Disposable, adjustable device for securing intravenous tubing to a bedrail

Abstract

A disposable device which secures tubing to a bedrail is disclosed. A mechanism for attaching and securing the disposable device is also disclosed. In today's hospitals, it is becoming apparent that the number of nosocomial infections or hospital acquired infections is growing. Thus, it is desired in the health care industry to have devices that can be disposable, cost effective, and easily used that can assist in decreasing these infections. Accordingly, an adjustable, disposable device which secures intravenous tubing to the bedrail as to assist in prevention of contamination of the tubing which may ultimately contaminate the insertion site of the catheter is proposed. The device will also assist in prevention of inadvertently pulling the intravenous catheter out of its insertion site. This will ultimately have the effect of decreasing infection by decreasing the number of times an intravenous catheter has to be inserted into the patient thereby, opening up the skin for microorganisms to potentially invade, while at the same time decreasing unnecessary pain to the patient.

1 . A device for securing intravenous tubing to a bedrail, comprising: 
 a larger bed-securer portion, forming a first aperture and having a first securing means, the bed-securer portion to be attached to a bedrail enclosed within the first aperture;    a smaller tubing-securer portion, forming a second aperture and having a second securing means, wherein the tubing-securer portion is affixed to the bed securer-portion, the tubing-securer portion to be attached to tubing enclosed within the second aperture;    and further wherein the sizes of the first and second apertures are manually adjustable through varying an attachment point of the first-and second-securing means, thereby accommodating a variety of sizes of bedrails and also tubing.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said device is composed of a cloth and/or plastic combination.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second securing means are velcro.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said device is disposable.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device permits horizontal movement of the intravenous tubing through the second aperture, along the axis of the bedrail.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device will assist in prevention of the intravenous catheters being accidentally pulled out.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device will assist in preventing the intravenous tubing from becoming inadvertently contaminated.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device will assist in preventing the tubing from becoming tangled underneath the bedrail.