Stretchable Sleeve and Wrap for Protecting and Securing Catheter Dressings and Tubes on a Patient

Abstract

An easily removable, non-irritating stretchable sleeve or chest wrap for protecting and securing a PICC line or chest catheter tubing and cap extending externally from the insertion point. The sleeve or chest wrap is easily attached to a patient's arm or body, securing the small length of the external PICC line or the central venous catheter, protecting the tubing and cap from external contaminants, and allowing easy access to the PICC line or the central venous catheter for administration of drugs or nutrients, and access for blood draws. This sleeve allows the patient freedom of movement and is comfortable enough to prevent skin irritation over long-term usage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective sleeve for an intravenous needle inserted into a vein in a patient's arm, wherein a short length of tube extends from the intravenous needle and comprises a cap on a distal end, the protective sleeve comprising: a stretchable tubular member having a first end with a first opening, a second end with a second opening, a substantially flat internal surface, a substantially flat external surface, a lumen substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis, wherein the patient's arm is slidably placed within the sleeve through the first opening through the lumen and then through the second opening such that a portion of the arm is contained within the sleeve and extends through both openings, further wherein the sleeve is positioned on the arm over the insertion point of the intravenous needle; the sleeve further comprising a slit opening between the internal and external surfaces that is positioned proximate to the intravenous needle insertion point, wherein the tube extending from the intravenous needle is placed through the slit opening; the sleeve comprising a substantially flat strap disposed on the external surface, distal from the slit opening, wherein the strap comprises a first end and a second end that are both attached to the external surface of the sleeve, further wherein a central portion of the strap is unattached to the external surface of the sleeve, further wherein the tube extending from the intravenous needle is placed underneath the strap; and the sleeve further comprising a substantially flat pocket disposed on external surface, distal from the strap, wherein the pocket comprises a pocket opening, further wherein the distal end of the tube extending from the intravenous needle is placed into the pocket through the pocket opening; wherein the slit opening, the strap and the pocket secure the tube extending from the intravenous needle to the sleeve and the patient's arm. 
     
     
         2 . The subject invention discloses a method of protecting a short length IV catheter tube in a patient's arm, comprising the steps of: inserting the catheter into a patient's vein near an elbow, the catheter attached to the short length IV catheter tube; covering the insertion site with a bandage; sliding a sleeve over the patient's arm, wherein the sleeve comprises a stretchable cylindrical housing having a proximal end, a distal end, a substantially flat internal surface, a substantially flat external surface, an internal cavity passing through the proximal end to define a proximal opening, and further passing through the distal end to define a distal opening, wherein the patient's arm is slidably placed within the sleeve through the distal opening through the cavity and then through the proximal opening such that a portion of the arm is contained within the sleeve and extends through both openings; positioning the sleeve on the patient's arm over the insertion point; placing the short length IV catheter tube through a narrow opening on the sleeve between the internal and external surfaces; placing the short length IV catheter tube underneath a substantially flat strap disposed on the external surface of the sleeve, distal from the narrow opening, wherein the strap comprises a first end and a second end that are both attached to the external surface of the sleeve, further wherein a central portion of the strap is unattached to the external surface of the sleeve; placing the distal end of the short length IV catheter tube into a substantially flat pocket disposed on external surface of the sleeve, distal from the strap, wherein the narrow opening, the strap and the pocket prevent the IV catheter tube from contacting the patient's skin; and removing the distal end of the short length IV catheter tube whenever necessary for administration of medication or nutrients into the tube. 
     
     
         3 . The protective sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the protective sleeve applies inward compression force that is applied over the internal surface of the sleeve to the patient's arm without inhibiting circulation of the patient's arm. 
     
     
         4 . The protective sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the protective sleeve applies inward compression force such that the compression force maintains that sleeve on the patient's arm and secures the short length of tube extending from the intravenous needle without any additional fasteners. 
     
     
         5 . The protective sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the protective sleeve does not contain a fastener selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, buttons, clamps, brackets, buckles, magnets, snaps, tie straps, tape layers, or adhesives. 
     
     
         6 . The protective sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the protective sleeve must be slid or rolled onto the patient's arm. 
     
     
         7 . The protective sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein tubular member comprises a unitary piece. 
     
     
         8 . The protective sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein tubular member comprises a substantially equal diameter from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         9 . The protective sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein tubular member comprises a cross-sectional shape of the sleeve selected from the group consisting of substantially circular and substantially elliptical. 
     
     
         10 . The protective sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the protective sleeve is wearable on either arm of a patient. 
     
     
         11 . The protective sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the protective sleeve further comprises a flexible substantially transparent window that traverses the external and internal surfaces of the sleeve. 
     
     
         12 . The protective sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the slit opening, the strap and the external pocket are all substantially parallel with each other. 
     
     
         13 . The protective sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises a fabric that is non-irritating to the skin. 
     
     
         14 . The protective sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises a fabric that is selected from the group consisting of natural fibers, such as cottons, wools, silks, twills, cloths and bamboo; man-made fibers such as polyesters, nylons, tencels, viscose; and any combination of natural or man-made fibers and weaves. 
     
     
         15 . A chest wrap for a central venous catheter inserted into a vein in a patient's chest, wherein the short length of tube extends from the central venous catheter and comprises a cap on a distal end, the chest wrap comprising: a stretchable substantially flat member having a first end with a first fastener, a second end with a second fastener, a substantially flat internal surface, a substantially flat external surface, an internal lumen between the internal surface and the external surface, wherein the chest wrap is wrapped around a patient's chest and the first fastener is attached to the second fastener to form a loop such that a portion of the chest is contained within the looped chest wrap, further wherein the chest wrap is positioned on the chest over the insertion point of the central venous catheter; the chest wrap further comprising a first slit opening between the internal surface and the internal lumen that is positioned proximate to the central venous catheter insertion point, wherein the tube extending from the central venous catheter is placed through the first slit opening into the internal lumen, further wherein the tube extending from the central venous catheter is wrapped around the torso of the patient; the chest wrap further comprising a second slit opening between the internal lumen and the external surface, wherein the tube extending from the central venous catheter is placed through the second slit opening onto the external surface; the chest wrap further comprising a third slit opening between the external surface and the internal lumen, wherein the tube extending from the central venous catheter is placed through the third slit opening into the internal lumen; the chest wrap further comprising a substantially flat strap disposed on the external surface, wherein the strap comprises a first end and a second end that are both attached to the external surface of the chest wrap, further wherein a central portion of the strap is unattached to the external surface of the chest wrap, further wherein the tube extending from the central venous catheter is placed underneath the strap within the internal lumen; wherein the first, second and third slit openings, and the strap secure the tube extending from the central venous catheter to the chest wrap and the patient's chest. 
     
     
         16 . The chest wrap of  claim 15 , wherein the chest wrap applies inward compression force that is applied over the internal surface of the chest wrap to the patient's chest without inhibiting circulation of the patient's chest. 
     
     
         17 . The chest wrap of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second fasteners may be selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, buttons, clamps, brackets, buckles, magnets, snaps, tie straps, tape layers, and adhesives. 
     
     
         18 . The chest wrap of  claim 15 , wherein the substantially flat member of the chest wrap comprises a unitary piece. 
     
     
         19 . The chest wrap of  claim 15 , wherein the chest wrap comprises a fabric that is non-irritating to the skin. 
     
     
         20 . The chest wrap of  claim 15 , wherein the chest wrap comprises a fabric that is selected from the group consisting of natural fibers, such as cottons, wools, silks, twills, cloths and bamboo; man-made fibers such as polyesters, nylons, tencels, viscose; and any combination of natural or man-made fibers and weaves.