1. Cross-Reference to Related Applications

This application is a non-provisional of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/367,228 filed July 23, 2010, entitled "Enteral Feeding Connector and Assembly", the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.

2. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to tubing connectors and tubing, and more particularly in one aspect to an enteral feeding assembly including an improved tubing designed to deal with undesired vacuum as well as overpressure issues.

3. Background of the Invention

Fluid delivery systems, such as feeding tubes, are used to deliver nutrients and medicine to patients. The state of being fed by a feeding tube is known in the art as enteral feeding or tube feeding.

As an example, in a neo-natal unit, infants are often fed enterally. A tube is inserted in the mouth or nasal opening of the infant and down through the esophagus for delivery of the fluid to the stomach or intestinal region of the body. In this example, breast milk or formula are delivered by syringe into an enteral delivery system, such as an enteral tube, for delivery into the infant's stomach. However, enteral feeding systems can also be for pediatric or adult use. Sometimes a peristaltic pump is used to deliver fluids from a feeding bag.

In the course of using the feeding tube, it is possible that an overpressure can develop in the tube and/or the infant's stomach. Alternatively, an excessive vacuum state can exist during aspiration, where the tubing is generating an undesired suction force at the openings in its distal tip. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An improved enteral feeding system is provided. The system comprises a tube having a first end, a second end, an exterior sidewall, a conduit within said tube between said first end and a location near said second end, a first orifice, and a second orifice. The second orifice is located downstream of the first orifice, extending from a point below an end of the conduit to a point along the length of the conduit. This helps to alleviate certain undesired suction issues, as well as inhibit bacterial collection and growth. To prevent excessive negative pressure within the tubing, as at an orifice, the tubing may comprise a collapsible feature formed therein. The collapsible feature may comprise a thinned region that collapses when excessive negative pressure is applied, effectively cutting off further negative pressure from being exerted and giving the clinician an indication that an excessive vacuum is being applied.

A supporting structure may additionally be present on the tubing, in the form of a cage structure. The tubing may comprise a thinned region in the area surrounded by the cage structure that balloons out if excessive pressure is applied within the tubing.

A one-way valve may be removably attachable to a tube section, either at an end of the tube section, or along the length of the tube section. Where the one-way valve is attached to the end of the tube section, either a cap or a syringe may be pushed into the valve to send air to a channel within the valve, which then flows through the tubing. In some embodiments, one-way valves may be placed along the length of the tube section to release pressure from within a conduit in the tubing.

In another embodiment, an enteral feeding system is provided that comprises a first tube section comprising a first end, a second end, an exterior sidewall, and a conduit within the first tube section that extends from the first end to the second end. The first tube section is removably attachable to a tubing. These and other aspects, objects, and accomplishments of the present invention will be further understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of certain embodiments, taken in conjunction with the below drawings depicting various embodiments, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference to the following drawings, wherein like numerals denote like parts.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an enteral feeding system;

Fig. 2 is an enteral feed tube with novel modifications to deal with suction issues at the distal tip;

Fig. 3 shows a modified proximal end-structure to the tubing of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enteral feed tube section like that of Fig. 2, modified to be retrofit to standard tubing;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, partial view of an enteral feed tube with a pressure release valve;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, partial view of an enteral feed tube with a pressure release valve;

Fig. 7A is a partial view of an enteral feed tube section with a one-way valve;

Fig. 7B is a top view of the one-way valve of Fig. 7A; and

Fig. 8 is an enteral feed tube with novel modifications to deal with excessive pressure issues within the tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The connector and assembly of the present invention will be described herein for use with an enteral feeding tube, but it is contemplated that the connector assembly of the present invention can be used in any device that may benefit from this type of assembly. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a typical enteral feeding system 100, in accordance with exemplary embodiments. Enteral feeding system 100 has a syringe 110 and a tube 120. Syringe 1 10 has a distal end 1 12, a proximal end 114, and a plunger 1 18. At proximal end 1 14 is a syringe tip 116. Tubing 120 has a first end 122 and a second end 124. In this system 100, first end 122 of tube 120 and syringe tip 116 may be removably secured together. To secure syringe tip 116 to first end 122 of tube 120, syringe tip 116 is manually inserted into first end 122 of tube 120.

Fig. 2 shows an enteral feed tube with novel modifications. Tube 800 is similar in form to a standard enteral feed tube, but with several new features. One is in the tube end 802, which is inserted into the patient. It has been the case in standard enteral tubing that an orifice 804 (sometimes referred to as a drainage eye), is located upstream from the solid tube end 802. This leaves a volume below the eye in the tube end which can retain fluid therein. To eliminate this undesirable fluid eddy in the tube end, in which bacteria growth may occur for instance, another orifice 806 is formed in tube end 802. This orifice extends in this embodiment from a point below where interior channel 808 of the tubing ends (shown at 808'), to a point thereabove. Thus, any fluid in the very tip of the tube end interior will have an outlet to drain, so as to eliminate the foregoing fluid eddy or trap.

In certain instances, it may be desirable to apply a suction force to the tube 800. In order to alleviate the possibility that soft tissue might be unintentionally pulled upon and thereby traumatized by an excessive negative pressure, as at orifice 804, tube 800 has a collapsible feature formed therein at 812. In this embodiment, collapsible feature 812 has a thinned region 814 formed in the tubing sidewall. Thinned region 814 is designed to collapse the interior of the tubing in this area, such that thinned sidewall 814' will substantially come together along the axis of the tubing, serving to cut off further application of vacuum (negative pressure) at tube end 802. A supporting structure is provided around thinned region 814 to otherwise maintain the tubing open in normal use, except in the circumstance when an undesirable vacuum is generated. Here, this supporting structure takes the form of a surrounding blister, formed surrounding the tubing sidewall. Of course, the supporting structure could be struts, webbing, or the like which serves to maintain the parts of the tubing upstream and downstream of the thinned region 814 apart, and tubing channel 808 open in normal use. Fig. 3, for example, shows a flexible cage structure 820 which has been added to the tubing (as by press fit, fusing, gluing, ultrasonic welding, etc.). Cage structure 820 has an upper ring 821 and a lower ring 822 with ribs 824 extending therebetween. Cage structure 820 maintains the integrity of tubing and the channel 808 open, except in the presence of an undesirable vacuum being applied.

Returning to Fig. 2, a cap 825 is provided to close the upstream end 801 of the tubing 800. Upstream end 801 is shown here as adapted to receive the tip of a feeding syringe for instance, or some other tip or end effector from a device to be connected to the tubing. Cap 825 is tethered to the tube 800 via tether 826. Cap 825 is useful not only in keeping the tube closed until connection, but also in use, as when changing an item that is connected to the tubing.

In this same regard, the embodiment of Fig. 3 also has a tethered cap, but slightly modified. Note particularly in this embodiment that the upstream end of the enteral feeding tubing has been adapted to have a connector structure, formed integral therewith, at least as to the syringe/container connecting portion. As will be therefore seen, the exterior surface 210 in this area has the one or more flanges/protuberances 220 formed thereon.

This cap 828 has a "no-touch" feature in the form of a plug 829 formed thereon, which will fit in and close interior conduit 216, with the cap closing aperture 215. A user handling the cap 828 thus need not contact the plug 829, reducing the risk of contaminating the conduit 216. Other no-touch features may be present on various connectors that may be used with the feeding system, such as those described in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/367,228, which is herein incorporated by reference.

Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of an enteral feed tube, such as the enteral feed tube of Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 4, feed tube 800 is the same as that shown in Fig. 2, but is designed to be inserted, or retrofit, to standard tubing, such as tubing first end 122 shown in Fig. 1. The Fig. 4 embodiment thus has a short tube part 803 that terminates in a tip 807 having an opening 805. Tip 807 is sized to fit into the standard tubing proximal end in an interference fit, luer lock, screw fit, or the like.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, partial view of an enteral feed tube with a vacuum release valve 830. The vacuum release valve 830 shown in Fig. 5 is a spring-loaded valve, and may be present on the first tube section 803 to provide for vacuum release in addition to or in place of either cage structure 820 or collapsible feature 812. Vacuum release valve 830 comprises a housing 832 that extends from tubing 800. At one end of housing 832 is an opening 834. A spring 836 resides within housing 832, and serves to press a closure over opening 834 and opens when the vacuum within tubing 800 is sufficiently high. Vacuum release valve 830 may be a one-way valve, allowing for air to flow through tubing 800, and to enter housing 832 via opening 834.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, partial view of an enteral feed tube with a pressure release valve 840. The pressure release valve 840 shown in Fig. 6 is an umbrella valve, and may be present on the first tube section 803 to provide for pressure release in addition to or in place of either flexible cage structure 820 or collapsible feature 812. Pressure release valve 840 comprises a stem 842 and a head 844. Stem 842 is placed through a hole in tubing 800. Pressure release valve 840 may be a one-way valve, allowing for fluid to flow through tubing 800, and to exit housing 832 via opening 834.

Fig. 7A is a partial view of an enteral feeding tube section with a one-way valve 910 and a tethered cap 925. One-way valve 910 may be removably attachable to tube section 122 as shown in Fig. 7A. Thus, when either cap 925 or a syringe is pushed into valve 910, a flexible element 914 is collapsed upon itself, opening a channel into the top of the valve 910. Cap 925 may comprise an orifice or other means to allow air into the valve. Fluid, such as enteral feed, may then flow into valve 910 and into tubing 122, or air may be allowed to exit for venting. Valve 910 has the flexible elongate member 914 in a chamber 916. Flexible member 914 has scalloped areas 917, and is fixed at distal end 918, but free to move longitudinally at proximal end 919. Proximal end 919 is located within a top disk 921 of the valve structure (shown in Fig. 7B), and closes an orifice therein. When pressed by a syringe-tip, for example, proximal end moves distally, opening the orifice. When the syringe is removed, flexible member 914 returns to its rest position, closing the orifice. Valve 910 may be a syringe valve such as those manufactured by Halkey Roberts, such as the 245 SERIES Swabable Valve.

Fig. 8 is an enteral feed tube with novel modifications to deal with other issues, as at the distal tip. The enteral feed tube is Fig. 8 is similar to that of Fig. 3, and has the additional feature of thinned region 814, but here being designed to expand, or "balloon out" if excessive pressure is exerted in the tubing 800. Thus, a user can determine simply by viewing the thinned region 814 whether too much pressure is present within tubing 800, or within the infant's stomach. Thinned region 814 may touch cage 824 when in the extended position. Thinned region 814 may also be designed to collapse the interior of the tubing in this area if excessive vacuum pressure is applied as well, as described with reference to Fig. 3.

Various exemplary embodiments and methods have been described above. Those skilled in the art will understand, however, that changes and modifications may be made to those examples without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Additional and/or different features may be present in some embodiments of the present invention.