Intravenous catheter anchoring device

Abstract

An intravenous catheter anchoring assembly is disclosed and includes a patient-contacting membrane, a platform, and a retaining strap for securing a catheter or tubing of an administration set to a patient. The strap is attached to the platform with adjustable pull-tabs that permit a variety of catheter shapes and sizes to be secured. The strap is also elastomeric so that the strap is stretchable and thereby grabs the secured catheter. The strap and platform further define a plurality of passageways that permit the catheter to be secured in a plurality of non-aligned directions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An intravenous catheter anchoring device for securing a catheter to a patient, wherein the catheter includes a distal section configured to be at least partially inserted into the patient and a proximal section, said device comprising:
 a platform including a base and a plurality of connectors, said base forming at least part of an internal surface, said internal surface including a trough to receive said catheter; and   a retaining strap cooperating with said internal surface of said platform to define a catheter-receiving passageway configured to receive a portion of said catheter with said proximal and distal sections projecting outwardly therefrom, said retaining strap comprising an elastomeric body, said body including spaced apart pull-tabs each being removably attached to a corresponding one of said connectors, with said body being elastically stretched when said catheter portion is received in said passageway wherein said catheter is gripped and thereby axially retained by said device.   
     
     
         2 . The intravenous catheter anchoring device as in  claim 1 , wherein said retaining strap is less rigid than said platform, so that said platform substantially retains its shape when said elastomeric body is elastically stretched to receive said catheter in said passageway. 
     
     
         3 . The intravenous catheter anchoring device as in  claim 1 , wherein said retaining strap is formed of a first material and said platform being formed of second material, said first material having greater elasticity than said second material. 
     
     
         4 . The intravenous catheter anchoring device as in  claim 1 , wherein said elastomeric body is configured so that strain varies along the length thereof when said body is elastically stretched. 
     
     
         5 . The intravenous catheter anchoring device as in  claim 1 , wherein said elastomeric body includes a stretch portion and a pull-tab, said elastomeric body being configured so that said stretch portion undergoes greater strain than said pull-tab when said body is elastically stretched. 
     
     
         6 . The intravenous catheter anchoring device as in  claim 5 , wherein said stretch portion is centrally located to partially define said catheter-receiving passageway, said pull-tab being removably attached to said platform. 
     
     
         7 . The intravenous catheter anchoring device as in  claim 1 , wherein said trough has an arcuate shape and forms at least part of said internal surface. 
     
     
         8 . The intravenous catheter anchoring device as in  claim 7 , wherein said arcuate trough includes opposite ends, said arcuate trough sloping downwardly toward one of said ends thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The intravenous catheter anchoring device as in  claim 8 , wherein said base comprises a stop adjacent said one of said ends so as to resist axial movement of said catheter along said trough in the direction of said stop. 
     
     
         10 . The intravenous catheter anchoring device as in  claim 1 , wherein said trough is configured to extend at least partly around said catheter. 
     
     
         11 . The intravenous catheter anchoring device as in  claim 1 , wherein said trough has a maximum cross-sectional dimension, and wherein said base includes a tubing catch projecting inwardly relative to said maximum cross-sectional dimension so as to releasably retain said catheter within said trough. 
     
     
         12 . The intravenous catheter anchoring device as in  claim 11 , wherein said trough has an arcuate cross-sectional shape, and wherein said trough extends about an arc equal to or less than about 180 degrees, said tubing catch extending radially inward relative to said arc. 
     
     
         13 . The intravenous catheter anchoring device as in  claim 11 , wherein said base includes a plurality of troughs and tubing catches. 
     
     
         14 . An intravenous catheter anchoring device for securing a catheter to a patient, wherein said catheter includes a distal section configured to be at least partially inserted into said patient and a proximal section, said device comprising:
 a platform configured for removable attachment to said patient, said platform having a base and a connector, said base forming at least part of an internal surface, said internal surface including a trough to receive said catheter; and   a retaining strap cooperating with said platform to define a catheter-receiving passageway configured to receive a portion of said catheter with said proximal and distal sections projecting outwardly therefrom, said retaining strap comprising an elongated flexible body having spaced apart opposite ends, one of which is coupled to said platform and the other which is removably attached to said connector, said flexible body including a plurality of discrete attachment locations spaced along the length of said flexible body, with each of said attachment locations being releasably connectable to said connector, said catheter-receiving passageway having an adjustable cross-sectional dimension that varies depending upon which attachment location is connected to said connector.   
     
     
         15 . The intravenous catheter anchoring device as in  claim 14 , wherein said trough has an arcuate shape. 
     
     
         16 . The intravenous catheter anchoring device as  claim 15 , wherein said arcuate trough includes opposite ends, said arcuate trough sloping downwardly toward one of said ends thereof, with said base including a stop adjacent said one of said ends so as to resist axial movement of said catheter along said trough in the direction of said stop. 
     
     
         17 . The intravenous catheter anchoring device as in  claim 14 , wherein said trough is configured to extend at least partly around said catheter, and wherein said trough has a maximum cross-sectional dimension, said base including a tubing catch projecting inwardly relative to said maximum cross-sectional dimension so as to releasably retain said catheter within said trough. 
     
     
         18 . The intravenous catheter anchoring device as in  claim 17 , wherein said trough has an arcuate cross-sectional shape extends about an arc equal to or less than about  180  degrees, said tubing catch extending radially inward relative to said arc. 
     
     
         19 . An intravenous catheter anchoring device for securing a catheter to a patient, wherein said catheter includes a distal section configured to be at least partially inserted into said patient and a proximal section, said device comprising:
 a platform including a base and a plurality of connectors, said base forming at least part of an internal surface, said internal surface including a trough to receive said catheter; and   a retaining strap cooperating with said plurality of connectors to define a plurality of non-aligned catheter-receiving passageways, each being configured to receive a portion of said catheter with said proximal and distal sections projecting outwardly therefrom, said passageways cooperatively providing multiple catheter orientations relative to said device, said platform and strap being intercoupled at least at more than two coupling locations, said platform and strap cooperatively defining a plurality of catheter-receiving openings, each of which is between adjacent ones of said coupling locations, each of said passageways extending between a corresponding pair of catheter-receiving openings.   
     
     
         20 . The intravenous catheter anchoring device as in  claim 19 , wherein said trough forms a portion of said catheter-receiving passageways.