US 6,206,854 B1Granted

Catheter garment

OwnerKathleen M. Weaverinventor

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Abstract

A catheter garment for receiving and retaining an indwelling catheter near the exit site on the body. The garment comprises a flexible band member with a middle portion, upper and lower portions defining an inner surface and an outer surface, and end portions with adjustable fastening means e.g. hook and loop means. An elongated pouch for receiving and retaining the external tubing portion is affixed to the inner surface of the garment and places the external tubing portion in close proximity to the patient's body when the garment is being worn. The elongated pouch is made of a rectangular piece of material that is folded over and its longitudinal free edges are sewn together. The pouch is then sewn along its sewn longitudinal edges onto the inner surface of the flexible band member. The elongated pouch has opened ends along opposite sides of the pouch. One opened end is diagonally formed i.e. slanted to easily receive the capped end and the external tubing portion for support of the external tubing portion along its length within the pouch during use or non-use of the indwelling catheter.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A catheter garment for retaining an indwelling catheter to the body, wherein the indwelling catheter has a flexible internal tubing portion received within the body and a flexible external tubing portion with a free end extending from the exit site on the body and a capped end for connection of catheter means to means for the administration of fluids and/or medication into the flexible external tubing portion and/or the withdrawal of blood therefrom, said garment comprising:

a flexible band member having a first end portion and a second end portion, a middle portion disposed between said first end portion and said second end portion, and an upper portion and a lower portion defining an outer surface and an inner surface;
said flexible band member adapted to extend completely around the body to create a frontal portion and a back portion and wherein said first end portion and said second end portion of said band member each has adjustable fastening means for adjustably securing said flexible band member around the body;
said flexible band member further having an elongated pouch extending substantially along said inner surface adjacent to the body for receiving and retaining the external tubing portion of the indwelling catheter substantially along its length so that the external tubing portion is fully supported and in close proximity to the body;
said elongated pouch having a first opened end and a second opened end, each said first opened end and said second opened end extending between said upper portion and said lower portion of said flexible band member, whereby when said external tubing portion is received and retained in said elongated pouch said external tubing portion extends through at least said first opened end of said elongated pouch.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.