Anti-aspiration device with content monitoring functionality

• US 20080086076A1
• Filed: 05/17/2007
• Published: 04/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Allen Gerber
• Original Assignee: Allen Gerber
• Inventors: Gerber, Allen
• Application Number:
  US11/804,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20080086076A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/43
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0003 Nasal or oral feeding-tubes, e.g. tube entering body through nose or mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0076 Feeding pumps A61M1/00, A61M5/142, A61M25/1018 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0084 for sensing parameters related to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/70 Audible labels, e.g. for pre-recorded info or messages

Abstract

A patient stomach fullness sensor is employed in conjunction with an optional patient angle sensor to shut off or to reverse the flow of fluid in a gastric tube when the combination of stomach fullness and patient angle relative to the horizontal becomes sufficient to indicate that gastric juices may enter the esophagus or go even higher. In this way incidents of aspirational pneumonia in hospitalized patients is significantly reduced or eliminated.

Claims

5-1. The device of claim 1 in which said fullness sensor provides an electrical signal indicative of stomach content as measured by stomach acidity.

14. A device to prevent aspiration of gastric fluids in a patient receiving fluid through a gastric tube, said device comprising:

a stomach fullness sensor for monitoring said patient'"'"'s stomach content, said sensor being capable of providing an electrical signal indicative of patient stomach content quantity; and

an electrical control circuit for receiving said patient stomach content signal and for stopping flow in said tube, as a function of said content level.

15. A gastric feeding system for a patient, said system comprising:

a nutrient supply reservoir;

a pump connected to said supply reservoir;

a gastric tube for delivering nutrient from said nutrient supply reservoir to said patient;

an electrical circuit for controlling said pump; and

a stomach fullness sensor for monitoring said patient'"'"'s stomach content, said sensor being capable of providing an electrical signal indicative of patient stomach content quantity to said electrical circuit, whereby fluid flow in said gastric tube may be stopped or reversed upon an indication of stomach content above a threshold value.

16. A method for ameliorating the problem of stomach content aspiration for a patient being fed or medicated through a gastric tube, said method comprising the step of:

stopping fluid flow through said gastric tube upon detecting that said patient'"'"'s stomach content is above a threshold value.

17. A method for ameliorating the problem of stomach content aspiration for a patient being fed or medicated through a gastric tube, said method comprising the step of:

reversing fluid flow through said gastric tube upon detecting that said patient'"'"'s stomach content is above a threshold value.