US 6,447,485 B2 · Medical line anchoring system

Abstract

An anchoring system includes a simply-structured device which permits a portion of a catheter tube or similar medical article to be easily anchored to a patient, desirably without the use of tape or needles and suturing. A unitary retainer desirably includes a base connected to a cover by way of a flexible hinge. The retainer is attached to a flexible anchor pad including an adhesive bottom surface, which can be attached to the patient's skin. A catheter is secured to a fitting, which in turn mounts to the retainer. Mounting the fitting to the retainer can be accomplished by inserting posts of the retainer through holes of the fitting, or by mounting the fitting within a channel defined by mounting structures integral to the retainer. The cover is then positioned over the base, by bending the flexible hinge, and latched to the base. Several embodiments of the latching mechanism are disclosed. In one form, the latching mechanism includes one or more posts on the base which can be releasably locked into corresponding slotted holes in the cover.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method of securing a medical device to the body of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a retainer including a base that defines a receiving area for receiving a portion of the medical device, a cover permanently coupled to the base, the cover being movable between a closed position, in which at least a portion of the cover extends over at least a portion of the receiving area, and an open position, in which the receiving area is at least partially open, a latching mechanism operating between the base and the cover to releasably latch the cover to the base with the cover in the closed position, and interacting structure which is adapted to engage the medical device in a non-occlusive manner and to limit longitudinal movement of the medical device through the retainer when the medical device is placed within the receiving area;
positioning the retainer on the body of the patient;
attaching the retainer to the body of the patient with an adhesive layer;
securing a portion of the medical device in the receiving area of the base;
moving the cover over the base so that the cover is located over at least a portion of the interacting structure;
and
securing the cover in position upon the base using the latching mechanism.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Medical line anchoring system

Life of this patent

Medical line anchoring system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22