Systems and methods for bioimpedance body composition measurement

A method of monitoring a heart of a subject and monitoring parameters based on impedance measurements of the subject, comprising:

• providing a feeding tube for insertion into a distal end of an esophagus of the subject;
• providing at least one electrode disposed on a distal end of the feeding tube at a location such that at least one electrode is located at the distal end of the esophagus of the subject when in use;
• while the feeding tube is in located in the esophagus and feeding is delivered to the subject via the feeding tube, in a plurality of iterations:
• continuously measuring voltage at the at least one electrode of the feeding tube;
• applying at least one alternating current between the at least one electrode of the feeding tube and at least one other electrode;
• computing at least one impedance measurement from the at least one electrode of the feeding tube according to the applied at least one alternating current and the measured voltage;
• computing at least one impedance-related parameter based on the at least one impedance measurement;
• terminating the application of the at least one alternating current;
• obtaining an electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement based on the voltage measured at the at least one electrode of the feeding tube;
• and
• providing the at least one impedance-related parameter and the ECG measurement.

A computer program product for monitoring a heart of a subject and monitoring parameters based on impedance measurements of the subject, comprising program instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform, while a feeding tube is in located in a distal end of an esophagus of the subject and feeding is delivered to the subject via the feeding tube, in a plurality of iterations:

• continuously measuring voltage by at least one electrode of disposed on a distal end of the feeding tube at a location such that at least one electrode is located at the distal end of the esophagus of the subject when in use;
• applying at least one alternating current between the at least one electrode of the feeding tube and at least one other electrode;
• computing at least one impedance measurement from the at least one electrode of the feeding tube according to the applied at least one alternating current and the measured voltage;
• computing at least one impedance-related parameter based on the at least one impedance measurement;
• terminating the application of the at least one alternating current;
• obtaining an electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement based on the voltage measured at the at least one electrode of the feeding tube;
• and
• providing the at least one impedance-related parameter and the ECG measurement.