Catheter retaining means and method

Claim 1

A catheter retaining means for a surgically implanted catheter having an internal tubing portion received within the body and an external tubing portion with a free end extending from an exit site on the body comprising a band of flexible material having an outer surface and an inner surface for being received and secured about the body and covering the exit site of an implanted catheter for protecting the site of the body, the inner surface of the band overlying and retaining in a position proximate to and along the surface of the body the external tubing portion of the catheter as it extends from the exit site, the band having an opening extending between its outer and inner surfaces sized to snugly receive therethrough the external portion of the catheter and a pocket overlying the outer surface and the opening for receiving into the pocket through the opening at least a part of the external tubing portion and its free end for storage therein, the pocket covering and concealing the opening of the band while allowing the removal therefrom of the free end and part of the external tubing portion of the catheter for placing it in use while the retaining means remains about the body and over the exit site, the pocket having an opening displaced from and unaligned with the opening of the band for allowing the removal from the pocket of the free end and part of the external tubing portion of the catheter for placing it in use and for replacing same into the pocket for storage when not in use, and the band having a substantially elongated configuration with first and second ends and attachment means for detachably securing together its ends for maintaining the band in position about the body and over the exit site of the body and external tubing portion of the catheter as it extends from the exit site.