BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to products to permit the enteral feeding of patients, and in particular to an improved feeding tube spike set with integrated Y-port.

2. Description of Related Art There are two problems associated with enteral patient feeding. The first problem is the inadvertent disconnection of the tubing leading to the feeding tube, the other involves the difficulty of administering water to the patient. The solution provided by previous inventors, namely Michels et al. US Patent No: 5,322, 073 and D360,030, involved providing a y-tube connector that included an integrated retaining strap for the disconnectable tubing entering the connector from the nutrient container. The problem with this arrangement is that the user is required to unplug the entrance to the y-tube and then connect the hose into the y-tube through this cumbersome retaining strap. What would be better would be to simply provide an integrated system that includes all components necessary from the nutrient supply to the enteral connector.

The second problem involves the y-port fitting in the spike set. This y-port fitting is provided to enable health care personal to inject water to either flush the system or to hydrate the patient. The difficulty involves the fact that there are a variety of different means by which the water is introduced into the y-port connector. Many times a variety of different sizes of syringes might be used. In many cases however, the tip of the syringe does not exactly match the configuration of the port in the y-port fitting. What would be very beneficial would be to provide a y-port fitting that permits a wide variety of syringe configurations to be inserted into the fitting, and sealing the syringe tip connection to prevent leakage of water or other material when the patients being hydrated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Feeding tube spike set with integrated Y-port.

The preferred spike set will include a spike, a drip chamber, a y-port fitting, a stepped connector, and tubing connecting these components to one another in series. It is a further object that the y-port fitting include a body, a plug assembly and an undulating retaining member connecting the plug assembly to the body. It is yet another object that the plug assembly include a plug from which a pair of tabs extend. It is another object that the body include a flushing port formed within it; the preferred flushing port should include a plurality of ridges formed along it's bore to assist in retaining a secure seal between the inserted plug and the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 depicts a preferred embodiment of the improved feeding tube spike set of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the y-port fitting of the spike set of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a back view of the y-port fitting of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a front view of the y-port of Figures 1 through 3; Figure 5 is a top view of the y-port of Figures 1 through 4; Figure 6 is a bottom view of the y-port of Figures 1 through 5; Figure 7 is a left side view of the y-port of Figures 1 through 6; Figure 8 is a right side view of the y-port of Figures 1 through 7; Figure 9 is a partial cutaway side view of the y-port of Figures 1 through 8 ; and Figure 10 are partial cutaway side views of preferred ridge designs for the y-port of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventors of carrying out their invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a Feeding tube spike set with integrated Y-port.

If we first turn to Figure 1, we can discuss the improved feeding spike set 10 of the present invention. Figure 1 depicts a preferred embodiment of the improved feeding tube spike set of the present invention. It should be understood that all components are integrated into a single system to prevent leakage and inadvertent disconnection. The same components as with a conventional system are provided, however, they are permanently attached in string. As such, the system 10 includes a spike 12 which is attached to a drip chamber 14 by a first tube section 16. In between the spike 12 and the drip chamber 14 is found a roller clamp 18 for regulating the flow of nutrients into the patient. The drip chamber 14 then may be attached to a coupling 20 by a second tube section 22. It should be understood that the coupling 20 may or may not be eliminated in other embodiments of spike set 10, depending upon the particular application for the set 10. A third tube section 24 then connects the coupling 20 to the improved y-port fitting 26. A fourth tube section 28 then connects the y-port fitting 26 to a stepped connector 30, which is configured attach to the enteral feeding tube. If we now turn to Figure 2, we can further examine the improved y-port fitting 26 of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the y-port fitting 26 of the spike set of Figure 1. As can be seen in Figure 2, the y-port fitting 26 comprises a body 32 preferably formed of a non reactive plastic material. Within the body 32 is formed a flushing port 34.

Further detail with regard to flushing port 34 will be provided below in connection with other figures. A plug assembly 36 is integral to the fitting 26 in order to permit the port 34 to be sealed when not in use. The plug assembly 36 comprises of a plug 38 and a pair of tabs 40 and 42 to assist in the insertion and removal of a plug 38 to and from the flushing port 34. A plurality of nubs 43 are preferably formed on the surfaces of the tabs 40 and 42 in order to provide additional grip benefits to the user. The plug assembly 36 is attached to the body 32 by a flexible undulating plug retaining member 44. This elongate undulating design is provided to provide additional ease in inserting and removing the plug 38 from the flushing port 34. Furthermore, since the plug retaining member 44 is so long, it will permit healthcare personal to prevent the plug 38 from interfering with their work.

Figures 3 and 4 depict back and front views, respectively, of the body 32 and the flushing port 34.

Figures 5 and 6 depict top and bottom views, respectively, or the plug assembly 36 and the retaining member 44 in the preferred design.

Figures 7 and 8 depict right and left side views of the plug assembly 36, the body 32, and the retaining member 44.

Turning to Figure 9, we can examine yet another unique feature of the present invention. Figure 9 is a partial cutaway side view of the y-port 26 of Figures 1 through 8. As should be appreciated, the bore depth 46 of the flushing port 34 is longer than the conventional flushing port in order to provide the additional flexibility of using a

variety of different syringe tip profiles. Furthermore, along the bore of the flushing port 34 are a plurality of circular ridges 48. These ridges cooperate with the tip of a wide variety of syringes to prevent leakage when water is administered.

Figure 10 provides further detail regarding these ridges 48. Figure 10 are partial cutaway side views of preferred alternate designs for ridges of the present invention. As seen in Figure 10, the ridges 48, while being circular around the periphery of the flushing port, may have a unique aspect to their cross-section. In one preferred embodiment the ridges will have a non-smooth profile 48A in that the leading edge of the ridge will be smooth, however the trailing edge will be cut off possibly even at a 90- degree or greater angle. This cut-off edge has been seen to provide additional leak prevention in the design by preventing the inserted tip from being removed. In another preferred embodiment a smooth profile ridge 48B will be provided; this ridge, while not providing as substantial of a retaining force upon a syringe that's asserted therein, will likely provide easier engagement and disengagement of the syringe in the flushing port, while still providing substantial leak prevention.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.