JP2007082634A - Nutritive composition dosing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive nutritive composition dosing device with excellent operability, capable of being effectively washed and easily used. <P>SOLUTION: The dosing device comprises a cylindrical cylinder part 110 for storing a nutritive composition inside, first and second piston parts 115 and 120 to be inserted into the cylinder part, a first cylinder cap 130 with a nozzle 131, and a second cylinder cap 140 with a gas inlet 141. The nutritive composition is filled between the first cylinder cap and the first piston part, and a flushing agent is filled between the first and second piston parts. The nutritive composition and the flushing agent are discharged from the nozzle 131 by feeding gas from the gas inlet 141. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an administration device for a nutritional composition used for oral or nasal, gastric, and duodenal administration of enteral nutrients and liquid foods to patients and elderly people who have difficulty ingesting solid foods. It is about.

  Conventionally, in nutritional management of patients with enteral nutrients or liquid foods, oral, nasal tube, or PEG (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy) has been administered. However, since both nutrients and liquid foods are liquid, for example, in the case of oral administration, they cannot be taken due to dysphagia, or even if taken, aspiration pneumonia May occur. In addition, when administered into the stomach via a nasal tube or PEG, inflammation due to gastric-esophageal reflux, especially in the case of PEG, inflammation due to leakage from the fistula, and the administration rate is too fast In some cases, it has problems such as developing diarrhea. From the above viewpoints, in recent years, with the development of gelled preparations, liquid nutrients and liquid foods are often solidified, gelled or sol and administered.

  In this way, when the nutrient / liquid food is solidified, gelled or sol and administered orally, via a nasal tube, or via PEG, there is currently no suitable container for administration, so As described below, the actual situation is that an existing container is used instead.

(1) Disposable Syringe As an administration container for such a solidified, gelled or solified nutrient / liquid food, a syringe for injection is alternatively used. However, in this case, since the largest volume is about 50 mL, in order to administer about 400 mL of solidified, gelled, or solutized nutrient / liquid food at a time, a plurality of syringes (one 8-10 bottles in a single dose must be used. Also, depending on the hardness of the solidified, gelled or solified nutritional composition, it becomes difficult to push the syringe by human force, which makes administration impossible or extremely cumbersome, which causes problems in operability. It was. Such disposable syringes must be used for single use (one-time use). However, as described above, multiple syringes are required for one administration, which increases costs. In addition, a syringe once used has been washed and repeatedly used.

(2) Dressing pot The size (volume) is just right for the volume (400 mL) to be administered at one time, and the nozzle part is also compatible with the PEG tube. It is used as an administration container for cultivated nutritional products. However, the container itself is not flexible, and in order to extrude the nutritional composition filled therein, a sustained force is required. In particular, in the case of an adhering nutritional composition, it remains attached to the inner wall of the container, so that it is difficult to administer the entire amount, resulting in waste, in addition to the administration. There was a problem that the amount became inaccurate.

(3) Shampoo bottles In addition to the above, the use of shampoo bottles alternatively is performed at some medical sites. However, due to its original purpose of use, there is a problem that it is not image-preferable and, in addition, its cleanability is poor, so that there is a concern about microbial contamination inside the container.

  In addition, when liquid nutrients and liquid foods are administered via a nasal tube or PEG tube, it can flow through the tube by natural fall without using special equipment. Depending on the type of microbial growth, some medical peristaltic pumps must be used in order to keep the administration rate constant, or due to natural fall, the administration time is long and burdens patients and caregivers. It is the actual situation to have.

Patent Document 1 discloses a technique related to a continuous liquid injection device used for continuously injecting a predetermined amount of liquid little by little. In this technique, for example, a movable partition in a container is moved by gas to discharge the liquid to the outside.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-77559

  As mentioned above, there is currently no device (container) dedicated to the administration of solidified, gelled or solated nutritional products (ie, a volume adapted to a single dose volume (400 mL)), so that operability The present situation is that the above-described container is used instead of the above-mentioned problem. In addition, it is a cause of excessive labor burden in hospitals and care facilities, and therefore a dedicated administration device has been strongly desired.

In addition, as described above, liquid can flow in the tube by natural fall without using a special instrument, but in some cases, an expensive medical peristaltic pump is used to keep the administration rate constant. There are problems such as microbial growth, which must be used, or the administration time is long due to natural fall, placing a burden on patients and caregivers. In addition, solidified, gelled, or solified preparations have a gel breaking strength of 100 to 50,000 N / m ² , so they cannot be spontaneously dropped or administered with a peristaltic pump. A means to solve the problem was necessary.

That is, conventionally, there is no appropriate administration device (container) associated with solidification, gelation, or solification of liquid enteral nutrients or liquid foods, and this imposes an excessive labor burden in hospitals, care facilities, and the like.
Therefore, in developing a solidified, gelled or sol-form preparation, at the same time, development of an easy-to-handle and inexpensive administration means and method for the preparation has been desired.

  In addition, when a nutrient or liquid food is administered from a PEG tube, generally, if the solid agent remaining in the tube is left as it is, it causes microbial contamination. In order to avoid this, an operation of flushing the nutritional composition remaining in the tube is necessary. In the current state of this operation, separately from the nutritional composition, a flushing agent for washing is prepared separately, and after administration of the nutritional composition, the PEG tube portion is connected to perform flushing. However, when this reconnection is performed, there is a problem that air is mixed in.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a nutritional composition administration device that solves the above-described problems, is excellent in operability and cleanability, is easy to handle, and is inexpensive.

  The object is to form a cylindrical cylinder portion containing a nutritional composition therein, first and second piston portions inserted into the cylinder portion, and the cylinder facing the first piston portion. A first cylinder cap that is detachably attached to one end of the part and has a nozzle formed therein, and a first cylinder cap that is detachably attached to the other end of the cylinder part so as to face the second piston part. Two cylinder caps, filling the nutrient composition between the first cylinder cap and the first piston portion, filling a flushing agent between the first and second piston portions, By supplying the fluid from the fluid inlet, the second piston portion, the flushing agent, and the first piston portion are moved to discharge the nutrient composition from the nozzle. And, the administration device subsequent nutritional composition of the flushing agent is configured to discharge from the nozzle is achieved. Here, the fluid may be a compressed gas. Further, a pressure regulating valve can be provided on the second cylinder cap.

  According to the present invention, regardless of the type of liquid enteral nutrient or liquid food, or the form of those solidified, gelled or sol, they are excellent in operability and cleanability and easy to handle. Therefore, it is possible to provide an inexpensive administration device for a nutritional composition, and thus, it is possible to achieve an excellent effect of making it possible to reduce an excessive labor burden in a hospital or a nursing facility.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of a nutritional composition administration device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, but before that, an outline of the present invention will be described.
More specifically, the administration device of the present invention is provided with liquid passages (paths) before and after the inside of the cylinder as a mechanism for flushing the nutritional composition remaining in the PEG tube after administration of the nutritional composition. The two liquids can be pushed out in order by mounting two pistons (stages). By having such a configuration, the administration device of the present invention can continuously flow the flushing agent into the tube without performing reconnection work after administration of the nutritional composition. And an administration device capable of avoiding complicated work of reconnection.
In the present invention, examples of the nutritional composition include enteral nutritional compositions (nutrients and liquid foods) that are liquid, solidified, gelled, or sol.
In the present invention, the flushing agent is not limited to a normal flushing agent, and may be a separate liquid that is desirably administered without being mixed with a nutritional composition. For example, it may be a drug solution or beverage that is contraindicated for direct mixing with a nutritional composition, such as lactic acid bacteria preparations, syrups, tomato juice, and green tea, for reasons such as blending changes.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a nutritional composition administration device according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a side sectional view, (b) is a plan view of a first cylinder cap, c) is a plan view of a cylinder portion, and (d) is a plan view of a second cylinder cap. As shown in the figure, the nutritional composition administration device 100 has a volume of, for example, about 400 mL or more, and has a structure in which a medical syringe is used as a prototype, and a push rod of the piston is removed, and The administration device can be divided into three parts, and in particular has a simple structure with improved detergency.

  The reason for removing the push-out rod is that the large-diameter syringe has a large cross-sectional area of the syringe barrel, and therefore usually cannot be easily pushed out by human power. A gas pressure feeding system is adopted as a power source for pushing out the piston. However, the present invention is not limited to this gas pressure feeding system, and other power sources can be used for pushing out the piston.

  Next, the administration device (container) 100 has, as a specific example, a cylindrical cylinder portion 110 having an inner diameter of 62 mm and a height of 175 mm, both ends of which are open as they are, A first piston part (A) 115 and a second piston part (B) 120 that are freely movable in the vertical direction inside the cylinder part 110 are provided inside. That is, in addition to the first piston part (A) 115, a second piston part (B) 120 thinner than the first piston part (A) 115 is inserted, and the piston part is composed of two stages. It can move freely in the vertical direction inside the unit. Between the first piston part (A) 115 and the second piston part (B) 120, a flushing agent for flushing the nutritional composition remaining in the administration device and the PEG tube after the nutritional composition is administered. The structure is filled.

  A first cylinder cap 130 and a second cylinder cap 140 each having a substantially disk shape are detachably attached to both ends of the cylinder portion 110 by, for example, a spiral (screw) mechanism. In addition, a nozzle 131 is formed at the substantially central portion of the outer surface of the first cylinder cap 130, and although not shown here, a tube used for administration is attached. Similarly to the above, the second cylinder cap 140 is also detachably attached by a spiral mechanism, and there is a gas (fluid) inlet 141 and a gas (fluid) that form an inlet and an outlet of a pumped gas. An outlet 142 is formed. A compressed gas can be injected into the gas inlet 141 from a power source 150 for pushing out the piston.

  The first and second piston portions 115 and 120 that are freely movable within the administration device (container) 100 have a cylindrical outer shape, and the cylinder portion 110 is located near both ends thereof. Are provided with O-rings 116 and 121, respectively. Further, the pair of cylinder caps 130 and 140 are also provided with flat packings 132 and 143 at portions where the end faces of the cylinder part come into contact with each other when the cylinder caps 110 are attached to both ends of the cylinder part 110, respectively. The sealing property between is ensured. By the way, regarding the materials of the O-ring and the flat packing used here, there are various materials ranging from flexible rubber materials to resin materials such as Teflon (registered trademark). If it can maintain sex and does not affect the human body, it can perform its function sufficiently. In this example, Viton is used as the material, but the material is not limited thereto.

  Further, after the nutritional composition has been discharged to the inner peripheral wall surfaces (in the illustrated example, the inner peripheral wall surfaces of both ends) of the cylindrical cylinder portion 110, the first piston portion (A) 115 is discharged. Is provided with a liquid passage groove 112 for forming a flow path for discharging the flushing agent from the nozzle 131 and supplying it to the PEG tube when it contacts the bottom surface of the first cylinder cap 130. The width (height direction) of the liquid passage groove 112 is smaller than the height (thickness) of the piston part (A) 120 and the height of the second piston part (B) 120 ′. It can be made larger than (thickness).

  On the other hand, when the first piston part (A) 115 comes into contact with the bottom surface of the first cylinder cap 130, a flushing agent passage is formed between the bottom surface of the first cylinder cap 130 and the first cylinder cap 130. A plurality (four in the illustrated example) of protrusions 134 are provided on the packing 132. Similarly, a packing 143 having a plurality of protrusions 145 can also be provided on the bottom surface of the second cylinder cap 140.

  The material of the cylinder part 110, the first and second piston parts 115, 120, and the first and second cylinder caps 130, 140 may be any material that does not affect the human body. For example, metal, plastic resin, glass, etc. are conceivable and their functions can be fulfilled sufficiently. However, in view of their functions, it is desirable to use a plastic resin that can be reduced in weight. Let's go. In this example, it is made of a plastic resin such as an acrylic resin in consideration of the operability described above. In addition, the plastic resin is particularly suitable for mass production by injection molding, and is suitable as a material for mass-producing the administration container 100 according to the present invention.

  Further, reference numeral 111 in the drawing denotes spiral (screw) grooves formed on the outer peripheral surface at both ends of the cylinder part 110, and reference numerals 133 and 144 denote inner peripheral sides of the pair of cylinder caps 130 and 140. The spiral (screw) groove | channel formed in is shown. That is, the pair of cylinder caps 130 and 140 can be easily and detachably attached to both ends of the cylinder portion 110 by these spiral (screw) grooves.

  FIG. 2 shows a method of using the administration device (container) 100 according to another embodiment described above. First, as shown in FIG. 2A, the first piston part (A) 115 is inserted into the cylinder part 110, and then a predetermined amount of the flushing agent 190 is filled. Further, the second piston part (B) 120 is inserted from above. At this time, bubbles and excess flushing agent overflow to the outside through the groove (step) portion 111 (see arrows in the figure). That is, the actually used flushing agent has a capacity sandwiched between the first piston part (A) 115 and the second piston part (B) 120, and this capacity adjustment is performed by adjusting the first piston part (A) 115 and the second piston part (B) 120. It is determined by the position where the part (A) 115 is installed inside the cylinder part 110.

  Next, in FIG. 2 (a), the cylinder part 110 into which the flushing agent 190 is filled and the first piston part (A) 115 and the second piston part (B) 120 are inserted is turned upside down. Then, the state shown in FIG. 2B is obtained, and the nutritional composition 180 is adjusted (filled) into the space formed in the upper part of the first piston part (A) 115.

  After that, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), the cylinder part 110 filled with the flushing agent 190 together with the nutritional composition by the two-stage first piston part (A) 115 and second piston part (B) 120. A first cylinder cap 130 and a second cylinder cap 140, which are a pair of cylinder caps, are attached (screwed together) to both ends of the cylinder. In addition, one end of a tube 200 used for administration is attached to the nozzle 131 provided substantially at the center of the outer surface of the first cylinder cap 130. The other end of the tube is introduced into the stomach, for example, orally or nasally or via PEG for patients or elderly who cannot take solid food. A pipe from a power source for pushing out the piston is connected to the gas inlet 141 of the second cylinder cap 140 attached to the lower end of the cylinder part 110, and a compressed gas (fluid) 185 is injected into the pipe. On the other hand, although not shown, for example, a pressure regulating valve or a valve is attached to the gas outlet 142 as necessary.

  By supplying the compressed gas 185, as shown in FIG. 2C, the compressed gas 185 supplied to the lower end portion of the cylinder portion 110 is converted into the second piston portion (B) 120, the flushing agent 190, and the inside of the cylinder. The first piston part (A) 115 is gradually pushed up, so that the nutrient composition 180 filled in the upper part of the cylinder part 110 is passed through the tube 200 from the nozzle 131 of the first cylinder cap 130 into the stomach of the patient. To be administered. At this time, the first piston part 115 discharges the nutrient composition 180 from the nozzle 131 while ascending the inside of the cylinder, and finally comes into contact with the bottom surface of the first cylinder cap 130 and stops. Complete administration. Similarly to the above, by attaching a pressure regulating valve to the gas outlet 142 of the second cylinder cap 140 and controlling the internal pressure, it becomes possible to adjust the discharge amount of the nutritional composition 180, or By appropriately adjusting the internal pressure by attaching a valve or the like, it is possible to easily stop the administration of the nutritional composition 180 or reduce the administration rate during the above operation, for example. Become.

  When the first piston portion 115 comes into contact with the bottom surface of the first cylinder cap 130 and stops, that is, when the discharge of the nutritional composition is finished, the first piston portion is subsequently continued as shown in FIG. The O-ring 116 of the part (A) 115 reaches a groove (step) part 112 that forms a flow path formed at the end of the cylinder part 110. As a result, the flushing agent 190 sandwiched between the first piston part (A) 115 and the second piston part (B) 120 passes through the liquid passage groove part 112, and further the first cylinder cap. The projecting portion 134 formed of packing on the bottom surface of 130 passes through a passage formed between the first piston portion (A) 115 and reaches the nozzle 131 to push out the nutritional composition remaining in the PEG tube. Then, the flushing agent 190 is injected into the tube 200. Thereafter, when the second piston part (B) 120 reaches (contacts) the bottom surface of the first piston part (A) 115, the discharge of the flushing agent 190 stops.

  After the nutritional composition is administered to the patient as described above and the flushing agent is continuously flowed to the PEG tube, the first cylinder cap 130 and the second cylinder cap 140 attached to both ends of the cylinder part 110 Further, by taking out the first piston part (A) 115 and the second piston part (B) 120 inserted into the inside from the cylinder part 110, the administration device 100 including the inside thereof, It becomes possible to clean easily and easily.

  According to the administration device (container) 100 according to this embodiment, in addition to the effects obtained by the administration container described above, since a flushing mechanism is further added, the flushing agent is continuously flowed into the tube. In particular, the cleaning property is excellent.

  The present invention relates to an administration device for a nutritional composition used for oral or nasal, transgastric, and transduodenal administration of enteral nutrients and liquid foods to patients and elderly people who cannot ingest solid foods. And has industrial applicability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the administration apparatus of the nutrition composition which becomes one embodiment of this invention, (a) is side sectional drawing, (b) is a top view of a 1st cylinder cap, (c) is a cylinder part (D) is a top view of a 2nd cylinder cap. It is a figure which shows the method of administering a nutrient composition using the administration apparatus shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

100 ... administration device (container)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 110 ... Cylinder part 115 ... 1st piston part 120 ... 2nd piston part 130 ... 1st cylinder cap 140 ... 2nd cylinder cap 131 ... Nozzle 141 ... Gas inlet 142 ... Gas outlet

Claims (3)

  A cylindrical cylinder portion containing a nutritional composition therein, first and second piston portions inserted into the cylinder portion, and one end of the cylinder portion facing the first piston portion A first cylinder cap that is detachably attached and has a nozzle formed thereon, and a second cylinder cap that is detachably attached to the other end of the cylinder portion so as to face the second piston portion and has a fluid inlet formed And filling the nutrient composition between the first cylinder cap and the first piston part, filling a flushing agent between the first and second piston parts, and from the fluid inlet The fluid is supplied to move the second piston part, the flushing agent, and the first piston part to discharge the nutrient composition from the nozzle, and then Dispenser nutritional composition characterized in that the serial flushing agent configured to discharge from the nozzle.   The nutritional composition administration device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is a compressed gas.   3. The nutritional composition administration device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second cylinder cap is provided with a pressure regulating valve.

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