Equine nasogastric intubation adapter with backflow diverter

Abstract

A rigid hollow tubular adapter releasably attached at a longitudinal nozzle end to a flexible tube during equine nasogastric intubation comprising an annular sleeve having a stationary tubular member and a slidable tubular member. The slidable tubular member is delimited at its ends by the stationary tubular member and a detent member disposed between an equine reflux drainage hole and a longitudinal mouthpiece end. Operator's puffs of airflow through a mouthpiece urges the slidable member to slide toward the detent member closing the equine drainage hole to enable passage of medication into the equine stomach. Equine reflux urges the slidable tubular member to slide toward the stationary tubular member opening the reflux drainage hole to divert equine backflow downwardly through the equine backflow drainage hole preventing passage of equine reflux into the operator's mouth.

Claims

1. A portable equine nasogastric intubation adapter comprising: a rigid hollow tubular member having a first longitudinal end and having a nozzle member disposed axially of said first longitudinal end for releasably being attached to a flexible tube or a flexible hose by an operator, while said operator positions said rigid hollow tubular member using a grip member fixedly attached to an exterior surface of said rigid hollow tubular member and disposed between said first longitudinal end and an opposite second longitudinal end of said rigid hollow tubular member; an annular sleeve member disposed axially within said rigid hollow tubular member and circumscribing an axial centrally disposed bore; said annular sleeve member comprising a stationary tubular member affixed at said first longitudinal end of said rigid hollow tubular member; and a slidable tubular member slidably disposed upon said rigid hollow tubular member; an equine reflux drainage hole disposed upon an interior surface of said rigid hollow tubular member and further disposed between said first longitudinal end and said opposite second longitudinal end of said rigid hollow tubular member; and said slidable tubular member urged to slidably move upon said rigid hollow tubular member between a first position adjacent said stationary tubular member and a second position toward said first longitudinal end of said rigid hollow tubular member abutting a detent member affixed upon and protruding upwardly from said interior surface of said rigid hollow tubular member and disposed between said equine reflux drainage hole and said first longitudinal end of said rigid hollow tubular member.

2. The portable equine nasogastric intubation adapter recited in claim 1, wherein said detent member comprises a firm nipple member.

3. The portable equine nasogastric intubation adapter recited in claim 1, wherein said nozzle member comprises a series of undulating diminishing diameters or ridges circumferentially emplaced upon said nozzle member for conveniently and securably releasably attaching said flexible tube or flexible hose sized to be comfortably and safely inserted into an equine nasal cavity and passed therethrough to an equine esophagus and into an equine stomach.

4. The portable equine nasogastric intubation adapter recited in claim 3, wherein said opposite second longitudinal end of said rigid hollow tubular member is configured with a snorkel-like mouthpiece member having a pair of bite-tabs with a pliable, plastic shield disposed on each side of said mouthpiece member enabling said operator's hands-free, mouth-teeth gripping of said portable equine nasogastric intubation adapter while being inserted into said equine stomach through said equine nasal cavity.

5. The portable equine nasogastric intubation adapter recited in claim 4, wherein said equine reflux drainage hole is disposed in a closed position when said slidable tubular member is urged by gentle puffs of breath emanating from said operator's mouth into said mouthpiece member and through said rigid hollow tubular member to be slidably positioned toward and adjacent said detent member thereby covering said equine reflux drainage hole to enable passage of medication into said equine stomach.

6. The portable equine nasogastric intubation adapter recited in claim 5, wherein said equine reflux drainage hole is disposed in an open position when said slidable tubular member is urged by backflow of equine reflux entering into said rigid hollow tubular member through said nozzle member disposed at said first longitudinal end of said rigid hollow tubular member to slide away from said detent member toward said stationary tubular member until positioned adjacent thereto at said opposite second longitudinal end of said rigid hollow tubular member, thereby uncovering said equine reflux drainage hole to divert passage of said equine reflux downwardly through said equine reflux drainage hole and simultaneously disable passage of said equine reflux into said operator's mouth.

7. The portable equine nasogastric intubation adapter recited in claim 1, wherein said grip member comprises a substantially flat member.

8. The portable equine nasogastric intubation adapter recited in claim 1, wherein said grip member comprises a loop member.

9. The portable equine nasogastric intubation adapter recited in claim 1, wherein end members of said rigid hollow tubular member each comprises a bevel member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 depicts a perspective side view from the mouthpiece end of an embodiment of the present invention, with the backflow drainage hole disposed in an open position.

(2) FIG. 2 depicts a side view of an embodiment of the present invention, with the backflow drainage hole disposed in an open position.

(3) FIG. 3 depicts a side view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, with the backflow drainage hole disposed in a partially-open position.

(4) FIG. 4 depicts a side view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, with the backflow hole disposed in a closed position.

(5) FIG. 5 depicts an opposite side view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4.

(6) FIG. 6A depicts an end view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1.

(7) FIG. 6B depicts the opposite end view of the end view depicted in FIG. 6A.

(8) FIG. 7 depicts a top view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1.

(9) FIG. 8 depicts a bottom view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1.

(10) FIG. 9 depicts a perspective side view from the mouthpiece end of another embodiment of the present invention, with the backflow hole disposed in an open position.

(11) FIG. 10 depicts a top view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9.

(12) FIG. 11 depicts a bottom view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, with the backflow hole disposed in an open position.

(13) FIG. 12 depicts a bottom view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, with the backflow hole disposed in a partially-open position.

(14) FIG. 13 depicts a bottom view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, with the backflow hole disposed in a closed position.

(15) FIG. 14A depicts an end view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9.

(16) FIG. 14B depicts the opposite end view of the end view depicted in FIG. 14A.

(17) FIG. 15 depicts a side view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9.

(18) FIG. 16 depicts the opposite side view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(19) Reference is made herein to the figures in the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like components. Referring collectively to FIGS. 1-5, 6A-6B, 7-13, 14A-14B, and 5-16, there are depicted various views of two alternative embodiments of the present invention. One embodiment of equine nasogastric intubation backflow diverter adapter 2 is depicted in perspective view in FIG. 1 and another backflow diverter adapter embodiment 5 is depicted in perspective view in FIG. 9.

(20) More particularly, referring collectively to FIGS. 1-5, 6A-6B, and 7-8, there is depicted equine nasogastric hollow tubular backflow preventer adapter embodiment 2 having substantially flat grip member 15A fixedly disposed atop exterior surface 20 of rigid hollow tubular member 10, and disposed axially and centrally therewithin as shown. Exterior surface 20 is preferably configured with beveled or chamfered edge 12 to enhance interconnection with a mouthpiece member 65 disposed at end 22B of rigid hollow tubular member 10 as will be hereinafter described. Annular tubular sleeve member 40 having a circular cross-section is disposed longitudinally upon interior surface 30 of rigid hollow tubular member 10. Bore 35 is circumscribed by interior surface 30 and disposed both axially and centrally therethrough.

(21) Disposed oppositely of end 22B, end 22A of rigid hollow tubular member 10 is configured with nozzle member 60 preferably circumscribed by series of undulating diminishing diameters or ridges 62 as the nozzle remote end is approached. Thus, nozzle member 60 is configured to be releasably and securably attached to a flexible tube or flexible hose T sized to be comfortably and safely inserted into an equine digestive system through an equine nasal cavity (not shown). It will be appreciated that end 22B of rigid hollow tubular member 10 is preferably configured with snorkel-like mouthpiece 65 having pair of bite-tabs 70 with a pliable plastic shield enabling an operator's hands-free, mouth-teeth-gripping thereof at the proximal end to sustain its uninterrupted presence in the mouth of an operator administering the nasogastric procedure contemplated hereunder.

(22) Still focusing on FIGS. 1-5, 6A-B, and 7-8, there are seen different views of the backflow diverter aspect contemplated by the present invention. Thus, annular tubular sleeve member 40 disposed axially and centrally within rigid hollow tubular member 10 comprises a first, stationary tubular member 45 and a second, slidable tubular member 50, configured to be disposed adjacent each other and preferably being congruent, having substantially the same diameter and material of construction.

(23) Stationary member 45 and slidable member 50 are disposed in an adjacent relationship, when there is equine stomach backflow or when the horse coughs thereby instigating movement from nozzle end 22A toward mouthpiece end 22B, in turn, urging slidable member 50 to slide toward stationary member 45 wherein end 47B of stationary member 45 abuts proximal end 52B of slidable member 50. Thus, under this equine backflow condition, positioning of slidable tubular member 50 within axial bore 35 is delimited by corresponding end member 47B of stationary tubular member 45 and end member 52B of slidable tubular member 50, respectively, wherein backflow drainage hole 25 is disposed in an open position (See FIGS. 1-2).

(24) Contrariwise, to commence the nasogastric intubation procedure contemplated hereunder, an operator would impart air flow through mouthpiece end 22B of rigid hollow tubular member 10 by gently blowing into the mouthpiece 65 causing the equine esophagus to expand. It will be appreciated that this gentle airflow travels around sliding member 50 thereby urging it to slide toward and cease movement at detent 55 thereby completely covering equine drainage hole 25 (see FIG. 4) enabling uninterrupted, continuous flow of medication or the like into the equine stomach as intended. Once proper placement of NGT T has been accomplished, embodiments 10 of the instant equine nasogastric intubation adapter would be removed.

(25) Those skilled in the art will appreciate that equine backflow would engender greater momentum than gentle blows of an operator's breath so that positioning of slidable member 50 would be urged to slidably move from being emplaced adjacent detent member 55 at end member 22A of rigid hollow tubular member 10 to being emplaced adjacent end member 47B of stationary member 45 at end member 22B of rigid hollow tubular member 10, assuring opening of equine reflux backflow hole 25.

(26) It will be understood that operator-generated gentle airflow through mouthpiece 65 urges separation of slidable member 50 from stationary tubular member 45 through rigid hollow tubular member 10 until positioning of slidable member 50 within bore 35 is delimited by detent member 55. Accordingly, slidable member 50 abuts detent member 55 at edge 52A thereof, assuring closure of reflux backflow drainage hole 25 (See FIGS. 4-5).

(27) It will also be understood by those skilled in the art, that, as depicted in FIG. 3, the position of slidable member 50 within bore 35 has been slidably urged by equine backflow to the extent of only being partially moved toward detent member 55, wherein equine reflux backflow drainage hole 25 is emplaced essentially in a “half-open” position. It will be seen that detent member 55 and stationary member 45 are disposed on opposite sides of backflow drainage hole 25, wherein detent member 55 comprises a firm nipple member affixed to and protruding minimally from interior surface 30 of rigid hollow tubular member 10. To afford sufficient detent capability for effectively stopping further sliding progress of slidable tubular member 50, the nipple member should be constructed from solid material to be firm enough to cease movement of slidable tubular member 50 toward the longitudinal nozzle end of rigid hollow tubular member 40 as contemplated hereunder wherein equine drainage hole 25 would be completely covered. For instance, such nipple member could constitute a simple cut-off nail-head or similar cut-off screw-top affording sufficient height differential above interior surface 30 to prevent further sliding movement of slidable tubular member 50—beyond this prescribed sliding-movement-limiting position as depicted herein.

(28) As will become evident to those skilled in the art, the present invention contemplates that equine backflow drainage hole 25 will be open when equine liquid reflux or like effluent effectuates backflow pressure in NGT T attached to end 22A of adapter 2 to urge slidable member 50 to slide from emplaced adjacent detent member 55 toward opposite end 22B of rigid hollow tubular member 10 of adapter 2 to another position adjacent stationary member 45. When common end 52B of slidable member 50 is emplaced adjacent of and delimited by common end 47B of stationary member 45, its exterior surface 20 is clear of backflow drainage hole 25, thereby enabling backflow drainage hole 25 to be disposed in an open position enabling equine backflow to be diverted downwardly through equine backflow drainage hole 25 wherein equine backflow is inherently prevented from entering an operator's mouth.

(29) Mouthpiece member 65 is releasably attached to end 22B, disposed oppositely of end 22A of rigid hollow tubular member 10, to enable adapter embodiments hereof to be securely inserted into an operator's mouth and sustained therein hands-free during the equine nasogastric intubation procedure. In this arrangement, as elucidated hereunder, equine reflux is diverted from remaining in the main path from the equine stomach into the operator's mouth, and, instead, urged to flow into a fail-safe diverted downward path through drainage hole 25 into a reflux collection pail or an otherwise designated repository such as the ground (not shown).

(30) It will also be appreciated by those conversant in the art that another embodiment of the present invention could be similarly configured with a single diameter tubular member and with a loop handle member rather than a flat grip member. More particularly, FIGS. 9-13, 14A-14B, and 15-16 depict another embodiment of equine NGT backflow preventer adapter 5 having loop grip member 15B fixedly disposed atop external surface 20 of rigid hollow tube member 10. External surface 20 is preferably configured with beveled or chamfered edge 12. Annular sleeve 40 having circular cross-section is disposed upon interior surface 30 of rigid hollow tubular member 10 as has been hereinbefore described. Bore 35 is circumscribed by interior surface 30 and both axially and centrally disposed therethrough.

(31) Focusing collectively on FIGS. 9-13, 14A-B, and 15-16, there are seen different views of the backflow diverter aspect taught by embodiments of the present invention. Thus, interior surface 30 fixedly receives stationary member 45 and slidable member 50, configured to be disposed adjacent each other and preferably congruent and having the same material of construction. When disposed in an adjacent relationship as depicted in FIG. 11, positioning of slidable member 50 within bore 35 is delimited by corresponding common end 47B of stationary member 45 and common end 52B of slidable member 50, respectively, wherein reflux backflow drainage hole 25 is disposed in an open position. Contrariwise, when slidable member 50 is slidably separated from stationary member 45, as depicted in FIGS. 12 and 13, positioning of slidable member 50 within bore 35 is delimited by detent member 55, wherein backflow drainage hole 25 is disposed in a closed position. Referring again collectively to FIGS. 8-14, it will be seen that detent member 55 and stationary member 45 are disposed on opposite sides of equine backflow drainage hole 25 (see end 47B of stationary member 45 and detent member 55 disposed oppositely of drainage hole 25).

(32) The following is a tabulation of the components depicted in the drawings:

Component Listing

(33) TABLE-US-00001 Numeral Component Explanation  2 Equine nasogastric tube Flat grip embodiment backflow diverter adapter  5 Equine nasogastric tube Loop grip embodiment backflow diverter adapter 10 Rigid Hollow Tubular Member 12 Beveled or chamfered edge 15A Flat grip Rubberized 15B Loop grip 20 Exterior surface 22A, B Respective ends of Rigid 22A: nozzle end Hollow Tubular Member 22B: mouthpiece end 25 Backflow Drainage Hole, Lateral 30 Interior surface 35 Axial bore 40 Annular sleeve 45 Stationary member 47A, B Respective ends of Stationary End 47B receives end 52B member of slidable member 50 50 Slidable member 52A, B Respective ends of Slidable End 52B receives end 47B Member of stationary member 45 55 Detent member Limiting movement of slidable member; nipple-like structure attached to and protruding mini- mally from interior surface 60 Nozzle member Receiving NGT 62 Series of diminishing dia- Facilitate secure interconnection meters or ridges, diminishing of flexible tube or hose with as remote, open end of nozzle adapter is approached 65 Mouthpiece member Disposed oppositely of nozzle 70 Bite-Tab member Conveniently hold adapter hands-free

(34) Other variations and modifications will, of course, become apparent from a consideration of the structures and techniques hereinbefore described and depicted. Accordingly, it should be clearly understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited by the particular features and structures hereinbefore described and depicted in the accompanying drawings, but that the present invention is to be measured by the scope of the appended claims.