Device with passive valve to block emesis and/or reflux and associated system and method
AssigneePneumoflex Systems, LLC
InventorsW. Robert ADDINGTON, Stuart P. Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device to block emesis and/or reflux includes a tube insertable into the esophagus. A valve is carried by the tube and includes a flexible sheath having an upper edge secured onto the tube and an unsecured lower circumferential edge and configured such that upon contact with emesis and/or reflux from the stomach, the flexible sheath opens in a concave configuration towards the stomach and the unsecured lower circumferential edge engages the esophageal wall and blocks emesis and/or reflux from the stomach passing into the esophagus past the valve.
Claims25
A device to block emesis and/or reflux, comprising:
- a tube insertable into the esophagus;
- a valve carried by the tube and comprising a flexible sheath having an upper edge secured onto the tube and an unsecured lower circumferential edge and configured such that upon contact with emesis and/or reflux from the stomach, the flexible sheath opens in a concave configuration towards the stomach and the unsecured lower circumferential edge engages the esophageal wall and blocks emesis and/or reflux from the stomach passing into the esophagus past the valve.
A system for diagnosing a physiological abnormality in a patient, comprising:
- a tube insertable into the esophagus;
- a valve carried by the tube and comprising a flexible sheath having an upper circumferential edge secured onto the tube and an unsecured lower circumferential edge and configured such that upon contact with emesis and/or reflux from the stomach, the flexible sheath opens in a concave configuration towards the stomach and the unsecured lower circumferential edge engages the esophageal wall and blocks emesis and/or reflux from the stomach passing into the esophagus past the valve to protect a patient's airway during an involuntary reflex cough event;
- at least one sensor for sensing a physiological condition of the patient during the involuntary reflex cough event;
- and
- a processing device connected to the at least one sensor and configured to process the sensed physiological condition that occurs during the involuntary reflex cough event to determine a physiological abnormality.
A method for diagnosing a physiological abnormality in a patient, comprising:
- inserting a tube into the esophagus and having a valve carried by the tube comprising a flexible sheath having an upper circumferential edge secured onto the tube and an unsecured lower circumferential edge and configured such that upon contact with emesis and/or reflux from the stomach, the flexible sheath opens in a concave configuration towards the stomach and the unsecured lower circumferential edge engages the esophageal wall and blocks emesis and/or reflux from the stomach passing into the esophagus past the valve to protect a patient's airway during an involuntary reflex cough event;
- administering a nebulized medication to the patient to activate the involuntary reflex cough event;
- sensing a physiological condition of the patient during the involuntary reflex cough event;
- and
- processing the sensed physiological condition that occurs during the involuntary reflex cough event to determine a physiological abnormality.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.