US5702371A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tube fitting anchoring system
Assignee: Venetec International Inc
•
Filing: 1995-04-27
•
Granted: 1997-12-30
•
Expires: 2015-04-27
Abstract
Abstract A tube fitting anchoring device is provided to securely anchor a catheter and fluid supply tube interconnection to a patient's skin. The anchoring device comprises a retainer which is configured to receive a tube fitting in a variety of positions. The tube fitting interconnects the catheter and the fluid supply tube. The anchoring system additionally includes a flexible, adhesive anchor pad which supports the retainer. In one embodiment, the tube fitting includes two parallel generally tubular segments interconnected by a transverse member. The retainer also includes at least two parallel channels interconnected by a transverse channel. The channels are sized to receive the generally tubular segments of the tube fitting in a snap-fit manner, with the transverse channel also receiving the transverse member of the tube fitting in a snap-fit fashion. In this manner, the retainer holds the generally tubular segments of the tube fitting within the channel and prevents longitudinal, transverse and vertical movement of the tube fitting tubular segments.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven F. Bierman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:18
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/02; A61M39/00; A61M39/10; A61M39/1011; A61M2025/024; A61M2039/1077; A61M2209/00; A61M2209/08; A61M2209/088; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
An anchoring device for securing a tube fitting to a patient, the tube fitting including at least first and second generally tubular segments interconnected by a transverse member, said anchoring system comprising a retainer which includes at least first and second channels, each channel being formed at least in part by two arcuate walls at least one of which deflects to receive one of the generally tubular segments of the tube fitting within said channel and returns to a generally undeflected state to hold the tube fitting tubular segment in said channel, and a transverse channel which intersects and extends through one of said walls of each of said channels, said transverse channel being configured to receive the transverse member of the tube fitting with said first and second channels receiving the first and second generally tubular segments of the tube fitting.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
An anchoring device for securing a tube fitting to a patient, the tube fitting including at least first and second generally tubular segments interconnected by a transverse member, said anchoring system comprising a retainer which includes at least first and second channels, each channel being formed at least in part by two arcuate walls at least one of which deflects to receive one of the generally tubular segments of the tube fitting within said channel and returns to a generally undeflected state to hold the tube fitting tubular segment in said channel, and a transverse channel which intersects and extends through one of said walls of each of said channels, said transverse channel being configured to receive the transverse member of the tube fitting with said first and second channels receiving the first and second generally tubular segments of the tube fitting.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
An anchoring device as in claim 1 additionally comprising a flexible anchor pad having an adhesive bottom surface, which is adapted to attach to a patient's skin, and a top surface on which said retainer is mounted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
An anchoring device as in claim 2, wherein said anchor pad has a medial segment and at least one pseudopod connected to said medial segment, said pseudopod including a an arm extending from said medial segment and having a proximal end connected to said medial segment and a distal end positioned distally from said medial segment, said proximal end being narrower than said distal end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
An anchoring device as in claim 1, wherein said first and second channels lie generally parallel to each other with said transverse channel extending generally perpendicularly to said first and second channels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
An anchoring device as in claim 4, wherein said channels have equal lengths.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An anchoring device as in claim 1, wherein said first and second channels are configured to be mirror images of each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
An anchoring device as in claim 6, wherein said retainer has a generally symmetrical configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
An anchoring device as in claim 1, wherein the first generally tubular segment forms a portion of a tubular port of the tube fitting and the second generally tubular segment forms a clip which has a cylindrical shape truncated along a longitudinal side, said first and second channels configured to receive either the tubular segment of the tubular port or the clip in a snap-fit manner.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
An anchoring device as in claim 1, wherein said retainer has a curved bottom surface of a radius of curvature generally approximating that of a dorsal surface of the patient's hand.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
An anchoring device as in claim 1, wherein said arcuate walls which form each of said channels comprise a medial wall and a lateral wall, said lateral walls being deflectable and said medial walls being positioned such that said transverse channel extends through said medial walls.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
An anchoring device as in claim 10, wherein lateral wall has a greater height than said corresponding medial wall.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
An anchoring device as in claim 10, wherein the axes of said first and second channels lie between a bottom surface of said retainer and an upper end of said corresponding medial wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
An anchoring device as in claim 10, wherein an arcuate surface of said lateral wall extends through an arc of greater than 90° about an axis of said corresponding channel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
An anchoring device as in claim 13, wherein an upper end of an arcuate surface of said medial wall lies below the level of an upper end of said arcuate surface of said lateral wall.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
An anchoring device as in claim 14, wherein said upper end of said arcuate surface of said lateral wall lies below the level of an upper end of said medial wall.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
An anchoring device as in claim 15, wherein said lateral wall includes a vertical segment which extends from said upper end of said arcuate surface of the lateral wall to a point above the upper end of the medial wall.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
An anchoring device as in claim 15, wherein said upper end of said arcuate surface of said medial wall lie generally within a plane defined by the axes of said first and second channels.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
An anchoring device as in claim 15, wherein said medial wall includes a vertical segment which extends from said upper end of said arcuate surface of said medial wall to a transition point, said transition point being below the level of said upper end of said arcuate surface of said lateral wall.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
An anchoring device as in claim 18, wherein said medial wall includes an upper rounded end which extends above said transition point to said upper end of said medial wall.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
An anchoring device as in claim 17, wherein a bottom surface of said transverse channel lies below the level of said plane defined by the axes of said first and second channels.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
An anchoring device as in claim 1, wherein surfaces of said first and second channels defined by said corresponding arcuate surfaces extend through an arc of greater than 200° about an axis of said respective channel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
An anchoring device as in claim 1, wherein said retainer is configured to allow connectors on the ends of the tube fitting to be rotated with the generally tubular segments of the tube fitting positioned within said first and second channels of said retainer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
An anchoring device as in claim 22, wherein said retainer includes a central portion between said channels, said central portion having a greater width than the length of said channels.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
An anchoring device as in claim 1, wherein said transverse channel has generally a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
An anchoring device as in claim 24, wherein said transverse channel has a bottom surface and an upper opening, said bottom surface having a width greater than that of said opening.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
An anchoring device as in claim 25, wherein said transverse channel includes upper chamfered edges above said upper opening which converge toward said upper opening.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
111 words
An anchoring device for securing a tube fitting to a patient, the tube fitting including at least first and second generally tubular segments interconnected by a transverse member, said anchoring system comprising a retainer which includes at least first and second channels, each channel being configured to receive at least a portion of one of said generally tubular segments, and a transverse channel which intersects and extends through a wall of each of said channels, said transverse channel being configured to receive the transverse member of the tube fitting in a snap-fit manner with said first and second channels receiving the first and second generally tubular segments of the tube fitting.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
111 words
An anchoring device for securing a tube fitting to a patient, the tube fitting including at least first and second generally tubular segments interconnected by a transverse member, said anchoring system comprising a retainer which includes at least first and second channels, each channel being configured to receive at least a portion of one of said generally tubular segments, and a transverse channel which intersects and extends through a wall of each of said channels, said transverse channel being configured to receive the transverse member of the tube fitting in a snap-fit manner with said first and second channels receiving the first and second generally tubular segments of the tube fitting.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
An anchoring device as in claim 27, wherein said transverse channel has generally a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
An anchoring device as in claim 28, wherein said transverse channel has a bottom surface and an upper opening, said bottom surface having a width greater than that of said opening.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
An anchoring device as in claim 29, wherein said transverse channel includes upper chamfered edges above said upper opening which converge toward said upper opening.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
50 words
An anchoring device as in claim 27, wherein at least one of said first and second channels is configured to receive one of the first and second generally tubular segments of the tube fitting in a manner encompassing the generally tubular segment through an arc of greater than about 180°.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
195 words
A method of anchoring medical tube fitting, which has at least first and second generally tubular segments interconnected by a transverse member, said method comprising the steps of: providing a retainer comprising a transverse channel configured to receive said transverse member and two parallel channels each of which is configured to receive one of said generally tubular members of the tube fitting in a snap-fit manner; providing a flexible anchor pad attached to said retainer, said anchor pad comprising an adhesive bottom surface which is adapted to attach to a patient's skin; adhering said anchor pad to a patient's skin proximate to an indwelling catheter, said catheter having a proximal end; connecting the proximal end of said catheter to the tube fitting; inserting the first generally tubular segment of the tube fitting into one of said retainer parallel channels until the first tubular segment seats within said channel; and inserting the second generally tubular segment of the tube fitting into a second parallel channel of said retainer until the second tubular segment seats within said channel, while simultaneously inserting said transverse member into said transverse channel until the transverse member snaps into said transverse channel.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
195 words
A method of anchoring medical tube fitting, which has at least first and second generally tubular segments interconnected by a transverse member, said method comprising the steps of: providing a retainer comprising a transverse channel configured to receive said transverse member and two parallel channels each of which is configured to receive one of said generally tubular members of the tube fitting in a snap-fit manner; providing a flexible anchor pad attached to said retainer, said anchor pad comprising an adhesive bottom surface which is adapted to attach to a patient's skin; adhering said anchor pad to a patient's skin proximate to an indwelling catheter, said catheter having a proximal end; connecting the proximal end of said catheter to the tube fitting; inserting the first generally tubular segment of the tube fitting into one of said retainer parallel channels until the first tubular segment seats within said channel; and inserting the second generally tubular segment of the tube fitting into a second parallel channel of said retainer until the second tubular segment seats within said channel, while simultaneously inserting said transverse member into said transverse channel until the transverse member snaps into said transverse channel.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 32, wherein inserting the first tubular segment into said channel involves snapping said the first tubular segment into said channel.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 32, wherein inserting the second tubular segment into said channel involves snapping said second tubular segment into said channel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2525398A
Cited
US2533961A
Cited
US2748766A
Cited
US3064648A
Cited
US3245567A
Cited
US3167072A
Cited
US3394954A
Cited
US3556096A
Cited
US3686896A
Cited
US3630195A
Cited
US3920001A
Cited
US3677250A
Cited
US3766915A
Cited
US3906946A
Cited
US3973565A
Cited
DE2341297A1
Cited
US3856020A
Cited
US3900026A
Cited
US3942228A
Cited
US4037599A
Cited
US4161177A
Cited
US4059105A
Cited
US4113307A
Cited
US4082094A
Cited
US4133312A
Cited
US4114618A
Cited
US4142527A
Cited
US4316461A
Cited
US4129128A
Cited
US4116196A
Cited
US4123091A
Cited
USD256162S
Cited
US4224937A
Cited
US4397647A
Cited
US4362156A
Cited
US4250880A
Cited
GB2063679A
Cited
US4324236A
Cited
US4405163A
Cited
US4326519A
Cited
GB2086466A
Cited
US4392853A
Cited
US4449975A
Cited
US4453933A
Cited
US4480639A
Cited
USD273993S
Cited
US4516968A
Cited
EP0114677A2
Cited
US5344414A
Cited
US4752292A
Cited
US4474559A
Cited
US4563177A
Cited
US4585435A
Cited
EP0169704A1
Cited
US4955864A
Cited
US4660555A
Cited
US5037397A
Cited
US4633863A
Cited
US4711636A
Cited
US4834702A
Cited
US4838858A
Cited
EP0247590A2
Cited
US4863432A
Cited
USD302304S
Cited
EP0263789A1
Cited
US4742824A
Cited
US4826486A
Cited
US4997421A
Cited
US4792163A
Cited
US4834716A
Cited
US4795429A
Cited
US4880412A
Cited
US4934375A
Cited
US4981469A
Cited
US4852844A
Cited
US4932943A
Cited
US4857058A
Cited
US4919654A
Cited
EP0356683A1
Cited
EP0367549A2
Cited
US4898587A
Cited
US4897082A
Cited
US5527293A
Cited
US4966582A
Cited
US5084026A
Cited
US5456671A
Cited
US5192273A
Cited
USD323390S
Cited
US4976700A
Cited
US5484425A
Cited
US5395344A
Cited
US5382240A
Cited
US5380294A
Cited
US5192274A
Cited
US5135506A
Cited
US5147322B1
Cited
US5147322A
Cited
US5468228A
Cited
US5470321A
Cited
US5382239A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-12-29 | 2001-06-30 | 2001-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-29 | 2005-06-30 | 2005-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-29 | 2009-06-30 | 2009-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |