Feeding tube skin guard

Abstract

A hydrophilic dressing device for use with a gastrostomy tube. The device has an annular configuration including opposed free ends that are releasably attachable to one another to facilitate attachment of the device around the tube. The device is positioned in overlying relation to the patient“s skin to absorb leaking bodily fluids and prevent skin irritation. The core of the device is a hydrophilic material such as hydrophilic polyurethane foam. The core is covered by nylon because the open mesh structure of nylon allows the fluids to be absorbed by the core material and because nylon does not stick to the patient“s skin. The device is washable in a residential washing machine and can be re-used indefinitely.

1 . A device for absorbing liquids and protecting a patient“s skin when a feeding tube is in use, comprising: 
 an annular member having opposed free ends and having a flexible and resilient construction;  
 releasable fastening means for releasably attaching said opposed free ends to one another;  
 said annular member being adapted to fit around said feeding tube in encircling relation thereto;  
 said annular member having a first annular wall, a second annular wall, and a hydrophilic core of predetermined thickness disposed in sandwiched relation between said first and second annular walls;  
 said first and second annular walls being formed of a preselected open mesh material so that fluids drawn to said hydrophilic core by capillary action may pass through said open mesh material; and  
 said preselected open mesh material being formed of a material that does not adhere to a patient“s skin so that the device may be replaced as needed without causing discomfort to the patient.  
 
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said releasable fastening means includes a hook material secured to a first free end of said opposed free ends and a loop material secured to a second free end of said opposed free ends.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said opposed free ends include a first free end having an undercut formed therein, said undercut including a first wall parallel to said first and second annular walls and a second wall perpendicular to said first and second annular walls, and wherein said opposed free ends include a second free end having an overcut formed therein, said overcut including a first wall parallel to said first and second annular walls and a second wall perpendicular to said first and second annular walls, a first fastening means secured to said first wall of said overcut and a second fastening means secured to said first wall of said undercut so that said first and second fastening means are positioned interiorly of said device when said device is positioned around said feeding tube, so that said device may be used with either said first annular wall or said second annular wall disposed in abutting relation to the patient“s skin.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said preselected open mesh material is nylon.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined thickness of said hydrophilic core is about 1.0 cm.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said hydrophilic core is formed of hydrophilic polyurethane foam.  
     
     
         7 . A device for absorbing liquids and protecting a patient“s skin when a feeding tube is in use, comprising: 
 an annular member of flexible and resilient construction having an annular top wall, an annular bottom wall, and opposed free ends;  
 releasable fastening means for releasably securing said opposed free ends to one another;  
 said annular member being adapted to fit around said feeding tube in encircling relation thereto;  
 said annular member having a hydrophilic core of predetermined thickness;  
 a preselected open mesh material being disposed in enveloping relation to said hydrophilic core so that fluids drawn to said hydrophilic core by capillary action pass through said open mesh material;  
 said annular top wall and said annular bottom wall being sewn to one another along their respective outer peripheral edges and inner peripheral edges to envelope said hydrophilic core; and  
 said preselected open mesh material being formed of a material that does not adhere to a patient“s skin so that the device may be replaced as needed without causing discomfort to the patient.  
 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising hook and loop fastening means for releasably securing said opposed free ends to one another.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said opposed free ends include a first free end having an undercut formed therein, said undercut including a first wail parallel to said first and second annular walls and a second wall perpendicular to said first and second annular walls, and wherein said opposed free ends include a second free end having an overcut formed therein, said overcut including a first wall parallel to said first and second annular walls and a second wall perpendicular to said first and second annular walls, a first fastening means secured to said first wall of said overcut and a second fastening means secured to said first wall of said undercut so that said first and second fastening means are positioned interiorly of said device when said device is positioned around said feeding tube, so that said device may be used with either said first annular wall or said second annular wall disposed in abutting relation to the patient“s skin.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said preselected open mesh material is nylon.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said predetermined thickness of said hydrophilic core is about 1.0 cm.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said hydrophilic core is formed of hydrophilic polyurethane foam.