Mark H Wilke

US Patent:

20010034505, Oct 25, 2001

Filed:

Dec 19, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/741557

Inventors:

Mark Wilke - Bolingbrook IL, US

International Classification:

A61M005/32
A61F013/15
A61F013/20
A41D001/00
F41H001/00
G21F003/02
A62B017/00
A61F005/37
A61F013/00

US Classification:

604/179000, 604/358000, 604/385030, 604/385240, 604/386000, 604/391000, 604/392000, 604/402000, 002/455000, 128/846000, 128/878000, 128/882000

Abstract:

A catheter protector designed to be of assistance to patients using a Peripherally insterted central catheter. The catheter is inserted into a vein in the patients arm, usually at the elbow. The catheter has an attached tube which is usually pinched off. The protector can be an elastic tubular sleeve with a zipper or other attachment means at its lower end running longitudinally to a point one-half to three-quarters of the way up the bottom half of the tube. The zipper or attachment is opened, and the sleeve is slipped over the catheter. The attached tube can then be coiled up inside the sleeve and the zipper closed. The device protects the site and tube against pulling and contamination. The zipper or attachement can be opened any time to administer drugs or replace the catheter. The device can optionally contain an inner plastic layer with an optionally inner layer of gauze to further protect the insertion site. The invention can be worn 24 hours a day including wear during bathing.