Pneumostoma management system having a cosmetic and/or protective cover

• US 8,464,708 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2009
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Portaero, Inc
• Original Assignee: Portaero, Inc
• Inventors: Plough, David C., Tanaka, Don, Wiesman, Joshua P., Cerier, Jeffrey C., Abraham, Richard A., Evans, Stephen C., Boseck, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ostrup, Clinton T
• Application Number:
  US12/388,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20090205647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/200.25, 128/202.27, 128/205.12, 128/205.19, 128/205.24, 604/45, 604/174, 604/175, 604/180, 604/304, 604/307, 604/386
• US Class Current: 128/200.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00809 Lung operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/007 Pulmonary tract; Aromatherapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/04 Artificial pneumothorax apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/00 Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes in general B05B; aerosol containers B65D83/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/005 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 13/00 Insufflators for therapeutic or disinfectant purposes , i.e. devices for blowing a gas, powder or vapour into the body hand-held units in which gas flow is produced by muscular energy at the moment of use B05B11/062
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0085 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/009 using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/02 with activated or ionised fluids, e.g. electrohydrodynamic [EHD] or electrostatic devices; Ozone-inhalators with radioactive tagged particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/202 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0252 for access to the lungs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0276 for introducing or removing fluids into or out of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/025 Helium
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/075 Bulb type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7518 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 : allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 : Holding devices, e.g. on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 : in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 : Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/00 : Drainage appliance for wounds or the like , i.e. wound drains, implanted drains negative pressure wound therapy devices A61M1/90; implements for holding wound open A61B17/02 ; middle ear drainage A61F11/202
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/02 : Access sites
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0247 : Semi-permanent or permanent transcutaneous or percutaneous access sites to the inside of the body peritoneal dialysis catheters A61M1/285; tracheostomy devices A61M16/0465; measuring pressure within the body A61B5/03; colostomy devices A61F5/445; gastrotomy feeding tubes A61J15/0015; means for fixing a feeding tube outside of the body A61J15/0053

Abstract

A pneumostoma management system which includes a pneumostoma management device and a cover. The pneumostoma management device maintains the patency of a pneumostoma while controlling the flow of material through the pneumostoma. The pneumostoma management device includes a hydrophobic filter and/or a one-way filter. The cover serves to protect the pneumostoma management device and/or provide a cosmetic skin to make the pneumostoma management device more acceptable to the patient and thereby encourage patient compliance with a pneumostoma treatment regimen.

Claims

1. A pneumostoma management system comprising:

a cover and a pneumostoma management device;

wherein the pneumostoma management device comprises a tube adapted to be inserted in a pneumostoma, said tube connected to an external section in order to secure the pneumostoma management device to a chest of a patient;

wherein the cover includes a plurality of patient selectable covers, wherein each of the said patient selectable covers is different in appearance;

wherein the cover is configured to detachably attach to and conform to the pneumostoma management device such that said cover presents an outward surface which substantially obscures the external section of the pneumostoma management device from view of a non-patient;

wherein the outward surface of the cover is designed to have a preferred visual appearance for the patient compared to the external section of the pneumostoma management device.

2. The pneumostoma management system of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises one or more clips configured to releasably attach the cover to and conform to the pneumostoma management device.

3. The pneumostoma management system of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises an adhesive surface configured to detachably attach the cover to and conform to the pneumostoma management device.

4. The pneumostoma management system of claim 1, further comprising a threaded coupling that can releasably attach the cover to and conform to the pneumostoma management device.

5. The pneumostoma management system of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises one or more apertures to allow gases to escape from the pneumostoma management device.

6. The pneumostoma management system of claim 1, wherein the outward surface of the cover is color-matched with a skin color of a patient in order for the cover to have a preferred visual appearance for the patient compared to the external section of the pneumostoma management device.

7. The pneumostoma management system of claim 1, wherein the outward surface of the cover is provided with an ornamental pattern in order for the cover to have a preferred visual appearance for the patient compared to the external section of the pneumostoma management device.

8. The pneumostoma management system of claim 1, wherein the outward surface of the cover is provided with a patient-customizable pattern in order for the cover to have a preferred visual appearance for the patient compared to the external section of the pneumostoma management device.

9. The pneumostoma management system of claim 1, wherein the outward surface of the cover is a printable surface and wherein at least one of a customizable pattern and color is printed on the outward surface prior to use of the cover in order for the cover to have a preferred visual appearance for the patient compared to the external section of the pneumostoma management device.

10. The pneumostoma management system of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of apertures which are large enough to allow gases to escape from the pneumostoma management device but are each 1 mm or less in diameter.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said tube includes an aperture that is adapted to communicate with the lung of a patient;

and

said cover can be placed over said aperture in order to close said aperture.

12. A cover for a pneumostoma management device wherein the pneumostoma management device comprises a tube adapted to be inserted in a pneumostoma, said tube connected to an external section in order to secure the pneumostoma management device to a chest of a patient and wherein the cover comprises:

a body having an outward surface and an attachment surface;

wherein the cover includes a plurality of patient selectable covers, wherein each of the said patient selectable covers is different in appearance;

wherein the attachment surface is configured to detachably attach the cover to and conform to a pneumostoma management device;

wherein the outward surface is adapted to substantially obscure the external section of the pneumostoma management device from view of a non-patient;

wherein the outward surface of the body is designed to have a preferred visual appearance for the patient compared to the external section of the pneumostoma management device.

13. The cover of claim 12, wherein the attachment surface of the cover comprises one or more clips configured to releasably attach the cover to and conform to the pneumostoma management device.

14. The cover of claim 12, wherein the attachment surface of the cover comprises an adhesive surface configured to detachably attach the cover to and conform to the pneumostoma management device.

15. The cover of claim 12, wherein the cover comprises one or more apertures to allow gases to escape from the pneumostoma management device.

16. The cover of claim 12, wherein the outward surface of the cover is color-matched with a skin color of a patient in order for the cover to have a preferred visual appearance for the patient compared to the external section of the pneumostoma management device.

17. The cover of claim 12, wherein the outward surface of the cover is provided with an ornamental pattern in order for the cover to have a preferred visual appearance for the patient compared to the external section of the pneumostoma management device.

18. The cover of claim 12, wherein the outward surface of the cover is provided with a patient-customizable pattern in order for the cover to have a preferred visual appearance for the patient compared to the external section of the pneumostoma management device.

19. The cover of claim 12, wherein the outward surface of the cover is a printable surface and wherein at least one of a customizable pattern and color is printed on the outward surface prior to use of the cover in order for the cover to have a preferred visual appearance for the patient compared to the external section of the pneumostoma management device.

20. The cover of claim 12, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of apertures which are large enough in aggregation to allow gases to escape from the pneumostoma management device but are each 1 mm or less in diameter.