GB2424834A

GB2424834A - Disposable arm barrier for use with a blood pressure measurement cuff

Info

Publication number: GB2424834A
Application number: GB0507117A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Wright
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-04-08
Filing date: 2005-04-08
Publication date: 2006-10-11
Also published as: GB0507117D0

Abstract

A disposable, single use barrier 1 which may be used between a patient's upper arm 4 and a blood pressure measurement cuff. Preferably the barrier 1 is rendered unusable upon removal and may be bio-degradable and recyclable. The barrier 1 may comprise a rectangle of absorbent material with a plastic film on one surface. The barrier 1 may be wrapped around the arm 4 and the ends overlapped and secured by an adhesive strip 2. The barrier 1 allows accurate blood pressure readings to be taken whilst preventing cross-contamination. Fig 2 shows the non-porous surface with a cross section of both layers and the backing release membrane. Fig 5 shows the barrier in situ overlaid with the blood pressure cuff.

Description

Disposable, Sin2le useg self-adhesive, absorbent plastic film barrier for

use with a non-invasive sphygmomanometer (Blood Pressure FBPI measurement device).

Desi2n Description

A disposable, single use barrier for use between a patient's upper arm and a Blood Pressure (BP) measurement cuff It should be manufactured as a self-adhesive, partially absorbent sheet faced on one surface with biodegradable plastic film layer that will overlap itself, to envelop the Blood Pressure recording area of the upper arm; and that will still allow the cuff to be hygienically applied and accurately used over the barrier.

The absorbent' portion of the barrier should be thin and able to absorb small amounts of bodily fluids Where larger amounts of bodily fluids are present, these should be cleaned prior to use of the barrier In common practice, the majority of patients will not have bodily fluids present.

A possible absorbent layer would be similar to many currently available to the health service The film' portion of the barrier should be biodegradable, non-porous and as such, its purpose is to act as a hygienic barrier to prevent the spreading of, or cross-contamination of skin conditions, dirt, bodily fluids (sweat/blood), odours and other pathogens (hereafter referred to as contaminants) between patients Both layers of the barrier should be addressed prior to manufacture in conjunction with any given manufacturer.

Design origin In all emergency ambulances, hospital Emergency Care Centre's (ECC - formerly A&E), wards, out-patient clinics, operatmg theatres etc; and Doctors (GPs) surgeries, geriatric nursing homes, private health establishments, occupational health centres in private industry etc. there is a risk of cross-contamination between patients when the same BP cuff is used for several patients using these services on a daily basis Hospital A&E departments in particular are traditionally extremely busy areas and as such cannot always adhere to meticulous hygiene standards 100% of the time BP cuffs tend to be cleaned only after contamination with blood or other bodily fluids and not between every patient as a matter of course Design back2round Transfer of contaminants between patients and medical equipment is an acknowledged concern among healthcare professionals Effective prevention of cross-contamination and spread of these and other disease causing bacteria, particularly in hospitals or other clinical areas, requires thorough consideration and is extremely important to the health and safety of both patients and health professionals Furthermore, under the current climate and furore of the MRSA super-bug', the need for prevention is of paramount importance within the health service of the United Kingdom BP cuffs are acknowledged to provide a means of accidental cross-contamination between patients due to their re-use from one patient to another several times per day At present, in the UK there is no form of BP cuff/patient barrier in common use within the N}IS.

Desi2n Manufacture it is required that the barrier has an adhesive securing strip (with a pre-use release backing membrane) approximately 10mm from one end of each sheet (to provide an overlap for removal); and that this strip would become detached after use on removal of the barrier from the patient, rendering the sheet unusable for any subsequent patients using the same inflatable cuff it is envisaged that the bio- degradable protective film and absorbent layer of the product can be manufactured economically, similarly to that of paper towel rolls. Rolls of adhesive sheet film together with rolls of absorbent material being rolled on a winding machine' as found in towel roll manufacturing, (passing through the same rollers simultaneously in the final process), individually separated from one another by perforated lines at the ends of each sheet.

Each sheet would measure approximately 400 mm in length x 180mm in width It is estimated that roll size would be approximately 1000 sheets per roll as a reasonable assumption, dependant upon sheet thickness Sheet thickness estimated of being less than 1mm Storage and daily use may be similar to paper towel roll dispensing found in most healthcare establishments.

The above is an estimated method of manufacture, but is open to change on consultation with the manuthcturer Design use Desi2n use The average adult would require one sheet only, whereby larger patients may require several sheets, dependant upon size of individual limbs and whether or not larger inflatable cuffs were to be used Use with paediatric cuffs would require that the barriers may be cut to size accordmgly Alternatively, it may be possible to manufacture smaller sheets 4 4 Disposable, single use, self-adhesive, absorbent plastic film harrier for use wills a non-Invasive sphyginomanomcter (Blood Pressure BP] measurement de ice) "- Legend to drawings Fig I I Pre-use removable backing membrane with adhesive band beneath 2 Absorbent face of barrier (plan view) Fig 2 1. Non-porous face of barrier (plan view) 2. Overlap tab (to ease removal) 3 Adhesive band (below on absorbent surface) 4 Pre-use removable backing membrane in cross-section with adhesive band below Absorbent layer in cross-section 6 Non-porous layer in cross-section 7 Non-porous surface (plan view) F 3 I Upper arm 2. Upper torso F1E 4 1 Disposable barrier firmly in-situ showing outer non-porous surface 2. Adhesive band (below) adhering to non-porous surface (overlapped) 3. Overlap tab (to ease removal) 4 Upper arm Fi2 5 I Disposable barrier firmly in-situ 2 Sphygmomanometer (BP) cuff overlaid onto disposable barrier 3 BP cuff rubber inflation bulb and tubing 4. Upper arm

Claims

Claims Disposable, single use barrier, for Lise between a patient's upper

arm and a Blood Pressure (BP) measurement cuff it will have the following advantages (claims) I A disposable barrier will safeguard and reassure both patients and healthcare staff from the possibility of crosscontamination 2 A disposable barrier according to claim I will help prevent illness and disease passing from patient to patient 3 A. disposable barrier according to claim 2 will be user-friendly and easy to apply and remove 4 A disposable barrier according to claim 1 will be single use only and be rendered unusable following removal from a patient A disposable barrier according to claim 3 will be easy to store and dispense 6 A disposable barrier will be easy and econoiiical to manufacture in bulk 7 A disposable barrier according to claim 4 will be bio-degradable and therefore be able to be recycled & A disposable barrier according to claim 2 will help prevent th posibility of premature patient mortality 9 A. disposable barrier accotdrng to c1ams 11 and & will help safeguar4 health services against litigatiofl claims 4 4 4