Patent Application
20230355481
This application relates generally to the field of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (“PEG”), a procedure in which a flexible feeding tube is placed through the abdominal wall of a patient and into the stomach. The PEG procedure allows nutrition, fluids and/or medications to be put directly into the stomach, bypassing the mouth and esophagus. Specifically, this patent application relates to a device that can hold and provides support for the PEG tube on the outside of the patient's body and thus increases comfort for the patient.
During a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), a doctor typically uses a lighted flexible tube called an endoscope to guide the creation of a small opening through the skin of the upper abdomen and directly into the stomach. This procedure allows the doctor to place and secure a feeding tube into the stomach. Specialized liquid nutrition, as well as fluids, are given through the PEG tube. Patients who have difficulty swallowing, problems with their appetite, or an inability to take adequate nutrition through the mouth can benefit from this procedure. In this way, a PEG is extremely beneficial to a patient needing an alternative way to receive nutrition, fluids, and/or medications.
Although there obviously is a benefit to this procedure, it can also lead to significant discomfort and even pain for the patient. There is nothing inherent to the PEG tube to hold or support the tube itself where it exits the body. Thus, discomfort and pain can result from the PEG tube pulling at the surgical site due to the tube protruding from the body, causing this pain and discomfort. Existing devices do not provide any support to the tube itself where it exits the body. The existing devices allow the tube to move, kink, be pulled, or catch on clothing or other items, all of which therefore puts pressure on and causes pain and discomfort at the incision site.
The claimed invention solves the problem described above associated with PEG tubes and existing devices used in connection with PEG tubes by providing a unique PEG tube support and comfort system. The system comprises a unique pillow-like, padded support device that is worn by the patient at or near the incision site. The support device comprises a flat portion that rests against the waist of the patient and a crescent-shaped, padded, pillow-like portion that extends outwardly from the flat portion and which provides a support or resting place for the PEG tube. The flat portion is created to form a pouch or pocket which provides protected space for the patient to place and store the extra tubing. The system also comprises an adjustable strap or belt that is wrapped around the waist area of the patient and which holds the support device in place. The design of the unique pillow-like device provides a small crescent-shaped pillow that functions as a support for the PEG tube. By supporting the PEG tube, the device prevents the tube from moving, kinking, pulling, or catching on clothing or other items. By preventing the various, potential movements of the PEG tube, the system prevents the pain and discomfort that can result from the movement of the PEG tube. In addition to providing support for the PEG tube, the pouch or pocket formed by the flat portion which provides an enclosed, protected space to hold the extra tubing all while laying flush against the waist of the patient.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
With reference now to the drawings, a PEG tube support and comfort system is herein described.
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It should be noted that the support device 101 can be made of any size to maximize the comfort for the patient. Smaller patients might prefer a smaller support device while larger patients might be able to accommodate a larger support device. The relative size of the support device should not impact the overall functionality of the device as long as the support area 104 is sufficiently defined and large enough to accommodate the PEG tube.
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In a further embodiment of the claimed invention, the flat portion 102b and the adjustable strap 107 each include a small opening, or slit, through which a PEG tube could be inserted to allow the PEG feeding tube support and comfort system to be worn and used by the patient while the PEG feeding tube is actively used for delivering medication, nourishment, or similar. When being worn by the patient, the patient would align the small opening or slit in the adjustable strap 107 near the small opening or slit in the flat portion 102b.
It should be appreciated that the novel PEG tube support and comfort system provides padded support for the PEG tube where the tube exits/enters the body and also minimizes excess bulk under the patient's clothing to secure the PEG tubing. The preferable soft fabric used for the support device 101 and the adjustable strap 107 is suitable for long-term contact with the skin of the patient and also machine washable. Because of the nature of the preferred fabric, it also is able to absorb any liquids that might be present as a result of the PEG. A further benefit of the claimed invention is that the adjustable strap 107 secures the support device 101 against the patient's abdomen for discreet appearance, allowing the patient not only to be free from pain or discomfort from the PEG tube, but also less anxious about having the PEG and PEG tubing.
The term “comprises” and grammatical equivalents thereof are used herein to mean that other components, ingredients, steps, etc. are optionally present. For example, an article “comprising” (or “which comprises”) components A, B, and C can consist of (i.e., contain only) components A, B, and C, or can contain not only components A, B, and C but also one or more other components.
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with possible reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. All features disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent, or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. Further, it is not necessary for all embodiments of the invention to have all the advantages of the invention or fulfill all the purposes of the invention.
In the present description, the claims below, and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a claim, that feature can also be employed, to the extent possible, in aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally.
Also, although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but as merely providing illustrations of some of several embodiments. Thus, the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/339,217 entitled “Provides Exterior Comfort and Support for a PEG Feeding Tube,” filed on May 5, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63339217 | May 2022 | US |
