U.S. patent application number 13/189023 was filed with the patent office on 2012-01-26 for enteral feeding assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to MEDELA HOLDING AG. Invention is credited to Brian H. Silver.
Application Number | 20120022468 13/189023 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45494190 |
Filed Date | 2012-01-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120022468 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Silver; Brian H. |
January 26, 2012 |
Enteral Feeding Assembly
Abstract
An enteral feeding system for use with a syringe or extension
tubing, such as an enteral feeding syringe or tubing, is provided.
The system has features to balance the pressure within the
tubing.
Inventors: |
Silver; Brian H.; (Cary,
IL) |
Assignee: |
MEDELA HOLDING AG
Baar
CH
|
Family ID: |
45494190 |
Appl. No.: |
13/189023 |
Filed: |
July 22, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61367228 |
Jul 23, 2010 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/256 ;
604/246; 604/523 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 39/1011 20130101;
A61M 2039/1027 20130101; A61J 1/2055 20150501; A61J 1/2096
20130101; A61M 2039/1094 20130101; A61J 15/00 20130101; A61J 1/2072
20150501; A61M 2039/1033 20130101; A61J 15/0026 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
604/256 ;
604/523; 604/246 |
International
Class: |
A61M 39/20 20060101
A61M039/20; A61M 39/22 20060101 A61M039/22; A61M 39/08 20060101
A61M039/08 |
Claims
1. An enteral feeding system comprising: a tube having a first end,
a second end, an exterior sidewall, a conduit within said tube
between said first end and a location near said second end; a first
orifice; and a second orifice located downstream of said first
orifice, wherein said second orifice extends from a point below an
end of said conduit to a point along the length of said
conduit.
2. The enteral feeding system of claim 1, said tube further
comprising a collapsible feature formed on said tube, said
collapsible feature collapsing at least a portion of said conduit
within said tube when a vacuum is applied.
3. The enteral feeding system of claim 2, said collapsible feature
comprising a thinned region formed in said tube exterior
sidewall.
4. The enteral feeding system of claim 3, said collapsible feature
further comprising a is supporting structure that extends around
said thinned region.
5. The enteral feeding system of claim 4, wherein said supporting
structure further comprises a plurality of arms extending from said
exterior sidewall of said tubing, wherein said arms span at least
the length of said thinned region.
6. The enteral feeding system of claim 4, wherein said supporting
structure further comprises a plurality of webs extending from said
exterior sidewall of said tubing, wherein said webs spans at least
the length of said thinned region.
7. The enteral feeding system of claim 4, wherein said supporting
structure further comprises a cage structure extending from said
exterior sidewall of said tubing, wherein said cage spans at least
the length of said thinned region.
8. The enteral feeding system of claim 5, wherein when a vacuum
pressure applied within said conduit is larger than a
pre-designated vacuum pressure, said thinned region expands outward
toward said plurality of arms.
9. The enteral feeding system of claim 1, said tube further
comprising a cap attached to said tube at said first end with a
tether.
10. The enteral feeding system of claim 9, wherein said cap
comprises a plug within the interior surface of said cap, said plug
being sized and shaped to fit within and close said conduit.
11. An enteral feeding system comprising: a first tube section
comprising a first end, a second end, an exterior sidewall, and a
conduit within said first tube section and extending from said
first end to said second end, said conduit designed to collapse
upon itself and close said conduit under vacuum within said tube
which exceeds a designated threshold; wherein said first tube
section is removably attachable to a tubing.
12. The enteral feeding system of claim 11, wherein when said first
tube section is attached to said tubing, said first tube section
conduit is in fluid communication with a conduit within said
tubing.
13. The enteral feeding system of claim 11, said tube further
comprising a collapsible feature formed on said tube, said
collapsible feature collapsing at least a portion of said conduit
within said tube when a vacuum is applied.
14. The enteral feeding system of claim 13, said collapsible
feature further comprising a thinned region formed in an exterior
sidewall of said tube.
15. A enteral feeding system of claim 14, said collapsible feature
further comprising a supporting structure that extends around said
thinned region.
16. The enteral feeding system of claim 15, wherein said supporting
structure further comprises a plurality of arms extending from said
exterior sidewall of said tubing, wherein said plurality of arms
spans at least the length of said thinned region.
17. The enteral feeding system of claim 15, wherein said supporting
structure further comprises a plurality of webs extending from the
exterior sidewall of said tubing, wherein said webs spans at least
the length of said thinned region.
18. The enteral feeding system of claim 15, wherein said supporting
structure further comprises a cage structure extending from said
exterior sidewall of said tubing, wherein said cage spans at least
the length of said thinned region.
19. The enteral feeding system of claim 11, said tubing further
comprising a one-way is valve.
20. The enteral feeding system of claim 19, said tube further
comprising a cap attached to said tube at said first end with a
tether.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a non-provisional of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 61/367,228 filed Jul. 23, 2010,
entitled "Enteral Feeding Connector and Assembly", the contents of
which are fully incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to tubing connectors
and tubing, and more particularly in one aspect to an enteral
feeding assembly including an improved tubing designed to deal with
undesired vacuum as well as overpressure issues.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Fluid delivery systems, such as feeding tubes, are used to
deliver nutrients and medicine to patients. The state of being fed
by a feeding tube is known in the art as enteral feeding or tube
feeding.
[0004] As an example, in a neo-natal unit, infants are often fed
enterally. A tube is inserted in is the mouth or nasal opening of
the infant and down through the esophagus for delivery of the fluid
to the stomach or intestinal region of the body. In this example,
breast milk or formula are delivered by syringe into an enteral
delivery system, such as an enteral tube, for delivery into the
infant's stomach. However, enteral feeding systems can also be for
pediatric or adult use. Sometimes a peristaltic pump is used to
deliver fluids from a feeding bag.
[0005] In the course of using the feeding tube, it is possible that
an overpressure can develop in the tube and/or the infant's
stomach. Alternatively, an excessive vacuum state can exist during
aspiration, where the tubing is generating an undesired suction
force at the openings in its distal tip.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An improved enteral feeding system is provided. The system
comprises a tube having a first end, a second end, an exterior
sidewall, a conduit within said tube between said first end and a
location near said second end, a first orifice, and a second
orifice. The second orifice is located downstream of the first
orifice, extending from a point below an end of the conduit to a
point along the length of the conduit. This helps to alleviate
certain undesired suction issues, as well as inhibit bacterial
collection and growth. To prevent excessive negative pressure
within the tubing, as at an orifice, the tubing may comprise a
collapsible feature formed therein. The collapsible feature may
comprise a thinned region that collapses when excessive negative
pressure is applied, effectively cutting off further negative
pressure from being exerted and giving the clinician an indication
that an excessive vacuum is being applied.
[0007] A supporting structure may additionally be present on the
tubing, in the form of a cage is structure. The tubing may comprise
a thinned region in the area surrounded by the cage structure that
balloons out if excessive pressure is applied within the
tubing.
[0008] A one-way valve may be removably attachable to a tube
section, either at an end of the tube section, or along the length
of the tube section. Where the one-way valve is attached to the end
of the tube section, either a cap or a syringe may be pushed into
the valve to send air to a channel within the valve, which then
flows through the tubing. In some embodiments, one-way valves may
be placed along the length of the tube section to release pressure
from within a conduit in the tubing.
[0009] In another embodiment, an enteral feeding system is provided
that comprises a first tube section comprising a first end, a
second end, an exterior sidewall, and a conduit within the first
tube section that extends from the first end to the second end. The
first tube section is removably attachable to a tubing.
[0010] These and other aspects, objects, and accomplishments of the
present invention will be further understood upon consideration of
the following detailed description of certain embodiments, taken in
conjunction with the below drawings depicting various embodiments,
in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Various exemplary embodiments are described herein with
reference to the following drawings, wherein like numerals denote
like parts.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an enteral feeding
system;
[0013] FIG. 2 is an enteral feed tube with novel modifications to
deal with suction issues at the distal tip;
[0014] FIG. 3 shows a modified proximal end-structure to the tubing
of FIG. 2;
[0015] FIG. 4 is an enteral feed tube section like that of FIG. 2,
modified to be retrofit to standard tubing;
[0016] FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partial view of an enteral feed tube
with a pressure release valve;
[0017] FIG. 6 is an enlarged, partial view of an enteral feed tube
with a pressure release valve;
[0018] FIG. 7A is a partial view of an enteral feed tube section
with a one-way valve;
[0019] FIG. 7B is a top view of the one-way valve of FIG. 7A;
and
[0020] FIG. 8 is an enteral feed tube with novel modifications to
deal with excessive pressure issues within the tube.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The connector and assembly of the present invention will be
described herein for use with an enteral feeding tube, but it is
contemplated that the connector assembly of the present invention
can be used in any device that may benefit from this type of
assembly.
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical enteral feeding
system 100, in accordance with exemplary embodiments. Enteral
feeding system 100 has a syringe 110 and a tube 120. Syringe 110
has a distal end 112, a proximal end 114, and a plunger 118. At
proximal end 114 is a syringe tip 116. Tubing 120 has a first end
122 and a second end 124. In this system 100, first end 122 of tube
120 and syringe tip 116 may be removably secured together. To
secure syringe tip 116 to first end 122 of tube 120, syringe tip
116 is manually inserted into first end 122 of tube 120.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows an enteral feed tube with novel modifications.
Tube 800 is similar in form to a standard enteral feed tube, but
with several new features. One is in the tube end 802, which is
inserted into the patient. It has been the case in standard enteral
tubing that an orifice is 804 (sometimes referred to as a drainage
eye), is located upstream from the solid tube end 802. This leaves
a volume below the eye in the tube end which can retain fluid
therein. To eliminate this undesirable fluid eddy in the tube end,
in which bacteria growth may occur for instance, another orifice
806 is formed in tube end 802. This orifice extends in this
embodiment from a point below where interior channel 808 of the
tubing ends (shown at 808'), to a point thereabove. Thus, any fluid
in the very tip of the tube end interior will have an outlet to
drain, so as to eliminate the foregoing fluid eddy or trap.
[0024] In certain instances, it may be desirable to apply a suction
force to the tube 800. In order to alleviate the possibility that
soft tissue might be unintentionally pulled upon and thereby
traumatized by an excessive negative pressure, as at orifice 804,
tube 800 has a collapsible feature formed therein at 812. In this
embodiment, collapsible feature 812 has a thinned region 814 formed
in the tubing sidewall. Thinned region 814 is designed to collapse
the interior of the tubing in this area, such that thinned sidewall
814' will substantially come together along the axis of the tubing,
serving to cut off further application of vacuum (negative
pressure) at tube end 802.
[0025] A supporting structure is provided around thinned region 814
to otherwise maintain the tubing open in normal use, except in the
circumstance when an undesirable vacuum is generated. Here, this
supporting structure takes the form of a surrounding blister,
formed surrounding the tubing sidewall. Of course, the supporting
structure could be struts, webbing, or the like which serves to
maintain the parts of the tubing upstream and downstream of the
thinned region 814 apart, and tubing channel 808 open in normal
use. FIG. 3, for example, shows a flexible cage structure 820 which
has been added to the tubing (as by press fit, fusing, gluing,
ultrasonic welding, etc.). Cage structure 820 has an upper ring 821
and a lower ring 822 with ribs 824 extending therebetween. Cage
structure 820 maintains the integrity of tubing is and the channel
808 open, except in the presence of an undesirable vacuum being
applied.
[0026] Returning to FIG. 2, a cap 825 is provided to close the
upstream end 801 of the tubing 800. Upstream end 801 is shown here
as adapted to receive the tip of a feeding syringe for instance, or
some other tip or end effector from a device to be connected to the
tubing. Cap 825 is tethered to the tube 800 via tether 826. Cap 825
is useful not only in keeping the tube closed until connection, but
also in use, as when changing an item that is connected to the
tubing.
[0027] In this same regard, the embodiment of FIG. 3 also has a
tethered cap, but slightly modified. Note particularly in this
embodiment that the upstream end of the enteral feeding tubing has
been adapted to have a connector structure, formed integral
therewith, at least as to the syringe/container connecting portion.
As will be therefore seen, the exterior surface 210 in this area
has the one or more flanges/protuberances 220 formed thereon.
[0028] This cap 828 has a "no-touch" feature in the form of a plug
829 formed thereon, which will fit in and close interior conduit
216, with the cap closing aperture 215. A user handling the cap 828
thus need not contact the plug 829, reducing the risk of
contaminating the conduit 216. Other no-touch features may be
present on various connectors that may be used with the feeding
system, such as those described in U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/367,228, which is herein incorporated by
reference.
[0029] FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of an enteral feed
tube, such as the enteral feed tube of FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 4,
feed tube 800 is the same as that shown in FIG. 2, but is designed
to be inserted, or retrofit, to standard tubing, such as tubing
first end 122 shown in FIG. 1. The FIG. 4 embodiment thus has a
short tube part 803 that terminates in a tip 807 having an opening
805. Tip 807 is sized to fit into the standard tubing proximal end
in an interference is fit, luer lock, screw fit, or the like.
[0030] FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partial view of an enteral feed tube
with a vacuum release valve 830. The vacuum release valve 830 shown
in FIG. 5 is a spring-loaded valve, and may be present on the first
tube section 803 to provide for vacuum release in addition to or in
place of either cage structure 820 or collapsible feature 812.
Vacuum release valve 830 comprises a housing 832 that extends from
tubing 800. At one end of housing 832 is an opening 834. A spring
836 resides within housing 832, and serves to press a closure over
opening 834 and opens when the vacuum within tubing 800 is
sufficiently high. Vacuum release valve 830 may be a one-way valve,
allowing for air to flow through tubing 800, and to enter housing
832 via opening 834.
[0031] FIG. 6 is an enlarged, partial view of an enteral feed tube
with a pressure release valve 840. The pressure release valve 840
shown in FIG. 6 is an umbrella valve, and may be present on the
first tube section 803 to provide for pressure release in addition
to or in place of either flexible cage structure 820 or collapsible
feature 812. Pressure release valve 840 comprises a stem 842 and a
head 844. Stem 842 is placed through a hole in tubing 800. Pressure
release valve 840 may be a one-way valve, allowing for fluid to
flow through tubing 800, and to exit housing 832 via opening
834.
[0032] FIG. 7A is a partial view of an enteral feeding tube section
with a one-way valve 910 and a tethered cap 925. One-way valve 910
may be removably attachable to tube section 122 as shown in FIG.
7A. Thus, when either cap 925 or a syringe is pushed into valve
910, a flexible element 914 is collapsed upon itself, opening a
channel into the top of the valve 910. Cap 925 may comprise an
orifice or other means to allow air into the valve. Fluid, such as
is enteral feed, may then flow into valve 910 and into tubing 122,
or air may be allowed to exit for venting. Valve 910 has the
flexible elongate member 914 in a chamber 916. Flexible member 914
has scalloped areas 917, and is fixed at distal end 918, but free
to move longitudinally at proximal end 919. Proximal end 919 is
located within a top disk 921 of the valve structure (shown in FIG.
7B), and closes an orifice therein. When pressed by a syringe-tip,
for example, proximal end moves distally, opening the orifice. When
the syringe is removed, flexible member 914 returns to its rest
position, closing the orifice. Valve 910 may be a syringe valve
such as those manufactured by Halkey Roberts, such as the 245
SERIES Swabable Valve.
[0033] FIG. 8 is an enteral feed tube with novel modifications to
deal with other issues, as at the distal tip. The enteral feed tube
is FIG. 8 is similar to that of FIG. 3, and has the additional
feature of thinned region 814, but here being designed to expand,
or "balloon out" if excessive pressure is exerted in the tubing
800. Thus, a user can determine simply by viewing the thinned
region 814 whether too much pressure is present within tubing 800,
or within the infant's stomach. Thinned region 814 may touch cage
824 when in the extended position. Thinned region 814 may also be
designed to collapse the interior of the tubing in this area if
excessive vacuum pressure is applied as well, as described with
reference to FIG. 3.
[0034] Various exemplary embodiments and methods have been
described above. Those skilled in the art will understand, however,
that changes and modifications may be made to those examples
without departing from the scope and spirit of the present
invention. Additional and/or different features may be present in
some embodiments of the present invention.
* * * * *