Controlled gastric bolus feeding device

• US 20050154357A1
• Filed: 06/12/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Octic Medical Devices, LLC
• Original Assignee: Octic Medical Devices, LLC
• Inventors: Pinel, Lloyd Jay
• Granted Patent: US 7,794,436 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/247
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0092 Valves on feeding tubes tube valves A61M39/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0096 Provisions for venting
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/76 for fluid level
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 9/00 Feeding-bottles in general

Abstract

A gravity bolus feeding device having a cylindrical body with and intake valve to control or prevent flow of fluid through the feeding device. The device also has a check valve to receive fluids expelled from the patient back into the feeding device. The check valve allows such fluids to rejoin the fluid path and be re-fed to the patient, while allowing air to vent. A burp baffle for use with this or another feeding device to prevent spillage or splashing, while taking in or venting air. The burp baffle has a bottom section which snugly fits into the device, with a notch or opening near its outer periphery, allowing fluid to pass. A center section connected to the bottom section allows fluid to flow around it and into an opening generally opposite the notch. A top section covers the feeding device, and has a hole that allows fluid to vent out the top of the feeding device.

Claims

1. A gravity bolus feeding device, comprising:

a cylindrical body having a top and a bottom, said top and said bottom each being open, and defining a first fluid path in through said top and out through said bottom;

an intake valve disposed in said first fluid path to control the quantity of flow through said first fluid path; and

a check valve having an intake disposed to receive fluids entering said cylindrical body from said bottom, and having an outtake disposed to pass fluids into said first fluid path before said intake valve, said check valve disposed between said top and said bottom and defining a second fluid path in from said intake, through said check valve body, and out through said outtake.

2. A gravity bolus feeding device as described in claim 1, further comprising quantity markings on said cylindrical body.

3. A gravity bolus feeding device as described in claim 1, further comprising markings to indicate openness of said intake valve.

4. A gravity bolus feeding device as described in claim 1, further comprising a handle attached to said cylindrical body.

5. A gravity bolus feeding device as described in claim 4, wherein said handle is adjustable both up and down, and circumferentially around said cylindrical body.

6. A gravity bolus feeding device as described in claim 4, further comprising a hanger attached to said handle.

7. A gravity bolus feeding device as described in claim 5, further comprising a hanger attached to said handle.

8. A gravity bolus feeding device as described in claim 1, wherein said intake valve is completely closeable to prevent fluid from flowing along said first fluid path.

9. A gravity bolus feeding device as described in claim 1, wherein said check valve is a duck bill check valve.

10. A gravity bolus feeding device as described in claim 1, wherein said bottom is tapered.

11. A gravity bolus feeding device as described in claim 10, wherein said tapered bottom is ribbed.

12. A gravity bolus feeding device as described in claim 1, wherein said intake valve and said check valve are located on a removable bottom portion, said removable bottom portion cooperating with said cylindrical body to generally define a fluid chamber.

13. A gravity bolus feeding device as described in claim 12, wherein said intake valve and said check valve are removable from said removable bottom portion.

14. A burp baffle for use with a fluid container having an open top, comprising:

a bottom section shaped to fit snugly within the fluid container, said bottom section having an opening near its outer periphery to allow fluid to pass from the fluid container through or across said bottom section;

a center section connected to said bottom section nearer the top of the fluid container, said center section being smaller in cross-section than the fluid container, thereby defining a fluid path within the fluid container and around said center section, said center section having an opening generally on the opposite side from said opening in said bottom section, said fluid path being connected to both said opening in said center section and said opening in said bottom section; and

a top section connected to said center section opposite said bottom section, said top section covering the open top of the fluid container, said top section having a hole to allow air to pass through said top section out of the fluid container, said hole being connected to said fluid path by said opening in said center section.

15. A burp baffle as defined in claim 14, wherein said opening in said bottom section is located at the outer periphery of said bottom section.

16. A burp baffle as defined in claim 15, wherein said opening in said bottom section comprises a notch.

17. A burp baffle as defined in claim 14, wherein said center section encloses a hollow central cavity, said hollow central cavity connecting said opening in said center section with said hole in said top section.

18. A burp baffle as defined in claim 14, wherein said opening in said center section comprises a channel connecting said fluid path with said hole in said top section.

19. A burp baffle as defined in claim 14, wherein said opening in said bottom section and said opening in said center section are located exactly opposite each other.

20. A burp baffle as defined in claim 14, wherein said top section has a flat edge to prevent rolling of the fluid container when the fluid container is laid down.

21. A burp baffle as defined in claim 20, wherein said flat edge is extended such that the top of the fluid container will remain partially raised and supported by said flat edge when the fluid container is laid down.

22. A burp baffle for use with a generally cylindrical fluid container having an open top, comprising:

a circular bottom section shaped to fit snugly within the fluid container, said bottom section having an opening near its outer circumference to allow fluid to pass from the fluid container through or across said bottom section;

a center section connected to said bottom section nearer the top of the fluid container, said center section being an annular ring enclosing a hollow central cavity and further defining the inside wall of an annular cavity between said center section and the fluid container, said center section having an opening generally on the opposite side from said opening in said bottom section, said opening in said center section connecting said annular cavity with said hollow central cavity, said annular cavity being connected to said opening in said bottom section; and

a top section connected to said center section opposite said bottom section, said top section covering the open top of the fluid container, said top section having a hole to allow air to pass through said top section out of the fluid container, said hole being connected to said hollow central cavity.

23. A burp baffle as defined in claim 22, wherein said opening in said bottom section is located at the outer periphery of said bottom section.

24. A burp baffle as defined in claim 23, wherein said opening in said bottom section comprises a notch.

25. A burp baffle as defined in claim 22, wherein said opening in said bottom section and said opening in said center section are located exactly opposite each other.

26. A burp baffle as defined in claim 22, wherein said top section has a flat edge to prevent rolling of the fluid container when the fluid container is laid down.

27. A burp baffle as defined in claim 26, wherein said flat edge is extended such that the top of the fluid container will remain partially raised and supported by said flat edge when the fluid container is laid down.

28. A gravity bolus feeding device, comprising:

a cylindrical body having a top and bottom, said top and said bottom each being open, and defining a first fluid path in through said top and out through said bottom;

an intake valve disposed in said first fluid path to control the quantity of flow through said first fluid path;

a check valve having an intake disposed to receive fluids entering said cylindrical body from said bottom, and having an outtake disposed to pass fluids into said first fluid path before said intake valve, said check valve disposed between said top and said bottom and defining a second fluid path in from said intake, through said check valve body, and out through said outtake;

a burp baffle having a circular bottom section shaped to fit snugly within the open top of the cylindrical body, said bottom section having an opening near its outer circumference to allow fluid to pass from the container through or across said bottom section;

a center section connected to said bottom section nearer the top of the cylindrical body, said center section being an annular ring enclosing a hollow central cavity and further defining the inside wall of an annular cavity between said center section and the cylindrical body, said center section having an opening generally on the opposite side from said opening in said bottom section, said opening in said center section connecting said annular cavity with said hollow central cavity, said annular cavity being connected to said opening in said bottom section; and

a top section connected to said center section opposite said bottom section, said top section covering the open top of the cylindrical body, said top section having a hole to allow fluid to pass through said top section out of the cylindrical body, said hole being connected to said hollow central cavity.

29. A gravity bolus feeding device, comprising:

a cylindrical body having a top and bottom, said top and said bottom each being open, and defining a first fluid path in through said top and out through said bottom;

an intake valve disposed in said first fluid path to control the quantity of flow through said first fluid path;

a check valve having an intake disposed to receive fluids entering said cylindrical body from said bottom, and having an outtake disposed to pass fluids into said first fluid path before said intake valve, said check valve disposed between said top and said bottom and defining a second fluid path in from said intake, through said check valve body, and out through said outtake;

a burp baffle having a bottom section shaped to fit snugly within the open top of the cylindrical body, said bottom section having an opening near its outer periphery to allow fluid to pass from the fluid container through or across said bottom section;

a center section connected to said bottom section nearer the top of the cylindrical body, said center section being smaller in cross-section than the cylindrical body thereby defining a third fluid path within the cylindrical body and around said center section, said center section having an opening generally on the opposite side from said opening in said bottom section, said third fluid path being connected to both said opening in said center section and said opening in said bottom section; and

a top section connected to said center section opposite said bottom section, said top section covering the open top of the cylindrical body, said top section having a hole to allow fluid to pass through said top section out of the cylindrical body, said hole being connected to said third fluid path by said opening in said center section.

30. A gravity bolus feeding device, comprising:

a cylindrical body having a top and bottom, said top and said bottom each being at least partially open, and defining a first fluid path in through said top and out through said bottom;

a cover shaped to fit snugly within the at least partially open top of said cylindrical body;

a guide rod extending at least from said cover to said bottom of said cylindrical body, said guide rod being rotatably fixed relative to said bottom of said cylindrical body;

a foot attached to said guide rod above said bottom of said cylindrical body and extending transversely and toward said bottom of said cylindrical body, positioned to engage the at least partially open bottom of said cylindrical body to restrict flow of liquid through the at least partially open bottom of said cylindrical body in the first fluid path;

wherein the rotation of said guide rod is translated to position said foot such that the at least partially open bottom of said cylindrical body may be completely uncovered, partially covered, or completely covered; and

wherein said foot is flexible to allow fluids vented into said cylindrical body from said bottom to pass said foot.

31. A gravity bolus feeding device as defined in claim 30, wherein said cover comprises a burp baffle, said burp baffle having:

a circular bottom section shaped to fit snugly within the at least partially open top of said cylindrical body, said bottom section having an opening near its outer circumference to allow fluid to pass from the cylindrical body through or across said bottom section;

a center section connected to said bottom section nearer the top of said cylindrical body, said center section being an annular ring enclosing a hollow central cavity and further defining the inside wall of an annular cavity between said center section and said cylindrical body, said center section having an opening generally on the opposite side from said opening in said bottom section, said opening in said center section connecting said annular cavity with said hollow central cavity, said annular cavity being connected to said opening in said bottom section; and

a top section connected to said center section opposite said bottom section, said top section covering the at least partially open top of said cylindrical body, said top section having a hole to allow fluid to pass through said top section out of said cylindrical body, said hole being connected to said hollow central cavity.