SUPPORTIVE DEVICE FOR STOMACH OR GASTRIC TUBE

• US 3,648,703 A
• Filed: 08/03/1970
• Issued: 03/14/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Loretta Manker
• Original Assignee: Loretta Manker
• Inventors: Manker, Loretta
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US05/060,548
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 128/348,350,198,206,208,DIG.26
• US Class Current: 604/179
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0226 specifically adapted for the nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/026 where the straps are releasably secured, e.g. by hook and loop-type fastening devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/26 Cannula supporters

Abstract

The supportive device consists of a plastic tube of larger size than the stomach or gastric tube which it is to support, and an elastic band to surround the head of a patient and hold the plastic tube across his face, under the nose. The stomach or gastric tube is threaded into one end of the plastic tube, out an aperture near the nose, into a nostril and down into the stomach. The stomach or gastric tube is prevented from retracting by a wedge pressed into the entrance of the plastic tube, tightly wedging the stomach or gastric tube in place. The wedge is in turn held in place by the elastic band. Thus, the stomach or gastric tube cannot work loose or be easily pulled out by the patient.

Claims

1. The combination comprising:

a stomach tube;

supportive means for said stomach tube comprising a supportive tube of pliable plastic material large enough in bore to enclose said stomach tube and at least long enough to stretch under a patient'"'"''"'"'s nose and nearly from ear to ear, and having an aperture near its middle large enough to accommodate the exit from the supportive tube of said stomach tube, said stomach tube passing into one end of said supportive tube and out of the middle aperture thereof, so that the stomach tube may then be threaded into a nostril of the patient and into his stomach;

an elastic elongated member secured at each end respectively to an end of said supportive means, and having a stretched length sufficient to go around the back of said patient'"'"''"'"'s head, whereby the supportive means may be held in front of the patient'"'"''"'"'s face by the elastic elongated member positioned behind the patient'"'"''"'"'s head; and

means securing said stomach tube to the said supportive means whereby the stomach tube cannot easily be freed from said supportive means by a conscious or unconscious patient.

2. A combination in accordance with claim 1 in which said supportive tube is provided at each end with an aperture whereby an end of said elastic elongated member may be secured in one said aperture, passed around the patient'"'"''"'"'s head and secured in the other aperture.

3. A combination in accordance with claim 1 in which said means securing the stomach tube to the supportive tube comprises a pliable elongated wedge having a width at one end suitable to enter one end of the supportive tube while the stomach tube is therein.

4. A combination in accordance with claim 3 in which said wedge is provided at one end with an aperture sufficiently large to accommodate said elastic elongated member, whereby, with the wedge in place in the supportive tube, when the elastic elongated member is passed through one of the apertures in the supportive tube, then is passed through the wedge aperture and then is knotted, the tension of the elastic elongated member prevents removal of the wedge by a patient, in turn preventing withdrawal of the stomach tube from the patient'"'"''"'"'s stomach.

5. In the combination of a supportive device with a patient'"'"''"'"'s stomach or gastric tube:

a supportive tube of pliable, transparent plastic material large enough in bore to enclose said stomach or gastric tube and long enough to stretch under a patient'"'"''"'"'s nose and nearly from ear to ear, and having an aperture near its middle large enough to accommodate a stomach or gastric tube, and having an elongated tab at each end containing a slot, said stomach or gastric tube entering one end of said supportive tube and exiting from said middle aperture thereof, whereby when in place on a patient the exiting stomach or gastric tube may enter a nostril and pass to the stomach of the patient;

an elastic tape secured through said slots in the supportive tube tabs and having a stretched length sufficient to go around the back of said patient'"'"''"'"'s head, whereby said supportive tube is hEld to the patient'"'"''"'"'s face; and

a wedge consisting of a short length of plastic tubing of approximately the diameter of said stomach tube, said wedge containing a slot near one end, said wedge being positioned in one end of said supportive tube wedged in the bore thereof beside said stomach or gastric tube, the wedge having its slotted end outermost, the end of said elastic tape passing through both the slot in said supportive tube and the slot in said wedge, then knotted so that it cannot be withdrawn from the slots.

6. A combination in accordance with claim 5 including an opening or split in the stomach end of said stomach or gastric tube, whereby during irrigation particle dislodgment from the tube is facilitated.