SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR RELIEVING ABDOMINAL DISTENTION

1 . A gastric decompression apparatus comprising:

a variable-volume container defining an interior volume having a containment barrel and having a movable plunger slidably mounted within the containment barrel so as to vary the contained volume of the container as the movable plunger slides within the containment barrel;

the container comprising a coupling at a first end of the container opposite the movable plunger, the coupling having a fluid channel extending therethrough configured to permit fluid ingress or egress from the containment barrel;

the movable plunger having a plunger body extending from a first end to a second end, the plunger body having a plunger face at the first end, a plunger head at the second end, and an elongate portion extending therebetween;

at least one lumen extending through the plunger face, the elongate portion, and the plunger head; and

a filter disposed within the lumen.

2 . The gastric decompression apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the filter is a gas-permeable filter.

3 . The gastric decompression apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the filter is a hydrophobic filter.

4 . The gastric decompression apparatus of claim 1 , the plunger face comprising an opening in communication with the at least one lumen, the filter being disposed in the opening.

5 . The gastric decompression apparatus of claim 1 , the containment barrel of the variable-volume container having a length extending from a first end to a second end thereof, the second end receiving the movable plunger, the length being in a range from about 30 millimeters to about 160 millimeters.

6 . The gastric decompression apparatus of claim 1 , the variable-volume container having a maximum length defined from a first end of the containment barrel to the plunger head when the plunger is mounted within the containment barrel, the maximum length being in a range from about 35 millimeters to about 350 millimeters.

7 . The gastric decompression apparatus of claim 1 , the containment barrel of the variable-volume container having an outer diameter in a range from about 10 millimeters to about 75 millimeters.

8 . The gastric decompression apparatus of claim 1 , the containment barrel having a length extending from a first end to a second end thereof and an outer diameter, wherein a ratio of the length to the outer diameter is in a range from about 1:1 to about 5:1.

9 . The gastric decompression apparatus of claim 1 , the variable-volume container having a maximum volume of about 100 milliliters.

10 . The gastric decompression apparatus of claim 1 , further including a hanger extending from the plunger head.

11 . A system for gastric decompression comprising:

a venting apparatus comprising a variable-volume container defining an interior volume having a containment barrel and having a movable plunger slidably mounted within the containment barrel so as to vary the contained volume of the container as the movable plunger slides within the containment barrel;

the container comprising a coupling at a first end of the container opposite the movable plunger, the coupling having a fluid channel extending therethrough configured to permit fluid ingress or egress from the containment barrel;

the movable plunger having a plunger body extending from a first end to a second end, the plunger body having a plunger face at the first end, a plunger head at the second end, and an elongate portion extending therebetween;

at least one lumen extending through the plunger face, the elongate portion, and the plunger head; and

a filter disposed within the lumen; and

a tube extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the proximal end having a connector configured to be coupled with the coupling of the container, the distal end configured to be inserted into a patient's gastric system such that gas may be vented from the patient's gastric system through the tube, the container, and the lumen of the movable plunger.

12 . The gastric decompression system of claim 11 , wherein the filter is a hydrophobic filter.

13 . The gastric decompression system of claim 11 , the plunger face comprising an opening in communication with the at least one lumen, the filter being disposed in the opening.

14 . The gastric decompression system of claim 11 , the variable-volume container having a maximum length defined from a first end of the containment barrel to the plunger head when the plunger is mounted within the containment barrel, the maximum length being in a range from about 35 millimeters to about 350 millimeters.

15 . The gastric decompression system of claim 11 , the containment barrel of the variable-volume container having an outer diameter in a range from about 10 millimeters to about 75 millimeters.

16 . The gastric decompression system of claim 11 , the containment barrel having a length extending from a first end to a second end thereof and an outer diameter, wherein a ratio of the length to the outer diameter is in a range from about 1:1 to about 5:1.

17 . A method for gastric decompression comprising steps of:

providing a gastric decompression system, the gastric decompression system comprising:

a venting apparatus comprising a variable-volume container defining an interior volume having a containment barrel and having a movable plunger slidably mounted within the containment barrel so as to vary the contained volume of the container as the movable plunger slides within the containment barrel;

the container comprising a coupling at a first end of the container opposite the movable plunger, the coupling having a fluid lumen extending therethrough configured to permit fluid ingress or egress from the containment barrel;

the movable plunger having a plunger body extending from a first end to a second end, the plunger body having a plunger face at the first end, a plunger head at the second end, and an elongate portion extending therebetween;

at least one lumen extending through the plunger face, the elongate portion, and the plunger head; and

a filter disposed within the lumen;

connecting the coupling with a connector of an enteral feeding tube, the enteral feeding tube having the connector at a proximal end thereof and a distal end disposed within a patient's stomach;

venting contents of the patient's stomach into the container, and

venting gas from the container through the lumen of the movable plunger.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising a step of delivering contents of the container to a patient's stomach.

19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the step of delivering contents of the container to a patient's stomach comprises:

covering the lumen on the plunger head; and

moving the movable plunger in a direction of the first end of the container such that contents of the container are pushed through the fluid channel of the container into the enteral feeding tube.

20 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising a step of collecting contents of a patient's stomach within the container by covering the lumen on the plunger head; and

moving the movable plunger in a direction of the second end of the container such that contents of the patient's stomach are suctioned through the enteral feeding tube and through the fluid channel into the container.