RETROFITTABLE ASPIRATION PREVENTION MECHANISM FOR PATIENTS
First Claim
1. A device to prevent aspiration of gastric fluids by a patient being fed or medicated through a gastric tube connected to a feeding pump, said device comprising:
- an angle sensor capable of being affixed to said patient, said sensor providing an angular electrical signal indicative of the sensor'"'"'s angular position;
an electrical control circuit that receives said angular signal and compares it to a threshold angle, said electrical control circuit generating a wireless control signal when the angular signal indicates a position of the sensor lower than the threshold; and
a power switch that controllably supplies power to the feeding pump, said power switch receiving said wireless control signal and turning off power to the feeding pump in response to receipt of the wireless control signal, whereby material in the gastric tube is caused to stop flowing.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device is employed that can be retrofit onto existing feed pumps to remediate the problem of fluid aspiration in patients being fed through a feeding tube from the pump. In one embodiment the feeding pump is plugged into the device which is plugged into a power outlet. A patient angle sensor triggers power cutoff to the pump and stoppage of fluid flow. The angle sensor and operating program may be part of a smart phone. Power to the pump may be shut off due to a Bluetooth signal from the smart phone to a Bluetooth controlled power strip into which the pump is plugged to receive power.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A device to prevent aspiration of gastric fluids by a patient being fed or medicated through a gastric tube connected to a feeding pump, said device comprising:
-
an angle sensor capable of being affixed to said patient, said sensor providing an angular electrical signal indicative of the sensor'"'"'s angular position; an electrical control circuit that receives said angular signal and compares it to a threshold angle, said electrical control circuit generating a wireless control signal when the angular signal indicates a position of the sensor lower than the threshold; and a power switch that controllably supplies power to the feeding pump, said power switch receiving said wireless control signal and turning off power to the feeding pump in response to receipt of the wireless control signal, whereby material in the gastric tube is caused to stop flowing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A device to prevent aspiration of gastric fluids by a patient being fed or medicated through a gastric tube connected to a feeding pump, said device comprising:
-
a smart phone that includes a microprocessor and an accelerometer/inclinometer device, said smart phone running an inclinometer application on its microprocessor that provides an angular electrical signal indicative of the phone'"'"'s angular position, said smart phone being attachable to the upper body of the patient, said smart phone further running an electrical control application on its microprocessor that receives said angular signal and compares it to a threshold angle, said electrical control application invoking a wireless control signal when the angular signal indicates a position of the sensor lower than the threshold angle; and a power switch that controllably supplies power to the feeding pump, said power switch receiving said wireless control signal and turning off power to the feeding pump in response to receipt of the wireless control signal, whereby material in the gastric tube is caused to stop flowing. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A smart phone application to prevent aspiration of gastric fluids by a patient being fed or medicated through a gastric tube connected to a feeding pump, said smart phone application being stored in and running on a smart phone affixed on the upper body of the patient, said smart phone includes a microprocessor, an accelerometer/inclinometer device and an alarm, said smart phone application executing the steps of:
-
invoking and running the inclinometer application on its microprocessor so as to provide an angular electrical signal indicative of the phone'"'"'s angular position; receiving said angular signal and comparing it to a threshold angle; generating a secondary control signal when the angular signal indicates a position close to, but above the threshold angle; and activating said alarm in response to said secondary control signal to warn the patient or attending staff of impending aspiration of gastric fluids. - View Dependent Claims (30)
-
Specification