Abstract:
An oral hydration system includes a mounting fitting configured to be mounted to a mounting structure and a holster rotatably coupled to the mounting fitting. A hydration liquid bladder is removably disposed in the holster. A feed tube has a proximal end communicating with the hydration liquid bladder. A backflow-prevention bite valve is coupled to a distal end of the feed tube.

Description:
CLAIM FOR PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/762,151, filed Apr. 16, 2010, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/175,673, filed on May 5, 2009, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to oral hydration systems for medical patients. More particularly, the present invention relates to an oral hydration system including a hydration water bladder with a holster and semi rigid boom, a feed tube terminated in a backflow-prevention bite valve. 
         [0003]    Assuring that patients are sufficiently hydrated is a necessary part of medical care. Many patients have limited or no use of their arms, and are thus unable to hold a cup and/or a straw from which to drink. These patients must rely on another person to hold the cup for them. 
         [0004]    There is a significant danger that such patients may become dehydrated. Some patients can also tend to spill the water or other liquid in the bed, necessitating changing of the bed linens. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       [0005]    According to a first aspect of the presently claimed invention, an oral hydration system includes a hydration water bladder. The bladder includes a feed tube terminated in a backflow-prevention bite valve. The feed tube may be mounted in a semi-rigid conduit for a portion of its length. The bladder is mounted in a holster that may be affixed to the patient&#39;s bed or to a separate stand. The bladder or the holster may be provided with a volume scale so that the patient&#39;s oral fluid intake can be monitored. 
         [0006]    According to a second aspect of the presently claimed invention, an oral hydration system additionally includes a mounting fitting configured to be mounted to a mounting structure and a holster rotatably coupled to the mounting fitting. This aspect allows the holster to swivel in response to movement affected upon the mounting structure such that the holster remains in a vertical position with respect to the floor. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a diagram showing an illustrative patient hydration system in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a diagram showing typical components of an illustrative patient hydration system in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a diagram showing an illustrative patient hydration system affixed to a patient bed in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a diagram showing an additional illustrative patient hydration system in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a diagram showing typical components of an additional illustrative patient hydration system in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a diagram showing an additional illustrative patient hydration system affixed to a patient bed in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following description of the present invention is illustrative only and not in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons. 
         [0014]    Referring first to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , diagrams show an illustrative patient hydration system in accordance with the present invention in an assembled an unassembled configuration, respectively. The patient hydration system  10  according to one aspect of the present invention includes a hydration bladder  12 . Bladder  12  may be a commercially-available bladder available from a plurality of sources including Camelbak of Petaluma, Calif. 
         [0015]    Hydration bladder  12  is coupled to a feed tube  14  terminating in a backflow-prevention bite valve  16 . Feed tube  14  may be formed from medical grade plastic tubing. Bite valve  16  may be a valve such as one manufactured by Camelbak of Petaluma, Calif. 
         [0016]    Bladder  12  is inserted into a hydration bladder holster  18 , which may be formed or molded from a suitable material such as a plastic material. In use, the hydration bladder holster  18  containing the hydration bladder  12  may be attached to the side guardrails of a hospital bed or may be affixed to other structures such as an IV pole, a wheelchair or the like for convenience of the hospital staff. The exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1  shows holster  18  equipped with three hook-and-loop fastener straps  20 . As discussed below, other embodiments may be configured to attach to the mounting structure using other attachment mechanisms known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  shows holster  18  provided with a volume scale so that the patient&#39;s oral fluid intake may be monitored. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the volume scale could alternatively be disposed on the bladder  12 . 
         [0018]    Feed tube  14  may run through a semi-rigid boom (conduit)  24 . The semi rigid boom  24  may be formed from a material such as metal or plastic and attaches to the holster  18  by means of threads, friction fit, or other fastening modality. By way of illustration, a mounting block  26  for mounting semi-rigid boom  24  is shown in  FIG. 3 . Semi-rigid boom  24  holds its position/shape, acting as a conduit for the feed tube  14 . Semi-rigid boom  24  allows positioning the feed tube  14  to extend out over the bed so it may be positioned proximately to the patient&#39;s mouth. 
         [0019]    Only the feed tube  14  and bite valve  16  directly contacts the fluid passing therethrough. The bite valve  16  closes when not being used, keeping the water or other liquid from flowing back into the bladder  12 . To activate the bite valve  16 , the patient squeezes it with his or her lips and sips water or other liquid as needed. 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a diagram shows an illustrative patient hydration system affixed to a patient bed in accordance with the present invention. Bladder holster  18  is held to the side rails  28  of the hospital bed using hook-and-loop fastener straps  20  that mount through slots  30  in holster  18 . Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other fastening means may be used to affix holster  18  to the bedrails  28 . Such skilled persons will also appreciate that holster  18  may be hung or attached from some other mounting structure, such as an IV pole (not shown). Bladder  12  includes filler cap  32  to allow filling the bladder  12  with a hydrating liquid such as water. 
         [0021]    In another exemplary embodiment, patient hydration system  10  may also include a mounting fitting configured to be mounted to a mounting structure. The holster  18  may be rotatably coupled to the mounting fitting. As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in one illustrative embodiment, the mounting fitting may comprise a mounting plate  40 , a rotatable member  41  attached to the mounting plate  40 , and a retention plate  42 . Rotatable member  41  may be attached to the mounting plate  40  and configured to mate with a corresponding aperture in the holster  18 . The aperture in holster  18  may be placed over the rotatable member  41 . Retention plate  42  may then be attached to the rotatable member  41  to rotatably couple the holster  18  to the mounting plate  40 . In several other exemplary embodiments, the mounting fitting may include a mounting frame, a ball bearing assembly, or a non-rotatable peg configured to mate with an aperture in the holster  18  and attach to retention plate  42 . Persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that many other types of mounting fittings may be used to allow the holster  18  to rotate in response to movement affected upon the mounting structure. 
         [0022]    The exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 5  shows mounting plate  40  equipped with a single hook-and-loop fastener strap  20  and a flexible strap  43 . When attached to a mounting structure through a mounting fitting as shown in  FIG. 6 , this exemplary embodiment allows the holster  18  to swivel in response to movement affected upon the mounting structure such that the holster  18  remains in a vertical position with respect to the floor. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other fastening means may be used to affix mounting plate  40 , or other mounting fittings in other embodiments, to the bedrails  28 . For example, rather than flexible strap  43 , a clip may be used. Such persons will also appreciate that patient hydration system  10  may be attached to some other mounting structure, such as an IV pole (not shown). 
         [0023]    In use, the holster  18  with hydration bladder  12  in it is attached, for example, to the side guardrail  28  of the hospital bed. The semi rigid boom  24  is attached to the holster  18 . The bladder is then filled with water. The semi rigid boom  24  is positioned to extend out over to a position proximate to the patient&#39;s mouth. The patient can lean forward or bring the bite valve into his or her mouth and sip water or other liquid from the feed tube. If a patient raises the head of his or her hospital bed to an angled position while using the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 4-6 , the holster  18  reacts to gravity by swiveling to remain in a vertical position. Doing so reduces the chance that fluid may leak from the filler cap  32 . Moreover, it also enhances the legibility of the fluid-volume scale by keeping it upright. 
         [0024]    The oral hydration of medical patients according to the present invention without the use of an IV or cup and straw allows patient to squeeze the bite valve with his or her lips and sip water as needed. Proper hydration of patients encourages faster patient recovery. Using the present invention, the water or other liquid will not spill, thus saving time and labor for the changing of bed linens. This reduces staff time to administer water for hydration, eases the monitoring of patient oral liquid consumption over a given time. 
         [0025]    While illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been shown, persons skilled in the art will realize that other embodiments employing the inventive principles disclosed herein are possible, and such embodiments will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons. Thus the invention should only be limited within the spirit of the claims.