A CATHETER MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT FOR SECURING A CATHETER TO A PATIENT AND A METHOD OF MAINTAINING THE SECURING AND INTEGRITY IN FLUID FLOW WITHIN THE CATHETER WHILE MOUNTED TO THE PATIENT

Abstract

A catheter mounting arrangement including a main housing unit configurable to be fastenable around a catheter that has been inserted into a fluid cavity within a patient. The main housing unit includes a slot that defines a longitudinal opening through which an uninserted section of tubing of the inserted catheter is passable there through. The main housing unit and inserted catheter includes an engagement arrangement so that once the uninserted section of the tubing of the inserted catheter has passed through the slot there is a fixed vertical support of the catheter within the main housing unit so that the uninserted section of tubing of the inserted catheter remains substantially upright and/or substantially free of kinks or bends.

Claims

1. A catheter mounting arrangement for mounting a catheter to a patient, said catheter mounting arrangement including; a main housing unit configurable to be fastenable around a catheter that has been inserted into a fluid cavity within a patient; said main housing unit including a slot, wherein said slot defines a longitudinal opening within the main housing unit through which an uninserted section of tubing of the inserted catheter is passable there through said slot; said main housing unit and inserted catheter including an engagement arrangement, wherein the engagement arrangement is configured so that once the uninserted section of the tubing of the inserted catheter has passed through the slot of the main housing unit the engagement arrangement provides for a fixed vertical support of the catheter within the main housing unit so that the uninserted section of tubing of the inserted catheter remains substantially upright and/or substantially free of kinks or bends.

2. The catheter mounting arrangement of claim 1 wherein the engagement arrangement between the main housing unit and the catheter to provide for the fixed vertical support of the catheter within the main housing unit so that the uninserted section of tubing of the inserted catheter remains substantially upright and/or substantially free of kinks or bends, includes a longitudinal intermediate piece.

3. The catheter mounting arrangement of claim 2 wherein the main housing unit includes a hollow channel or receptacle in which the longitudinal intermediate piece is adapted to be nested therein.

4. The catheter mounting arrangement of claim 3 wherein the intermediate piece is a longitudinal rod or column including a vertical slot along its longitudinal length, which when nested within the hollow channel or receptacle of the main housing unit, is rotatable or positioned so said vertical slot is alignable with the slot that defines the longitudinal opening within the main housing unit through which the uninserted section of tubing of the inserted catheter is passable there through.

5. The catheter mounting arrangement of claim 4 wherein the longitudinal intermediate piece includes an external threaded configuration.

6. The catheter mounting arrangement of claim 5 wherein the longitudinal intermediate piece external threaded configuration matches a corresponding threaded arrangement of the defined channel or receptacle within the main housing unit such that the inserted catheter can be vertically elevated and lowered up and down within the main housing unit.

7. The catheter mounting arrangement of claim 5 wherein the main housing unit includes a user rotatable height adjustment nut arrangement adapted to adjust the vertical height of the longitudinal intermediate piece when the longitudinal intermediate piece is mounted to the main housing unit.

8. The catheter mounting arrangement of claim 7 wherein the user rotatable height adjustment nut arrangement is supported in a top section of the main housing unit.

9. The catheter mounting arrangement of claim 8 wherein the user rotatable height adjustment nut arrangement includes a rib or knob extension, wherein the rib or knob extension, engages with grooves or slots of the external threaded configuration of the longitudinal intermediate piece.

10. The catheter mounting arrangement of claim 9 wherein the user rotatable height adjustment nut arrangement is of a generally cylindrical or circular shape and includes a vertical slot, so that when the user rotatable height adjustment nut arrangement is supported within the top section of the main housing unit, it is rotatable or positioned so said vertical slot is alignable with the slot that defines the longitudinal opening within the main housing unit through which the uninserted section of tubing of the inserted catheter is passable there through.

12. The catheter mounting arrangement of claim 3 wherein the main housing unit includes an inverted cone shape, wherein an apex of the inverted cone shape provides an opening through which the longitudinal intermediate piece is adapted to pass there through into the defined channel or receptacle within the main housing unit.

13. The catheter mounting arrangement of claim 12 wherein the inverted cone shape of the main housing unit includes an indented shoulder around part of a periphery of the inverted cone shape.

14. The catheter mounting arrangement of claim 3 wherein the main housing unit includes a more generally cylindrical shape section, wherein the more generally cylindrical shape section of the main housing unit includes the top section wherein the user rotatable height adjustment nut arrangement is supported.

15. The catheter mounting arrangement of claim 14 wherein the main housing unit including the more generally cylindrical shape section, wherein the more generally cylindrical shape section of the main housing unit includes the top section wherein the user rotatable height adjustment nut arrangement is supported, further includes a generally flat or slightly inclined section laterally extending out there from the base of the more generally cylindrical shape section of the main housing unit.

16. The catheter mounting arrangement of claim 2 wherein the longitudinal intermediate piece includes a resilient clip arrangement that is adapted to allow a section of the longitudinal intermediate piece to clamp on or about the catheter so as to fix the catheter to the intermediate piece.

17. The catheter mounting arrangement of claim 1 wherein the main housing unit includes a peripheral skirt laterally extending out there from a base edge of the main housing unit.

18. The catheter mounting arrangement of claim 17 wherein peripheral skirt laterally extending out there from the base edge of the main housing unit includes an adhesive strip.

19. The catheter mounting arrangement of claim 1 wherein the main housing unit includes measurement units on an external face of the main housing unit.

20. The catheter mounting arrangement of claim 1 wherein the main housing unit is transparent and/or the longitudinal intermediate piece is transparent.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the catheter mounting arrangement, including the catheter, to be inserted into the patient in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0042] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the catheter mounting arrangement having the inserted catheter mounted therein.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the catheter mounting arrangement with a catheter inserted into a patient in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0044] FIG. 4a is a generally upper front right-hand side perspective view of a catheter mounting arrangement in a further preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0045] FIG. 4b is a top view of the catheter mounting arrangement shown in FIG. 4a.

[0046] FIG. 4c is a front view of the catheter mounting arrangement shown in FIG. 4a.

[0047] FIGS. 5a and 5b are cross-sectional views of the catheter mounting arrangement shown in FIG. 4a through to FIG. 4c with FIG. 5a showing the longitudinal intermediate piece in a retracted position and FIG. 5b showing the longitudinal intermediate piece in an extended position.

[0048] FIG. 6a is a generally upper front right-hand side perspective view of a catheter mounting arrangement in a further preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0049] FIG. 6b is a top view of the catheter mounting arrangement shown in FIG. 6a.

[0050] FIG. 6c is a front view of the catheter mounting arrangement shown in FIG. 6a.

[0051] FIGS. 7a and 7b are cross-sectional views of the catheter mounting arrangement shown in FIG. 6a through to FIG. 6c with FIG. 7a showing the longitudinal intermediate piece in a retracted position and FIG. 7b showing the longitudinal intermediate piece in an extended position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] The catheter mounting arrangement for mounting an inserted catheter to a patient is shown generally as (10).

[0053] The catheter mounting arrangement (10) includes a main housing unit (12), which in the preferred embodiment is of an inverted cone configuration or shape.

[0054] The main housing unit (12) includes an opening (16) which provides access to an internal channel (17) as best seen in FIG. 2, wherein the internal channel (17) includes threading (18), which matches with the threads (22) of the longitudinal intermediate piece (20).

[0055] The main housing unit (12) includes a slot (14) which defines the longitudinal opening (19) which will allow the external section (52) of the tubing (28) of the catheter (26) to pass there through.

[0056] Although not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, so as to provide greater clarity and understanding as to how the invention works, the catheter (26) is not shown inserted into the patient as illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 2 assists in best explaining how the catheter (26) can be positioned within the intermediate piece (20) once the intermediate piece (20) has been threaded into the channel (17) of the main housing unit (12).

[0057] The slot (21) of the longitudinal intermediate piece (20) aligns with the corresponding slot (14) of the main housing unit (12) so that the tubing (28), or at least the external section (52) of that tubing (28) of the catheter (26) that has been inserted into the patient can then pass through the corresponding slots (14) and (21) to be fixedly engaged and held by or within the main housing unit (12).

[0058] In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 there is a simple resilient clip mechanism (24) which is able to clasp onto the catheter (26) and hold the catheter (26) in place with the longitudinal intermediate piece (20).

[0059] The longitudinal intermediate piece (20) is already fixed and held with the main housing unit (12) by virtue of the channel (17) and the corresponding threaded arrangement (18) of the channel (17) with that of the threads (22) of the longitudinal intermediate piece (20).

[0060] The main housing unit (12) also includes a peripheral lateral extending skirt (40) which extends around the base edge (42) of the inverted cone shaped main housing unit (12) interrupted only by opposing edges (43) and (45) which maintain the opening (19) defined by the slot (14) of the main housing unit (12).

[0061] In this preferred embodiment the lateral skirt (40) about the base edge (42) of the inverted cone shaped main housing unit (12) includes an adhesive arrangement (48) connected to the underside (49) of the lateral skirt (40).

[0062] Uniquely, the inverted cone shaped main housing unit (12) allows the arrangement to be brought in about the inserted catheter (26) fastened to the patient easily and conveniently.

[0063] Having the skirt (40) not only allows improved balancing of the main housing unit (12) to the patient’s body, but it also provides a location to which an adhesive strip can be attached thereto which then allows for the main housing unit (12) to be fixed to the body of the patient.

[0064] Hence rather than having unsightly, unhygienic and difficult to apply adhesive tape to stick down the catheter that has been inserted into the body of the patient, the catheter mounting arrangement of this invention inherently incorporates into its structure a means by which the adhesive can be placed on the underside of the skirting to which that skirting can also assist in balancing and maintaining the orientation of the main housing unit during movement of the patient thereby preventing unintentionally withdrawal of the inserted catheter.

[0065] Referring specifically now to FIG. 2 which further assists in understanding this invention where it is noted that the tubing (28) of the catheter (26) is represented in this illustration as having an external section of the inserted catheter tubing (28) shown as (52) which remains outside the patient and an inserted section shown as (54) of the tubing (28) represented as being within the body as shown in FIG. 2 represented with dashed lines.

[0066] In application, the catheter (26) by the appropriately qualified medical practitioner would insert the needle (not shown) and the tubing (28) of the catheter (26) into the abdominal cavity of the patient. (The patient and the abdominal cavity are not shown in FIG. 2).

[0067] However as introduced above, the section of the catheter tubing (28) represented by the dashed lines (54) is representative of that part of the tubing (28) which has been inserted into the body and ultimately into the abdominal cavity which requires drainage of fluid.

[0068] Once the catheter (26) has been inserted in that cavity within the patient then the inserted catheter can then be engaged with the catheter mounting arrangement of this invention.

[0069] The medical practitioner is able with the catheter mounting arrangement of this invention, with one hand, to bring across the main housing unit (12) with the longitudinal intermediate piece (20) mounted therein to encapsulate the tubing (28) of the catheter (26) and notably the external section represented as (52) of the tubing (28).

[0070] The external section (52) of the tubing (28) of the catheter (26) is able to be held vertically upright and prevented from folding, creasing, kinking and the like, once the needle (not shown) is withdrawn from the opening (34) which in the illustrations has the opening (34), capped with a cap (62), representative that the needle (not shown) has already been withdrawn from the catheter (26) so the opening (34) has been appropriately sealed off through cap (62). The tubing (28) and notably the external section (52) of that tubing (28) remains vertically orientated thereby maximising fluid flow.

[0071] Again, as introduced above, the actual mounting of the main housing unit (12) to the patient is done safely and conveniently, leaving an hygienic finishing through the application of the adhesive strip (48) on the underside (49) of the lateral skirt (40) of the main housing unit (12) so as to fasten the mounting of the main housing unit (12) to the patient.

[0072] The main housing unit (12) includes a series of measurement units shown generally as (70) which assists in allowing the elevation or lowering of the inserted catheter incrementally as required by way of the up and down movement afforded between the longitudinal intermediate piece (20) and the threaded hollow channel (17) defined within the main housing unit (12).

[0073] Importantly also, as the catheter (26) is able to be mounted and fixed within the main housing unit (12) allows the withdrawal of the needle (not shown) from the tubing (28) of the catheter (26) once insertion of the catheter is complete and the drainage of the fluid from the body cavity is to be commenced.

[0074] Accordingly, as introduced above, this invention provides a means by which a needle included as part of a catheter assembly inserted into a body cavity, can be removed conveniently and safely, leaving behind appropriately the tubing of the catheter in place for the requisite drainage of the fluid from the cavity.

[0075] By mounting the catheter (26) in place within the main housing unit (12) as the needle (not shown) is removed from the catheter (26) also avoids the needle puncturing organs and/or blood vessels within the patient.

[0076] Advantageously, once the inserted catheter (26) is mounted and fastened, it also prevents the patient from unintentionally having the catheter (26) dislodged or withdrawn from the body by virtue of the fastening arrangement afforded in the preferred embodiment through the adhesive strip (48) attached to the lateral skirt (40) incorporated as part of the main housing unit (12).

[0077] As the tubing (28) of the catheter (26) is able to be held upright within the cone shaped configuration of the main housing unit (12), this means that the external section (52) of the tubing (28) of the catheter (26) does not hinder or impede fluid flow.

[0078] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation illustratively showing the patient (70) to which the catheter mounting arrangement (10) of this invention has been mounted thereto once the catheter assembly (26) has been inserted into the patient (70) such that the inserted section (54) of the tubing (28) of the catheter (26) engages the abdominal cavity and to which the mounting of the catheter (26) to the catheter mounting arrangement (10) of this invention, allows the external section (52) of the tubing (28) of the catheter (26) to remain aligned and orientated without any significant folds, kinks or otherwise that would affect drainage flow there through the tubing (28) of the catheter (26).

[0079] With this invention the catheter can no longer move back into the abdomen after being manipulated which avoids an additional source of potential infection.

[0080] Traditionally all adhesive methods need to be removed in order to change or manipulate the catheter if drainage rates alter, but advantageously this invention allows the operator the flexibility to change the height of the catheter without removing the assembly from the anchorage point.

[0081] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention for the catheter mounting arrangement for mounting a catheter that has been inserted into a fluid cavity within a patient is shown in FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c and 5a and 5b generally as (80).

[0082] For the most part the catheter mounting arrangement (80) provides the same functionality and utility as the catheter mounting arrangement referenced as (10) in FIGS. 1 to 3, differing only with slight modifications to the main housing unit and also including a feature that will be discussed in greater detail shortly below, that will allow height adjustability of the longitudinal intermediate piece.

[0083] In the further preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 4a through FIG. 5b the catheter mounting arrangement (80) includes the main housing unit (81) having a generally inverted cone configuration but as best seen in FIGS. 4a, 5a and 5b, the inverted cone configuration has been slightly reconfigured to include an indented shouldered section (82) which provides further rigid support to the housing unit (81) of the catheter mounting arrangement (80).

[0084] The catheter mounting arrangement (80) also the longitudinal intermediate piece (83) which is insertable into the generally circular slot at the top of the housing unit (81).

[0085] The housing unit (81) includes a top section, that is shown generally as (85) that encloses in part a height adjustable nut (86) which is user-accessible.

[0086] The height adjustable nut (86) includes a sleeve section (87) as best seen in FIGS. 5a and 5b to which the longitudinal intermediate piece (83) can be threaded there into so as to slide and be positioned within the sleeve (87) that forms part of the user-accessible height adjustable nut (86).

[0087] In the preferred embodiment shown, the user height adjustable nut (86) includes a rib or knob extension (88) which is able to engage with the threaded external outer surface (89) of the longitudinal intermediate piece (83).

[0088] As seen in FIG. 5a, the longitudinal intermediate piece (83) is in the retracted position within the housing unit (81) of the catheter mounting arrangement (80).

[0089] Upon rotation of the height adjustable nut (86) this then allows the knob or rib (88) to engage with the grooves of the threads (89) profiled onto the external surface of the longitudinal intermediate piece (83).

[0090] As required, this allows the longitudinal intermediate piece (83) to be vertically extended up and down within that main housing unit (81) of the catheter mounting arrangement (80) even when a catheter (not shown) is clamped to the longitudinal intermediate piece (83).

[0091] Therefore for the most part the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c and 5a and 5b operate and function in the same way as the catheter mounting arrangement (10) shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 but further include the functionality of being able to adjust the height of the longitudinal intermediate piece (83) through the introduction of the height adjustable nut (86) which is incorporated into the top housing section (85) of the main housing unit (81).

[0092] Importantly, the catheter mounting arrangement (80) includes the essential main slot (90) which will allow the catheter that has already been inserted into the fluid cavity within the patient to be passable there through, the longitudinal intermediate piece (83) will also include the slot (92) which will be able to align with the corresponding slot (90) of the main housing unit (81) when the catheter has to be passed there into the housing unit (81) to be mounted upon the longitudinal intermediate piece (83).

[0093] The height adjustable nut (86) which is supported in the top housing section (85) also includes a gap within its circular body arrangement so as to provide an opening as best seen in FIG. 4a as (93) again to allow unobstructed clearance for the catheter to be able to pass through the housing unit (81) to be clamped in position upon the longitudinal intermediate piece (83), which advantageously in the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 4a through to 5b will allow, if necessary, height adjustability of that longitudinal intermediate piece (83) once the catheter is mounted by a user if need be through the height adjustable nut (86).

[0094] The housing unit (81) of the catheter mounting arrangement (80) in FIGS. 4a through to 5b also includes the peripheral lateral extending skirt which provides for a flexible adhesive base wherein that flexible adhesive base (99) will allow the housing unit (81) to be fixed to the body of the patient.

[0095] As introduced above, rigidity and general support of the housing unit is assisted in part by the introduction of the shouldered indent (82) profiled into the generally inverted cone shape of the housing unit (81).

[0096] FIGS. 6a, 6b, 6c, 7a and 7b provide for an example of a further preferred embodiment of the catheter mounting arrangement of this invention shown generally as (104).

[0097] The catheter mounting arrangement (104) of the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 6a through to 7b includes the same height adjustability of the longitudinal intermediate piece referenced and described in relation to the preferred embodiment of F with the main featured difference of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6a through to 7b including an alternative structural arrangement to the housing unit of the catheter arrangement (104).

[0098] As seen in FIGS. 6a through to 7b, the housing unit includes a generally cylindrical shape section (105) with a generally lower profile than the inverted cone shaped housing unit (81) in FIGS. 4a through to 5b.

[0099] The cylindrical section (105) is supported by the much generally flatter rigid base section (106) which also includes the flexible adhesive base on the underside along the outer skirting (107) of this flat rigid support section (106) of the housing unit that also includes the cylindrical section (105).

[0100] The cylindrical section (105) of the housing unit also includes the same top housing section referenced in relation to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4a through to 5b generally as (85) but in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6a through to 7b, the top section of the housing unit is referred to as (109). The top section (109) will enclose the height adjustable nut arrangement (110) which will allow for height adjustability of the longitudinal intermediate piece (112) following the same mechanism introduced and discussed in relation to FIGS. 4a through to 5b for the catheter mounting arrangement (80).

[0101] As seen in FIG. 7a the longitudinal intermediate piece (112) is in the retracted position but through rotation of the height adjustable nut (110) and notably the rib or knob extension (113) which is adapted to engage with the threaded arrangement (114) of the longitudinal intermediate piece (112) is able to place the longitudinal intermediate piece (112) in an extended position as shown in FIG. 7b.

[0102] Importantly also for the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 6a through to 7b, the housing unit including the cylindrical section (105) and base rigid support section (106) notably still includes the main opening slot which is shown as slot (119) in the base rigid support section (106) and (116) with the cylindrical section (105).

[0103] Again the longitudinal intermediate piece (112) which would clamp the catheter also includes a slot along its length and so too would the height adjustable nut (110) enclosed within the top housing section (109) including a gap or open section so that as seen in FIGS. 6a, 6b and 6c openings (119) and (116) is provided for the catheter (not shown) to pass there into the housing unit so it can be mounted and appropriately secured in place by way of the catheter mounting arrangement (104) of this invention.