Apparatus And Method For Draining Material From A Stomach

Abstract

This invention relates to new apparatuses for draining material from a stomach and infusing fluid into the stomach comprising a tubing connector, a housing unit, and a one-way valve. In an embodiment the connector can have a first port, a second port, a third port and a branched lumen that extends through each of the first, second and third ports. The housing unit can have a housing lumen that is sized and shaped to receive the third port and the housing unit is sized and shaped to receive the connector. The one-way valve can be sized and shaped to be received in the housing lumen.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An apparatus ( 100 ) comprising:
 (i) a housing unit ( 115 ) comprising a back housing ( 101 ) and a front housing ( 102 ), said housing unit ( 115 ) having a housing lumen ( 120 ) extending through the housing unit so as to form a reservoir inlet ( 130 ) and a connector inlet ( 135 ), and said front housing ( 102 ) having a slot ( 125 ); the housing unit further comprising a spring-tensioned connector locking device, the locking device comprising a connector release ( 110 ) and a connector release spring ( 109 );   (ii) a removable tubing connector ( 201 ) engaged in the slot ( 125 ) of the front housing ( 102 ) and held in place by the connector release spring ( 109 );   (iii) a one-way valve ( 103 ) that is sized and shaped to be received in the housing lumen ( 120 ); and   (iv) an optional fluid reservoir ( 500 ); wherein   the removable tubing connector ( 201 ) comprises a first port ( 205 ), a second port ( 210 ), and a third port ( 215 ), said connector ( 201 ) further comprising a branched lumen ( 220 ) having a first arm that extends through the first port ( 205 ), a second arm that extends through the second port ( 210 ), and a third arm that extends through the third port ( 215 ); wherein   said slot ( 125 ) is sized and shaped to reversibly engage the removable tubing connector ( 201 ) only in a preselected orientation and wherein said housing lumen ( 120 ) is sized and shaped to receive the third port ( 215 ) of the removable tubing connector ( 201 ) into the connector inlet ( 135 ); wherein   the one-way valve is directionally positioned to permit fluid to flow in the direction from the reservoir inlet ( 130 ) toward the connector inlet  135  and to prevent fluid from flowing in the direction from the connector inlet ( 135 ) to the reservoir inlet ( 130 ); and wherein   the fluid reservoir ( 500 ), when present, is in fluid communication with the reservoir inlet ( 130 ).   
     
     
         2 . An assembly comprising:
 the apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , and one or more of a first tube ( 204 ) having a first lumen ( 225 ) and a second tube ( 203 ) having a second lumen ( 230 );   wherein   the first tube ( 204 ), when present, is connected to and in fluid communication with the first port ( 205 ); and   the second tube ( 203 ), when present, is connected to and in fluid communication with the second port ( 210 ).   
     
     
         3 . The assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein both the first tube ( 204 ) and the second tube ( 203 ) are present, and connected to and in fluid communication with the first port ( 205 ) and second port ( 210 ), respectively, and the third port ( 215 ) of the removable tubing connector ( 201 ) is engaged in the connector inlet ( 135 ). 
     
     
         4 . The assembly according to  claim 2 , comprising the second tube ( 203 ) connected to and in fluid communication with the second port ( 210 ), wherein the second tube is further in fluid communication with a gastrostomy tube ( 305 ). 
     
     
         5 . The assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the second tube ( 203 ) is further in fluid communication with a gastrostomy tube ( 305 ). 
     
     
         6 . The assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the gastrostomy tube ( 305 ) further comprises a skin port valve ( 310 ), and the second tube ( 203 ) further comprises a skin port connector ( 315 ) configured to mate with the skin port valve ( 310 ) to allow fluid communication between the gastrostomy tube ( 305 ) and the second tube ( 203 ). 
     
     
         7 . The assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the gastrostomy tube ( 305 ) further comprises a skin port valve ( 310 ), and the second tube ( 203 ) further comprises a skin port connector ( 315 ) configured to mate with the skin port valve ( 310 ) to allow fluid communication between the gastrostomy tube ( 305 ) and the second tube ( 203 ). 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a clamp ( 112 ) for occluding the first tube lumen ( 225 ). 
     
     
         9 . The assembly according to  claim 2 , further comprising the fluid reservoir ( 500 ) in fluid communication with the reservoir inlet ( 130 ). 
     
     
         10 . The assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the fluid reservoir ( 500 ) comprises a fluid reservoir locking device for holding the fluid reservoir ( 500 ) in fluid communication with the housing lumen ( 120 ) of the housing unit ( 115 ) by spring tension, wherein the reservoir locking device includes a reservoir release ( 107 ) for engaging a groove or a lip on a reservoir connector ( 501 ) of the fluid reservoir ( 500 ). 
     
     
         11 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the fluid reservoir ( 500 ) further comprises a hollow body ( 502 ). 
     
     
         12 . The assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the hollow body ( 502 ) comprises a flexible material. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly according to  claim 2 , the one-way valve ( 103 ) being a trumpet valve, a ball valve, a duck-bill valve, or an umbrella valve. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , the removable tubing connector ( 201 ) defining a T-shape or a Y-shape. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly according to  claim 2 , comprising:
 (a) the second tube ( 203 ) comprising a skin port connector ( 315 ) configured to mate with a skin port ( 310 ) of a gastrostomy tube ( 305 );   (b) a clamp ( 112 ) for occluding the first tube lumen ( 225 );   (c) the fluid reservoir ( 500 ), optionally comprising a flexible reservoir bag ( 502 ), in fluid communication with the reservoir inlet ( 130 ), the fluid reservoir ( 500 ) further comprising a fluid reservoir locking device for holding the fluid reservoir ( 500 ) in fluid communication with the housing lumen ( 120 ) of the housing unit ( 115 ) by spring tension, wherein the reservoir locking device includes a reservoir release ( 107 ) for engaging a groove or a lip on a reservoir connector ( 501 ) of the fluid reservoir ( 500 ).   
     
     
         16 . The assembly according to  claim 15 , further comprising the gastrostomy tube ( 305 ), connected by the mating of the skin port connector ( 315 ) of the second tube ( 203 ) with the skin port valve ( 310 ) of the gastrostomy tube ( 305 ). 
     
     
         17 . A method for draining material from a stomach of a patient using the assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the patient is fitted with a gastrostomy tube ( 305 ) in fluid communication with the stomach and the gastrostomy tube ( 305 ) is configured with a skin port valve ( 310 ) to alternatively allow and prevent passage of fluid between the stomach and the gastrostomy tube ( 305 ), the method comprising:
 (a) connecting the second tube ( 203 ) to the skin port valve ( 310 ), to allow fluid communication between the second tube ( 203 ) and the gastrostomy tube ( 305 );   (b) opening the skin port valve ( 310 ); and   (c) allowing passage of the material from the stomach through the gastrostomy tube ( 305 ), through the branched lumen ( 220 ), and out the first port ( 205 ).   
     
     
         18 . A method for infusing fluid into the stomach using the assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the patient is fitted with a gastrostomy tube ( 305 ) in fluid communication with the stomach and the gastrostomy tube ( 305 ) is configured with a skin port valve ( 310 ) to alternatively allow and prevent passage of fluid between the stomach and the gastrostomy tube ( 305 ), the method comprising:
 (a) connecting the second tube ( 203 ) to the skin port valve ( 310 ), to allow fluid communication between the second tube ( 203 ) and the gastrostomy tube ( 305 );   (b) occluding the first tube ( 204 ) to prevent the passage of fluid therethrough;   (c) opening the skin port valve ( 310 ); and then   (d) forcing fluid from the fluid reservoir ( 500 ), causing fluid to flow, in turn, from the fluid reservoir ( 500 ), through the one-way valve ( 103 ), through the connector ( 201 ), through the second tube ( 203 ), through the open skin port valve ( 310 ), through the gastrostomy tube ( 305 ), and into the stomach.