GB2396550A

GB2396550A - A medico-surgical pack

Info

Publication number: GB2396550A
Application number: GB0326317A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Gostelow
Original assignee: Smiths Group PLC
Current assignee: Smiths Group PLC
Priority date: 2002-11-14
Filing date: 2003-11-12
Publication date: 2004-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 2023-11-12
Also published as: GB2396550B; GB0326317D0; GB0226518D0

Abstract

A pack comprises a generally planar surface with a number of pockets 122-127 for specific items 152-157 thereon, each pocket being associated with a representation of the use to which its respective item is intended and the order in which the items may be used as a group. The pockets may be arranged in sequence in the order in which their contents are intended to be used. The representation may be graphical. The pack may comprise puncture-resistant material. The pack may comprise two hingedly 105 connected leaves with the pockets being located on a first leaf 103 and instructions 110 on a second 104 such that they can be seen when the pack is opened. The pack may be rolled for storage and may be provided with a tubular container 2 into which the folded pack is inserted. In use, the pack may comprise pan of a kit for procedures for forming airways such as a cricothyroidotomy procedure.

Description

MEDICO-SURGICAL PROCEDURE KIT

This invention relates to medico-surgical procedures kits.

There are various medico-surgical procedures that have to be carried out in emergency situations, often by people with little experience in such procedures. Whilst it is known for kits to contain the necessary components for a procedure, the kits are usually arranged to provide a compact configuration for packaging and the components are removed from the packaging onto a separate sterile field before use. These kits may not be easy to use

in adverse situations, such as at the site of an accident or emergency, and it is not readily apparent how the components are to be used and in what order.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative medicosurgical procedure kit.

According to the present invention there is provided a kit for a medicosurgical procedure including a pack having a generally planar surface with a plurality of pockets associated therewith, each pocket containing a respective medico-surgical component for use À in the procedure, and the pack including associated with each pocket a representation indicating the use to which each component is to be put and the order in which it is to be used. The components are preferably arranged in the pockets in sequence according to the order in which they are to be used. The pack may be adapted to be rolled up and the kit may

include a tubular outer container in which the pack can be stored. Alternatively, the pack may be provided flat and have two leaves, the pockets being provided on one leaf and the other leaf being capable of being secured over the one leaf to enclose the pockets and the components. The kit may include an instruction manual attached to lie against the other leaf when the pack is open. The two leaves may be hinged with one another about an edge. The kit may include at least one member extending between the two leaves to limit the extent of opening of the leaves. The representations preferably include an illustration of the procedure in which the component is to be used. The procedure may be a cricothyroidotomy procedure, one of the components being a cricothyroidotomy device. The pack may be made of a material that is puncture resistant.

A cricothyroidotomy procedure kit according to the present invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the kit with the pack rolled; Figure 2 is a plan view of the pack unrolled; À Figure 3 shows the kit in use; Figure 4 is a perspective view of an alternative kit; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the kit of Figure 4 closed; and

Figures 6 and 7 are plan and perspective views of two further alternative kits.

With reference first to Figures 1 to 3, the kit comprises an outer tubular container 1 closed at its lower end 2 and having a lid 3 attached at its open end by a flexible, integral web 4. The container 1 contains a pack 20 rolled up within the container. The pack 20 comprises a square sheet 21 of flexible material, such as a plastics or fabric. Preferably the material is puncture resistant so that it can be used to store components after use. The pack 20 is formed on one side 22, the side that is presented inwardly when rolled up, with six pockets 22 to 27.

The pockets 22 to 27 may be of various different kinds but, as illustrated, they are closed at their lower ends, open at their upper ends and are bowed outwardly. The shape and size of the pockets vary according to the shape and size of the components to be retained in them. The pockets are arranged in three columns 31, 32 and 33. The first column 31 has two pockets 22 and 23 arranged one above the other, the second column 32 has a single pocket 24, which is relatively long, and the third column 33 has three pockets 25, 26 and 27 arranged one above the other. Each pocket 22 to 27 carries a representation 42 to 47 on or adjacent the pocket indicating firstly the order of use: "STAGE 1" to "STAGE 6", and secondly the intended use of the component in the pocket. The use could be indicated by a short text description but

preferably, as shown, by a pictorial illustration of how to use the component. For simplicity, all the illustrations shown in Figure 2 are identical but, in practice, each would be different showing how to use the respective component.

In the first pocket 22, labelled "STAGE 1", there is a scalpel 52 and the representation 42 would include a picture showing how to insert the scalpel. In the second pocket 23, labelled "STAGE 2", there is a sachet of gel 53 and the representation 43 would include a

picture showing that the gel is to be wiped over a cricothyroidotomy device 54 to lubricate it prior to insertion into the patient. The cricothyroidotomy device 54 is contained in the third, long pocket 24, labelled "STAGE 3" and the representation 44 would include one or more pictures illustrating how the device is to be used to form an airway. In the fourth pocket 25, labelled "STAGE 4", there is a syringe 55 and the representation 45 would show how this is to be connected to the cricothyroidotomy device 54. In the fifth pocket 26, labelled "STAGE 5", there is a strap 56 used to secure a tube forming a part of the cricothyroidotomy device 54 to the patient. In the final, sixth pocket 27, labelled "STAGE 6", there is a filter/HME device 57 for connection to the tube both to filter and humidify air entering the airway. The illustrations 46 and 47 would show how the strap 56 and filter/HME 57 are used.

- The kit is stored with the pack 20 rolled up within the outer container 1 and placed conveniently for emergency use, such as in a military bag or an ambulance. When the kit is needed, the lid 3 is opened and the pack 20 is pulled out. The pack 20 is then unrolled on the chest of the person being treated, as shown in Figure 3, or it could be placed on an adjacent surface. The user then removes the first component 52 from the first pocket 22 and completes stage 1 as shown on the illustration. After use, he replaces the used component 52 back in the pocket 22 and takes the next component 53 in turn, and so on until all six stages of the procedure have been completed. After completion, some of the components will remain with the patient but all the sharp components will have been returned to the pack 20. This is then rolled up and placed back in the outer container 1. The lid 3 is closed and sealed with a suitable warning sticker to warn of the presence of contaminated sharps. The kit can then be stowed safely for subsequent storage.

The pack need not be rolled for storage as described above. It could, instead be provided flat as shown in Figures 4 and 5. In this arrangement, the pack 120 has two, relatively stiff, leaves 103 and 104 hinged together about a common edge 105. The pack can be retained closed, as shown in Figure 5, by a suitable closure 106, such as a zip fastener, hook-and-loop material, a clip or the like. One leaf 103 of the pack 120 has pockets 122 to 127 for retaining the components 152 to 157 and the other leaf 104 supports an instruction manual 110 having several pages 111 bound together by a ring binder 112. The manual 110 describes and illustrates the different stages of use of the components 152 to 157 in greater detail than the illustrations on the pockets 122 to 127. The manual 110 can be unclipped from the pack 120 if this is found easier to use.

Figure 6 also shows a flat pack 220 but, instead of having two hinged leaves, the pack has one stiff board 203 and a flexible cover sheet 204 attached to the stiffboard around its edge such as by a hook-and-eye material fastener.

The kit 320 shown in Figure 7 resembles that of Figures 4 and 5 but, in addition, it has two webbed, triangular sides 305 and 306 linking the two leaves 303 and 304. The sides 305 and 306 limit the extent to which the leaves 303 and 304 can be opened to somewhat greater À than 90 so that the kit can be opened with one leaf supporting the manual 310 horizontal and the other leaf supporting the components 352 to 357 extending up.

It will be appreciated that the kit could take various different forms and could be for various different medical or surgical procedures with various components. The pockets in which the components are supported could be of various different kinds.

Claims

1. A kit for a medico-surgical procedure including a pack having a generally planar surface with a plurality of pockets associated therewith, wherein each pocket contains a respective medico-surgical component for use in the procedure, and wherein the pack includes associated with each pocket a representation indicating the use to which each component is to be put and the order in which it is to be used.

2. A kit according to Claim 1, wherein the components are arranged in the pockets in

sequence according to the order in which they are to be used.

3. A kit according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the pack is adapted to be rolled up.

4. A kit according to Claim 3 including a tubular outer container in which the rolled pack can be stored.

5. A kit according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the pack is provided flat and has two leaves, wherein the pockets are provided on one leaf and the other leaf can be secured over the one leaf to enclose the pockets and the components.

6. A kit according to Claim 5, wherein the kit includes an instruction manual attached to lie against the other leaf when the pack is open.

l

7. A kit according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein the two leaves are hinged with one another about an edge.

8. A kit according to any one of Claims 5 to 7 including at least one member extending between the two leaves to limit the extent of opening of the leaves.

9. A kit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the representations include an illustration of the procedure in which the component is to be used.

10. A kit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the procedure is one for forming an airway.

A kit according to Claim 10, wherein the procedure is a cricothyroidotomy procedure and one of the components is a cricothyroidotomy device.

12. A kit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pack is made of a material that is puncture resistant.

À

13. A cricothyroidotomy kit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A cricothyroidotomy kit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A cricothyroidotomy kit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A cricothyroidotomy kit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

17. Any novel and inventive feature or combination of features as hereinbefore described.