Systems and methods for anchoring medical devices

摘要

Some embodiments of a medical device anchor system include an anchor device that secures a medical instrument (such as a catheter or the like) in place relative to a skin penetration point using subcutaneous anchors. In some implementations, the anchor device can be installed using a technique in which the subcutaneous anchors undergo relatively little or no flexing when being inserted through the skin into the subcutaneous region between the skin and underlying muscle tissue which may be occupied by fatty tissue.

主权项

1. An anchor device for releasably securing to an external portion of a catheter while another portion of the catheter occupies a skin penetration point, the anchor device comprising:
first and second anchors each having a longitudinal shaft portion and a flexible subcutaneous tine configured to be deployed through the skin penetration point and into a subcutaneous region along an underside of a skin layer; and a retainer base to releasably secure with the external portion of the catheter, the retainer base being in a folded condition about a longitudinal fold axis of the retainer base prior to deployment of the flexible subcutaneous tines through the skin penetration point such that the flexible subcutaneous tines are positioned generally adjacent to each other and oriented to extend in substantially the same direction, wherein the longitudinal shaft portion of the first anchor is positioned on an opposite side of the longitudinal fold axis from the longitudinal shaft portion of the second anchor, and wherein the longitudinal shaft portion of each of the first and second anchors extends distally in a longitudinal direction from a distalmost end of the retainer base, wherein the retainer base is adjustable to a non-folded condition about the longitudinal fold axis of the retainer base after deployment of the flexible subcutaneous tines through the skin penetration point so that the flexible subcutaneous tines are in an anchored position in which the flexible subcutaneous tines extend generally away from one another.