US20240065462A1 - PIPE: System and method related to straw for easy swallowing of liquid - Google Patents
PIPE: System and method related to straw for easy swallowing of liquid Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20240065462A1 US20240065462A1 US17/899,620 US202217899620A US2024065462A1 US 20240065462 A1 US20240065462 A1 US 20240065462A1 US 202217899620 A US202217899620 A US 202217899620A US 2024065462 A1 US2024065462 A1 US 2024065462A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- straw
- assembly
- per
- liquid
- pipe
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 239000010902 straw Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 21
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 18
- 230000009747 swallowing Effects 0.000 title claims description 8
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title description 5
- 230000035622 drinking Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000012549 training Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 208000019505 Deglutition disease Diseases 0.000 description 13
- 230000006735 deficit Effects 0.000 description 3
- 208000037265 diseases, disorders, signs and symptoms Diseases 0.000 description 3
- 206010028980 Neoplasm Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 206010030216 Oesophagitis Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 208000007519 Plummer-Vinson syndrome Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 206010040664 Sideropenic dysphagia Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 2
- 201000010099 disease Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 208000006881 esophagitis Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 208000015181 infectious disease Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 210000003205 muscle Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 208000018360 neuromuscular disease Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 239000006187 pill Substances 0.000 description 2
- 206010001935 American trypanosomiasis Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000024699 Chagas disease Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000018380 Chemical injury Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 206010064212 Eosinophilic oesophagitis Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000000289 Esophageal Achalasia Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 206010016654 Fibrosis Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 201000002563 Histoplasmosis Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 206010061218 Inflammation Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 206010058467 Lung neoplasm malignant Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 206010025323 Lymphomas Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000002720 Malnutrition Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000029001 Mediastinal disease Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 206010030136 Oesophageal achalasia Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000031481 Pathologic Constriction Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 241001088162 Primula auricula Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000006894 Primula auricula Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 208000019155 Radiation injury Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 206010039710 Scleroderma Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 241000223109 Trypanosoma cruzi Species 0.000 description 1
- 206010046996 Varicose vein Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 206010070995 Vascular compression Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 201000000621 achalasia Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000001154 acute effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000151 anti-reflux effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000013361 beverage Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000003518 caustics Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000018044 dehydration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006297 dehydration reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 208000035475 disorder Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 239000003814 drug Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229940079593 drug Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 230000002526 effect on cardiovascular system Effects 0.000 description 1
- 201000000708 eosinophilic esophagitis Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 210000003238 esophagus Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000004761 fibrosis Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000037406 food intake Effects 0.000 description 1
- 208000021302 gastroesophageal reflux disease Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002458 infectious effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004054 inflammatory process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000030214 innervation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009545 invasion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000000111 lower esophageal sphincter Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 201000005202 lung cancer Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000020816 lung neoplasm Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 210000001165 lymph node Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000001071 malnutrition Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000000824 malnutrition Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000002483 medication Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004899 motility Effects 0.000 description 1
- 208000025402 neoplasm of esophagus Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000009826 neoplastic cell growth Effects 0.000 description 1
- 208000015380 nutritional deficiency disease Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000001175 peptic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008855 peristalsis Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007632 sclerotherapy Methods 0.000 description 1
- 210000002460 smooth muscle Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 210000002784 stomach Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 238000001356 surgical procedure Methods 0.000 description 1
- 208000024891 symptom Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 201000008827 tuberculosis Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000027185 varicose disease Diseases 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G21/00—Table-ware
- A47G21/18—Drinking straws or the like
Definitions
- the present invention relates to in general to a drinking straw, and more particularly, to an improved straw which is dipped into a drink and covered with a finger from outside and will be released into a patient's mouth by uncovering with the finger to release the liquid.
- a better mouthfeel of a foodstuff can be a reason to eat it more often simply because they prefer the “taste” of it.
- things are however completely different. In fact, a good mouthfeel may be considered a matter of life and death.
- Dysphagia patients are afraid to consume foodstuffs that appear too thin to them, because they fear to choke. This fear often shows by a reluctance to eat or drink and may lead to dehydration and mal-nutrition.
- the current invention proposes a straw which is dipped into a drink and covered with a finger on the outside extremity and will hold the drink inside. Once inserted into a patient's mouth uncovering with the finger, a few drops will be released by gravity into the patient's mouth and stimulate oral muscles and making extremely easier for the swallowing part to be processed with much less struggle by the patient. This provides ease of use and a great deal of convenience to the caretaker and patient. None of the previous inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Hence, the inventor of the present invention proposes to resolve and surmount existent technical difficulties to eliminate the aforementioned shortcomings of prior art.
- the primary object of the invention is related to an advancement in offering drinking straw for users including but not limited to elderly, patients suffering from Dysphagia and so on.
- the invention is also helpful for people who can't suck into the straw to drink through a regular straw.
- the current invention in its preferred embodiment aims to provide an advancement in drinking straw assembly for people with swallowing issues also termed as Dysphagia.
- Dysphagia is the medical term for the symptom of difficulty in swallowing.
- Epidemiological studies estimate a prevalence rate of 16% to 22% among individuals over 50 years of age.
- Esophageal dysphagia affects a large number of individuals of all ages, but is generally treatable with medications and is considered a less serious form of dysphagia. Esophageal dysphagia is often a consequence of mucosal, mediastinal, or neuromuscular diseases. Mucosal (intrinsic) diseases narrow the lumen through inflammation, fibrosis, or neoplasia associated with various conditions (e.g. peptic stricture secondary to gastroesophageal reflux disease, esophageal rings and webs [e.g.
- Neuromuscular diseases may affect the esophageal smooth muscle and its innervation, disrupting peristalsis or lower esophageal sphincter relaxation, or both, commonly associated with various conditions (achalasia [both idiopathic and associated with Chagas disease], scleroderma, other motility disorders, and a consequence of surgery [i.e., after fundoplication and antireflux interventions]). It is also common for individuals with intraluminal foreign bodies to experience acute esophageal dysphagia.
- the current assembly as per its preferred embodiments aims to provide a drinking straw which is pipe shaped and size and has top portion which will unscrew to be able to fill up with the liquids.
- the button allows to release the air holding the liquids inside so gravity can release into the patient's mouth. By pressing the button will release the liquid and by pressing it again will cover the air again controlling the amount of liquids being released.
- the “pipe” structure also allows to hold a bigger amount of liquids and being able to surpass a simple straw amount.
Landscapes
- Medicinal Preparation (AREA)
Abstract
The disclosed utility model provides a drinking straw comprising of anterior round and thin portion, a structure to be unscrewed for easy filling of liquid and a button to release the liquid into end-user's mouth. The assembly can be reused multiple times, is developed from FDA proved material and maintains its effectiveness over longer period of time.
Description
- The present invention relates to in general to a drinking straw, and more particularly, to an improved straw which is dipped into a drink and covered with a finger from outside and will be released into a patient's mouth by uncovering with the finger to release the liquid.
- For healthy patients a better mouthfeel of a foodstuff can be a reason to eat it more often simply because they prefer the “taste” of it. For dysphagia patients things are however completely different. In fact, a good mouthfeel may be considered a matter of life and death. Dysphagia patients are afraid to consume foodstuffs that appear too thin to them, because they fear to choke. This fear often shows by a reluctance to eat or drink and may lead to dehydration and mal-nutrition.
- People with dysphagia generally lack proper muscle control and coordination to properly seal the windpipe or they lack the ability to properly propel the entire bolus of food and/or beverage to the stomach. For these reasons it is extremely important that the foodstuffs dysphagia patients consume have the proper viscosity when they judge the food visually and when they feel it in their mouth during consumption.
- Historically, a significant portion of a nurse's or care giver time is consumed by the process of administering food to patients. For relatively able patients, all that may be required is the delivery of a pill and a glass of water. However, even for this simple task, the time required to administer liquid to people suffering from dysphagia is significant and cumbersome as well.
- There are multiple techniques that can be seen in prior art regarding administering liquid to the elderly people or dysphagia patients. However, these solutions are limited and restricted to their conventional architecture, installation system and have considerable shortcomings which adversely affect the convenience with which they can be used. The prior systems have certain limitations including the design of assemblies which make them not suitable for every type of use. Moreover, the ease-of-use ability of these assemblies is also questionable.
- The current invention proposes a straw which is dipped into a drink and covered with a finger on the outside extremity and will hold the drink inside. Once inserted into a patient's mouth uncovering with the finger, a few drops will be released by gravity into the patient's mouth and stimulate oral muscles and making extremely easier for the swallowing part to be processed with much less struggle by the patient. This provides ease of use and a great deal of convenience to the caretaker and patient. None of the previous inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Hence, the inventor of the present invention proposes to resolve and surmount existent technical difficulties to eliminate the aforementioned shortcomings of prior art.
- In light of the disadvantages of the prior art, the following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the present invention and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the invention can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims and abstract as a whole.
- The primary object of the invention is related to an advancement in offering drinking straw for users including but not limited to elderly, patients suffering from Dysphagia and so on. The invention is also helpful for people who can't suck into the straw to drink through a regular straw.
- It is also the objective of invention to provide a pipe shape and size straw with a very thin and round edge making it very smooth for insertion.
- It is further the objective of the invention to provide a drinking straw where the top of the “pipe” will unscrew to be able to fill it up with the liquids and a button to release the air holding the liquids inside so gravity can release into the patient's mouth.
- It is also the objective of invention to provide assembly which is developed form high quality material and can be used/reused multiple times.
- It is further the objective of the invention to provide an aesthetically pleasing straw assembly which provides larger amount of liquid as compared to traditional straws.
- It is the further objective of the present invention to provide a simplicity of its design.
- It is further the objective of invention to provide a high-quality material which is also FDA approved to maintain its hygienic level.
- This Summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing some example embodiments, so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above-described features are merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following Detailed Description, Figures, and Claims.
- Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
- The current invention in its preferred embodiment aims to provide an advancement in drinking straw assembly for people with swallowing issues also termed as Dysphagia. Dysphagia is the medical term for the symptom of difficulty in swallowing. Epidemiological studies estimate a prevalence rate of 16% to 22% among individuals over 50 years of age.
- Esophageal dysphagia affects a large number of individuals of all ages, but is generally treatable with medications and is considered a less serious form of dysphagia. Esophageal dysphagia is often a consequence of mucosal, mediastinal, or neuromuscular diseases. Mucosal (intrinsic) diseases narrow the lumen through inflammation, fibrosis, or neoplasia associated with various conditions (e.g. peptic stricture secondary to gastroesophageal reflux disease, esophageal rings and webs [e.g. sideropenic dysphagia or Plummer-Vinson syndrome], esophageal tumors, chemical injury [e.g., caustic ingestion, pill esophagitis, sclerotherapy for varices], radiation injury, infectious esophagitis, and eosinophilic esophagitis). Mediastinal (extrinsic) diseases obstruct the esophagus by direct invasion or through lymph node enlargement associated with various conditions (tumors [e.g., lung cancer, lymphoma], infections [e.g., tuberculosis, histoplasmosis], and cardiovascular [dilated auricula and vascular compression]). Neuromuscular diseases may affect the esophageal smooth muscle and its innervation, disrupting peristalsis or lower esophageal sphincter relaxation, or both, commonly associated with various conditions (achalasia [both idiopathic and associated with Chagas disease], scleroderma, other motility disorders, and a consequence of surgery [i.e., after fundoplication and antireflux interventions]). It is also common for individuals with intraluminal foreign bodies to experience acute esophageal dysphagia.
- The general awareness of swallowing impairments is low among front-line practitioners. Many people (especially those who are elderly) suffer with undiagnosed and untreated swallowing impairments. One reason is that front-line community care practitioners (e.g., general practitioners/geriatricians, home care nurses, physical therapists, etc.) do not typically screen for the condition. If they are aware of the severity of swallowing impairments, the current methods of delivering liquid become quite cumbersome for both of parties involved.
- The current assembly as per its preferred embodiments aims to provide a drinking straw which is pipe shaped and size and has top portion which will unscrew to be able to fill up with the liquids. The button allows to release the air holding the liquids inside so gravity can release into the patient's mouth. By pressing the button will release the liquid and by pressing it again will cover the air again controlling the amount of liquids being released. The “pipe” structure also allows to hold a bigger amount of liquids and being able to surpass a simple straw amount.
- While a specific embodiment has been shown and described, many variations are possible. With time, additional features may be employed. The particular shape or configuration of the platform or the interior configuration may be changed to suit the system or equipment with which it is used.
- Having described the invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from its spirit. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific embodiment illustrated and described. Rather, it is intended that the scope of this invention be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
- The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.
Claims (1)
1. A drinking straw for people with swallowing issues and disabilities wherein the assembly comprises of:
A straw similar to pipe;
A top part of pipe with ability to be unscrewed to be filled with liquid;
A button to release the air holding the liquid so gravity can release to patient's mouth in form of drops and in controlled manner.
As per claim 1 , the anterior portion of straw is round and thin allowing it easy insertion;
As per claim 1 , the assembly is developed form high quality material;
As per claim 1 , the assembly is also helpful for people who can't suck into the straw to drink through a regular straw;
As per claim 1 , the assembly is able to be reused multiple time;
As per claim 1 , the assembly allows to hold a bigger amount of liquids being able to surpass a simple straw amount; and, As per claim 1 , the assembly requires no prior trainings and setup.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US17/899,620 US20240065462A1 (en) | 2022-08-31 | 2022-08-31 | PIPE: System and method related to straw for easy swallowing of liquid |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US17/899,620 US20240065462A1 (en) | 2022-08-31 | 2022-08-31 | PIPE: System and method related to straw for easy swallowing of liquid |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20240065462A1 true US20240065462A1 (en) | 2024-02-29 |
Family
ID=90000878
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US17/899,620 Pending US20240065462A1 (en) | 2022-08-31 | 2022-08-31 | PIPE: System and method related to straw for easy swallowing of liquid |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20240065462A1 (en) |
-
2022
- 2022-08-31 US US17/899,620 patent/US20240065462A1/en active Pending
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