THORACIC CATHETER PROTECTOR POUCH

Abstract

A thoracic catheter protector pouch (1) to be worn by an adult, person or infant has a band (2) that encircles a body portion, such as a chest or arm, and a medial pocket portion (5) for holding a catheter tube (10) and connector end (11). The pocket portion has an inner panel (15) with a catheter tube securement strap (14) and two flaps (3 and 4) which open to insert a catheter and close over each other securely by fasteners (6 and 7) preferably hook and loop fastening material. The band is preferably elastomeric and is size adjustable.

Claims

1. A thoracic catheter protector pouch for affixing an exposed segment of a catheter implanted in a body of a patient, said pouch comprising: an elongated fabric band for encircling a part of the body and covering a catheter implant site configured with a pocket portion on a medial portion of the band; said pocket portion having on one side a planar surface facing the torso when the pouch is worn, an inner panel and an exterior portion having an inner flap and an outer flap; a catheter tube securement strap on the inner panel of the pocket portion; said inner and outer flaps forming a compartment for receipt of said exposed segment of catheter; and said compartment being further formed with at least one securement fastener disposed about at least one of the two flaps.

2. The thoracic catheter protector pouch of claim 1 wherein: the elongated band is made of elastomeric material.

3. The thoracic catheter protector pouch of claim 1 wherein: the elongated band is size adjustable.

4. The thoracic catheter protector pouch of claim 2 wherein: the elongated band is size adjustable.

5. The thoracic catheter protector pouch of claim 1 wherein: the at least one securement fasteners on the flaps comprises hook and loop fastening material.

6. The thoracic catheter protector pouch of claim 1 wherein: the catheter tube securement strap on the inner panel of the pocket portion comprises hook and loop fastening material.

7. The thoracic catheter protector pouch of claim 1 wherein: the outer flap is attached along a top edge of the pocket portion and the inner flap is attached along a bottom edge of the pocket portion.

8. A thoracic catheter protector pouch for affixing an exposed segment of a catheter implanted in a body of a patient, said pouch comprising: an elongated fabric band for encircling a part of the body and covering a catheter implant site configured with a pocket portion on a medial portion of the band; said pocket portion having on one side a planar surface facing the torso when the apparatus is worn, an inner panel and an exterior portion having two flaps, an inner flap and an outer flap; a catheter tube securement strap on the inner panel of the pocket portion comprised of hook and loop fastening material; said inner and outer flaps forming a compartment for receipt of said exposed segment of catheter; and said compartment being further formed with at least one securement fastener disposed about at least one of the two flaps; wherein the elongated band is made of elastomeric material and is size adjustable, the at least one securement fasteners on the flaps comprises hook and loop fastening material; and the outer flap is attached along a top edge of the pocket portion and the inner flap is attached along a bottom edge of the pocket portion.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the thoracic catheter protector pouch of the present invention with the catheter protective pocket in an open mode;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a front planar view of the thoracic catheter protector pouch of the present invention being worn by a person;

[0014] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the thoracic catheter protector pouch of the present invention being worn by a person;

[0015] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the thoracic catheter protector pouch of the present invention along section line 4-4 of FIG. 2 with the catheter secured within the holding pocket; and

[0016] FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the thoracic catheter protector pouch of the present invention along section line 5-5 of FIG. 2 with the catheter secured within the holding pocket.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered items in the drawings is as follows:

[0018] 1. thoracic catheter protective pouch, generally

[0019] 2. torso band

[0020] 3. inner flap

[0021] 4. outer flap

[0022] 5. pocket

[0023] 6. hook and loop fastening strips (inner flap)

[0024] 7. hook and loop fastening strip (outer flap)

[0025] 8. size adjuster

[0026] 9. person

[0027] 10. catheter tube

[0028] 11. catheter end connector

[0029] 12. inner exterior of pocket

[0030] 13. band overlap

[0031] 14. catheter tube securement loop

[0032] 15. inner panel of pouch

[0033] 16. hooked attachment bracket

[0034] 17. attachment strap loop

[0035] Referring now to the FIG. 1, a perspective view of the thoracic catheter protective pouch 1 of the present invention is illustrated. The thoracic catheter protective pouch 1 has a torso band 2, which is preferably made of elastomeric material and can be worn around a chest of a person 9 (as shown in FIG. 2) or another part of a torso. The band 2 is size adjustable by means of a size adjuster 8 and band overlap 13 to be lengthened or shortened in length depending on the circumference of the torso around which the thoracic catheter protective pouch 1 is placed. The catheter holding pocket 5 is integrated medially in a front of the pouch 2 and has a lower inner flap 3 and a top outer flap 4. The pocket 5 and flaps 3 and 4 are preferably made of a soft material e.g. felt for comfort and also to enable hook and loop fastening material, such as the hook and loop fastening strips 6 on inside of the inner flap 3 to attach to the pocket 5 when closed to securely hold a catheter in place. Similarly, the hook and loop fastening strip 7 on inside the outer flap 4 enable it to securely fasten on outside of the inner pocket 3 when the pocket 5 is closed. In addition, a catheter tube securement loop 14 is attached to an inner panel of the pocket 5 through which the catheter tube 10 is inserted to better secure the catheter tube in place. The catheter holding pocket 5 is removably attachable to the band 2 by an attachment strap loop 17 sewn into one end of the pocket 5 that connects to a hook attachment bracket 16 on the band 3 so as to allow the entire thoracic catheter protective pouch 1 to be easily removed from around a wearer for bathing and other reasons.

[0036] FIG. 2 is a planar view of the thoracic catheter protective pouch 1 being worn around the chest of a person 9. The pocket 5 is shown attached to medial ends of the torso band 2 in a closed mode with the inner flap 3 and outer flap 4 fastened by hook and loop fastening strips 6 and 7 over a catheter tube 10 and catheter connector end 11. The catheter tube securement loop 14 holds the catheter tube 10 in place inside the pocket 5 of the thoracic catheter protective pouch 1.

[0037] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a person 9 wearing the thoracic catheter protective pouch 1 is illustrated showing the torso pband 2 and the size adjuster 8.

[0038] FIG. 4 illustrates the thoracic catheter protective pouch 1 in cross-sectional view along section line 4-4 of FIG. 2. In this view the catheter tube 10 and catheter connector end 11 are shown being secured within the pocket 5 by the inner flap 3 and the outer flap 4 being secured over the inner flap 3 by hook and loop fastener strip 7. The pocket 5 would preferably have an exterior side 12 made of soft material, such as felt, for comfort when worn against the skin of a person and to prevent chafing. The catheter tube 10 is held securely in place by a securement loop 14 to the inner panel 15 of the pouch 1.

[0039] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the pocket 5 along section line 5-5 of FIG. 2 showing the catheter end connector 11 being secured within the pocket 5 by the inner flap 3 being attached by hook and lop fastener strip 6 to an inner side of the pocket 5 with the outer flap 4 folded over and attached over it by hook and loop fastener strip 7.

[0040] Although several aspects have been disclosed in the foregoing specification, it is understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications and other aspects will come to mind to which this disclosure pertains, having the benefit of the teaching presented in the foregoing description and associated drawings. It is thus understood that the disclosure is not limited to the specific aspects disclosed hereinabove, and that many modifications and other aspects are intended to be included within the scope of any claims that can recite the disclosed subject matter.