WO2001015765A1

WO2001015765A1 - Protection device for peripherally inserted central catheters

Info

Publication number: WO2001015765A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/019650
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark Wilke
Original assignee: Mark Wilke
Priority date: 1999-08-27
Filing date: 1999-08-27
Publication date: 2001-03-08
Also published as: AU6240599A

Abstract

An apparatus to assist patients using peripherally inserted central catheters (5) on limbs or with other medically active sites on their bodies (1). A tubular sleeve (6) with at least one elastic braid or band (7) is placed around the patient's limb. The invention protects the catheter or other medical site from contamination and from snagging or pulling out. Various elastic materials may be used including elastic materials. The invention can be equipped with a zipper (9), Velcro® fasteners (10), or clip type fasteners (11). The invention can be made in different lengths and sizes as well as colors to fit different patients. The invention is not limited to humans and can also be used with animals.

Description

Protection Device for Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters

Technical Field

This invention relates generally to the field of protective devices and more particularly to a protective sheath or sleeve for use with peripherally inserted central catheters.

Background Art

Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) are devices commonly used by physicians to administer drugs to patients on a continuing basis. The PICC may be implanted into the patients vein for an extended interval. Drugs are either self-administered or are administered by medical personnel when the patient returns periodically to a medical facility or when medical personnel administer drugs at a patient's home. The PICC is a soft, flexible tube that can be inserted into a patients vein surgically.

Usually the site of implant is taped or otherwise protected from infection, and the PICC is equipped with an extendable plastic tube that can be used for drug administration. With prior art methods, there is a constant danger of pulling or otherwise interfering with this apparatus during normal daily activities or during sleep. This can lead to pain and danger of infection. In addition, normal activities can cause dirt or bacteria to enter the plastic tube if some special precaution is not taken to keep it sterile.

It is usual for medical personnel to supply a small mesh net with a PICC implant that ties to the arm at the top and bottom and holds the PICC line very loosely. This arrangement is very clumsy. Prior art methods have included restrictive garments mainly designed for children that actually prevent the patient from gaining any access to the PICC. Such a garment is bulky, hot, and difficult to put on. In addition, since it does not allow any access to the PICC, it must be removed, or at least opened completely, to administer drugs. This type of protection for the PICC is not desirable for an adult patient, especially a patient who must self-administer drugs.

What is badly needed is a protective method and apparatus for PICC devices that allows the patient freedom of movement, allows easy administration of drugs through the PICC, keeps the PICC clean, and prevents pulling on the PICC through normal daily activities. A sleeve device is ideal for this application since it can be made long or short for different seasons. It allows total freedom of movement, and it allows easy access for drug administration. A similar device could be used for a leg if for some reason a PICC was implanted on a leg.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus designed to be of assistance to patients using PICC's. The invention embodies a sleeve made of material or plastic, preferably elastic, that can slide over a patient's arm or leg to hold a PICC medical device firmly in place. Various embodiments of the invention have sleeves that open different ways to reach the PICC. Also various means of closure such as zippers and synthetic materials that adhere when pressed together can be used. An example of such material is a loop/hook combination sold under the trade name of "Velcro" (it should be noted that when the term "Velcro" is used in this application, it refers to any product with pieces that adhere when pressed together).

The invention consists of a sleeve-like tube that may be slightly tapered with the larger diameter at the bottom. The tube may be used on an arm or leg. The tube can have elastic braids attached by sewing or other attachment means, or a zipper. The braids or zipper is used to make sure that the device fits snugly to the arm or leg where the PICC is located.

The sleeve-like tube of the invention can be constructed of various lengths and widths to fit different size arms or legs, and can optionally be made of an elastic stretch type cloth. The invention can be slid up the arm or leg, or wrapped around the arm or leg and tied or zipped up. Several embodiments of the invention are equipped with openings that open downward from the upper end to allow for access to a medical line into the PICC. Such openings could optionally open from the bottom.

The invention can also be used to protect other arm or leg treatments such as sutures, scrapes, etc. The inven- tion can be dyed various colors to make it more attractive to purchase or to match attire for various situations or uses such as dress-up, garden work, etc.

Brief Description of the Drawings

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should now be made to the embodiments illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying drawings and described below by way of examples of the invention, and in which:

Figure 1 shows a PICC inserted into a patients vein with the tube in an extended position.

Figure 2 shows a PICC inserted into a patients vein with the tube looped up.

Figure 3 shows a long sleeve embodiment of the invention with with a zipper .

Figure 4 shows a long sleeve embodiment of the invention without an opening.

Figure 5 shows a short sleeve embodiment of the invention with a zipper.

Figure 6 shows a shot sleeve embodiment of the invention without an opening.

Figure 7 shows a long sleeve embodiment of the invention with a Velcro opening.

Figure 8 shows a long sleeve embodiment of the invention with a snap seal.

It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Figures 1 and 2 show the use of a PICC. The patient (1) has an implant device (3) in his arm (2) at the site of a vein. The PICC uses a plastic tube (4) and a means of administering medication (5). Figure 1 depicts the entire assembly in the extended state ready for the administration of medication. Figure 2 shows the same PICC except that the plastic tube (4) is coiled up alone the patient's arm (2). The medication means (5) is also placed close to the patient's arm (2). This is the normal, or non-administration state. This is the state the assembly is found in most of the time. It is this state where the danger of snagging, pulling, or contaminating the assembly or the implant site or device is high.

Figure 3 shows a long sleeve embodiment of the inven- tion. A sleeve (6) of material which can be elastic, cloth, or any other durable material, is cut to form a sleeve that fits over a human arm or leg. Since the dimensions of people's arms or legs vary, the invention can be made in many different sizes including different lengths and widths. At each end of the sleeve, a braid strip (7), (8) which can be rubberized elastic can be attached to the sleeve. This braid strip causes the sleeve to fit snugly and prevents it from moving up or down or from turning. The bottom braid strip (8) can be a different diameter than the top braid strip (7). A preferred diameter for the bottom braid strip (8) for a human arm is around 1 inch; however, this can vary considerably with different size sleeves. A preferred diameter for the top braid strip (7) for a human arm is around 3/4 inches; however this can vary considerably with different size sleeves. While many lengths are possible, a preferred length for a human arm is around 14 inches.

The embodiment of Figure 3 also contains a zipper (9) attached into the material of the sleeve (6). The zipper allows easy access to the PICC tubing for the administration of medication. While the zipper can be any length, the preferred length of the zipper on a long sleeve for a human arm is around 7 inches.

Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the invention which is a long sleeve with no zipper or other means of opening. This embodiment is simply formed into an elastic sleeve (6) that holds the PICC in place or covers and protects a wound, splint, or other medical site on an arm or leg. To get to a PICC with this embodiment, the patient must either remove the sleeve or pull it down (or up) out of the way.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the invention with short sleeves. It is very similar to the long-sleeve embodiment. This embodiment is move convenient for short sleeve shirts and summer wear. The preferred length of the short sleeve version is around 9 inches for a human arm; however, this may vary considerably with different sizes of the device. The embodiment in Figure 5 also contains a zipper (9). Again, while this zipper can be any length, the preferred length of the zipper for the human arm is around 7 inches as with the long sleeve embodiment.

Figure 6 shows a short sleeve embodiment similar to that shown in Figure 5 except there is no opening. As with the embodiment of Figure 4, the material is simply formed as a sleeve (6). Again, to get at a PICC or the site, the patient must either remove the sleeve or pull it down (or up) out of the way.

Figure 7 shows an embodiment of the long sleeve ver- sion of the invention that uses a Velcro seal (10) attached to the sleeve material (6). A Velcro seal (or any press- -together seal) has the advantage over a zipper in that it is easier to open. This may be desirable for a patient who has trouble opening a zipper. While the Velcro seal can be any convenient length, the preferred length for the human arm is around 7 1/2 inches long.

Figure 8 shows an embodiment of a long sleeve version of the invention that uses a set of snaps (11) attached to the sleeve material (6). Snaps can be made of any material, but may times are polymer material sold under the tradename "Nylon" (it should be noted that when the term "Nylon" is used in this application, it refers to any polymer material having properties similar to the material sold by DuPont Corporation under the trademark "Nylon"). The set of snaps can be any length, but the preferred length for a human arm is around 7 1/2 inches. Snaps can also be made of metal, plastic, or other strong material. Snaps, zippers, velcro seals, and any press-together seal, as well as any other type of seal, can be generically described as closing devices.

The embodiments of Figures 7 and 8 can also be made as short sleeve embodiments previously described. As before, the preferred length of the short sleeve for the human arm is around 9 inches while the preferred length of the long sleeve embodiment is around 14 inches; this can vary con- siderably with different sizes of the invention. It should be noted that there is no preferred width since many different widths can be made to fit different arms or legs. The invention is generally made in different sizes to fit different individuals exactly like a garment.

The invention is not restricted to human beings, but rather can also be used on animals . The invention is particularly useful for animals since they have more of a tenancy than humans to twist or pull the PICC or to get dirt in the area of the site.

Claims

1. A protection apparatus for protection of a site under medical treatment comprising:

a site under medical treatment on a patient ' s body;

a tubular sleeve adapted to fit a human limb, said sleeve fitting over said site under medical treatment, said sleeve protecting said site;

at least one braid strip attached to said tubular sleeve said braid strip acting to secure said sleeve on said limb.

2. The protection apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a zipper running lengthwise on said sleeve for access to said site under medical treatment.

3. The protection apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a press-together seal running lengthwise on said sleeve for access to said site under medical treatment.

4. A protection device for a peripherally inserted central catheter on a patients arm the device comprising:

a tapered tubular sleeve of length between 9 and 14 inches with an upper and lower end, said sleeve adapted to fit a human arm, said upper end around 3/4 inch in diameter; said lower end around 1 inch in diameter, with said sleeve fitting over said catheter, said sleeve protecting said catheter;

a first braid strip attached to said upper end and a second braid strip attached to said lower end, said braid strip acting to secure said sleeve to the arm;

a slit in said sleeve between from 6 to 8 inches in length running lengthwise along said sleeve beginning near said upper end;

a closing device closing said slit and providing access to said catheter.

5. The protection device of claim 4 wherein said closing device is a zipper.

6. The protection device of claim 4 wherein said closing device is a press-together seal.

7. The protection device of claim 6 wherein said press— together seal is Velcro.