Post surgical drain receptacle support system

A support device for use with a drainage receptacle connected to a postoperative surgery patient comprising:

• a belt shaped to be worn about the abdomen, thorax, thigh or head of a wearer;
• a pocket having an internal cavity shaped to receive a surgical drainage receptacle, said pocket having a back panel, a front panel, and a gusset, said back panel made of a relatively non-abrasive material and having padding positioned therein such that pressure from a receptacle carried in said cavity is distributed about said back panel, said gusset being attached between said front panel and said back panel, said panels and said gusset forming said cavity, a hinge having a fixed end and a free end and forming a crotch attached to said front panel, said free end having a closure for releasably attaching said free end to said front panel wherein said fixed end of said hinge is positioned on said front panel below said free end of said hinge such that said crotch can support excess slack from a tube connected to a surgical drainage receptacle when said free end of said hinge is attached to said front panel, wherein said back panel also includes a loop for slidably receiving said belt, said loop being shaped to hold said pocket against said belt such that said belt is below an upper surface of said back panel, herein said pouch is held against a wearer such that a carried receptacle is held in a substantially upright position.

A support device for use with a drainage receptacle connected to a postoperative surgery patient comprising:

• a belt shaped to be worn about the abdomen of a wearer made of an elastic material having a non-abrasive surface, said belt having a plurality of loops attached in a spaced array to an end thereof, and complementary strips of hook and loop material attached to an opposite end of said belt, wherein said opposite end can be inserted though a selected one of said loops and can be folded over on itself to engage said strips of hook and loop material, thereby fastening said belt;
• at least one pocket shaped to retain no more than a single mastectomy drainage bottle having an internal cavity, said pocket having a front panel, a back panel, and a gusset having upper edges positioned substantially evenly, said panels and said gusset defining said cavity and said edges defining a mouth for said cavity, a hinge having a fixed end and a free end and forming a crotch attached to said front panel, said free end having a closure for releasably attaching said free end to said front panel, wherein said fixed end of said hinge is positioned on said front panel below said free end of said hinge such that said crotch can support excess slack from a tube connected to a surgical drainage receptacle when said free end of said hinge is attached to said front panel, wherein said back panel further including a loop made of a relatively non-abrasive material having a top surface positioned substantially evenly with said panel upper edges for slidably receiving said belt, said loop being unitary with said back panel, and both said loop and said back panel having padding therein such that pressure from a receptacle carried in said cavity is distributed about said loop and said back panel, said loop shaped to hold said pocket against said belt such that said belt is below said upper edge of said back panel, wherein said pocket is held against a wearer such that a carried receptacle is held in a substantially upright position.

A method for supporting a post operative surgical drainage receptacle comprising the steps of:

• selecting an adjustable belt shaped to be worn about the abdomen of a wearer;
• selecting at least one pocket, said pocket having a front panel a back panel and a gusset made of a relatively non-abrasive material and having padding positioned therein such that pressure from a receptacle carried in said cavity is distributed about said back panel, a hinge having a fixed end and a free end and forming a crotch attached to said front panel, said free end having a closure for releasably attaching said free end to said front panel, wherein said fixed end of said hinge is positioned on said front panel below said free end of said hinge such that said crotch can support excess slack from a tube connected to a surgical drainage receptacle when said free end is attached to said front panel and said back panel also includes a loop for slidably receiving said belt, said loop being shaped to hold said pocket against said belt such that said belt is below an upper surface of said back panel, wherein said pocket is held against a wearer such that a carried receptacle is held in a substantially upright position;
• slidably mounting said pocket on said belt;
• fastening said belt around the abdomen of a post operative patient;
• inserting a surgical drainage receptacle into said pocket;
• and
• gathering excess slack from a drainage tube attached to said drainage receptacle into a bundle, positioning said bundle in said crotch of said hinge and releasably closing said free end of said hinge to said front panel.