Fastening system and method

A system for fastening a sponge to a suction tube, said sponge including two opposite ends, two opposite sides, and a top and a bottom face, said system comprising:

• (a) a membrane assembly including at least one body panel having an adhesive face, first and second end edges and opposite side edges;
• (b) said body panel comprising a flexible material;
• (c) a flexible sheath assembly having a generally tubular configuration with proximate and distal ends and a sheath passage extending therebetween, said sheath assembly having a split, open mouth at its proximate end with first and second sheath mouth tabs, said mouth tabs being directly fastened to said membrane assembly in proximity to said sheath assembly proximate end;
• (d) sponge fastening means for fastening said sponge to said body panel with a portion thereof between said sheath mouth tabs;
• and
• (e) sheath-to-tube fastening means for fastening the sheath to a suction tube.

A system for fastening a pair of elongated tubes proximate to a patients skin, which comprises:

• (a) a membrane assembly including at least one membrane panel having an adhesive face, first and second end edges and opposite side edges;
• (b) a sheath assembly having a generally tubular configuration, proximate and distal ends, and at least one sheath passage extending between said sheath ends, said sheath assembly comprising a flexible material;
• (c) said sheath assembly being secured directly to said membrane assembly in proximity to said sheath assembly proximate end;
• and
• (d) first and second sheath-to-tube fastening means each adapted for fastening a respective tube to said sheath assembly with at least one of said tubes at least partially inserted within said sheath passage.

A method of fastening a flexible tube proximate to a patient's skin, which comprises the steps of:

• (a) providing a membrane assembly including at least one membrane panel having first and second end edges, opposite side edges and an adhesive face;
• (b) providing a sheath with a generally tubular configuration and proximate and distal ends with a sheath passage extending therebetween, said sheath assembly comprising a flexible material;
• (c) adhesively securing the sheath directly to the membrane assembly;
• (d) fastening said membrane panel at its adhesive face to the patient;
• and
• (e) fastening the tube to the sheath, with said tube at least partially inserted within said sheath passage.

A method of fastening a sponge with first and second faces to a suction tube, which comprises the steps of:

• (a) providing a membrane assembly with at least one membrane panel having first and second end edges, opposite side edges and an adhesive face;
• (b) providing a flexible sheath assembly with a generally tubular configuration, proximate and distal ends and a passage extending therebetween;
• (c) fastening said sheath assembly directly to said membrane assembly in proximity to said sheath assembly proximate end;
• (d) placing at least a portion of said sponge adjacent said membrane assembly;
• (e) adhesively securing said membrane assembly panel to said sponge with said sponge fluidically communicating with said sheath;
• and
• (f) placing said suction tube at least partially within said sheath passage and attaching said