US 2008/0167607 A1 · Enteral Feeding Catheter, Computer System and Computer Program for Operating the Feeding Catheter

Abstract

The invention relates to an enteral feeding catheter (1) for channelling flowable nutrient into a patient's digestive tract, such as into patients stomach, duodenum or jejunum, said catheter having a first lumen (2), having an opening (3) for connecting it to a supply for of nutrient and channelling said nutrient from the proximal end (P) to the distal end (D), the distal end (D) of the first lumen (2) being provided with several radial outlets (4) for the exit of said nutrient into patient's digestive tract, the catheter (1) further comprising a second lumen (7), for being connected to a source/sink of gas (26) and a gas pressure gauge (24) at its proximal end and being connected to an inflatable and deflatable distal balloon (6) provided on the catheter (1) near the distal end (D). The invention refers also to a computer system and computer program to operate said feeding catheter.

Claims26

Dependent claims

Enteral feeding catheter for channelling flowable nutrient into a patient's digestive tract, such as into patient's stomach, duodenum or jejunum, said catheter being adapted to be advanced through patient's esophagus,

said catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a first lumen,
said first lumen having an opening at said proximal end adapted to be connected to a supply for receiving said nutrient from said supply and channelling said nutrient from said proximal end to said distal end,
said distal end of said first lumen being provided with at least one outlet for the exit of said nutrient into patient's digestive tract,
said catheter further comprising a second lumen, adapted to be connected to a source/sink of gas and a gas pressure gauge at its proximal end and being connected to an inflatable and deflatable distal balloon provided on said catheter near said distal end.

1 more element

Method of carrying out pressure measurements comprising the steps of

(a) providing an enteral feeding catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a first lumen, said first lumen having an opening at said proximal end and at least one outlet for the exit of a nutrient into a patient's digestive tract at said distal end, said enteral feeding catheter further comprising a second lumen being connected to an inflatable and deflatable distal balloon provided on said catheter near said distal end,
(b) connecting the opening of said first lumen at said proximal end of said enteral feeding catheter to a supply of said nutrient for receiving said nutrient from said supply and for channelling said nutrient from said proximal end to said distal end,
(c) connecting said second lumen to a source/sink of gas and a gas pressure gauge,
(d) advancing said enteral feeding catheter through the patient's esophagus,
(e) increasing/decreasing the gas volume V inside said balloon of said enteral feeding catheter
(f) collecting pressure readings of pressure p prevailing in said distal balloon,
(g) calculating the mathematical derivative dp/dV of pressure p with respect to volume V and (e) adjusting the gas volume inside said distal balloon such that said mathematical derivative dp/dV of pressure p with respect to volume V is zero or as close to zero as possible.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Enteral Feeding Catheter, Computer System and Computer Program for Operating the Feeding Catheter

Life of this patent

Enteral Feeding Catheter, Computer System and Computer Program for Operating the Feeding Catheter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26