Enteral feeding unit having a reflux device and reflux method
First Claim
1. A reflux device for use during enteral feeding, comprising:
- a reservoir tube having a first end defining at least one opening, a body having a predetermined diameter and a second end defining an opening; and
a delivery tube including a first end connected to the second end of the reservoir tube, a branch adapted for connection to an administration tube and a second end received directly or indirectly by a patient, the delivery tube having a diameter less than the diameter of the body of the reservoir tube.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an enteral feeding unit having a reflux device for use during enteral feeding. The enteral feeding unit, in one embodiment, includes an administration device connected to a relatively large reservoir tube which is in fluid communication with a patient'"'"'s oral or nasal passage. The reservoir tube receives the reflux fluid from a patient and returns the reflux fluid to the patient when certain pressure conditions are present. This reservoir tube is preferably non-collapsible and preferably bears volumetric markings which enable a user to measure ,the amount of reflux fluid expelled by a patient. This type of enteral feeding unit provides users with a convenient way of accommodating and monitoring reflux fluid during the enteral feeding process.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A reflux device for use during enteral feeding, comprising:
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a reservoir tube having a first end defining at least one opening, a body having a predetermined diameter and a second end defining an opening; and
a delivery tube including a first end connected to the second end of the reservoir tube, a branch adapted for connection to an administration tube and a second end received directly or indirectly by a patient, the delivery tube having a diameter less than the diameter of the body of the reservoir tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A reflux device for use with an administration device during enteral feeding of a patient, the administration device having at least one administration tube, the reflux device comprising:
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a non-collapsible reservoir tube having a first end defining at least one opening which vents to atmosphere, a body having a predetermined diameter and a second end defining an opening having a diameter less than the diameter of the body;
a plurality of measurement markings on the non-collapsible reservoir tube; and
a delivery tube, in fluid communication with the reservoir tube and the administration tube, which is received directly or indirectly by the patient, the delivery tube having a diameter less than the diameter of the body of the reservoir tube. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A reflux device for use with an administration device during enteral feeding of a patient, the administration device having at least one administration tube, the reflux device comprising:
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a reservoir tube having a first end defining at least one opening, a body having a predetermined diameter and a second end defining an opening;
a multi-way connector in fluid communication with the second end of the reservoir tube and the administration tube; and
a first delivery tube in fluid communication with the multi-way connector; and
a second delivery tube connected to the first delivery tube, the second delivery tube received directly or indirectly by the patient, the second delivery tube having a diameter which is less than the diameter of the body of the reservoir tube. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of enterally feeding a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) delivering feeding fluid from a feeding source through a delivery tube to a patient;
(b) receiving reflux fluid from the patient through the delivery tube;
(c) channeling the received reflux fluid to a reservoir tube; and
(d) enabling any gaseous portion of the reflux fluid to vent to atmosphere. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of treating reflux fluid during enteral feeding, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) maintaining a pressure in a reservoir tube which is less than a patient'"'"'s expulsion pressure;
(b) enabling a patient to expel reflux fluid into the reservoir tube;
(c) receiving reflux fluid in the reservoir tube;
(d) enabling any gaseous portion of the received reflux fluid to flow out of the reservoir tube to atmosphere;
(e) using measurement markings on the reservoir tube to gather information about the reflux fluid in the reservoir tube; and
(f) enabling at least part of the reflux fluid in the reservoir tube to be delivered from the reservoir tube through a delivery tube to the patient after predetermined pressure conditions have been satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. An enteral feeding unit comprising:
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a container which contains feeding fluid, the container defining at least one opening;
an administration tube having a first end and a second end, the first end of the administration tube connected directly or indirectly to the container and the second end of the administration tube in fluid communication with a reservoir tube, the reservoir tube having a first end defining at least one opening, a body having a predetermined diameter and a second end defining an opening; and
a delivery tube in fluid communication with the second end of the reservoir tube, the delivery tube received directly or indirectly by the patient and the delivery tube having a diameter which is less than the diameter of the body of the reservoir tube. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification