Dosage vessel for use with an indwelling feeding tube
First Claim
1. An apparatus for administering medications to a patient with an indwelling enteral feeding tube, said apparatus comprising,a dosage vessel comprising at least one wall with an inner surface abutting a drain, said dosage vessel having a volume of from about 25 milliliters to about 250 milliliters, said at least one wall defining a top opening enabling fluid to be directed into said dosage vessel via said top opening in its entirety when said top opening is uncovered, and a leak-proof secure fluid path from the dosage vessel to the feeding tube, said fluid path comprising a drain passageway securely attached to said drain, a drip chamber securely attached to said passageway, said drip chamber having a top portion with a drip port, a bottom portion with an egress port and a cylindrical wall extending therebetween and defining a drip chamber reservoir, tubing securely attached to said drip chamber egress port and forming a fluid path therefrom to the feeding tube, said tubing comprising a tubing connector for making a secure attachment to the feeding tube, regulating means for regulating the fluid flow from said dosage vessel to the feeding tube;
- an air vent to said dosage vessel in said fluid path, intermediate to said drain and said drip chamber;
a membrane disposed across said air vent; and
a cap releaseably placed over said air vent.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is an apparatus for intermittently providing oral medications to a patient being fed through a feeding tube, the apparatus having a dosage vessel, which preferably can be capped or sealed, and a secure fluid path to a tubing connector for connecting to the indwelling feeding tube.
44 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus for administering medications to a patient with an indwelling enteral feeding tube, said apparatus comprising,
a dosage vessel comprising at least one wall with an inner surface abutting a drain, said dosage vessel having a volume of from about 25 milliliters to about 250 milliliters, said at least one wall defining a top opening enabling fluid to be directed into said dosage vessel via said top opening in its entirety when said top opening is uncovered, and a leak-proof secure fluid path from the dosage vessel to the feeding tube, said fluid path comprising a drain passageway securely attached to said drain, a drip chamber securely attached to said passageway, said drip chamber having a top portion with a drip port, a bottom portion with an egress port and a cylindrical wall extending therebetween and defining a drip chamber reservoir, tubing securely attached to said drip chamber egress port and forming a fluid path therefrom to the feeding tube, said tubing comprising a tubing connector for making a secure attachment to the feeding tube, regulating means for regulating the fluid flow from said dosage vessel to the feeding tube; -
an air vent to said dosage vessel in said fluid path, intermediate to said drain and said drip chamber;
a membrane disposed across said air vent; and
a cap releaseably placed over said air vent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
providing an apparatus as in claim 1, securely connecting a distal end of the tubing to the feeding tube, adjusting the regulating means to stop the flow in the fluid path, placing at least one dose of medication in the dosage vessel, adjusting the regulating means to initiate and regulate the rate of administration of the dose. -
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of sealing the dose in the dosage vessel to create a sealed chamber with a pre-measared dose.
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14. The method of claim 13, further comprising opening the air vent as required to ensure fluid flow from the sealed chamber.
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15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of measuring the volume of dose added to the dosage vessel, or drained from the vessel, using volume markings provided on the at least one wall.
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16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of monitoring the administration of a dose using the volume markings on the vessel wall.
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17. The method of claim 12, wherein the apparatus further comprises a cap arranged to snap into and cover the top opening of the dosage vessel, and the method further comprises capping the dosage vessel after placing the medications in the vessel.
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18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cap arranged to contact said at least one wall and seal said top opening.
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19. The apparatus claim 1, further comprising an air vent leading to said dosage vessel and arranged between said drain and said drip chamber, said air vent being arranged alongside said passageway.
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20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said air vent is arranged under or below said drain.
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21. The apparatus claim 1, further comprising an air vent leading to said dosage vessel, and arranged between said drain and said drip chamber, said air vent being arranged under or below said drain.
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22. An apparatus for administering medications to a patient with an indwelling enteral feeding tube, comprising:
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a dosage vessel comprising at least one wall with an inner surface abutting a drain, said dosage vessel having a volume of from about 25 milliliters to about 250 milliliters;
a leak-proof secure fluid path from said dosage vessel to the feeding tube, said fluid path comprising a drain passageway securely attached to said drain, a drip chamber securely attached to said passageway, said drip chamber having a top portion with a drip port, a bottom portion with an egress port and a cylindrical wall extending therebetween and defining a drip chamber reservoir, tubing securely attached to said egress port and forming a fluid path therefrom to the feeding tube, said tubing comprising a tubing connector for making a secure attachment to the feeding tube, and regulating means for regulating the fluid flow from said dosage vessel to the feeding tube;
an air vent to the dosage vessel in the fluid path, intermediate to said drain and said drip chamber;
a membrane disposed across said air vent; and
a cap releaseably placed over said air vent.
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23. A method for accurately administering medications into an indwelling feeding tube, comprising the steps of:
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providing an apparatus comprising a dosage vessel comprising at least one wall with an inner surface abutting a drain, a leak-proof secure fluid path from the vessel to the feeding tube, the fluid path comprising a drain passageway securely attached to the drain, a drip chamber securely attached to the passageway, the drip chamber having a top portion with a drip port, a bottom portion with an egress port and a cylindrical wall extending therebetween and defining a drip chamber reservoir, tubing securely attached to the egress port and forming a fluid path therefrom to the feeding tube, and regulating means for regulating the fluid flow from the vessel to the feeding tube;
securely connecting the distal end of the tubing to the feeding tube;
adjusting the regulating means to stop the flow in the fluid path;
placing at least one dose of medication in the vessel;
adjusting the regulating means to initiate and regulate the rate of administration of the dose;
sealing the dose in the vessel to create a sealed chamber with a pre-measured dose;
providing a closeable air vent to the sealed chamber; and
opening the air vent as required to ensure fluid flow from the chamber.
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Specification