GB2335344A

GB2335344A - A medical support band

Info

Publication number: GB2335344A
Application number: GB9805899A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eileen Shirley Rogers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-03-20
Filing date: 1998-03-20
Publication date: 1999-09-22
Also published as: GB9805899D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a medical support band 1, for support of medical equipment, such as tubing T and adaptor A, attached or depending from the human body. The support band includes a length of material, securable about a body part, such as the waist, an arm, or another appendage. The band is formed with a pocket or pockets 7 and 8, in which the medical equipment may be held and secured when not in use. The band may be formed from a material, such as tubular elasticated bandage, that allows the skin to breathe, preventing irritation.

Description

1 A Medical Support Band 2335344 This invention relates to a medical

support band, and, in particular, a medical support band, preferably in the form of a belt, adapted or made to hold and secure medical equipment attached or depending from the human body.

In the treatment of the human body to overcome certain ailments and conditions it is sometimes advantageous to attach or fit permanent or semi-permanent adaptors for the infusion of drugs and or nutrients.

This provides the doctors with a common and well fitted dedicated site for the administering of the necessary treatments while reducing significantly the number of intrusions into the human body. In the treatment of children it is not uncommon for the child to be fitted with a feeding tube for the supply of nutrients and food directly to the stomach for digestion. These feeding tubes are commonly referred to as 11PEG1s11 and include a length of tubing that is fitted directly to the stomach at one end and with a heavy adaptor at the other end for fitting to a feeding station.

Once fitted the PEG is simply allowed to hang free in front of the child with the adaptor weighing down the tubing and dragging it towards the floor with all the potential hazards and health risks that it presents to a boisterous playing child. The PEG is not of insignificant length and it is not unforeseeable for the child to accidently step on or otherwise catch the PEG as they are playing and dislodging or damaging the PEG in some way. Should the PEG become damaged or dislodged it will require refitting and that may entail surgery with all the distress and worry that causes. As well as the costs involved.

When it comes to protecting the PEG it is not 2 unknown for a doctor to suggest that the PEG be tucked into the child's nappy to prevent damage being caused. As will be appreciated this is not a very hygienic solution leading to potential sources of infection to an already sick child.

The present invention is concerned with providing a simple and easy means whereby the PEG or other medical equipment attached or depending from the human body can be protected in a hygienic fashion, and so reduce the number of times that refitting will be required.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a medical support band for supporting medical equipment attached or depending from the human body, which support band includes a length of material securable about the human body and having formed therein a pocket or pockets in which the medical equipment may be held and secured.

The medical support band is securable about any part of the human body such as the waist or an arm or other appendage.

The above mentioned form of the support band has been developed with small children in mind and those fitted with feeding tubes (PEGs) in particular in which case the band will probably be fitted about the waist of the child. The band provides means which enable the adaptor and the tubing of the PEG to be tucked away in a safe, hygienic and convenient place but at the same time enable quick and easy retrieval. The use of the band in effect moves the equipment out of the way of the child, particularly important when the child is playing and helps to prolong the life of the PEG. So reducing the need for the refitting of the PEG and burden and cost pressure on the welfare services.

i 1 3 is The band may be formed from any suitable material. That being any material that can be formed into the required shape and has sufficient resilience to keep that shape when in use. However having said this there are other factors that need to be considered and in this case as the band is intended to be worn the day through or at least for extended periods comfort is one of these factors. Sources of considerable discomfort are sweat and rubbing of the band against the skin. The factor of comfort becomes more important when the band is being provided for use with small children as small children tend to discard any clothing that they find to be uncomfortable.

Accordingly, the preferred materials for the band are those which allow the skin to breathe so that the area under the band stays substantially dry and prevents a build-up of sweat that may cause irritation. Further the material should be fairly soft and pliable in order to avoid any rub type injuries or irritation.

In one embodiment the band is formed from a web like material, such as an elasticated bandage type material. The factors which one would consider with regard to the comfort of a bandage to the skin will equally apply to the choice of the material for the band. Therefore the use of materials which have already been adapted and developed for use with the human body is advantageous as they are likely to be human compatible and have all the necessary features to make the band comfortable to wear.

In one arrangement of the present invention the band may be formed from a tubular web like material and in this case the pocket or pockets can be formed between the two sides of the web like material by the provision of an opening through one side of the tubular material. In an alternative arrangement the pocket or pockets can be provided as separate attachments to the band.

4 Further, the band may be formed from an elasticated material. This material could then be used to help keep the band in place when the band is being used. However in the use of elasticated materials the degree to which the material is elasticated should not be so high as to cause irritation to the wearer. It would be useful if the material had some resilience/elastication in order to enhance the gripping of the material to the skin and therefore the surety with which the band is held in place.

In one embodiment of the present invention the band is preferably in the form of a belt adapted to be fitted about the waist.

In one particular arrangement the band is a belt and is formed from a strip of material which is provided with fastening means at the ends of the strip to enable the belt to be fixed and secured in position. Alternatively the belt or band could simply be a stretch type fitted band or belt.

The fastening means can be any form of fastening means. However again the need for comfort and unobtrusiveness of the fastening means needs to be considered as well as the fact that preferably the band or belt is washable and thereby re-usable. In one particular embodiment of the present invention the fastening means may be VELCRO (VELCRO is a Registered Trade Mark of Selectus Ltd.) strips. Velcro strips are easily affixed and they are of a nature such that when used on a band to be worn by a child they do not provide a means by which the child can injure themselves should they fall or tumble.

The invention will now be illustrated, by way of description of an example of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

is Figure 1 shows a plan view of a medical support band made in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the support band of Figure 1 with one end folded back for clarity.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a medical support band 1, in the form of a belt, suitable for fitting about the waist of a child. The belt 1 is suited for holding and securing tubing T and the adaptor A of a PEG (shown in dotted lines on Figure 1) and so keep them out of the way of the child as they play.

The belt 1 is formed from a web like material. In this particular example TUBIGRIP elasticated bandage (TUBIGRIP is a Registered Trade Mark of Seton Healthcare Group plc) is used and the belt has a tubular like construction. Consequently the belt 1 has a body side la and an obverse side 1b (Figure 2).

The belt 1 comprises a length of material 2 with VELCRO (VELCRO is a Registered Trade Mark of Selectus Ltd) fastening means 3 being fitted at the ends 4 & 5. At the end 4 the fastening means 3 is fitted to the obverse side 1b of the belt whilst and at the end 5 the fastening means 3 is fitted to the body side la of the belt.

Further at the end 5 of the material an opening 6 is provided in the obverse side of the belt 1 and pockets 7 and 8 are formed between the body side la and the obverse side 1b of the material.

In use the belt 1 is simply laid around the child's waist and secured in position by means of the fastening means 3. The material of the elasticated bandage has a little give providing enhanced holding of the belt to the 6 skin but at the same time the elastic nature of the material is not so great as to cause discomfort to the child. with the belt 1 fitted the child is able to walk and move about quite freely while the tubing and adaptor of the PEG is tucked neatly and safely away in the pockets.

It will of course be appreciated that although the description has identified a need to provide the invention for children, the belt may be provided in a range of sizes to fit any patient.

The above example is provided for the sake of illustration and should not be regarded as limiting on is the invention and the scope of protection sought.

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Claims

1. A medical support band for supporting medical equipment attached or depending from the human body, which support band includes a length of material securable about the human body and having formed therein a pocket or pockets in which the medical equipment may be held and secured.

2. A medical support band as claimed in claim 1, wherein the band is in the form of a belt adapted to be fitted about the waist.

3. A medical support band as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the band is a belt and is formed from a strip of material which is provided with fastening means at the ends of the strip to enable the belt to be fixed and secured in position.

4. A medical support band as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fastening means may be VELCRO strips.

5. A medical support band as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the band is a stretch fitted band or belt.

6. A medical support band as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the band is formed from a material which can be formed into the required shape and has sufficient resilience to keep that shape when in use.

7. A medical support band as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the band is formed from a material which allows the skin to breathe so that the area under the band stays substantially dry and prevents a build-up of 35 sweat that may cause irritation.

8 8. A medical support band as claimed in claim 7, wherein the material is soft and pliable.

9. A medical support band as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the band is formed from a web like material.

10. A medical support band as claimed in claim 9, wherein the web like material is an elasticated bandage 10 type material.

11. A medical support band as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the band is formed from a tubular web like material and the pocket or pockets are formed between the two sides of the web like material by the provision of an opening through one side of the material.

12. A medical support band as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the pocket or pockets are 20 provided as separate attachments to the band.

13. A medical support band as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the band can be secured about the waist or an arm or other appendage of the human body.

14. A medical support band as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the band or belt is washable and thereby re-usable.

15. A medical support band substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

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