Tube cleaning actuated syringe
AssigneeAvent, Inc.
InventorDonald McMichael
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Devices for cleaning a tube or clearing a blockage from a tube, such as an enteral feeding device are provided. The devices include an actuator and a syringe. The actuator is releasably attached to the syringe in a manner that allows the actuator to transition the syringe from a compressed position to an extended position, and vice-a-versa, without requiring the intervention of a user. A method of cleaning a tube or clearing a blockage in a tube is also provided. The tube cleaning device is filled with a liquid and the actuator pushes the liquid from the syringe into the tube when transitioning into a compressed position, and withdraws the liquid back into the syringe when transition into an extended position, causing the liquid to contact a blockage, and clear the blockage and/or clean the tube.
Claims20
A tube cleaning device comprising:
- an actuator;
- and
- a syringe, the syringe comprising a tip at a first end, a lip at a second end, and a reservoir extending between the tip and the lip, the syringe further comprising a plunger configured to be inserted in the reservoir, the plunger having a base distal to the second end of the reservoir;
- wherein the actuator is releasably attached to the lip of the syringe and to the base of the plunger, and wherein the actuator is configured to automatically transition a syringe from an extended position to a compressed position;
- wherein the tube cleaning device is configured to connect to a non-vascular catheter;
- and
- wherein the actuator is configured to agitate a liquid from the syringe into the non-vascular catheter and back into the syringe.
A method of cleaning a non-vascular catheter that has been inserted into a mammal, the method comprising:
- filling a reservoir of a tube cleaning device with an amount of a liquid, the tube cleaning device comprising:
- an actuator;
- and
- a syringe;
- wherein the actuator is releasably attached to the syringe, and wherein the actuator is configured to transition the syringe from an extended position to a compressed position;
- connecting the tube cleaning device to the non-vascular catheter;
- and
- agitating the liquid from the syringe into the non-vascular catheter and back into the syringe.
A method of removing a blockage from a non-vascular catheter that has been inserted into a mammal, the method comprising:
- filling a reservoir of a tube cleaning device with an amount of a liquid, the tube cleaning device comprising:
- an actuator;
- and
- a syringe;
- wherein the actuator is releasably attached to the syringe, and wherein the actuator is configured to transition the syringe from an extended position to a compressed position;
- connecting the tube cleaning device to a non-vascular catheter;
- and
- agitating the liquid from the syringe into the tube and back into the syringe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.