# US 2013/0158514 A1 · Method and device of detecting and/or blocking reflux > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0158514 A1 - Document ID: US20130158514A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/575,974 - Filed: 2011-01-27 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-01-28 - Assignees: ART Healthcare Ltd. - Inventors: Liron Elia; Nir Lilach; Eliahu Eliachar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158514A1 ## CPC - A61J 15/0084: {for sensing parameters related to the patient} - A61B 5/036: {by means introduced into body tracts (A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence)} - A61B 5/4211: {Diagnosing or evaluating reflux} - A61B 5/4277: {saliva secretion} - A61J 15/0003: {Nasal or oral feeding-tubes, e.g. tube entering body through nose or mouth} - A61J 15/0007: {inserted by using a guide-wire (guide wires A61M25/09)} - A61J 15/0049: {Inflatable Balloons (balloon catheters A61M25/10)} - A61J 15/0073: {Multi-lumen tubes} - A61J 15/0076: {Feeding pumps (A61M1/00, A61M5/142, A61M25/1018 take precedence)} - A61J 15/0042: {inflatable} - A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A naso/orogastric device having backflow blocking means and comprises a naso/orogastric tube sized and shaped for being disposed within the esophagus so that at least a distal end thereof being placed in the stomach lumen of a patient, at least one elastic esophageal body, positioned along the naso/orogastric tube, having a pressure dependent volume, at least one esophageal sensor that detects fluid around at least one segment of the naso/orogastric tube, and a pressure regulator that regulates a pressure within the elastic esophageal body according to the detection. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A naso/orogastric device having backflow blocking means, comprising: a naso/orogastric tube sized and shaped for being disposed within the esophagus so that at least a distal end thereof being placed in the stomach lumen of a patient; at least one elastic esophageal body, positioned along said naso/orogastric tube, having a pressure dependent volume; at least one esophageal sensor that detects fluid around at least one segment of said naso/orogastric tube; and a pressure regulator that regulates a pressure within said at least one elastic esophageal body according to said detection; and wherein said at least one esophageal sensor comprises at least one impedance sensor for sensing an impedance change around at least one segment of said naso/orogastric tube. ### Claim 2 (canceled) ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The naso/orogastric device of claim 1, wherein said naso/orogastric tube have distal and proximal ends, said at least one esophageal sensor comprises a first esophageal sensor in proximity to said distal end and a second esophageal sensor between said distal end and said proximal end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The naso/orogastric device of claim 3, wherein said pressure regulator regulates said pressure according to difference between a first reading of said first esophageal sensor and a second reading of said second esophageal sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The naso/orogastric device of claim 4, wherein said first and second readings are impedance change readings. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The naso/orogastric device of claim 4, wherein said pressure regulator regulates said pressure according to the timing of a first detection event of said first reading relative to a second detection event of said second reading. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The naso/orogastric device of claim 4, wherein said at least one esophageal sensor comprises at least one impedance sensor for detecting low impedance around said at least one segment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The naso/orogastric device of claim 1, wherein said impedance change is indicative of a content of fluid around said at least one esophageal sensor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The naso/orogastric device of claim 1, further comprising an air conducting tube having a lumen for allowing said pressure regulator to change the pressure in said at least one elastic esophageal body, said air conducting tube being attached to a peripheral surface of said tube. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The naso/orogastric device of claim 9, wherein said air conducting tube is made of a layer of biocompatible flexible polymer having a thickness of less than 200 micron. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The naso/orogastric device of claim 1, wherein said tube has a first lumen for delivering nutrients, microorganisms, water or medications into the stomach lumen and a second lumen for at least one of inflating and deflating said at least one elastic esophageal body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The naso/orogastric device of claim 1, wherein each said impedance sensor comprises a plurality of electrodes arranged in a circular fashion around said naso/orogastric tube. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The naso/orogastric device of claim 1, further comprising a pump assembly, controlled by said pressure regulator so as to regulate said pressure by inflating said at least one elastic esophageal body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The naso/orogastric device of claim 13, wherein said pump assembly comprising an air pressure tank, said pump assembly increases the air pressure in said air pressure tank so as to expedite said inflation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The naso/orogastric device of claim 13, wherein said at least one elastic esophageal body comprises a plurality of balloons arranged one after the other along said naso/orogastric tube. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The naso/orogastric device of claim 1, further comprising at least one positioning sensor mounted along said naso/orogastric tube to measure a value of a volume around said naso/orogastric tube and a controller that detects a location of at least one portion of said naso/orogastric tube in the esophagus. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The naso/orogastric device of claim 16, wherein said at least one positioning sensor comprises a wire threaded in a channel along said naso/orogastric tube, said channel having at least one opening therealong. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The naso/orogastric device of claim 16, wherein a pressure assembly said regulates said pressure according to said location. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The naso/orogastric device of claim 16, wherein said controller detects a movement according to a change in said location; said pressure regulator reducing said pressure in response to said change. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The naso/orogastric device of claim 1, further comprising a connection to a cable having a filter to adjust air flow from said pressure regulator. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The naso/orogastric device of claim 1, wherein said at least one esophageal sensor comprises a plurality of wires threaded in a plurality of channels along said naso/orogastric tube, each said channel having at least one opening therealong. ### Claim 22 A method of preventing reflux during at least one of tube feeding and esophageal endoscopy of patient, comprising: disposing a naso/orogastric tube having at least one elastic esophageal body within the esophagus so that at least a distal end thereof being placed in the stomach lumen of a patient and said at least one elastic esophageal body being placed along a segment of esophagus; detecting fluid in at least one region along esophagus in at least position around said naso/orogastric tube, between said segment and the stomach; and regulating a pressure within said at least one elastic esophageal body according to said detection. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein said detecting comprises sensing an impedance change in said at least one region. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein said regulating comprises increasing said pressure so as to block said esophagus when said impedance is indicative of present of gastric content in said at least position. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein said regulating comprises decreasing said pressure when said impedance is indicative of an absence of gastric content in said at least position. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein said disposing comprises disposing an elastic stomach body within the stomach, around said distal end, said regulating comprises regulating an additional pressure within said elastic stomach body in parallel and in correspondence with said pressure so as to prevent from said at least one elastic esophageal body from moving toward the pharynx of said patient. ### Claim 27 A naso/orogastric device having backflow blocking means, comprising: a naso/orogastric tube having a lumen for delivering content into the stomach lumen of a patient; at least one backflow blocking means positioned along said naso/orogastric tube and a having at least one of a perimeter wider than the perimeter of said naso/orogastric tube and an adjustable structure having at least one state wider than the perimeter of said naso/orogastric tube; and an elastic stomach body at a distal end of said naso/orogastric tube and configured for being inflated by said content so as to have a perimeter wider than the perimeter of the lower esophageal sphincter of said patient. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The naso/orogastric device of claim 27, wherein said content comprises a member of a group consisting of: nutrients, microorganisms, water and medications. ### Claim 29 A naso/orogastric device, comprising: a naso/orogastric tube sized and shaped for being disposed within the esophagus so that at least a distal end thereof being placed in the stomach lumen of a patient; at least one positioning sensor mounted along said naso/orogastric tube to measure impedance around at least one segment of said naso/orogastric tube; and a controller which monitors changes in the positioning of said naso/orogastric tube according to said impedance.