Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for protectively stabilizing and securing an intravenous device to a body member of a patient, comprising the steps of: providing a tubular sleeve made of stretchable fabric encompassing a plurality of tiny spacings and having two open ends; attaching the intravenous device to the body member; simultaneously stretching the sleeve fabric while inserting the body member through the sleeve so that the sleeve encircles and is elastically retained on the body member; enlarging the spacings in the sleeve when the sleeve is stretched over the body member; and securing the intravenous device between the sleeve fabric and the body member.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for protectively stabilizing and securing an intravenous device to a body member of a patient, comprising the steps of: providing a tubular sleeve made of stretchable fabric encompassing a plurality of tiny spacings and having two open ends; attaching the intravenous device to the body member; simultaneously stretching the sleeve fabric while inserting the body member through the sleeve so that the sleeve encircles and is elastically retained on the body member; enlarging the spacings in the sleeve when the sleeve is stretched over the body member; and securing the intravenous device between the sleeve fabric and the body member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method for protectively stabilizing and securing an intravenous device according to claim 1 wherein the inserting step further comprises the step of: inserting a hand through the tubular sleeve so that the sleeve encircles and is elastically retained on the hand therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method for protectively stabilizing and securing an intravenous device according to claim 2 further comprising the steps of: providing at least one hole proximate an end of the sleeve; and inserting a finger of the hand through each hole.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
108 words
The method for protectively stabilizing and securing an intravenous device according to claim 1 wherein the step of providing a tubular sleeve made of stretchable fabric comprises the steps of: extending a plurality of stretch nylon yarn filaments adjacent to each other vertically from one end of the fabric to the other end; knitting a plurality of elastomeric polyurethane yarn filaments between each of the vertical stretch nylon yarn filaments so that the stretch nylon yarn filaments are knitted together; and circularly warp knitting the stretch nylon yarn and the elastomeric polyurethane yarn filaments together so that a cylindrical, tubular fabric is formed to make up the sleeve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method for protectively stabilizing and securing an intravenous device according to claim 4 wherein the step of inserting a body member through the sleeve is achieved by: stretching the stretch nylon yarn filaments and the elastomeric polyurethane yarn filaments over the body member to elastically retain the sleeve on the body member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method for protectively stabilizing and securing an intravenous device according to claim 5 wherein the step of enlarging the spacings in the sleeve further comprises the step of: enlarging the spacings between the stretch nylon yarn filaments and the elastomeric polyurethane yarn filaments when the yarn filaments are stretched over the body member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method for protectively stabilizing and securing an intravenous device according to claim 1 wherein the step of providing a tubular sleeve made of stretchable fabric further comprises the step of: providing a stretchable fabric that is an elastic, soft, resilient material enabling the body member to be easily inserted through the tubular sleeve while allowing the body member to be fully and easily moveable therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method for protectively stabilizing and securing an intravenous device according to claim 1 wherein the step of securing the intravenous device between the sleeve fabric and the body member further comprises the step of: stretching the sleeve fabric over the intravenous device which is attached to the body member so that the intravenous device is elastically retained to the body member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method for protectively stabilizing and securing an intravenous device according to claim 8 wherein the step of securing the intravenous device between the sleeve fabric and the body member further comprises the step of: stretching the sleeve fabric over a needle and a tube portion of the intravenous device which is attached to the body member so that the intravenous device is elastically retained and further secured to the body member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method for protectively stabilizing and securing an intravenous device according to claim 1 wherein the step of enlarging the spacings further comprises the step of: ventilating the body member when the sleeve is stretched over and elastically retained on the body member.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
133 words
An apparatus for protectively stabilizing and securing an intravenous device to a body member of a patient, comprising: a tubular sleeve made of a stretchable fabric forming a loose knit wall structure adapted to encircle the body member and be elastically retained thereon, and having a central opening for inserting the body member therethrough, at least one additional body member opening in the wall structure through which a portion of the body member may also be inserted for stably positioning the sleeve on the body member, and a plurality of tiny spacings in the wall structure for ventilating the body member when superimposed thereover, whereby an intravenous device when inserted in the vein of a body member may be comfortably and securely retained in position between the body member and overlying sleeve fabric.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
133 words
An apparatus for protectively stabilizing and securing an intravenous device to a body member of a patient, comprising: a tubular sleeve made of a stretchable fabric forming a loose knit wall structure adapted to encircle the body member and be elastically retained thereon, and having a central opening for inserting the body member therethrough, at least one additional body member opening in the wall structure through which a portion of the body member may also be inserted for stably positioning the sleeve on the body member, and a plurality of tiny spacings in the wall structure for ventilating the body member when superimposed thereover, whereby an intravenous device when inserted in the vein of a body member may be comfortably and securely retained in position between the body member and overlying sleeve fabric.