U.S. patent application number 12/435846 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-11 for carrier for enteral feeding device.
This patent application is currently assigned to TYCO HEALTHCARE GROUP LP. Invention is credited to Joseph A. Hudson, Ricky A. Sisk.
Application Number | 20100282807 12/435846 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43061775 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100282807 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sisk; Ricky A. ; et
al. |
November 11, 2010 |
CARRIER FOR ENTERAL FEEDING DEVICE
Abstract
A carrier for an enteral feeding device including a pump,
enteral feeding containers and tubing. The carrier has a case for
holding the enteral feeding pump, and a shoulder strap for carrying
the case. The shoulder strap has one or more compartments for
holding the one or more enteral feeding containers. The carrier
permits a patient to receive nutrition from the enteral feeding
device concealed within the carrier while the patient is
mobile.
Inventors: |
Sisk; Ricky A.; (Washington,
MO) ; Hudson; Joseph A.; (O'Fallon, MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TYCO HEALTHCARE - EDWARD S. JARMOLOWICZ
15 HAMPSHIRE STREET
MANSFIELD
MA
02048
US
|
Assignee: |
TYCO HEALTHCARE GROUP LP
Mansfield
MA
|
Family ID: |
43061775 |
Appl. No.: |
12/435846 |
Filed: |
May 5, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/602 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61J 1/10 20130101; A61J
15/0076 20150501; A61J 9/005 20130101; A61J 15/0015 20130101; A45F
3/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/602 |
International
Class: |
A45F 3/02 20060101
A45F003/02 |
Claims
1. A carrier for carrying an enteral feeding device, said feeding
device comprising an enteral feeding pump and one or more enteral
feeding containers, said carrier comprising: a case for holding the
enteral feeding pump; a shoulder strap for carrying the case; and
said shoulder strap having one or more compartments adapted to hold
the enteral feeding containers.
2. The carrier of claim 1, further comprising a suspension device
for suspending an enteral feeding container in each compartment of
said one or more compartments at a positive head height when the
carrier is being worn with the shoulder strap over a shoulder.
3. The carrier of claim 1, wherein said shoulder strap comprises an
upper strap portion adapted to be placed over a shoulder and first
and second lower strap portions extending down from the upper strap
portion to the case, and wherein said one or more compartments are
located in at least one of said first and second lower strap
portions.
4. The carrier of claim 1, further comprising at least one closure
for opening and closing the one or more compartments, said at least
one closure being positioned on the shoulder strap so that it faces
generally toward a person wearing the strap thereby to conceal the
closure.
5. The carrier of claim 3, wherein at least one of said first and
second lower strap portions has opposing interior and exterior
layers, the opposing interior and exterior layer of at least one
lower strap portion defining one compartment of said one or more
compartments.
6. The carrier of claim 5, wherein said one compartment opens into
an interior of the case.
7. The carrier of claim 5, wherein said at least one lower strap
portion has an outlet through which tubing from the enteral feeding
pump can pass to a person using the carrier.
8. The carrier of 7, wherein said outlet is formed in the interior
layer of the at least one lower strap portion.
9. The carrier of claim 5, further comprising a suspension device
for suspending an enteral feeding container in said one compartment
at a positive head height when the carrier is being worn with the
shoulder strap over a shoulder.
10. The carrier of claim 3, wherein the first and second lower
strap portions have interior and exterior layers defining first and
second compartments, respectively, for holding first and second
enteral feeding containers, respectively, and wherein each
compartment has a lower end which opens into an interior of the
case.
11. The carrier of claim 10, wherein the interior layers of said
first and second lower strap portions are integrally connected by a
cover portion that extends over a top of the case and functions as
a cover of the case.
12. The carrier of claim 11, further comprising a closure extending
along the interior layers of the first and second lower strap
portions and along said cover portion whereby the first and second
compartments and the top of the case may be opened and closed by
opening and closing the closure.
13. The carrier of claim 1, wherein said case has a transparent
wall portion to allow viewing of an enteral feeding pump inside the
case.
14. The carrier of claim 13, further comprising a non-transparent
flap on the case movable between an open position for allowing
viewing through the transparent wall portion and a closed position
covering the transparent portion.
15. The carrier of claim 1 in combination with one or more of the
following: an enteral feeding pump, one or more enteral feeding
containers, and one or more tubes.
16. A carrier for carrying an enteral feeding device, said feeding
device comprising an enteral feeding pump and at least one enteral
feeding container, said carrier comprising: a case for holding the
enteral feeding pump; a shoulder strap for carrying the case, said
shoulder strap comprising an exterior layer on an outward facing
side of the strap and an interior layer on an inward facing side of
the strap; and a compartment between said exterior and interior
layers of the shoulder strap adapted to hold at least one enteral
feeding container, said compartment having a lower end which opens
into an interior of the case.
17. The carrier of claim 16, wherein said interior layer of the
shoulder strap comprises a cover portion that extends over a top of
the case and functions as a cover of the case.
18. The carrier of claim 17, further comprising a zipper closure
extending along the interior layer from a location toward the upper
end of the compartment to a location across the cover portion of
the shoulder strap whereby the compartment and the top of the case
may be opened and closed by opening and closing the zipper
closure.
19. The carrier of claim 16, wherein said case has a transparent
front wall portion to allow viewing of an enteral feeding pump
inside the case.
20. The carrier of claim 19, further comprising a non-transparent
flap on the case movable between an open position for allowing
viewing through said transparent front wall portion and a closed
position covering said transparent front wall portion.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to carriers, and
more particularly to a carrier for carrying an enteral feeding
device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Persons having enteral feeding needs must deal with the
problem of moving the necessary feeding equipment from location to
location. Such equipment typically includes a pump, one or more
fluid containers (e.g., bags of feeding fluid and rinsing fluid),
and the associated tubing. This equipment is bulky and cumbersome
to carry. In the past, such equipment has simply been moved from
place to place, as needed, but there has been no convenient way of
carrying the equipment and using it while it is being carried. As a
result, the mobility of a person using the equipment is
limited.
[0003] There is a need, therefore, for a device which allows such
equipment to be carried in a convenient manner and to be used while
it is being carried.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In general, this invention is directed to a carrier for
carrying an enteral feeding device of the type comprising an
enteral feeding pump and one or more enteral feeding containers.
The carrier comprises a case for holding the enteral feeding pump,
and a shoulder strap for carrying the case. In an exemplary
embodiment, the shoulder strap has one or more compartments adapted
to hold enteral feeding containers.
[0005] In an exemplary embodiment, the shoulder strap comprises an
exterior layer on an outward facing side of the strap and an
interior layer on an inward facing side of the strap. The exterior
and interior layers of the shoulder strap define a compartment for
holding at least one enteral feeding container. The compartment has
a lower end which opens into an interior of the case.
[0006] Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in
part pointed out hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective showing how a carrier of this
invention may be worn;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective of the carrier of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a vertical section in the plane of 3-3 of FIG.
2;
[0010] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the carrier of
FIG. 2 showing a front flap of the carrier in an open position for
viewing a display of a pump in the carrier;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a perspective of the carrier of FIG. 2 with the
straps opened to show components of an enteral feeding set in the
carrier;
[0012] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the carrier of
FIG. 5 with a zipper open to show a suspension device for
suspending an enteral feeding container; and
[0013] FIG. 7 is a section taken in the vertical plane of line 7-7
of FIG. 2.
[0014] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
parts throughout the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1-3, a
carrier according to this invention is designated in its entirety
by the reference number 10. The carrier 10 comprises a case,
generally designated 12, and a shoulder strap, generally designated
14, for carrying the case 12. In an exemplary embodiment, the
carrier 10 permits a patient to receive nutrition from an enteral
feeding device concealed within the carrier 10 while the patient is
mobile. As shown in FIG. 3, the enteral feeding device includes an
enteral feeding pump P, first and second enteral feeding containers
C1, C2, and associated tubing comprising tubing T1 and T2 extending
from respective containers to the pump P, and tubing T3 extending
from the pump for delivery of fluid to the person using the
carrier. The pump P, containers C1, C2 and associated tubing T1,
T2, T3 are of conventional design and operation. By way of example,
the first container C1 may be a bag containing an enteral feeding
liquid and the second container C2 may be a bag containing a rinse
liquid. While the carrier 10 is described as holding an enteral
feeding device during use, it may be utilized for other purposes as
well, such as for holding intravenous (IV) infusion sets, for
example.
[0016] As illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, the case 12 of the carrier 10
is preferably box-shaped, though other shapes are possible. The
case 12 comprises a bottom wall 24, a front wall 26 facing away
from the patient during use, a back wall 28 formed opposite the
front wall 26, and a pair of opposing side walls 32 combining to
define an interior space 36 for receiving the enteral feeding pump
P. The interior space 36 may be fitted to a specific make or model
of enteral feeding pumps. The interior space 36 may also contain
means for restraining the pump P within the interior space, such as
straps for example.
[0017] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the front wall 26
has a transparent wall portion 38 for viewing a display 42 on the
feeding pump P within the case 12. The transparent wall portion 38
comprises all or a substantial surface area of the front wall 26
and is rectangular shaped as shown, though other sizes and shapes
are within the scope of this invention. The transparent wall
portion 38 is formed of a suitable flexible material, PVC for
example, but it may be rigid (e.g., constructed from glass). A
non-transparent flap 54 is hinged along a bottom edge of the front
wall 26 and is movable between an open position (FIG. 4) that
allows viewing of the display 42 of the enteral feeding pump P
through the transparent wall portion 38, and a closed position
(FIG. 2) that conceals the transparent wall portion. The flap 54
may be hinged on any other edge and/or wall of the case. The flap
54 is sized and shaped to cover at least the transparent wall
portion 38 in the closed position. As seen in FIG. 4, the flap 54
may be secured in its closed position by a suitable releasable
fastening mechanism, such as cooperating strips 56, 58 of
hook-and-loop materials on the inner surface of the flap near its
top edge and the outer surface of the front wall 26 of the case
near its top edge. Alternatively, other releasable fastener
mechanisms, such as slide fasteners and snaps, may be employed to
close the flap 54 so as to conceal the transparent wall portion 38.
The transparent wall portion 38 and flap 54 may be formed on any
surface of the case 12 to accommodate a wide range of pumps with
variably placed displays.
[0018] Returning to FIG. 2, the strap 14 comprises an upper strap
portion 62 for placement over the shoulder of the patient, and
first and second lower strap portions 66 and 68, respectively,
extending down from the upper strap portion to the case 12. The
upper strap portion 62 comprises two strap members 72, 74 and a
snap-connector 78, though other releasable connectors might be
used. Desirably, at least one of the strap members 72, 74 of the
upper strap portion is adjustable in length. Alternately, the upper
strap portion 62 is composed of a single strap member connecting
the first and second lower strap portions 66, 68.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 3, each lower strap portion 66, 68
comprises an interior layer 80 and an opposing exterior layer 82.
The layers 80, 82 of the first lower strap portion 66 define a
first compartment 86 for holding the first container C1, and the
layers 80, 82 of the second lower strap portion 68 define a second
compartment 88 for holding the second container C2. Access to each
compartment 86, 88 is enabled by a slide fastener 90 on the
interior layer 80, though other releasably fastening mechanisms
such as hook-and-loop structures and snaps may be employed.
[0020] As illustrated in FIGS. 2-5, the interior layers 80 of the
first and second lower strap portions 66, 68 are integrally
connected to form a cover portion 94 over the interior space 36 of
the case 12. The lower end of each compartment 86, 88 opens into
the interior space 36 to form a continuous, carrier space sized to
accommodate the pump P and the tubing T1, T2 from the containers
C1, C2 to the pump P. As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the slide
fastener 90 runs down from adjacent the top of the first lower
strap portion 66, over the cover portion 94 and up to adjacent the
top of the second strap portion 68. Alternately, the cover portion
94 and the lower strap portions 66, 68 may have separate slide
fasteners for accessing the interior space and the compartments,
respectively. Desirably, the exterior layers 82 of the lower strap
portions 66, 68 form the side walls 32 of the case 12.
Alternatively, the exterior layers 82 of the lower strap portions
66, 68 may terminate at the case 12.
[0021] The shoulder strap 14 may have other configurations within
the scope of this invention. By way of example, the interior layers
80 of the lower shoulder strap portions 66, 68 may not be
integrally connected, and the case 12 may have a separate
cover.
[0022] A method of using the carrier for holding an enteral feeding
device is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5. Opening the slide fastener
90 provides access to the carrier space to allow for placement of
the various components of the enteral feeding device in the carrier
10. The enteral feeding pump P is placed in the interior space 36
of the case 12, and the enteral feeding containers C, C2 are
suspended from suspension devices 102, 104, respectively, provided
in the compartments 86, 88 adjacent the upper ends of the lower
strap portions 66, 68 (see FIG. 3). As best illustrated in FIG. 6,
each suspension device 102, 104 comprises a strap 108 having
releasable hook-and-loop fastening components 110, 112. The strap
108 is adapted to be looped around a support or handle 116 of a
respective container C1, C2 and then fastened in place to hold the
container at a desired height in its respective compartment 86, 88.
Desirably, when the carrier 10 is being used, the suspension
devices 102, 104 hold the containers C1, C2 at heights above the
top of the pump P in the case 12. Other suspension devices may be
used.
[0023] Suspending the containers C1, C2 at an elevation above the
pump P in the case 12 allows for a positive head height and
gravity-assisted flow of solution from the containers C1, C2 to the
pump P. The containers C1, C2 are connected to the pump P via
concealed tubing T1, T2 that resides within the enclosed carrier
space. The gastric feeding tube T3 originating from the P, in turn,
exits the carrier 10 to supply nutrition to the patient through an
outlet 120 formed in the interior layer 80 of a lower strap portion
68, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Desirably, both lower strap portions
66, 68 have outlets 120, 122 to accommodate user preference. As
illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, the patient can adjust the carrier 10 (by
adjusting the length of the upper strap portion 62, for example) to
position the outlet 120 over his/her body so as to achieve
concealment of the feeding tube T3 and for optimal alignment with a
gastrostomy tract formed in the patient for gastric feeding.
[0024] FIGS. 3 and 7 illustrate how concealment of the enteral
feeding device is achieved with the invention. The case 12 conceals
the feeding pump 22, and the shoulder strap 14 conceals the
containers C1, C2 and associated tubing T1, T2 and T3. The only
component of the feeding equipment located outside the carrier is
the feeding tube T3 exiting through the outlet 120, as illustrated
in FIGS. 2 and 7.
[0025] The case 12 and shoulder strap 14 of the carrier 10 may be
constructed of a flexible material (e.g., nylon) that is
aesthetically pleasing and collapsible for compact storage during
non-use. Other desirable properties of the carrier material are
water-impermeability and durability. Alternately, parts of the
carrier 10 may be composed of other materials with differing
properties. For example, the case 12 may be formed from a rigid or
semi-rigid material so as to better protect the pump P. Other
combinations of material can be used to form the carrier 10 within
the scope of the invention.
[0026] Having described the invention in detail, it will be
apparent that modifications and variations are possible without
departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended
claims. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, each
compartment 86, 88 is sized to hold only one enteral feeding
container C1, C2. Alternatively, one or both of the compartments
86, 88 may be sized for holding more than one container. In still
other embodiments, only one of the lower strap portions 66, 68 of
the carrier may be configured to hold a container. In another
embodiment, the tubing T3 is directed through a belt attached to
the case 12, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,282,044 assigned to
Sherwood Services AG. The belt can be used to secure the case 12
around the waist of the patient.
[0027] In view of the above, it will be seen that the several
objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous
results attained. A patient that requires enteral feeding can use a
carrier of this invention to carry the necessary equipment in a
convenient manner and to use the equipment while it is being
carried. Further, the equipment is substantially entirely concealed
in the carrier during use. The carrier is compact, comfortable to
wear and readily collapsible for easy storage when not in use.
Using a shoulder strap enables the enteral feeding container(s) of
the equipment to be carried at a positive head height for gravity
feed of the fluid. In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier can
be worn on either shoulder. Further, the carrier is economical to
manufacture.
[0028] As various changes could be made in the above constructions,
products, and methods without departing from the scope of the
invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above
description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be
interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
[0029] When introducing elements of the present invention or the
preferred embodiments(s) thereof, the articles "a", "an", "the" and
"said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the
elements. The terms "comprising", "including" and "having" are
intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional
elements other than the listed elements.
* * * * *