Aspiration prevention mechanism

• US 7,833,188 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Allen Gerber
• Original Assignee: Allen Gerber
• Inventors: Gerber, Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Price; Nathan R
• Application Number:
  US11/545,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20080171963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,498 Days
• Field of Search: 604 65- 67, 604/910, 5600-624, 594/0, 417/18, 600/584, 600/587, 600593-595, 200/61.45 R, 200/DIG.2
• US Class Current: 604/67
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0003 Nasal or oral feeding-tubes, e.g. tube entering body through nose or mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0015 Gastrostomy feeding-tubes insertion tools or methods A61B17/34
• 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 15/0088 for sensing parameters related to the device
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/70 Audible labels, e.g. for pre-recorded info or messages

Abstract

A patient angle sensor is employed in conjunction with gastric feeding devices to shut off or to reverse the flow of fluid in the tube when the angle of a bed ridden patient becomes sufficient to allow gastric juices to percolate up through the esophagus and into the patient'"'"'s lungs. In this way incidents of aspirational pneumonia in hospitalized patients is significantly reduced or eliminated.

Claims

1. A device to prevent aspiration of gastric fluids in a patient, said device comprising:

a gastric tube which provides fluid to said patient'"'"'s stomach cavity;

an angle sensor, said angle sensor providing an electrical signal indicative of the angle sensor'"'"'s being angularly positioned beyond a threshold angle, wherein angular position of said angle sensor corresponds to angular position of said patient; and

an electrical control circuit which receives said electrical signal from said angle sensor and which stops flow in said gastric tube when said electrical signal from said angle sensor indicates positioning of said angle sensor beyond said threshold angle.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said electrical control circuit is also capable of reversing flow in said gastric tube.

3. The device of claim 1 in which said gastric tube is a gastric feeding tube.

4. The device of claim 1 in which said angle sensor includes means for affixation to said patient.

5. The device of claim 1 in which said electrical control circuit also actuates an alarm to alert attending staff.

6. The device of claim 1 in which said electrical control circuit also actuates an alarm to alert said patient.

7. The device of claim 1 in which said angular threshold is adjustable.

8. The device of claim 1 in which said electrical control circuit also operates to raise a head portion of said patient'"'"'s bed.

9. The device of claim 1 in which said electrical control circuit also operates to raise a foot portion of said patient'"'"'s bed.

10. The device of claim 1 in which said angle sensor includes a wireless transmitter to supply said electrical signal to said electrical control circuit which includes a receiver for said signal.

12. The device of claim 1 in which said angle sensor is affixable to a patient.

11. A device to prevent aspiration of gastric fluids in a patient, said device comprising:

a gastric tube which provides fluid to said patient'"'"'s stomach cavity;

an angle sensor affixable to said patient providing an electrical signal indicative of angular position of said angle sensor, wherein the angular position of said angle sensor corresponds to angular position of the patient; and

an electrical control circuit which receives said electrical signal from said angle sensor and which stops flow in said gastric tube, as a function of said angular position as indicated by said electrical signal.