# US 11,439,793 B2 · Temporary retention device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,439,793 B2 - Document ID: US11439793B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/923,670 - Filed: 2020-07-08 - Published: 2020-10-29 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2002-09-20 - Assignees: INTERRAD Medical, Inc. - Applicants: INTERRAD Medical, Inc. - Inventors: Michael S. Rosenberg; Timothy J. Claude - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439793B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/04: in the body, e.g. expansible {(A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence)} - A61M 25/02: Holding devices, e.g. on the body - A61B 17/3478: {Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion (biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067)} - A61B 2017/3484: {Anchoring means, e.g. spreading-out umbrella-like structure} - A61M 2025/0293: {Catheter, guide wire or the like with means for holding, centering, anchoring or frictionally engaging the device within an artificial lumen, e.g. tube} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A retention device for anchoring indwelling catheters, sheath introducers, feeding tubes, ostomy bags or other medical devices beneath the skin of a patient includes an deployable section coupled to a medical device; following introduction into a patient, the deployable section is subcutaneously deployed, securely anchoring the device and coupled medical device for the duration of treatment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for securing a medical device relative to a skin opening that is occupied by the medical device, the method comprising: inserting a distal portion of a medical device through an opening in a skin layer and into a targeted body site; advancing first and second flexible anchors of an anchor device contemporaneously through the same opening in the skin layer and into a subcutaneous region under the skin layer while the flexible anchors are in a first position, wherein the anchor device further comprises: a medical device retainer body including a longitudinal channel configured to releasably engage with an outer surface of an external portion of the medical device; and an anchor assembly contacting the retainer body and spaced apart from the channel of the retainer body; and moving the first and second flexible anchors from the first position to a subcutaneously deployed position in which a first free end of the first anchor and a second free end of the second anchor extend outwardly from one another in generally opposite directions and are configured to engage tissue along an underside of the skin. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the anchor assembly includes a longitudinal extender apparatus secured to the medical device retainer body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein said first and second flexible anchors extend outwardly away from a distal region of the longitudinal extender apparatus, each of the first and second flexible anchors terminating at a non-sharp tip. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein when the first and second flexible anchors are positioned in the subcutaneously deployed position, a space between the tips of the first and second flexible anchors is greater than a space between the tips of the first flexible and second flexible anchors when the first and second flexible anchors are positioned in the first position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the first flexible anchor includes a first lengthwise convexly flexible portion extending toward the tip of the first flexible anchor such that the first lengthwise convexly flexible portion bows toward the medical device retainer body, and wherein the second flexible anchor includes a second lengthwise convexly flexible portion extending toward the free end of the second flexible anchor such that the second lengthwise convexly flexible portion bows toward the retainer body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising actuating a rod of the longitudinal extender apparatus relative to the medical device retainer body so as to flexibly adjust the first and second flexible anchors from the first position to the subcutaneously deployed position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining the external portion of the medical device in securement with the medical device retainer body while the first and second flexible anchors reside within the subcutaneous region under the skin layer and while the distal portion of the medical device extends into the targeted body site. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising withdrawing the first and second flexible anchors of the anchor device from the subcutaneous region and out through the same opening in the skin layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising adjusting the first and second flexible anchors of the anchor device to a withdrawal position that is different from the subcutaneously deployed position during withdrawal from the subcutaneous region and out through the same opening in the skin layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second flexible anchors are repeatedly movable between the first position and the subcutaneously deployed position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein maintaining the first and second flexible anchors in the subcutaneously deployed position comprises engaging a locking system of the anchor device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the anchor device is disposed on the skin layer proximate to an underlying vessel, and wherein the distal portion of the medical device is inserted through the opening in the skin layer and into the underlying vessel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second flexible anchors comprise a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel and nitinol. ### Claim 14 A method for securing a medical device relative to a skin opening that is occupied by the medical device, the method comprising: inserting a distal portion of a medical device through an opening in a skin layer and into a targeted body site; advancing first and second flexible anchors of an anchor device contemporaneously through the same opening in the skin layer and into a subcutaneous region under the skin layer while the flexible anchors are in a first position, wherein said first and second flexible anchors extend outwardly, each of the first and second flexible anchors terminating at a non-sharp tip, wherein the anchor device further comprises: a medical device retainer body including a longitudinal channel configured to releasably engage with an outer surface of an external portion of the medical device; and an anchor assembly contacting the retainer body and spaced apart from the channel of the retainer body; and moving the first and second flexible anchors from the first position to a subcutaneously deployed position in which a first free end of the first anchor and a second free end of the second anchor extend outwardly from one another in generally opposite directions and are configured to engage tissue along an underside of the skin. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein each of the first and second flexible anchors is deployable from a corresponding port along an exterior of the anchor device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising withdrawing the first and second flexible anchors of the anchor device from the subcutaneous region and out through the same opening in the skin layer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising adjusting the first and second flexible anchors of the medical device anchor device to a withdrawal position that is different from the subcutaneously deployed position during withdrawal from the subcutaneous region and out through the same opening in the skin layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the anchor assembly includes a longitudinal extender apparatus secured to the medical device retainer body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising actuating a rod of the longitudinal extender apparatus relative to the medical device retainer body so as to flexibly adjust the first and second flexible anchors from the first position to the subcutaneously deployed position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein when the first and second flexible anchors are positioned in the subcutaneously deployed position, a space between the tips of the first and second flexible anchors is greater than a space between the tips of the first flexible and second flexible anchors when the first and second flexible anchors are positioned in the first position.