Gastric systems, apparatus, and methods for use with enteral feeding

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10188586-B2
Application number	US-201514846018-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 4, 2015
Priority date	Sep 4, 2014
Publication date	Jan 29, 2019
Grant date	Jan 29, 2019

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for gastric pressure relief, flow regulation, location, gastric residual volume, a placement reminder, bidirectional fluid flow markings, reintroducing gastric material, collection reservoir raising, collection reservoir hanging, a drain port, setting tube length, and vent membranes. A gastric pressure relief system is used in connection with an enteral feeding system, which includes a feeding container, administration tubing and a delivery tube, where the gastric pressure relief system is interposed between the administration tubing and the delivery tube. The gastric pressure relief system includes a collection reservoir with a gas vent to ambient atmosphere, relief tubing secured to both the collection reservoir and a multi-way connector. The multi-way connector joins the administration tubing to the relief tubing and a delivery tube at a point below a patient's stomach, which is designated on a placement reminder apparatus.

First claim

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A gastric pressure relief system comprising:
a feeding container connected to an administration tubing;
a relief tubing;
a delivery tube in fluid communication with the administration tubing and the relief tubing;
a multi-way connector having a first arm, a second arm, and a third arm, wherein
the first arm is connected to the relief tubing,
the second arm is connected to the delivery tube, and
the third arm is connected to the administration tubing;

a collection reservoir in fluid communication with the relief tubing, wherein
the collection reservoir includes a vent configured to allow gas to pass through in both directions and configured to restrict the flow of liquid through the vent, wherein the vent comprises a top membrane and a side membrane,
the collection reservoir is configured to collect reflux fluids from a patient's stomach via the relief tubing, and
the collection reservoir comprises volumetric indicia configured to represent a volume of reflux fluids received from the patient's stomach; and

a flow regulator adapted to regulate flow within the relief tubing.

2. The gastric pressure relief system of claim 1 , wherein the multi-way connector is a Y-connector.

3. The gastric pressure relief system of claim 1 , wherein the flow regulator is configured to selectively and adjustably limit the flow of fluid through the relief tubing.

4. The gastric pressure relief system of claim 1 , wherein the flow regulator is either manually controlled or automatically controlled.

5. The gastric pressure relief system of claim 1 , wherein the flow regulator is a roller clamp.

6. The gastric pressure relief system of claim 1 , further comprising a detector coupled to the collection reservoir and configured to detect one or more characteristics of the collection reservoir, wherein
the flow regulator is coupled to the detector for controlling the flow of fluids between the multi-way connector and the collection reservoir, and
the flow regulator is configured to selectively and adjustably limit the flow of fluid through the relief tubing.

7. The gastric pressure relief system of claim 6 , wherein the detector comprises either a hanging weight scale or a weight load cell, and further wherein
the flow regulator further comprises a digital controller in communication with the detector,
the flow regulator comprises an adjustable clamp configured to apply pressure to the relief tubing, and
the amount of pressure applied to the relief tubing is based on measurement data from the detector.

Assignees

• Avent Inc

Inventors

• Nordquist Jeffrey S
• Mcvey Robert D
• Klodd Elizabeth J
• Newland Jon W
• Koelper Crystal E
• Lazar Jill F
• Seeler Renee M
• Rogers Karin A
• Maraone Steven M

Classifications

• A61M39/10

  Tube connectors; Tube couplings {(A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014)} · CPC title

• A61M2039/229

  Stopcocks · CPC title

• A61M39/223

  Multiway valves · CPC title

• A61J15/0096

  Provisions for venting · CPC title

• A61J15/0003 Primary

  Nasal or oral feeding-tubes, e.g. tube entering body through nose or mouth · CPC title