Endo-tracheal tube securement system
AssigneeVenetec International, Inc.
InventorsSteven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for securing an endo-tracheal tube or other medical article in position upon a patient includes a head contact member, retainer, and attachment members which can be adjustably attached between the head contact member and the retainer. The retainer may include a bite block. Certain embodiments of the head contact member have a concave shape which follows a portion of the patient's skull and may have a rigid or flexible structure. The attachment member attaches to the retainer which grips the endo-tracheal tube or other medical article.
Claims19
An endo-tracheal tube securement system comprising:
- a head contact member having a strap and at least four attachment members extending from the strap, the strap forming a closed shape, the closed shape being disposed behind ears of a patient when the head contact member is secured to the head of the patient;
- and
- a retainer having a posterior facing surface, a channel and a plurality of securing locations disposed on each side of the channel, the channel being configured to receive a portion of the endo-tracheal tube so as to inhibit movement of the endo-tracheal tube relative to the retainer, and the posterior facing surface being configured to inhibit movement of the retainer into the patient's mouth,
- wherein the at least four attachment members are configured to attach to the plurality of securing locations so as to secure the endo-tracheal tube to the head contact member.
A securement system comprising:
- a head contact member comprising a flexible strap in the form of a closed loop, the loop being sized to receive a portion of the skull of a patient such that the strap encircles at least the lambda of the skull, the loop being sized to prevent the skull from passing through the loop;
- a plurality of securement straps attached to the head contact member;
- and
- a retainer attached to the plurality of securement straps and configured to receive a portion of a medical article so as to inhibit movement of the medical article relative to the retainer.
A method comprising:
- providing a retainer having a first portion and second portion separate from the first portion at least when in an open position, the second portion releasably engaging the first portion when in a closed position;
- moving the retainer to the closed position so as to clamp an endo-tracheal tube between the first portion and the second portion;
- and
- using attachment locations superior to and inferior to the midline of the lips to secure the retainer to the patient's head, at least one of the attachment locations being disposed on the first portion of the retainer and at least another of the attachment locations being disposed on the second portion of the retainer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.