a coiled elongate body 16 having a medical article attachment portion or platform end 17 attached to the cylindrical platform 4 and a free insertion end 18 for insertion in a subject. More particularly, in the present embodiment, the platform end 17 is contiguous with the bottom edge 7 of the cylindrical platform 4 while the coiled elongate body 16 winds outwards from the bottom edge 7 to terminate at the insertion end 18. The length of the coiled elongate body 16 can be sized as required. The spiral anchor 5 can be formed with a clockwise or anti-clockwise spiral as required, and, as indicated above is typically disposed in a substantially single plane to prevent excessive boring into a subject. Accordingly, the arrangement of, in particular, the elongate body 16 of the spiral anchor 5 in a single plane allows subcutaneous penetration by the spiral anchor 5, generally to a median subcutaneous skin depth or thickness defined by an incision depth, which is sufficient for the medical anchor device 1 to be reversibly anchored to a subject's skin but without boring in an invasive manner into the subject.

[0077] The spiral anchor 5 is sufficiently rigid to allow it to be rotated in tissue and create the spiral-shaped channel corresponding with the spiral of the spiral elongate body 16 so that the spiral anchor 5 can enter into the tissue without excessive boring. In one embodiment, the spiral elongate body 16 is also sufficiently compliant or flexible to allow the medical anchor device 1, and in particular the central lumen 9 to be in a centred position with respect to the incision point when fully inserted. More particularly, the flexibility of the elongate body 16 ensures that the incision point is centrally positioned within the lumen 9 in the fully inserted position. Although the Applicant does not wish to be bound by any theorem, it is believed that the flexibility of the elongate body 16 allows the spiral anchor 5 spiral/flex slightly downwardly and/or outwardly when in a fully inserted position to centrally anchor the medical anchor device 1 with respect to the incision point. This allows for easy and unobstructed insertion of medical devices through the incision point.

[0078] As shown particularly in FIGS. 3 to 5, in use, the medical anchor device 1 can be secured to the body 19 of a subject by creating one subcutaneous incision 20 at an insertion site 21 on the skin 22 of the subject. The insertion end 18 of the spiral anchor 5 is then placed into the incision 20 and, by gripping and turning the cylindrical platform 4, the coiled elongate body 16 of the spiral anchor 5 is rotated in a generally single horizontal plane through the subcutaneous layer 23 to embed and anchor the medical device anchor 1 in the subject usually to a depth determined by the incision. When fully rotated, the incision 20 at the insertion site, being centrally located with respect to the spirally winding elongate body 16 of the spiral anchor 5, becomes visible through the top opening 11 and central lumen 9 of the cylindrical platform 4.

[0079] Medical articles such as catheters and the like can then be inserted through the central lumen 9 and the incision 20 at the insertion site 21 as required.

[0080] The subcutaneously inserted medical anchor device 1 therefore acts as a platform onto which further components can be added to the medical article attachment portion 2 as required depending on the intended therapeutic use or medical article type employed.

[0081] The medical anchor device 1 of the invention can also be simply removed by rotating the spiral anchor 5 in the opposite direction without requiring invasive surgical intervention such as is required with retainers and the like of the prior art where sutures or the retainers themselves must be surgically extracted from a subject.

[0082] FIGS. 6 to 12 show a second embodiment of a medical anchor device 1 broadly similar to the medical anchor device 1 of FIGS. 1 to 5 and like numerals indicate like parts. However, in the present embodiment, the medical anchor device 1 is provided with a skin receiving interstice 24 between the medical article attachment portion 2 and the spiral anchor 5 for receiving a subject's skin between the medical article attachment portion 2 and the spiral anchor 5. The interstice 24 is slot-like in construction and is defined by the bottom edge 7 of the cylindrical platform 4 and the coiled elongate body 16 of the spiral anchor 5. More particularly, the coiled elongate body 16 is spaced apart from the bottom edge 7 of the cylindrical platform 4 by a downwardly depending spacer arm 25 extending between the platform end 17 of the coiled elongate body 16 and the bottom edge 7 of the cylindrical platform 4 to define the interstice 24. The width of the interstice 24 is therefore determined by the size of the spacer arm 25 which is usually sized so that the interstice 24 can receive a skin layer of median thickness without damaging or pinching the skin i.e. without causing discomfort to a subject. The spacer arm 25 can be formed from a material which has no flexibility, unlike the spiral anchor 5, so that the spacer arm 25 also serves as a reinforcing spacer arm 25 to reinforce the spiral anchor 5 during insertion in a subject.

[0083] The spacer arm 25 is also configured to define a concave curved face 26 disposed inwards towards the interstice 24 between the platform end 17 of the coiled elongate body 16 and the bottom edge 7 of the cylindrical platform 4. The curved face 26 serves as an abutting surface or a stop to abut against skin received in the interstice 24 following full insertion of the medical anchor device 1. The concave curved face 26 also prevents pinching of the skin to further enhance a subject's comfort. Moreover, the Applicant has found that the curved face 26 also reinforces the spacer arm 25 and the overall strength of the medical anchor device 1 during insertion.

[0084] In the present embodiment, the elongate body 16 of the spiral anchor 16 is sized to be of reduced length when compared with the elongate body 16 of FIGS. 1 to 5 so that the spiral anchor 5 is fully inserted after one full rotation of the medical anchor device 1 further reducing the invasiveness of the device 1.

[0085] In addition, in the present embodiment, the circular sidewall 6 of the cylindrical platform 4 is shaped to define a waist 27 to provide a secondary medical article mounting or fitting on the cylindrical platform 4.

[0086] The medical anchor device 1 of the invention can be formed from any suitable material or combination of materials e.g. the spiral anchor 5 can be formed from resilient or elastomeric materials having a desired degree of flexibility e.g. Santoprene (Trade Mark) while the leg 25 and/or the medical article attachment portion can be formed from non- or less resilient materials.

[0087] The medical anchor device 1 can also be sized as required in accordance with the size and/or level of support required by the medical articles to be attached to the medical anchor device 1. For example, in the case of medical anchor devices 1 for use in supporting catheters, the medical anchor device of FIGS. 6 to 12 could be sized so that the distance between the leg 25 and the diametrically opposite bottom edge 7 of the cylindrical platform 4 corresponds with the incision length generally employed for the insertion of catheters e.g. between about 10 mm and about 20 mm.

[0088] While the medical anchor device 1 of the invention can be formed as a unitary medical anchor device 1 i.e. as a single unit, the medical anchor device 1 can also be formed as a multi-part device if desired e.g. the medical anchor device 1 can be made up of two or more parts such as a medical attachment portion 2 attachable to a lower insertion portion 3.

[0089] The medical anchor device 1 can also form part of a medical anchoring system in accordance with the invention made up of the medical anchor device 1 and a medical article such as a catheter engageable with the medical anchor device 1.