A pacifier pump system is described herein. The pacifier pump system generally includes a housing or hub defining a receiving channel and having a first valve and a second valve, wherein the housing or hub is configured to be removably coupled to an opening defined within a pacifier. A reservoir tubing may be fluidly coupled to the receiving channel through the first valve which is configured to enable flow from the reservoir tubing into the receiving channel. The system may further include a feed tubing fluid coupled to the receiving channel through the second valve which is configured to enable flow from the receiving channel into the feed tubing.
1 . A method of tube feeding a human, comprising:
coupling a housing of a fluid transfer assembly to a first side of a guard of a pacifier, wherein:
the housing defines a receiving channel,
the guard defines an opening on the first side of the guard,
the receiving channel is in fluid communication with the opening;
the opening provides access to a nipple cavity defined by a nipple that extends outwardly from a second side of the guard;
coupling a reservoir tubing of the fluid transfer assembly to a fluid reservoir, wherein the reservoir tubing extends from the housing;
coupling a feed tubing of the fluid transfer assembly to one end of a gastric tube, wherein a second end of the gastric tube extends inside the human, wherein the feed tubing extends from the housing; and
positioning the pacifier within a mouth of the human,
wherein the nipple is flexible, and
wherein when a suction force is applied to and removed from the nipple, the nipple is configured to actuate fluid flow from the fluid reservoir, then through the reservoir tubing, then into the receiving channel, then through the feed tubing, then into the gastric tube such that the fluid can flow into the human.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein coupling the housing to the first side of the guard comprises inserting the housing within the opening, forming a fluid-tight fit between the housing and the guard.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir tubing defines a reservoir tubing channel, and wherein the fluid transfer assembly further comprises a first unidirectional valve positioned between the reservoir tubing channel and the receiving channel, wherein the first unidirectional valve regulates a direction of fluid flow from the reservoir tubing channel into the receiving channel.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein coupling the reservoir tubing to the fluid reservoir comprises coupling the reservoir tubing to a hub of a syringe.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the feed tubing defines a feed tubing channel, and wherein the fluid transfer assembly further comprises a second unidirectional valve positioned between the feed tubing channel and the receiving channel, wherein the second unidirectional valve regulates a direction of fluid flow from the receiving channel into the feed tubing channel.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the gastric tube comprises a nasogastric or orogastric tube.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein repeated application and removal of the suction force on the nipple results in a repeated compression and decompression of the nipple that results in fluid flow from the fluid reservoir into the human.
8 . A pacifier pump system, comprising:
a housing defining a receiving channel, wherein the housing comprises a first valve and a second valve, and wherein the housing is sized and shaped to fit within a nipple cavity of a pacifier;
a reservoir tubing coupled to the housing and fluidly coupled to the receiving channel through the first valve, wherein the first valve is configured to enable flow from the reservoir tubing into the receiving channel; and
a feed tubing coupled to the housing and fluidly coupled to the receiving channel through the second valve, wherein the second valve is configured to enable fluid flow from the receiving channel into the feed tubing.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein a single cavity is formed between the receiving channel and the nipple cavity when the housing is positioned inside the nipple cavity.
10 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising a mechanism for imparting a pressure upon a fluid stored within the single cavity.
11 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising a fluid reservoir that is removably attachable to the reservoir tubing.
12 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising a gastric tube that is removably attachable to the feed tubing, wherein the feed tubing is configured to couple to the gastric tube in a position that is accessible from outside an infant's mouth and nose.
13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first valve comprises a unidirectional valve that enables unidirectional flow from the reservoir tubing into the receiving channel.
14 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the second valve comprises a unidirectional valve that enables unidirectional flow from the receiving channel into the feed tubing.
15 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising the pacifier, wherein the pacifier comprises a guard comprising a first side and a second side, wherein a nipple extends from the first side of the guard and defines the nipple cavity, and wherein an opening is defined on the second side of the guard, wherein the opening provides access to the nipple cavity;
wherein the housing is coupled to the second side of the guard such that the receiving channel is in fluid communication with the opening and the nipple cavity.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the housing is positioned at least partially inside the opening.
17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the nipple is configured to actuate the flow of fluid in a direction from the reservoir tubing, then through the first valve, then through the receiving channel, then through the second valve, and then to the feed tubing when the nipple is compressed and decompressed.
18 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the feed tubing comprises a feed connector at a distal end of the feed tubing, wherein the feed connector is configured to couple to a gastric tube that is positioned at least partially inside of a human body.
19 . A pacifier pump system, comprising:
a pacifier comprising:
a guard comprising a first side and a second side, and
a nipple coupled to the first side of the guard,
wherein the nipple is flexible and defines a nipple cavity, and
wherein the second side of the guard defines an opening to the nipple cavity;
a reservoir tubing in fluid communication with the nipple cavity, the reservoir tubing configured to couple to a fluid reservoir; and
a feed tubing in fluid communication with the nipple cavity, the feed tubing configured to couple to a gastric tube, wherein a first portion of the gastric tube is configured to be positioned inside an infant and a second portion of the gastric tube is configured to be positioned outside the infant, wherein the feed tubing is configured to couple to the second portion of the gastric tube;
wherein compression and decompression of the nipple actuates fluid flow from the fluid reservoir to the gastric tube when the reservoir tubing is coupled to the fluid reservoir and the feed tubing is coupled to the gastric tube.
20 . The pacifier pump system of claim 19 , further comprising a housing positioned inside the opening and coupled to the guard by a fluid-tight fit, wherein:
the housing is coupled to the reservoir tubing and the feed tubing,
the housing defines a receiving channel, and
the receiving channel is in fluid communication with the reservoir tubing, the feed tubing, and the nipple cavity.
21 . The pacifier pump system of claim 19 , further comprising a housing defining a receiving channel, wherein:
the housing defines a receiving channel opening at one end of the receiving channel;
a wall of the housing is positioned opposite to the receiving channel opening;
the housing is positioned at least partially within the nipple cavity;
the reservoir tubing is coupled to the wall of the housing; and
the feed tubing is coupled to the wall of the housing adjacent to the reservoir tubing.
22 . The pacifier pump system of claim 21 , wherein the reservoir tubing defines a reservoir tubing channel, and the feed tubing defines a feed tubing channel, and wherein the pacifier pump system further comprises:
a first valve positioned between the reservoir tubing channel and the receiving channel, wherein the first valve is configured to enable flow from the reservoir tubing channel into the receiving channel; and
a second valve positioned between the feed tubing channel and the receiving channel, wherein the second valve is configured to enable flow from the receiving channel into the feed tubing channel.
23 . The pacifier pump system of claim 22 , further comprising the gastric tube and the fluid reservoir, wherein the feed tubing is coupled to the second portion of the gastric tube and the fluid reservoir is coupled to the reservoir tubing, wherein compression and decompression of the nipple actuates the flow of fluid in a direction from the fluid reservoir, then through the reservoir tubing, then through the first valve, then through the receiving channel, then through the second valve, then through the feed tubing, and then through the gastric tube.
24 . The pacifier pump system of claim 22 , wherein the first valve and the second valve are unidirectional valves.
25 . The pacifier pump system of claim 21 , wherein the housing is coupled to the pacifier by a fluid-tight fit between an outer surface of the housing and a surface that surrounds the opening to the nipple cavity.