Device and method for supporting wound drainage systems

Abstract

A support and retention device for use in holding medical appliances, particularly wound drainage systems. The present invention comprises a soft, flexible material formed into a circle, spliced in a fashion that does not increase the diameter of the splice. An upper portion of the rope is placed around the wearer's neck, wherein a lower portion of the rope is gathered together to form a doubled length, and held together by a clasping means. A medical appliance may then be secured to the doubled length section of rope by a fastener, thereby securely supporting the medical appliance thereon.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates generally to medical devices, and more specifically to an apparatus and method for retaining wound drainage systems. The present invention is particularly suitable for retaining or supporting wound drainage systems, such as, for exemplary purposes only, HEMOVAC® or JACKSON PRATT® drains, comfortably and securely on a person without exerting painful forces on the drainage outlet in the body. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Current medical practice commonly provides for drainage of surgical wounds, wherein the drainage may be assisted by providing a slight vacuum to a drainage tube inserted through an incision into the body. Typically, a drainage outlet tube is inserted into the incision, wherein the vacuum device is connected to the outlet tube via plastic tubing. Although the plastic tubing is flexible, it must be relatively rigid to avoid collapsing under the negative pressure provided by the vacuum device, and to avoid kinkin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] Accordingly, a feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to securely retain a wound drainage device to the body of the wearer.

[0013] A further feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to be utilized with a variety of different wound drainage systems or other medical appliances to provide support therefor.

[0014] Another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to be positioned in different locations as the wearer desires.

[0015] Yet another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ease of manufacture and low cost of production.

[0016] Still a further feature and advantage of the present invention is that it can readily fit under a wearer's clothing.

[0017] Still another feature and advantage of the present invention is that it can be readily cleaned.

Problems solved by technology

Although effective in wound drainage, such devices present certain complications.

Specifically, any significant forces exerted on the outlet tube extending from the wound, or through the skin, can cause considerable pain to the patient, wherein such forces may be attributed to abrupt movement of the plastic tubing and drainage connected thereto.

However, even if the plastic tubing connected to the outlet tube is taped to the patient's body, conventional devices for supporting the tubing drainage container to the patient cause discomfort to the patient, as such devices typically have bumps, knots or protrusions therein that bear against the patient's body.

Additionally, since the patient is generally encouraged to become mobile soon after surgery, the plastic tubing is often times subjected to forces that may cause painful movements of the outlet tube within the wound.

Unfortunately, the pain encountered often discourages the patient from engaging in any desired movement.

Although various devices and methods are available for keeping objects close to a person while providing support therefor, such objects present obvious disadvantages that render their use / employ as support devices for wound drainage systems highly impractical and problematic.

Since such temporarily-used objects are utilized for short periods and are not usually utilized after surgery, there has been little reason to ensure that their carrying devices are particularly comfortable, and further, such carrying devices do not provide the requisite support necessary for medical appliances.

Many straps worn about the neck or body often require closure methods, such as knots or buckles that, due to their bulkiness, are uncomfortable to the wearer, particularly for patients who must wear their wound drainage system for an extensive period of time.

Other devices, such as harnesses, are highly complex, or possess straps with special fixtures attached to thereto, thus making such devices difficult to clean, and more susceptible to carrying infectious organisms.

While some or all of the above-referenced patents may well be utilized for supporting wound drainage systems, they do not adequately provide to the wearer a comfortable means for supporting the wound drainage system, and are overly complicated.

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