Apparatus to secure and adjust flexible conduit

摘要

The invention provides an apparatus and method of securing a length of flexible conduit to a subject, and adjusting the flexible conduit to a length tailored to the subject, in order to reduce or eliminate excess conduit traversing the subject's body. The apparatus comprises a base with elongate channels for accepting flexible conduit, a lid which mates with the base, and a securing member for attaching the mated base and lid to the body of the subject.

主权项

1. An apparatus adapted to secure a flexible conduit to a subject's body and to adjust the length of the flexible conduit to conform to the portion of the subject's body being traversed by the flexible conduit, comprising:
a rigid base comprising three approximately parallel elongate channels, each channel having a proximal opening at a first end of the base and a distal opening at a second end of the base, and each channel having an open upper surface into which the flexible conduit is inserted to traverse the length of the channel; a rigid lid which releasably mates to said base to enclose the open upper surface of each elongate channel such that a segment of the flexible conduit is retained within each channel and exits each channel at the proximal and distal opening thereof, the flexible conduit describing an “S” configuration by traversing a first of said three channels in a proximal-to-distal orientation, traversing a second of said three channels in a distal-to-proximal orientation, and traversing a third of said three channels in a proximal-to-distal orientation, wherein adjusting the length of each loop of the “S” configuration adjusts the length of the flexible conduit to conform to the portion of the subject's body being traversed by the flexible conduit, and wherein portions of the lid which contact the segment of the flexible conduit retained within each channel comprise one or more raised structures which, upon mating of the base and lid, engage without encircling the segment of the flexible conduit to reduce slippage of the flexible conduit through the channel by increasing frictional force applied to the flexible conduit; and a securing member configured to releasably secure the mated base and lid on the body of the subject.