Anti-microbial tubing protection system

Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate to encasements for protection of central lines, arterial lines, and/or intravenous (IV) lines from contaminants, and methods of making and using the same. In some embodiments, an encasement device can include a flexible sleeve that fits over a central line and protects the central line from contaminants. The flexible sleeve has a first open end and a second open end. A first closing element secures the first open end to a medical dressing and a second closing element secures the second open end in a closed position at a location distal to the first closing element. In some embodiments, the central line can include an intravenous (IV) catheter, a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) and/or a hemodialysis line. In some embodiments, the device can include a flap coupled to the flexible sleeve.

1 . A device, comprising:
 a flexible sleeve sized to receive and enclose a set of one or more medical lines connected to a patient, the flexible sleeve having first and second ends and a flexible body extending between the first and second ends, the flexible sleeve including one or more antimicrobial agents disposed throughout an entire length of the flexible body;   a first closing element disposed at the first end of the flexible sleeve, the first closing element configured to selectively open and close the first end of the flexible sleeve; and   a second closing element disposed at the second end of the flexible sleeve, the second closing element configured to selectively open and close the second end of the flexible sleeve,   the first and second closing elements configured to open the first and second ends of the flexible sleeve such that the flexible sleeve can be placed around the set of medical lines,   the first and second closing elements configured to close the first and second ends of the flexible sleeve around the set of medical lines at the first and second ends of the flexible sleeve such that the flexible sleeve is configured to protect the set of medical lines from contaminants.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more antimicrobial agents include at least one of: a bioactive metal, silver, copper, zinc, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, an oligodynamic metal, a derived alloy of an oligodynamic metal, an ionized derivative of an oligodynamic metal, an organic antimicrobial, an organic moiety formed of one or more essential oils, an ionic polymer, an ionic oligomer, an ionic rubber, or an organometallic material. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more antimicrobial agents are embedded in the flexible sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more antimicrobial agents coat an inner and/or outer surface of the flexible sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more antimicrobial agents includes:
 a first antimicrobial agent that is embedded in the flexible sleeve; and   a second antimicrobial agent that coats an inner or outer surface of the flexible sleeve, the second antimicrobial agent being different from the first antimicrobial agent.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second closing elements includes an adhesive flange configured to attach to a dressing overlaying an insertion site and encircle the insertion site. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sleeve has an optical transmittance of at least about 50%. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sleeve is tinted with a prescribed color to indicate at least one of a type of the set of medical lines disposed therein or a characteristic of the patient. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sleeve is composed of at least one of:
 a naturally derived biopolymer, a synthetically derived biopolymer, polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), poly-(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate (PHBH), poly-(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV), polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), polybutylene succinate (PBS), a rubber, or a copolymer.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second closing elements includes at least one of: a resealable adhesive element configured to adhere to a surface of the flexible sleeve to close around the set of medical lines, or a drawstring configured to tighten to close around the set of medical lines and to secure the first or second end of the flexible sleeve relative to the set of medical lines. 
     
     
         11 . A device, comprising:
 a flexible sleeve sized to receive and enclose a set of one or more medical lines connected to a patient, the flexible sleeve having first and second ends and a flexible body extending between the first and second ends;   a first closing element disposed at the first end of the flexible sleeve, the first closing element configured to selectively open and close the first end of the flexible sleeve; a second closing element disposed at the second end of the flexible sleeve, the second closing element configured to selectively open and close the second end of the flexible sleeve,   the first and second closing elements configured to open the first and second ends of the flexible sleeve such that the flexible sleeve can be placed around the set of medical lines,   the first and second closing elements configured to close the first and second ends of the flexible sleeve around the set of medical lines at the first and second ends of the flexible sleeve such that the flexible sleeve is configured to protect the set of medical lines from contaminants; and   a perforation line formed in the flexible sleeve and extending along a longitudinal length of the flexible sleeve, the perforation line configured to allow the flexible sleeve to be opened along the longitudinal length of the flexible sleeve such that the flexible sleeve can be removed from the set of medical lines.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the perforation line is a first perforation line, the device further including:
 a second perforation line extending circumferentially around the flexible sleeve, the second perforation line configured to allow a first portion of the flexible sleeve to separate from a second portion of the flexible sleeve.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible sleeve has a length of at least about 5 centimeters. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second closing elements includes at least one of: a resealable adhesive element configured to adhere to a surface of the flexible sleeve to close around the set of medical lines, or a drawstring configured to tighten to close around the set of medical lines and to secure the first or second end of the flexible sleeve relative to the set of medical lines. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first and second closing elements includes an adhesive flange configured to attach to a dressing overlaying an insertion site and encircle the insertion site. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising a mechanical coupler or an adhesive disposed on an outside of the flexible sleeve, the mechanical coupler or the adhesive configured to extend between the flexible sleeve and a nearby structure or surface and to couple the flexible sleeve to the nearby structure or surface. 
     
     
         17 . A device, comprising:
 a flexible sleeve sized to receive and enclose a set of medical lines connected to a patient, the flexible sleeve having first and second ends and a flexible body extending between the first and second ends, the set of medical lines including a catheter terminating in one or more connectors and one or more lines configured to couple to the one or more connectors;   at least one closing element, the at least one closing element disposed at the first or second end of the flexible sleeve and configured to selectively open and close the first or second end,   the at least one closing element configured to open the first or second end of the flexible sleeve such that the flexible sleeve can be placed around the set of medical lines,   the at least one closing element configured to close the first or second end of the flexible sleeve around the set of medical lines at the first or second end of the flexible sleeve such that the flexible sleeve is configured to protect the set of medical lines from contaminants; and   a lateral opening closing element configured to reversibly close a lateral opening formed in the flexible body at a location near the one or more connectors, the lateral opening closing element configured to open to allow access to the one or more connectors and to close to protect the set of medical lines from contaminants.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the lateral opening closing element includes a flap including a first portion that is attached to or integrally formed with the flexible body and a second portion having one or more resealable surfaces configured to reversibly couple to an exterior surface of the flexible body of the flexible sleeve. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the flexible body has a resealable surface near the lateral opening that is configured to reversibly couple to the flap. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the lateral opening closing element includes a flap including a tab configured to be pulled to open the flap. 
     
     
         21 - 30 . (canceled)