Sanitary support device for a medical instrument

Abstract

A sanitary support device ( 10 ) for holding medical instruments during a medical procedure. The device includes a receptacle ( 12 ) having a closed end ( 13 ) relatively isolated from the environment and an open end ( 15 ) adapted for passage of at least a portion of a medical instrument into its closed end, and a mounting member 30 ) or other support for mounting the receptacle adjacent the patient, e.g. to an item commonly found in hospital rooms, etc. The receptacle may be of a single- or multi-piece design. In a multi-piece design, a lower portion of the receptacle is fixed to the mounting member, and the upper portion of the receptacle is removably supportable thereon. The receptacle may include a notch ( 20 ) having sidewalls spaced for pinching the instrument's tube to disrupt a vacuum flow. A removable liner ( 40 ) may be held by the receptacle or a portion thereof to prevent cross-contamination among patients.

1 . A sanitary support device for containing and isolating a medical instrument in a substantially sanitary environment during the course of a medical procedure performed on a patient, said device comprising: 
 a receptacle having a first end substantially isolated from the environment and an open end adapted for passage of at least a portion of said medical instrument into said first end; and    means for mounting said receptacle adjacent to the patient.    
   
   
       2 . The sanitary support device of  claim 1 , wherein said first end of said receptacle is removably attached to said mounting means.  
   
   
       3 . A sanitary support device for containing and isolating a medical instrument in a substantially sanitary environment during the course of a medical procedure performed on a patient, said device comprising: 
 a receptacle having a first end substantially isolated from the environment and an open end adapted for passage of at least a portion of said medical instrument into said first end; and    a mounting member capable of supporting said receptacle.    
   
   
       4 . The sanitary support device of  claim 3 , wherein said first end comprises a closed end.  
   
   
       5 . The sanitary support device of  claim 3 , wherein said receptacle comprises a support member substantially permanently attached to said mounting member and wherein at least a portion of said first end is removably attached to said support member.  
   
   
       6 . The sanitary support device of  claim 3 , said receptacle comprising a notch adjacent said open end for limiting movement of the medical instrument relative to said receptacle.  
   
   
       7 . The sanitary support device of  claim 3 , wherein the medical instrument comprises a flexible vacuum tube, said receptacle comprising a notch adjacent said open end, said notch having sidewalls spaced for pinching the vacuum tube to at least partially disrupt a vacuum flow therethrough.  
   
   
       8 . A sanitary support device kit for providing a clean place of rest for a medical instrument, said sanitary support device kit comprising: 
 a receptacle having a first end substantially isolated from the environment and an open end adapted for passage of at least a portion of said medical instrument into said first end; and    a liner removably positionable within said receptacle.    
   
   
       9 . The sanitary support device kit of  claim 7 , wherein the medical instrument comprises a flexible vacuum tube, said receptacle comprising a notch adjacent said open end, said notch having sidewalls spaced for pinching the vacuum tube to at least partially disrupt a vacuum flow therethrough.  
   
   
       10 . A sanitary support device for receiving and supporting a medical instrument, said sanitary support device comprising: 
 a substantially tubular support member; and    a receptacle having a first end substantially isolated from the environment, said receptacle comprising a cantilevered tang defining a projection for mating with said support member;    whereby said receptacle is receivable by said support member to support the medical instrument.    
   
   
       11 . The sanitary support device of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a mounting member joined to said support member for mounting said receptacle.    
   
   
       12 . The sanitary support device of  claim 11 , wherein said mounting member comprises a substantially planar outwardly extending tongue.  
   
   
       13 . The sanitary support device of  claim 12 , wherein said tongue comprises a plate-like member.  
   
   
       14 . The sanitary support device of  claim 11 , wherein said mounting member comprises a hook.  
   
   
       15 . The sanitary support device of  claim 11 , wherein said mounting member comprises a clamp having a thumbscrew.  
   
   
       16 . The sanitary support device of  claim 15 , wherein said clamp is supported on an arm extending from said support member.  
   
   
       17 . The sanitary support device of  claim 16 , wherein said arm is extendible.  
   
   
       18 . The sanitary support device of  claim 10 , said receptacle comprising a bag-like flexible liner defining said first end.  
   
   
       19 . The sanitary support device of  claim 18 , wherein said liner is releasably joined to said receptacle.  
   
   
       20 . The sanitary support device of  claim 18 , said receptacle having an outer sidewall, an inner sidewall, and a bottom wall extending therebetween and defining a groove, said receptacle further comprising a retaining ring disposed in said groove to securely fix a portion of said liner therein.  
   
   
       21 . The sanitary support device of  claim 10 , wherein said support member defines an internal groove for receiving said projection.  
   
   
       22 . The sanitary support device of  claim 10 , wherein said first end comprises a closed end.  
   
   
       23 . A sanitary support device for containing and isolating a medical instrument in a substantially sanitary environment during the course of a medical procedure performed on a patient, said device comprising: 
 a receptacle having a first end substantially isolated from the environment and an open end adapted for passage of at least a portion of said medical instrument into said first end; and    a mounting member joined to said receptacle for mounting said receptacle adjacent to the patient.    
   
   
       24 . The sanitary support device of  claim 23 , wherein said first end comprises a closed end.  
   
   
       25 . The sanitary support device of  claim 23 , wherein said mounting member comprises a substantially planar outwardly extending tongue.  
   
   
       26 . The sanitary support device of  claim 25 , wherein said tongue comprises a plate-like member.  
   
   
       27 . The sanitary support device of  claim 23 , wherein said mounting member comprises a hook.  
   
   
       28 . The sanitary support device of  claim 23 , wherein said mounting member comprises a clamp having a thumbscrew.  
   
   
       29 . The sanitary support device of  claim 28 , wherein said clamp is supported on an arm extending from said receptacle.  
   
   
       30 . The sanitary support device of  claim 29 , wherein said arm is extendible.  
   
   
       31 . A method for containing and isolating medical instruments in a substantially sanitary environment during the course of a medical procedure performed on a patient, said method comprising: 
 providing, in proximity to a patient, a receptacle having a first end substantially isolated from the environment and an open end adapted for passage of at least a portion of said medical instrument into said first end;    passing at least a portion of said medical instrument into said open end of said receptacle after said medical instrument is used to perform a first portion of the medical procedure; and    removing said medical instrument from said open end of said receptacle before said medical instrument is used to perform a second portion of the medical procedure;    whereby said medical instrument is retained in a substantially sanitary environment while in said receptacle intermediate said first portion and said second portion of the medical procedure.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said medical instrument comprises a vacuum tube and said receptacle defines a notch having sidewalls spaced for pinching the vacuum tube to at least partially disrupt a vacuum flow therethrough, the method further comprising: 
 positioning the vacuum tube between said sidewalls to at least partially disrupt a vacuum flow through the vacuum tube.    
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said receptacle comprises a mounting member comprising a tongue, the method further comprising: 
 supporting said mounting member by positioning said tongue beneath a mattress of a bed.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said receptacle comprises a mounting member comprising a clamp having a thumbscrew, the method further comprising: 
 supporting said mounting member by advancing said thumbscrew against a pole positioned within said clamp.    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said receptacle comprises a mounting member comprising a clamp having a thumbscrew, the method further comprising: 
 supporting said mounting member by advancing said thumbscrew against a portion of a bed positioned within said clamp.