VENTRICULOSTOMY PATCH SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

A ventriculostomy patch system is disclosed herein. The ventriculostomy patch system including a base-ring, and a window assembly. The base-ring includes a circular body, with the circular-body having an outer-surface, an inner-surface, a top-surface, and a bottom-surface. The bottom-surface includes a catheter-notch; the catheter-notch is configured for removably retaining a ventriculostomy catheter. The base-ring further includes at least two dome-tabs, each of the at least two dome-tabs located upon the outer surface of the base-ring. Preferably, the base-ring is constructed from anti-microbial materials. The window assembly includes an external-ring and a window, where the window assembly is removably affixable to the top-surface of the base-ring.

Claims

1. A ventriculostomy patch system, the system comprising: a base-ring, said base-ring including a circular body, said circular-body having an outer-surface, an inner-surface, a top-surface, and a bottom-surface, with said bottom-surface including a catheter-notch; a window assembly, said window assembly including an external-ring and a window, said window assembly removably affixable to said top-surface of said base-ring; and wherein said catheter-notch of said bottom-surface of said base-ring is configured for removably retaining a ventriculostomy catheter.

2. The ventriculostomy patch system of claim 1, wherein said bottom-surface of said base-ring further includes a recessed-groove.

3. The ventriculostomy patch system of claim 2, wherein said bottom-surface of said base-ring further includes an adhesive-gel ring contained within said recessed-groove and affixable to a scalp of a user.

4. The ventriculostomy patch system of claim 2, wherein said recessed-groove of said bottom-surface of said base-ring comprises at least one clip configured for holding and retaining said ventriculostomy catheter.

5. The ventriculostomy patch system of claim 3, wherein said adhesive-ring is covered by a removable backing.

6. The ventriculostomy patch system of claim 3, wherein said adhesive-ring is constructed from an anti-bacterial material.

7. The ventriculostomy patch system of claim 1, wherein said window assembly further includes a male-groove and said base-ring includes a female-groove to removably affix said window assembly to said base-ring.

8. The ventriculostomy patch system of claim 7, wherein said interface between said male-groove of said window assembly and said female-groove of said base-ring includes a gasket configured to provide a sterile seal from external elements.

9. The ventriculostomy patch system of claim 1, wherein said window assembly is disposable and replaceable.

10. The ventriculostomy patch system of claim 1, wherein said window assembly includes a dome which is transparent.

11. The ventriculostomy patch system of claim 10, wherein said dome is constructed from a flexible material.

12. The ventriculostomy patch system of claim 10, wherein said window assembly includes said dome which is opaque.

13. The ventriculostomy patch system of claim 1, wherein said base-ring further includes at least two dome-tabs, each of said at least two dome-tabs located upon said outer surface of said base-ring.

14. The ventriculostomy patch system of claim 1, wherein said window assembly further includes a window-tab located on said periphery of said window.

15. The ventriculostomy patch system of claim 1, wherein said base-ring is constructed from anti-microbial materials.

16. The ventriculostomy patch system of claim 1, wherein said window assembly is constructed from anti-microbial materials.

17. A ventriculostomy patch system, said ventriculostomy patch system comprising: a base-ring, said base-ring including a circular body, said circular-body having an outer-surface, an inner-surface, a top-surface, and a bottom-surface, with said bottom-surface including a catheter-notch; a window assembly, said window assembly including an external-ring and a window, said window assembly removably affixable to said top-surface of said base-ring; said window assembly including a male-groove and said base-ring includes a female-groove to removably affix said window assembly to said base-ring; wherein said bottom-surface of said base-ring includes a recessed-groove; said bottom-surface of said base-ring including an adhesive-ring contained within said recessed-groove and affixable to a head of a user; and said recessed-groove of said bottom-surface of said base-ring comprises at least one clip configured for holding and retaining said ventriculostomy catheter. wherein said adhesive-ring is covered by a removable backing; wherein said adhesive-ring is constructed from an anti-bacterial material; wherein said interface between said male-groove of said window assembly and said female-groove of said base-ring includes a gasket configured to provide a sterile seal from external elements; wherein said window assembly is disposable and replaceable; wherein said window assembly includes a dome which is transparent; wherein said dome is constructed from a flexible material; wherein said base-ring includes at least two dome-tabs, each of said at least two dome-tabs located upon said outer surface of said base-ring; wherein said window assembly further includes a window-tab located on said periphery of said window; wherein said base-ring is constructed from anti-microbial materials; wherein said window assembly is constructed from anti-microbial materials; and wherein said catheter-notch of said bottom-surface of said base-ring is configured for removably retaining a ventriculostomy catheter.

18. The ventriculostomy patch system of claim 17, further comprising set of instructions; and; wherein the system is arranged as a kit.

19. A method of using a ventriculostomy patch system, the method comprising the steps of: removing a backing from a ventriculostomy patch system; placing said ventriculostomy patch system over a ventriculostomy catheter by snapping a catheter into a recessed groove and adhering a base-ring to a scalp; and placing a window assembly over said base-ring by snapping a male groove of a window assembly into a female groove of said base-ring;

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of: changing said window assembly by pulling a window tab to remove an old window assembly while leaving said base-ring in place; and placing a new window assembly over said base-ring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a ventriculostomy patch system and method, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ventriculostomy patch system during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base-ring of the ventriculostomy patch system of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 3 is an additional perspective view of the base-ring of the ventriculostomy patch system of FIGS. 1-2, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a detail view of the ventriculostomy patch system of FIGS. 1-3, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using the ventriculostomy patch system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a means for securing a conduit to a body and more particularly a method of adhesion to a biological surface as used to improve the prevention of infection during a ventriculostomy catheter usage while additionally securing the catheter to a scalp of a user.

[0022] Generally, the ventriculostomy patch system provides a sterile, changeable dressing for ventriculostomy catheters with two main purposes: a bacteriostatic covering to prevent infection, and additional catheter securement capabilities. This dressing is designed for neurosurgical/neurointensive care patients who require ventriculostomy placement for drainage of cerebrospinal fluid and/or monitoring of intracranial pressures. The ventriculostomy patch system is intended for use in the operating room, an intensive care unit, or Neuro step-down unit where ventriculostomies are initially placed and patients with these catheters are cared for over periods of time.

[0023] This surgical dressing for ventriculostomies (brain drains) may come in two packages: the base pack, and a change pack. The base pack may include a gasket-like foam or silicone ring that has a track on the bottom (touching the scalp) containing a gel adhesive that will be released as a backing is peeled away. The ring will have a flexible plastic track on the underside which the ventriculostomy catheter will snap into as the dressing is placed. The top of the base (facing upward) will have grooves designed for the window of the change pack to snap into it. Also in the base pack may be a Betadine or Chlorhexidine cleanser, skin prep or benzoin tincture, sterile gloves, mask and gauze. The change pack is used to complete the dressing and will include a second flexible plastic frame window with a clear plastic lens that will snap into the frame of the base gasket after the previous window assembly has been discarded.

[0024] Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4, various views of ventriculostomy patch system 100. FIG. 1 shows a ventriculostomy patch system 100 during an ‘in-use’ condition 150, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, ventriculostomy patch system 100 may be beneficial for use by a user 140 to provide a sterile barrier against infection to a ventriculostomy site as well as providing additional securement to catheter 10. As illustrated, the ventriculostomy patch system 100 may include base-ring and window-assembly 160.

[0025] Base-ring 110 may include circular body 112, where circular-body may have outer-surface 114, inner-surface 116, top-surface 118 and bottom-surface 120, with bottom-surface including catheter-notch 122 in embodiments (as shown in FIG. 2). Embodiments may include base-ring constructed from anti-microbial materials.

[0026] Window assembly 160 may include external-ring 162 and window 164, where window assembly 160 may be removably affixable to top-surface of base-ring. Window assembly may additionally include window-tab 166 located on the periphery of window 164, window assembly is disposable and replaceable, in embodiments. Additional embodiments may include window assembly 160 which includes window 164 which is transparent, and/or window 164 constructed from a flexible material. In some additional embodiments window 164 may be opaque. Window may be constructed in many shapes and forms (e.g., dome-shaped, flat, etc.) as well as colors and/or textures. Window assembly 160, and/or its components may be constructed from anti-microbial materials.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the ventriculostomy patch system 100 may be arranged as a kit 105. In particular, the ventriculostomy patch system 100 may further include a set of instructions 155. The instructions 155 may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of the ventriculostomy patch system 100 (such that the ventriculostomy patch system 100 can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner).

[0028] FIG. 2 shows the ventriculostomy patch system 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the ventriculostomy patch system 100 may include base-ring. Base-ring 110 may include circular body 112, where circular-body 112 may include outer-surface 114, inner-surface 116, top-surface 118 (as can be seen in FIG. 4), and bottom-surface 120, where bottom-surface 120 may include catheter-notch 122. Catheter-notch 122 of bottom-surface 120 of base-ring 110 may be configured for removably retaining a ventriculostomy catheter 10.

[0029] Bottom-surface 120 of base-ring 110 may additionally include recessed-groove 124, and bottom-surface 120 of base-ring 110 may also include adhesive-ring 126 contained within recessed-groove and affixable to a scalp of user 140 (user 140 shown in FIG. 1). Adhesive-gel ring 126 may be covered by a removable backing 128, to protect adhesive-gel ring 126 during storage and transport prior to use. Adhesive-gel ring 126 may also be constructed from an anti-bacterial material. Base-ring 110 may further include at least two dome-tabs 130, each of at least two dome-tabs 130 located upon outer surface 114 of base-ring 110.

[0030] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the base-ring of the ventriculostomy patch system 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Recessed-groove 124 of bottom-surface 120 of base-ring 110 may include at least one clip 134 located in catheter-notch 122, configured for holding and retaining ventriculostomy catheter 10.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the ventriculostomy patch system of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, window assembly 160 may include male-groove 168, and base-ring 110 may include female-groove 132 to removably affix window assembly 160 to base-ring 110.

[0032] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using a ventriculostomy patch system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method of using a ventriculostomy patch system 500 may include one or more components or features of the ventriculostomy patch system 100 as described above. As illustrated, the method of using a ventriculostomy patch system 500 may include the steps of: step one 501, removing backing from ventriculostomy patch system 100; step two 502, placing ventriculostomy patch system 100 over ventriculostomy catheter 10 (snapping catheter into recessed groove 124) and adhering base-ring 110 to a scalp; step three 503, placing window assembly 160 over base-ring 110 by snapping male groove 168 of window assembly 160 into female groove 132 of base-ring 110; step four 504, changing a dressing, when the dressing is changed, window assembly 160 can be changed by pulling window tab 166 to remove old window assembly 160 while leaving base-ring 110 in place, then placing new window assembly 160 (as described in step three above).

[0033] It should be noted that step four 504, and step five 505 are optional steps and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in FIG. 5 so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method of use 500. It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other method of using a ventriculostomy patch system (e.g., different step orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc.), are taught herein.

[0034] The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.