Aspiration prevention mechanism

Abstract

A patient angle sensor is employed in conjunction with gastric feeding devices to shut off or to reverse the flow of fluid in the tube when the angle of a bed ridden patient becomes sufficient to allow gastric juices to percolate up through the esophagus and into the patient's lungs. In this way incidents of aspirational pneumonia in hospitalized patients is significantly reduced or eliminated.

1 . A gastric feeding system for a patient, said system comprising:
 a nutrient supply;   a feeding pump connected to said nutrient supply;   a gastric tube, connected to said feeding pump, which delivers said nutrient to said patient;   a sensor affixable to said patient which provides a signal indicative of said angle sensor being angularly positioned beyond a threshold angle wherein said angular position corresponds to an angular position of said patient; and   a controller for said pump which operates to cut off power to said feeding pump when said electrical signal from said sensor indicates positioning of said angle sensor beyond said threshold angle.   
     
     
         2 . A method for ameliorating the problem of stomach content aspiration for a patient being fed or medicated through a gastric tube, said method comprising the step of:
 stopping fluid flow through said gastric tube upon receiving an electrical signal that indicates that said patient is reclining beyond a predetermined angle.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  in which said stopping is effected by shutting off electrical power to a feeding pump connected to said gastric tube. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  in which said stopping is effected by cutting off flow in said gastric feeding tube by clamping said tube. 
     
     
         5 . A method for ameliorating the problem of aspiration for a patient being fed or medicated through a gastric tube, said method comprising the step of:
 reversing fluid flow through said gastric tube upon detecting that said patient is reclining beyond a predetermined angle.