US-12616801-B2 - Phlebotomy aid device

US12616801B2US 12616801 B2US12616801 B2US 12616801B2US-12616801-B2

Abstract

A phlebotomy aid provides a capability to expand circulatory members for emphasizing venous appearance and accessibility on an epidermal surface. A warming sheath or sleeve extends over a patient forearm for introducing a thermal source adjacent to a patient blood vessel for emphasizing the vein appearance on the epidermal surface. A beating element in the sleeve is powered and controlled by a low voltage circuit for controlled thermal introduction for mitigating discomfort from overheating and eliminating proximity of potentially harmful electrical exposure.

Inventors

Terry R Condon
John W. Harding

Assignees

Christopher J. Lutz

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20211102

Claims (20)

1 . A medical device, comprising: a flexible, planar heating medium adapted for encircling an appendage for heat transfer, the planar heating medium forming a sleeve defining an interior volume; a textile base; the planar heating medium including a linear thermal element adhered to the textile base, the linear thermal element responsive to electricity for heat generation across the textile base, the linear thermal element traversing a path across the textile base, the path defining a heating zone based on an expected location of a vein in the appendage; the linear thermal element disposed at a distance in the heating zone for focusing heat on the expected location of the vein, the heating zone, the heating zone including a longitudinal center along at least one panel of the textile base and the heating zone generating greater heat than the planar heating medium outside the heating zone; an opening in the sleeve for receiving an appendage into the interior volume for warming; and an electrical source for energizing the heating medium for warming the interior volume.
2 . The device of claim 1 wherein the sleeve forms an elongated shape based on a depth for receiving a length of a forearm including an epidermal insertion site on the appendage.
3 . The device of claim 1 wherein the sleeve has a length and width based on a size of an appendage to be received, the length based on a location of an epidermal insertion site for receiving the appendage at a depth based on the location; the width based on a circumference of the appendage for maintaining a distance or contact of the sleeve for warming the appendage; and a closure at an end of the sleeve for enclosing the interior volume.
4 . The device of claim 1 wherein the sleeve forms a tubular shape, the tubular shape closed at a distal end and open at an opposed, proximate end for receiving the appendage; the heating medium configured for heating the interior volume.
5 . The device of claim 1 wherein the electrical supply provides a DC voltage.
6 . The device of claim 1 wherein the power supply includes a transformer for transforming and reducing a wall supply voltage down to a non-oscillating, non-harmful voltage source.
7 . The device of claim 1 wherein the flexible planar material includes: an insulating material between the linear thermal element and the textile base.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the textile base further comprises a pair of opposed rectangular panels joined around three sides of an outer perimeter of the rectangle; and the linear thermal element traverses an interior surface of at least one textile base of the opposed rectangular panels on an interior side facing the interior volume, the heating zone having a greater concentration of the linear thermal element then the textile base outside the heating zone, the heating zone occupying at least a middle portion of at least one interior surface, the middle portion defined by a region extending longitudinally across the rectangular panel and having equal regions of textile base aligned adjacent and outside the heating zone.
9 . A phlebotomy aid system, comprising: an elongated flexible sleeve having an opening, the flexible sleeve defined by a textile base and having a receptacle adapted for receiving a human forearm; a liner having a size based on an interior of the receptacle for insertion thereof; a linear thermal element attached to the sleeve for heating the receptacle, the linear thermal element adhered to the textile base, the linear thermal element responsive to electricity for heat generation across the textile base; the linear thermal element traversing a path across the textile base, the path defining a heating zone based on an expected location of a vein in the appendage; the linear thermal element disposed at a distance in the heating zone for focusing heat on the expected location of the vein, the heating zone, the heating zone including a longitudinal center along at least one panel of the textile base and the heating zone generating greater heat than the planar heating medium outside the heating zone; and a power supply connected to the thermal element for energizing the thermal element.
10 . The system of claim 9 wherein the liner further comprises a thermally conductive material configured for conducting heat from the thermal element to the receptacle.
11 . The system of claim 10 wherein the elongated sleeve has a length based on a distance from an elbow of the human forearm to a fingertip region.
12 . The system of claim 11 wherein the flexible sleeve further comprises: opposed flexible panels attached at a seam extending partially around a perimeter of the flexible panels; each of the flexible panels having a width based on a circumference of the human appendage; and an opening defined by an absence of the seam for defining the opening.
13 . A phlebotomy aid device, comprising: an elongated flexible sleeve having an opening; the flexible sleeve defining a receptacle adapted for receiving a human forearm; a linear thermal element attached to the sleeve for heating the receptacle; the linear thermal element adhered to the textile base, the linear thermal element responsive to electricity for heat generation across the textile base; the linear thermal element traversing a path across the textile base, the path defining a heating zone based on an expected location of a vein in the appendage; the linear thermal element disposed at a distance in the heating zone for focusing heat on the expected location of the vein, the heating zone, the heating zone including a longitudinal center along at least one panel of the textile base and the heating zone generating greater heat than the planar heating medium outside the heating zone; and a power supply connected to the thermal element for energizing the thermal element.
14 . The device of claim 13 wherein the flexible sleeve further comprises: opposed flexible panels attached at a seam extending partially around a perimeter of the flexible panels; and an opening defined by an absence of the seam for defining the opening.
15 . The device of claim 14 wherein the flexible panels each define a surface and have a substantially equal area and an aligned perimeter.
16 . The device of claim 14 wherein the flexible panels further comprise rectangular textile panels and the seam is a threaded seam extending around three of four sides of the textile panels; and a fourth side of each of the flexible panels defining the opening.
17 . The device of claim 13 wherein the thermal element further comprises a heating filament disposed in an alternately curving, cyclic path across the surface of least one of the flexible panels.
18 . The device of claim 17 wherein the thermal element further comprises a fibrous electrical conductor integrated in at least one of the flexible panels and adapted for thermal transfer to the receptacle.
19 . The device of claim 18 further comprising a transformer in the power supply, the transformer adapted to convert household 120 volts of a wall receptacle to a DC (direct current) voltage and current in the fibrous electrical conductor.
20 . The device of claim 13 wherein the thermal element is an electrical conductor having a resistance based on achieving a temperature greater than 86° in the receptacle at a voltage of 24V.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS This patent application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 63/109,041, filed Nov. 3, 2020, entitled “PHLEBOTOMY AID DEVICE,” incorporated herein by reference in entirety BACKGROUND Human blood has been found to be an effective indicator of many health parameters. Analysis of blood chemistry is often performed as part of routine medical examinations and also as a screening and diagnostic medium for investigation of more specific medical conditions and determination of appropriate treatment. Phlebotomy is a medical field that relates to therapeutic intervention in a circulatory member for accessing patient bloodflow, typically initiated via a hypodermic needle for piercing an epidermal surface to access a closely located blood vessel just beneath the surface. Such access is significant for both withdrawal of blood for analysis and introduction of fluidic medicine through intravenous lines for intervention. SUMMARY A phlebotomy aid device provides a capability to expand circulatory members (typically veins) for emphasizing venous appearance and accessibility on an epidermal surface. A warming sheath or sleeve extends over a patient forearm for introducing a thermal source adjacent to a patient blood vessel for emphasizing the vein appearance on the epidermal surface. A beating element in the sleeve is powered and controlled by a low voltage circuit for controlled thermal introduction for mitigating discomfort from overheating and eliminating proximity of potentially harmful electrical exposure. Introduction of gently controlled warmth induces physiologic changes in the forearm to expand the vein, facilitate bloodflow and pressure, and emphasize the appearance of the vein, facilitating accurate needle penetration as the vein “stands out” on the epidermal surface and becomes more receptive to a needle puncture. A disposable liner sized slightly smaller than the sleeve interior allows inexpensive use with multiple patients in succession by providing single-use liners to each patient. Configurations herein are based, in part, on the observation that needle insertions are often routinely undertaken by general nursing staff or patient technicians that are not phlebotomy specialists. Unfortunately, conventional phlebotomy practices suffer from the shortcoming that they tend to result in multiple needle insertions (“pokes”) due to an inability to accurately insert the hypodermic needle in a manner that establishes effective fluidic communication with the vein. Typically a nurse is afforded two attempts to “hit” a vein, and if unsuccessful, an escalation protocol elevates the task to more experienced staff. The resulting patient discomfort from multiple needle punctures is substantial. Accordingly, configurations herein substantially overcome the above described shortcomings by providing a phlebotomy aid that enhances appearance and texture of veins and surrounding tissue to allow proper needle insertion into the vein upon a first insertion attempt. The phlebotomy aid device as disclosed herein includes an elongated flexible sleeve having an opening, in which the flexible sleeve defines a receptacle adapted for receiving a human forearm for warming prior to a blood drawing procedure. A thermal element is attached to or integrated within the sleeve for heating a volume within the receptacle, and a power supply connects to the thermal element for energizing the thermal element. The flexible sleeve, in an example configuration, is constructed from opposed flexible panels attached at a seam extending partially around a perimeter of the flexible panels, and the opening is defined by an absence of the seam for defining the opening. The phlebotomy aid device takes the form of a glove or mitten that fits over the patients forearm up to the elbow region, and gently heats the forearm (the typical insertion site for most routine phlebotomy procedures) to cause the veins to “stand out” for facilitated needle insertion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. FIG. 1 is a system context diagram of a medical environment suitable for use with configurations herein; FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the warming sleeve device in a medical context; FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the system and device disclosed herein; FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of an example configuration of the warming sleeve device of FIG. 2; FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of a flexible, planar heating medium as used in the device of FIGS. 2-4; FIG. 6 shows the device of FIGS. 2-5