CARRIER FOR ENTERAL FEEDING DEVICE
A carrier for an enteral feeding device including a pump, enteral feeding containers and tubing. The carrier has a case for holding the enteral feeding pump, and a shoulder strap for carrying the case. The shoulder strap has one or more compartments for holding the one or more enteral feeding containers. The carrier permits a patient to receive nutrition from the enteral feeding device concealed within the carrier while the patient is mobile.
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The present invention generally relates to carriers, and more particularly to a carrier for carrying an enteral feeding device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPersons having enteral feeding needs must deal with the problem of moving the necessary feeding equipment from location to location. Such equipment typically includes a pump, one or more fluid containers (e.g., bags of feeding fluid and rinsing fluid), and the associated tubing. This equipment is bulky and cumbersome to carry. In the past, such equipment has simply been moved from place to place, as needed, but there has been no convenient way of carrying the equipment and using it while it is being carried. As a result, the mobility of a person using the equipment is limited.
There is a need, therefore, for a device which allows such equipment to be carried in a convenient manner and to be used while it is being carried.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn general, this invention is directed to a carrier for carrying an enteral feeding device of the type comprising an enteral feeding pump and one or more enteral feeding containers. The carrier comprises a case for holding the enteral feeding pump, and a shoulder strap for carrying the case. In an exemplary embodiment, the shoulder strap has one or more compartments adapted to hold enteral feeding containers.
In an exemplary embodiment, the shoulder strap comprises an exterior layer on an outward facing side of the strap and an interior layer on an inward facing side of the strap. The exterior and interior layers of the shoulder strap define a compartment for holding at least one enteral feeding container. The compartment has a lower end which opens into an interior of the case.
Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONReferring to the drawings, and particularly to
As illustrated in
In the embodiment illustrated in
Returning to
Referring to
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The shoulder strap 14 may have other configurations within the scope of this invention. By way of example, the interior layers 80 of the lower shoulder strap portions 66, 68 may not be integrally connected, and the case 12 may have a separate cover.
A method of using the carrier for holding an enteral feeding device is illustrated in
Suspending the containers C1, C2 at an elevation above the pump P in the case 12 allows for a positive head height and gravity-assisted flow of solution from the containers C1, C2 to the pump P. The containers C1, C2 are connected to the pump P via concealed tubing T1, T2 that resides within the enclosed carrier space. The gastric feeding tube T3 originating from the P, in turn, exits the carrier 10 to supply nutrition to the patient through an outlet 120 formed in the interior layer 80 of a lower strap portion 68, as illustrated in
The case 12 and shoulder strap 14 of the carrier 10 may be constructed of a flexible material (e.g., nylon) that is aesthetically pleasing and collapsible for compact storage during non-use. Other desirable properties of the carrier material are water-impermeability and durability. Alternately, parts of the carrier 10 may be composed of other materials with differing properties. For example, the case 12 may be formed from a rigid or semi-rigid material so as to better protect the pump P. Other combinations of material can be used to form the carrier 10 within the scope of the invention.
Having described the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, each compartment 86, 88 is sized to hold only one enteral feeding container C1, C2. Alternatively, one or both of the compartments 86, 88 may be sized for holding more than one container. In still other embodiments, only one of the lower strap portions 66, 68 of the carrier may be configured to hold a container. In another embodiment, the tubing T3 is directed through a belt attached to the case 12, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,282,044 assigned to Sherwood Services AG. The belt can be used to secure the case 12 around the waist of the patient.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. A patient that requires enteral feeding can use a carrier of this invention to carry the necessary equipment in a convenient manner and to use the equipment while it is being carried. Further, the equipment is substantially entirely concealed in the carrier during use. The carrier is compact, comfortable to wear and readily collapsible for easy storage when not in use. Using a shoulder strap enables the enteral feeding container(s) of the equipment to be carried at a positive head height for gravity feed of the fluid. In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier can be worn on either shoulder. Further, the carrier is economical to manufacture.
As various changes could be made in the above constructions, products, and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiments(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
Claims
1. A carrier for carrying an enteral feeding device, said feeding device comprising an enteral feeding pump and one or more enteral feeding containers, said carrier comprising:
- a case for holding the enteral feeding pump;
- a shoulder strap for carrying the case; and
- said shoulder strap having one or more compartments adapted to hold the enteral feeding containers.
2. The carrier of claim 1, further comprising a suspension device for suspending an enteral feeding container in each compartment of said one or more compartments at a positive head height when the carrier is being worn with the shoulder strap over a shoulder.
3. The carrier of claim 1, wherein said shoulder strap comprises an upper strap portion adapted to be placed over a shoulder and first and second lower strap portions extending down from the upper strap portion to the case, and wherein said one or more compartments are located in at least one of said first and second lower strap portions.
4. The carrier of claim 1, further comprising at least one closure for opening and closing the one or more compartments, said at least one closure being positioned on the shoulder strap so that it faces generally toward a person wearing the strap thereby to conceal the closure.
5. The carrier of claim 3, wherein at least one of said first and second lower strap portions has opposing interior and exterior layers, the opposing interior and exterior layer of at least one lower strap portion defining one compartment of said one or more compartments.
6. The carrier of claim 5, wherein said one compartment opens into an interior of the case.
7. The carrier of claim 5, wherein said at least one lower strap portion has an outlet through which tubing from the enteral feeding pump can pass to a person using the carrier.
8. The carrier of 7, wherein said outlet is formed in the interior layer of the at least one lower strap portion.
9. The carrier of claim 5, further comprising a suspension device for suspending an enteral feeding container in said one compartment at a positive head height when the carrier is being worn with the shoulder strap over a shoulder.
10. The carrier of claim 3, wherein the first and second lower strap portions have interior and exterior layers defining first and second compartments, respectively, for holding first and second enteral feeding containers, respectively, and wherein each compartment has a lower end which opens into an interior of the case.
11. The carrier of claim 10, wherein the interior layers of said first and second lower strap portions are integrally connected by a cover portion that extends over a top of the case and functions as a cover of the case.
12. The carrier of claim 11, further comprising a closure extending along the interior layers of the first and second lower strap portions and along said cover portion whereby the first and second compartments and the top of the case may be opened and closed by opening and closing the closure.
13. The carrier of claim 1, wherein said case has a transparent wall portion to allow viewing of an enteral feeding pump inside the case.
14. The carrier of claim 13, further comprising a non-transparent flap on the case movable between an open position for allowing viewing through the transparent wall portion and a closed position covering the transparent portion.
15. The carrier of claim 1 in combination with one or more of the following: an enteral feeding pump, one or more enteral feeding containers, and one or more tubes.
16. A carrier for carrying an enteral feeding device, said feeding device comprising an enteral feeding pump and at least one enteral feeding container, said carrier comprising:
- a case for holding the enteral feeding pump;
- a shoulder strap for carrying the case, said shoulder strap comprising an exterior layer on an outward facing side of the strap and an interior layer on an inward facing side of the strap; and
- a compartment between said exterior and interior layers of the shoulder strap adapted to hold at least one enteral feeding container, said compartment having a lower end which opens into an interior of the case.
17. The carrier of claim 16, wherein said interior layer of the shoulder strap comprises a cover portion that extends over a top of the case and functions as a cover of the case.
18. The carrier of claim 17, further comprising a zipper closure extending along the interior layer from a location toward the upper end of the compartment to a location across the cover portion of the shoulder strap whereby the compartment and the top of the case may be opened and closed by opening and closing the zipper closure.
19. The carrier of claim 16, wherein said case has a transparent front wall portion to allow viewing of an enteral feeding pump inside the case.
20. The carrier of claim 19, further comprising a non-transparent flap on the case movable between an open position for allowing viewing through said transparent front wall portion and a closed position covering said transparent front wall portion.
Type: Application
Filed: May 5, 2009
Publication Date: Nov 11, 2010
Applicant: TYCO HEALTHCARE GROUP LP (Mansfield, MA)
Inventors: Ricky A. Sisk (Washington, MO), Joseph A. Hudson (O'Fallon, MO)
Application Number: 12/435,846
International Classification: A45F 3/02 (20060101);