Method and means for esophageal feeding

The method of inserting a catheter type feeding tube into a patient's esophagus which comprises inserting a soft flexible first catheter into the oral or nasal passage of the patient and advancing the catheter until its distal end is located within the esophagus, said catheter comprising a tube having a collapsed balloon adjacent its distal end adapted to be inflated by fluid directed through a passageway in the catheter extending from within the balloon to the proximal end of the catheter, inflating the balloon to expand the surrounding portion of the esophagus, determining the location of the expanded portion of the esophagus on the exterior surface of the patient's neck, penetrating at said location through the patient's neck and into the expanded esophagus and balloon with a second catheter comprising a tube provided with a projecting needle at its distal end to collapse the balloon and simultaneously position the distal end of the second catheter within the esophagus, retracting the needle from the second catheter and, thereafter, disengaging the distal end of the second catheter from within the balloon and completely withdrawing the first catheter through the nasal or oral passageway in the patient whereby the proximal end of the second catheter is adapted to be connected to a source of liquid nutrient for conducting it into the patient's esophagus.