GB2172806A - Limb supporting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A neonatal armboard for supporting a patient's extremity for arterial or intravenous care comprises a substantially rigid body (12), adapted to matingly engage a patient's limb, including a core member (20) constructed of substantially rigid lightweight material, which can be flexed and thus anatomically shaped to accommodate the contours of the patient's limb, and an outer covering (22) of foam material which encloses core (20) to cushion the patient's limb. Resilient straps (14), (16) hold the patient's limb in position on body (12). Releasable contact fastening member (18) is affixed along the underside of body (12) for securing straps (14), (16) thereto. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Lim# su apparatus This invention relates to limb supporting devices which may be used, for example, to support and position the leg, forearm or wrist of a newborn or small paediatric patient for administering arterial or intravenous therapy.

In caring for newborn or small paediatric patients, it is often necessary to provide arterial therapy or to infuse the patient with intravenous fluids. It is important in such therapy that the patient's limb, i.e., forearm, leg or wrist, be properly supported and immobilized to easily receive and start the arterial or intravenous line. A continuing need thus exists for an economic, convenient and effective apparatus for supporting a neonatal patient's limb for such therapy.

Traditionally, arterial and intravenous lines have been administered by putting the patient's arm on an improvised armboard formed by a flat piece of rigid cardboard or wood and securing the patient's arm thereto with strips of adhesive tape. Towels or other padding materials have been positioned beneath the patient's wrist to properly support the wrist to receive and start arterial or intravenous lines. The padding materials are removed once the line has been started. Such prior techniques were tedious and utilized the time of valuable hospital personnel who would otherwise be free to perform other duties. In addition, the materials used in constructing such armboards are not always readily available and are relatively costly.

The traditional armboards, moreover, often do not properly position the patient's limb to receive the line and are often uncomfortable for the patient.

Because prior armboards have not normally been shaped to accommodate the contours of the patient's limb, a relatively hard surface is presented.

In addition, adhesive tape used in combination with various armboards to secure the arm board to the patient's limb has tended to abrade hair and skin in the contact areas and has frequently caused adverse skin reactions.

The present invention seeks to obviate the disadvantages associated with the traditional armboards by providing an apparatus for supporting a patient's limb to receive an intravenous or arterial line comprising: a substantially rigid body adapted to matingly engage with the patient's limb; said body including a substantially rigid core member and a resilient outer covering surrounding and enclosing said core member; and releasable fastening means for attaching said body to the patient's limb to provide immobilizing support to the limb and the arterial or intravenous line.

The invention may be embodied in an armboard which can be readily and inexpensively manufactured. In such an embodiment of the invention, resilient foam straps replace costly and skin damaging adhesive tape to secure the patient's limb to the support. The straps effectively immobilize the patient's limb and thus prevent undesirable flexing ofthe limb which may result in disconnection of the arterial or intravenous line. The support includes a core of substantially rigid material to ensure appropriate support and armboard rigidity but which can be flexed to conform to the contours of the patient's limb to properly position the patient's limb for accurate and effective handling of the arterial or venous puncture.

The support also includes an outer covering of soft foam material to cushion the patient's limb and thus provide a soft comfortable support which minimizes skin irritation. Because the support can be contoured to fit the shape of the patient's limb, the limb is supported in a comfortable and relaxed position.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is particularly useful as a neonatal armboard for supporting and immobilizing the forearm, leg or wrist of a newborn or small paediatric patient for providing arterial or intravenous therapy. The apparatus is designed to support the child's forearm, leg or wrist in a relaxed position which allows for accurate and efficient starting of an arterial or intravenous line.

More specifically, the neonatal armboard of the preferred embodiment of the invention includes a body having a core of substantially rigid, lightweight material, preferably aluminium, which can be flexed and thus anatomically shaped to accommodate the contours of a patient's limb and to position the limb at the proper angle for accurate and efficient handling of the arterial or venous puncture. The body also includes an outer covering of foam material which encloses the core to cushion the patient's limb and thus provide a soft comfortable support which also minimizes the risk of skin irritation. Resilient straps adapted to be releasably secured to the body are provided to attach the body to the patient's limb and thus immobilize the patient's limb.

Because the apparatus totally supports the patient's limb, the nurse's or other medical professional's hands are free to start the arterial or intravenous line. Costly materials, e.g., adhesive tape, are eliminated and accurate efficient handling results in fewer expensive restarts.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a neonatal arm board constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the neonatal armboard of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the neonatal armboard of FIGURE 1 illustrating positioning of the child's forearm on the device; FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the neonatal armboard of FIGURE 1 illustrating the placement of straps to hold the patient's limb in position on the device; FIGURE 5 is a bottom view of the neonatal armboard of FIGURE 1; and FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the neonatal armboard of FIGURE 1 when in use.

Referring now to the Drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the views, FIGURE 1 is a perspective representation of the neonatal armboard embodying the invention. The support 10 includes a substantially rigid body 12 adapted to matingly engage the limb, i.e., forearm, leg or wrist of a newborn or small paediatric patient and to support the patient's limb in a substantially relaxed position for arterial or intravenous care. Support 10 also includes a pair of resilient straps 14 and 16 for holding the patient's limb in position on body 12. At least the inside surfaces of straps 14 and 16 are contact fastening surfaces and may be of various resilient contact fastening materials, e.g., pile fabric.

A releasable contact fastening member 18 is affixed along the underside of body 12 for securing straps 14 and 16 thereto. Contact fastening member 18 may be of various materials, for example, materials sold under the trademark "VELCRO", which grip the pile fabric of straps 14 and 16.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of body 12. As shown in FIGURE 2, body 12 comprises a core member 20 and an outer covering member 22 surrounding and enclosing core member 20. Core member 20 is constructed of substantially rigid, lightweight material which can be flexed and thus anatomically shaped to accommodate the contours of a patient's limb and to position the limb at the proper angle for accurate and efficient handling of the arterial or venous puncture. In the preferred embodiment, core member 20 is constructed of aluminium.

Covering 22 is preferably constructed of foam material and surrounds and encloses core member 20 as shown in FIGURE 2 to cushion the patient's limb once the limb is positioned on support 10.

Covering 22 thus provides a soft comfortable supportwhich also minimizes the risk of skin irritation. As best seen in FIGURE 1,covering 22 comprises two layers of foam material joined together by stitching along the peripheral edges thereof as to enclose core member 20 therebetween.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the initial positioning of the patient's limb on support 10 to start an arterial or intravenous line 24. Straps 14 and 16 are firmly wrapped around the patient's limb and affixed on the undersurface of support 10 to contact fastening member 18 as shown in FIGURE 4 to thus secure the patient's limb to the support thereby also immobilizing the limb and preventing undesirable flexing which can result in accidental disconnection of arterial or intravenous line 24.

FIGURE 5 illustrates the technique by which straps 14 and 16 are releasably secured to body 12 by pressing the straps against contact fastening member 18 located on the underside of body 12.

Straps 14 and 16 may be removed and relocated as desired.

FIGURE 6 illustrates the neonatal armboard in use and shows the patient's limb immobilized and the arterial or intravenous line held in the desired position by the armboard.

In summary, a neonatal armboard has been disclosed to support a patient's limb in a comfortable and relaxed position for arterial or intravenous therapy. The support includes a core of substantially rigid lightweight material which can be flexed and thus anatomically shaped to accommodate the contours of a patient's limb and to position the limb at the proper angle for accurate and efficient handling of the arterial or venous puncture. The body also includes an inner covering of foam material which surrounds and encloses the core to cushion the patient's arm and thus provide a soft comfortable support which also minimizes the risk of skin irritation. Resilient straps secure the patient's limb comfortably so that the arterial or intravenous line can be started and maintained. The straps additionally immobilize the patient's limb to eliminate undesirable flexing and the need for restarts.

Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the

Claims (7)

1. appended claims.

   CLAIMS 1. An apparatus for supporting a patient's limb to receive an intravenous or arterial line comprising: a substantially rigid body adapted to matingly engage with the patient's limb; said body including a substantially rigid core member and a resilient outer covering surrounding and enclosing said core member; and releasable fastening means for attaching said body to the patient's limb to provide immobilizing support to the limb and the arterial or intravenous line.
2. 2. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprise contact engaging means having first and second engaging portions, the first portion being fixedly secured to the underside of the body and the second portion including at least one strap, said strap being detachable from said body.
3. 3. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said fastening means include a first strap positioned to retain the patient's limb against a forward portion of the body and a second strap positioned to restrain a portion of the patient's limb against the rear portion of the body.
4. 4. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1-3 wherein said core member is constructed of a substantially rigid, lightweight material which can be flexed and thus anatomically shaped to accommodate the contours of the patient's limb and to position the limb at the proper angle for accurate and efficient handling of the arterial or intravenous puncture.
5. 5. The apparatus of Claim 4 wherein said core member is constructed of aluminium.
6. 6. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1-5 wherein said resilient outer covering comprises foam rubber material.
7. 7. An apparatus for supporting a patient's limb to receive an intravenous or arterial line substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.