Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for the sanitary removal of an indwelling tube from an implantation site of a patient while isolating the tube and the implantation site from an environment thereabout, comprising: a container having an aperture that can receive an exterior portion of the indwelling tube therethrough to engage a bottom portion of said container in sealing contact with the patient about the implantation site; an extensible impervious membrane folded within said container and being in sealing contact therewith, said membrane being arranged to form an open sleeve for receiving the tube and being coextensible therewith during withdrawal of the tube; means for placing said sleeve in sealing contact with the tube; and means for closing said aperture to enclose the removed tube in said sleeve; whereby the tube can be withdrawn through said aperture into said coextending sleeve, and the free end of the tube remains accessible to an operator as the tube is withdrawn.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for the sanitary removal of an indwelling tube from an implantation site of a patient while isolating the tube and the implantation site from an environment thereabout, comprising: a container having an aperture that can receive an exterior portion of the indwelling tube therethrough to engage a bottom portion of said container in sealing contact with the patient about the implantation site; an extensible impervious membrane folded within said container and being in sealing contact therewith, said membrane being arranged to form an open sleeve for receiving the tube and being coextensible therewith during withdrawal of the tube; means for placing said sleeve in sealing contact with the tube; and means for closing said aperture to enclose the removed tube in said sleeve; whereby the tube can be withdrawn through said aperture into said coextending sleeve, and the free end of the tube remains accessible to an operator as the tube is withdrawn.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for closing comprises a plastic film that adheres to said bottom portion of said container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for placing comprises a tie attached proximate a free end of said sleeve.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
178 words
An apparatus for the sanitary removal of an indwelling tube from an implantation site of a patient, while isolating the tube and the implantation site from an environment thereabout, comprising: an annular container having an aperture that can receive an exterior portion of the indwelling tube therethrough to engage a bottom portion of said container in sealing contact with the patient about the implantation site; an extensible impervious membrane disposed in said container and being in sealing contact therewith, said membrane being arranged to form an open sleeve about the tube; a tie attached proximate a free end of said sleeve to enclose a portion of the tube therein and for excluding a free end of the tube from said enclosed portion, so that the free end of the tube is accessible to an operator; and means for closing said aperture to enclose the removed tube in said sleeve; whereby the tube can be withdrawn through said aperture into said sleeve, and the tube and the implantation site are isolated from an environment when the tube is withdrawn.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
178 words
An apparatus for the sanitary removal of an indwelling tube from an implantation site of a patient, while isolating the tube and the implantation site from an environment thereabout, comprising: an annular container having an aperture that can receive an exterior portion of the indwelling tube therethrough to engage a bottom portion of said container in sealing contact with the patient about the implantation site; an extensible impervious membrane disposed in said container and being in sealing contact therewith, said membrane being arranged to form an open sleeve about the tube; a tie attached proximate a free end of said sleeve to enclose a portion of the tube therein and for excluding a free end of the tube from said enclosed portion, so that the free end of the tube is accessible to an operator; and means for closing said aperture to enclose the removed tube in said sleeve; whereby the tube can be withdrawn through said aperture into said sleeve, and the tube and the implantation site are isolated from an environment when the tube is withdrawn.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said means for closing comprises a plastic film that adheres to said bottom portion of said container.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for the sanitary removal of an indwelling tube from an implantation site in a patient, comprising the steps of: folding a flexible impervious membrane into an annular container in sealing contact therewith; passing an exterior portion of the indwelling tube through an aperture of said annular container to engage a bottom portion of said container with the implantation site; sealing a free end of said membrane about an exterior wall of the tube proximate an end thereof to enclose a portion of the tube therein, a free end of the tube remaining accessible to an operator; and simultaneously withdrawing the tube and coextending said membrane to form a sleeve thereabout; and closing said aperture to enclose said withdrawn tube.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for the sanitary removal of an indwelling tube from an implantation site in a patient, comprising the steps of: folding a flexible impervious membrane into an annular container in sealing contact therewith; passing an exterior portion of the indwelling tube through an aperture of said annular container to engage a bottom portion of said container with the implantation site; sealing a free end of said membrane about an exterior wall of the tube proximate an end thereof to enclose a portion of the tube therein, a free end of the tube remaining accessible to an operator; and simultaneously withdrawing the tube and coextending said membrane to form a sleeve thereabout; and closing said aperture to enclose said withdrawn tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said step of sealing said free end of said membrane is performed with a tie.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said step of closing said aperture is performed with an adherent plastic film.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of connecting said free end of the indwelling tube to an external drainage tube after said step of passing said exterior portion of the indwelling tube through said aperture.