Systems and methods for removing ingested material from a stomach
First Claim
1. A valve assembly for alternately providing and preventing the passage of fluid and food through a fluid pathway comprising:
- a bottom platform having a first thru-hole biased to one quadrant;
a top platform having a second thru-hole biased to one quadrant;
a middle layer having a third thru-hole biased to one quadrant, the middle layer comprising an elastomeric material and being sandwiched between the bottom platform and the top platform; and
a retainer configured to retain the bottom platform in proximity to the middle layer and top platform such that the middle layer and top platform can be moved together with respect to the bottom platform between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the first, second, and third thru-holes align to provide access to the fluid pathway and in the second position the first, second and third thru-holes are not aligned to provide a fluid tight seal and to prevent passage of fluid and food through the fluid pathway;
whereinthe first thru-hole of the valve assembly is configured to mate with and remain stationary with respect to a gastrostomy tube.
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Accused Products
Abstract
When a patient is fitted with an external gastrostomy connection to the stomach, ingested food can be removed through the gastrostomy connection using a pump-based or siphon-based system to achieve weight loss. The process of removing ingested food can be improved by alternating the infusion of liquid into the stomach with the removal of material from the stomach. Optionally, stomach acid may be captured and returned to the stomach. Optionally, nutritional supplements or medicines may be added to the infused liquid. Optionally, a flush mount connectorized system with a built in valve may be used to simplify the interface with the gastrostomy hardware that remains installed in the patient. Optionally, the system may be configured to disable itself from further use after a triggering event (e.g., the passage of time or a predetermined number of uses) has occurred.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A valve assembly for alternately providing and preventing the passage of fluid and food through a fluid pathway comprising:
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a bottom platform having a first thru-hole biased to one quadrant; a top platform having a second thru-hole biased to one quadrant; a middle layer having a third thru-hole biased to one quadrant, the middle layer comprising an elastomeric material and being sandwiched between the bottom platform and the top platform; and a retainer configured to retain the bottom platform in proximity to the middle layer and top platform such that the middle layer and top platform can be moved together with respect to the bottom platform between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the first, second, and third thru-holes align to provide access to the fluid pathway and in the second position the first, second and third thru-holes are not aligned to provide a fluid tight seal and to prevent passage of fluid and food through the fluid pathway;
whereinthe first thru-hole of the valve assembly is configured to mate with and remain stationary with respect to a gastrostomy tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus comprising:
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a valve assembly for alternately providing and preventing the passage of fluid and food through a fluid pathway comprising; a bottom platform having a first thru-hole biased to one quadrant; a top platform having a second thru-hole biased to one quadrant, a middle layer having a third thru-hole biased to one quadrant, the middle layer comprising an elastomeric material and being sandwiched between the bottom platform and the top platform; and a retainer configured to retain the bottom platform in proximity to the middle layer and top platform such that the middle layer and top platform can be moved together with respect to the bottom platform between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the first, second, and third thru-holes align to provide access to a fluid pathway and in the second position the first, second and third thru-holes are not aligned to provide a fluid tight seal and to prevent passage of fluid and food through the fluid pathway; and a gastrostomy tube having a distal end and a proximal end; the first thru-hole of the valve assembly being mated with and remaining stationary with respect to the proximal end of the gastrostomy tube. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for providing and preventing access to a fluid pathway of a gastrostomy tube that passes through a patient'"'"'s abdominal wall into the patient'"'"'s stomach, the apparatus comprising:
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a first connector comprising a valve assembly, the valve assembly comprising; a first platform having a first thru-hole biased to one quadrant, the first platform being mounted to a gastrostomy tube so as to remain stationary with respect to the gastrostomy tube and to provide a fluid pathway directly between the gastrostomy tube and the first thru-hole, a second platform having a second thru-hole biased to one quadrant, a third platform having a third thru-hole biased to one quadrant, the third platform being sandwiched between the first and second platforms and being fixed with respect to the second platform such that the third thru-hole is aligned with the second thru-hole, and a retainer that retains the first platform in proximity to the second platform such that the second platform can be rotated with respect to the first platform between a first position wherein the first and second thru-holes align to provide access to the fluid pathway of the gastrostomy tube and a second position wherein the first and second thru-holes offset to prevent access to the fluid pathway of the gastrostomy tube, the connector being configured for flush mounting on a patient'"'"'s skin and having a low profile with respect to the patient'"'"'s skin. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification