WO1997028765A1

WO1997028765A1 - Infant halter/sleeve for infant monitor

Info

Publication number: WO1997028765A1
Application number: PCT/US1996/001829
Authority: WO
Inventors: Karen Bellows
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-02-09
Filing date: 1996-02-09
Publication date: 1997-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 1998-08-09

Abstract

This invention is an infant halter (10) for an infant monitor including a generally E-shaped piece of flexible and elastic material wrapped around an infant's leg and provided with slits (14) through which the apnea monitor's lead wire (34) is inserted and hook and loop type fasteners or other fasteners (18) for securing the material around the infant's leg. A protective flap (32) made of terry cloth or another soft material can be attached to the halter to provide additional protection and comfort where the monitor lead and any plugs associated therewith would ordinarily contact the infant's skin. Also, a cutout portion may be provided near the wearer's knee to increase flexibility and enhance circulation of air in the halter. A sleeve may take the place of the halter, thereby eliminating the need for fasteners for securing the halter around the wearer's leg. The monitor lead wire exits near the infant's foot to prevent the infant from becoming entangled in, and/or strangled by, the lead wire. Though the infant halter is described and shown for use with an apnea monitor, the halter can be used with any lead wire or line where it is desirable to prevent the infant from becoming entangled in, and/or strangled by, the lead wire or line.

Description

INFANT HALTER/SLEEVE FOR INFANT MONITOR

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a device for securing a lead wire and plug of an infant monitor to an infant, and more particularly, to a halter/sleeve that receives and secures the lead wire and plug in proximity to an infant's leg in such a way that prevents the infant from becoming entangled in, and/or strangled by, the lead wire.

2• Discussion of the Background Art Apnea is a momentary cessation of breathing which occurs most often in infants while they sleep. It is believed to be the leading cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) .

Apnea monitors are placed on infants to monitor their breathing and to alert parents in the event the infant stops breathing. At one time, apnea monitors were used almost exclusively by hospitals due to their expense. However, less expensive but nonetheless effective devices are now available. Therefore, the use of such devices in the home has become prevalent, and is expected to increase dramatically. Unfortunately, infants have a tendency to pull at the cord or to roll around, thus becoming entangled in the monitor lead. The result is either that the monitor is disconnected, causing a false alarm, or the baby is strangled to death. After a sufficient number of false alarms, a parent may be inclined to discontinue use of the monitor. Thus, a device for preventing entanglement is desperately needed, and particularly one that can be used in conjunction with apnea monitors for home use.

Several devices are contemplated in the background art for securing intravenous tubes and equipment leads to a patient's body. However, none of these references solve the above noted problems. For example, Rankin (U.S. Patent No. 5,131,412) discloses a pediatric device for maintaining a child's extremity in a stationary position to prevent the child from inadvertently dislodging an intravenous needle through sudden movement. Specifically, the reference discloses a relatively heavy (weighted) visco-elastic support 10, molded in conformity to the natural contours of the limb, for preventing movement. By way of contrast, the present invention employs a lightweight halter/sleeve for securing an apnea monitor lead to the leg of an infant to prevent entanglement and/or strangulation. The present invention facilitates movement instead of inhibiting it by way of a weighted mold.

Buttaravoli (U.S. Patent 4,457,754) discloses a flexible securement strip for anchoring tubing, monitor lines or the like on a patient's body. The securement strip 1 comprises an elongated cover strip 7 for securing lines and an elongated base strip 2 with an adhesive coating 3 on its underside for attachment to the patient's skin. The cover strip 7 includes a first portion 7a permanently affixed to the base strip 2 and a second portion 7b releasably adhered to the base strip 2 so that one or more tubes, monitor lines or the like may be secured between the second portion 7b and the base strip. While Buttaravoli teaches the use of narrow securement strips, the present invention is directed to a harness/sleeve secured around an infant's leg. The harness/sleeve "hides" the monitor lead wire or cord to prevent an infant from tugging on, or becoming tangled in, the monitor lead, whereas the narrow securement strips disclosed in Buttaravoli leave the lead wire exposed allowing an infant to tug at the line and, possibly, to become entangled in, or strangled by, the line.

Darling (U.S. Patent No. 5,076,289) discloses a fabric hand wrap anchored by the patient's thumb for securing and restraining an intravenous line while the line is inserted into the arm of a patient. The intravenous line is secured by running the line in a loop around the patient's thumb and between overlapping layers of the wrap.

The above noted background art neither solves nor addresses the problems contemplated by the present invention. There remains a need for a device capable of preventing infants and toddlers from becoming entangled in, and/or strangled by, monitor lead wires while they sleep. The present invention solves these problems using a halter/sleeve which securely holds monitor lead wires relative to an infant's leg so that the infant does not become entangled in, and/or strangled by, the lead wires. While the halter/sleeve is described in detail below with respect to a lead wire for an apnea monitor, the invention works well for any lead wire or line (e.g., tubing) that is connected to the infant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a harness/sleeve for securing an apnea monitor lead to an infant, which harness/sleeve can prevent the infant from becoming entangled in, and/or strangled by, the monitor lead, or substantially reduce the risk thereof. It is another object of the invention to provide a harness/sleeve that can be used to secure any type of lead wire or line to an infant or toddler so that the infant or toddler is prevented from becoming entangled in, and/or strangled by, the monitor lead wire. It is also an object of this invention to reduce the number of false monitor alarms caused by the patient being able to interfere with the lead wire/plug connection.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a harness/sleeve which is comfortable and safe and which can be easily applied and removed, and which does not require the patient to be restrained while wearing the harness. In accordance with these and other objects, the present invention comprises a harness having one or more slits through which the monitor lead is inserted and fasteners for securing the harness around an infant's leg. In an alternative embodiment, a sleeve is substituted for the harness so that no fasteners are necessary. The harness typically includes a main body member having straps or "legs" which are wrapped around the infant's leg to secure the harness to the leg. The slits are provided on the body of the harness and provide a path through which the monitor lead is fed. The fasteners may comprise hook and loop type fasteners, such as VELCRO^*, on each leg of the harness and/or on the body of the harness for affixing the legs of the harness to the body of the harness when the harness is secured around the infant's leg. Additional fasteners may be provided at one or more of the slits to secure the monitor lead and/or the monitor plug. The harness/sleeve may have a hole at the wearer's knee for increased flexibility and improved circulation of air.

The harness/sleeve is secured over substantially the entirety of the infant's leg. The monitor lead wire is pressed against the leg and held in place by the pressure of the fitted harness/sleeve. This hides the lead wire and keeps the lead wire close to the infant's body so that the lead wire rolls with the infant rather than becoming tangled around the infant. The lead wire is thus guided along the inside surface of the harness/sleeve and only diverges from the harness/sleeve at or near the bottom of the wearer's foot so that the elongate axis of the lead wire coincides as close as possible to the elongate axis of the wearer's leg. In addition, the inventive harness/sleeve prevents the child from disconnecting the monitor lead by pulling or tugging on the cord. The lead wire diverges from the harness/sleeve at its upper end near the torso of the wearer where it can be placed under a night shirt or pajama top. The harness/sleeve is preferably made of a light, flexible and elastic material such as neoprene. To provide a more comfortable fit the harness/sleeve may be lined on its interior surface with terry cloth or a similar soft material. Alternatively, a padded or terry cloth flap may be attached to the harness/sleeve to be folded over the monitor lead. The flap provides additional comfort as it is a soft cushion between the monitor lead and plugs and the infant's skin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWTNGS The invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the harness;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the harness including a protective flap;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the harness as it is wrapped around an infant's leg;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the harness secured to the infant's leg; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of the harness including a cut out portion for an infant's knee; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a sleeve according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figs. 1-5 show a generally E-shaped infant halter or harness 10 for securing an apnea monitor lead wire or the like in proximity to an infant's leg. The halter 10 comprises a body member or web portion 12, straps or legs 16a-16c and two slits 14 through which the monitor lead wire 34 is run. The harness 10 is generally E-shaped, although the invention is not intended to be limited as such. For example, the harness 10 could be rectangular, square or almost any other shape. The harness 10 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is inverted, i.e., the top strap 16a is secured near the infant's ankle, the middle strap 16b is wrapped around the infant's knee and the lower strap 16c is secured above the infant's knee. The harness 10 should extend along substantially the entirety of the infant's leg 40 from the thigh to near the bottom of the foot. While three straps are shown in the preferred embodiment, the halter 10 may include any number of straps, or may be a single rectangular sheet or web which itself wraps around the wearer's leg. In the harness shown in Fig. 1, strap 16c is the widest and longest strap since it is secured above the knee around the infant's thigh. Strap 16b is a narrow strap since it is wrapped around the infant's knee and should not restrict movement of the infant's leg. Strap 16c is slightly wider than strap 16b since it is wrapped around the infant's ankle to secure the monitor lead wire 34 near the foot of the infant.

Each of the straps 16a-16c includes a fastener 18 for attachment to the exterior surface 36 (see Fig. 4) of the harness 10. In the preferred embodiment, the fasteners 18 and the exterior surface 36 of the harness 10 comprise hook and loop type fasteners such as, for example, VE CRO^*. An additional elastic securing member 22, as shown in Figs. 1-3, may be incorporated to secure the monitor plug 9 to the interior surface 38 of harness 10. This further enhances the stability of the monitor lead to prevent the lead from being disconnected from the monitor. The plug 9 could be secured to the interior surface 38 using hook and loop type fasteners (not shown) in addition, or in the alternative, to an elastic securing member 22.

The harness 10 is preferably made of an elastic material such as, for example, neoprene so that the harness can be firmly secured around the infant's leg. The exterior surface 36 may be provided with male or female type fasteners (not shown) or a fabric material which readily mates with male hook and loop material. Furthermore, the interior surface 38 of the halter 10 may be lined with terry cloth or similar soft material for comfort. Additional material layers may be incorporated into the harness to meet specific needs such as rigidity, weight, etc. In an alternative embodiment, as depicted in Fig. 2, a terry cloth flap 32 is attached to the body member 12 along the longitudinal edge of the body 12 of the halter 10 opposite the straps I6a'-16c'. Alternatively, the flap may be made of neoprene and padded or lined with terry cloth. The flap 32 is folded over the interior surface 38 so that a protective cushion is provided between the infant's skin and the monitor lead 34 and the monitor plug 9. The straps 16a'-16C may all be of the same length and width, and the fasteners 18' secure the halter 10 around the infant's leg. Fig. 3 shows the harness 10 as it is positioned to be secured around the infant's leg. Strap 16c wraps around the infant's thigh just above the knee, strap 16b wraps around the infant's knee, and strap 16a wraps around the infant's ankle or just above the ankle. The straps 16a-16c are wrapped around the infant's leg and contact the exterior surface 36 of harness 10. The exterior surface 36 is provided with a fabric covering comprising hooks or loops which mate with the hook or loop fasteners 18. The fasteners 18 may employ buttons, snaps or hooks in addition, or in the alternative, to the hook and loop type fasteners for securing the halter 10 around the infant's leg. The monitor lead 34 and plug 9 are held tightly between the halter and the infant's leg when the harness is secured properly so that the infant is prevented from tugging at and loosening the lead wire. Further, since the lead 34 exits the infant near the infant's foot, the infant can twist and turn without becoming tangled in the monitor lead. This substantially reduces the risk of the infant becoming entangled in, and/or strangled by, the monitor lead wire, as well as reducing the risk that the infant will become disconnected from the apnea monitor, because the elongate axis of the lead wire 34 corresponds reasonably closely to the elongate axis of the wearer's leg.

Fig. 4 shows the harness 10 securely fastened around the infant's leg. In order to improve the flexibility of the harness 10, a cut out portion 11 may be provided at the area of the harness 10 that contacts the infant's knee, as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 5. In addition to providing increased flexibility, the cut out portion 11 enhances circulation of air between the harness 10 and the infant's leg.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention comprising a sleeve 13 with a cut out portion 11. The monitor lead wire 34 is run through slits 14 in the sleeve 13 as in the previous embodiments, and the monitor plug 9 is secured by an elastic securing member 22, also as in the previous embodiments. Different sized sleeves 13 may be employed depending on the size of the wearer's leg, and the sleeve may be bent slightly, as shown in Fig. 6, to conform with the wearer's leg.

Although several preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein for illustrative purposes, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many additions, modifications and/or substitutions may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A halter for securing one or more monitor leads in proximity to the limb of an individual, said halter comprising: a body member having a lower edge, a top edge, a left side edge, a right side edge, an interior surface and an exterior surface, one or more slits being provided in said body member along said left side edge for receiving and securing monitor leads,- and fastening means for securing a portion of said interior surface along said right side edge to said exterior surface when the halter is wrapped around the limb.

2. A halter as recited in claim l, further comprising at least one strap extending from said right side edge.

3. A halter as recited in claim 2 , wherein said fastening means is provided on an interior surface of said at least one strap and on at least a portion of said exterior surface.

4. A halter as recited in claim 1, wherein said body member is substantially E-shaped with three straps.

5. A halter as recited in claim , wherein said fastening means is provided on said three straps and on at least a portion of said exterior surface.

6. A halter as recited in claim 1, further comprising: an elastic securing member attached to the interior surface for securing a plug connected to the monitor lead.

7. A halter as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a flap secured along, and protruding from, the left side edge of the halter, said flap being folded over the monitor leads and a portion of the interior surface.

8. A halter as recited in claim 7, wherein said flap comprises a soft material.

9. A halter as recited in claim 7, wherein said flap comprises terry cloth.

10. A halter as recited in claim 1, wherein said body member comprises a light, flexible, elastic material.

11. A halter as recited in claim 1, wherein said body member comprises neoprene, and wherein a fabric material covers all or a portion of the exterior surface of the body member.

12. A halter for securing an apnea monitor lead in proximity to an infant's leg for preventing the infant from becoming entangled in, and/or strangled by, the monitor lead, said halter comprising: a substantially E-shaped body member having a top edge, a bottom edge, a left side edge, a right side edge, an interior surface and an exterior surface, said right side edge defining a first strap, a second strap and a third strap, said body member being provided with one or more slits for receiving and securing the monitor lead; and fastening means secured to said first, second and third straps and to at least a portion of the exterior surface for fastening said straps to the portion of the exterior surface of the halter when the halter is wrapped around a limb.

13. A halter as recited in claim 12, further comprising: an elastic securing member attached to the interior surface of the halter for securing a plug of the monitor lead to the interior surface.

14. A halter as recited in claim 12, further comprising: a flap secured along, and protruding from, the left side edge of the halter, said flap being folded over the monitor lead and a portion of the interior surface.

15. A halter as recited in claim 14, wherein said flap comprises terry cloth.

16. A halter as recited in claim 12, wherein said fastening means comprises hook and loop type fasteners.

17. A halter for securing an apnea monitor lead to an infant's leg for preventing the infant from becoming entangled in, and/or strangled by, the monitor lead, said halter comprising: a substantially flexible elastic body member having a top edge, a bottom edge, a left side edge, a right side edge, an interior surface and an exterior surface, said right side edge defining at least one connecting strap, said body member being provided with one or more means for retaining said monitor lead wire in connection with said body member, so that the lead extends substantially along, and in parallel with, the left side edge; and fastening means secured to said at least one connecting strap for fastening said straps to the exterior surface of the halter when said body member is wrapped around the limb of an infant, the exterior surface of the halter being provided with a material engageable with said fastening means.

18. A halter as recited in claim 17, further comprising a terry cloth lining secured to all or a portion of the interior surface.

19. A halter as recited in claim 17, wherein said body member comprises neoprene.

20. A halter as recited in claim 17, further comprising: a flap secured along, and extending from, the left side edge, said flap being foldable so as to overlap the monitor lead and to thereby be positioned between the monitor lead wire and the limb of the individual.

21. A harness to hold an electrical lead or fluid conduit in proximity to a wearer's leg, comprising: a harness body adapted to be placed in encircling engagement about a wearer's leg, said harness body extending from the thigh to the foot of the wearer; means for releasably securing said harness body in encircling engagement about the wearer's leg; means associated with a leg-facing surface of said harness body for holding said lead or conduit against said harness body; wherein when said harness body is placed in encircling relationship about the wearer's leg, the lead or conduit is positioned to pass from a first end of said harness body next to the wearer's thigh, through a space defined by the inner surface of the harness body and the wearer's leg, and to exit said space at a point generally coincident with the wearer's foot.

22. A harness as recited in claim 21, wherein a cut out portion is provided in said harness body adjacent the wearer's knee to provide increased flexibility to the harness and to enhance circulation of air within the harness.

23. A sleeve for holding an electrical lead or fluid conduit in proximity to a wearer's leg, comprising: a sleeve to be slid over a wearer's leg, said sleeve extending from the thigh to the foot of the wearer; and means associated with a leg-facing surface of said sleeve for holding said lead or conduit against said sleeve, wherein when said sleeve is slid over the wearer's leg, the lead or conduit is positioned to pass from a first end of said sleeve next to the wearer's thigh through a space defined by the inner surface of the harness body and the wearer's leg, and to exit said space at a point generally coincident with the wearer's foot.

24. A sleeve as recited in claim 23, wherein said sleeve is provided with a cut out portion adjacent the wearer's knee to provide increased flexibility to the sleeve and to enhance circulation of air within the harness.