Magnetically guided catheter with sensor

Apparatus for intubating a patient to introduce nutrition into the small intestine, comprising:

• an elongated flexible catheter having a ferrous metal follower at a distal end portion thereof, said catheter having an access channel extending to a lumen for conducting a nutrient to an eyelet communicating with said lumen at said distal end of said catheter upstream of said ferrous metal follower;
• a leader magnet having a magnetic field of a predetermined magnetic flux associated therewith, the magnetic flux of said leader magnet permeating body tissue of the abdomen and said ferrous metal follower and thereby establishing a magnetic coupling between said ferrous metal follower and said leader magnet at a predetermined distance between said ferrous metal follower and said leader magnet, the magnetic coupling causing said ferrous metal follower to move in response to movement of said leader magnet;
• and
• a sensor positioned adjacent said ferrous metal follower for detecting the presence of said leader magnet at the predetermined distance between said ferrous metal follower and said leader magnet, and wherein said sensor is connected to an electrical circuit, said sensor comprising:
• a ferrous metal housing;
• a magnetic reed switch having a predetermined magnetic flux requirement for actuation of said magnetic reed switch, said magnetic reed switch being disposed within said ferrous metal housing, wherein said ferrous metal housing shields said magnetic reed switch from the magnetic flux associated with said leader magnet until said ferrous metal housing is fully saturated and the predetermined magnetic flux requirement is available within said ferrous metal housing to actuate said magnetic reed switch, thereby providing an input to the electrical circuit.

Apparatus for intubating a patient to introduce nutrition into the small intestine, comprising:

• an elongated flexible catheter having a follower magnet at a distal end portion thereof, said catheter having an access channel extending to a lumen for conducting a nutrient to an eyelet communicating with said lumen at said distal end of said catheter upstream of said follower magnet;
• a leader magnet having a magnetic field of a predetermined magnetic flux associated therewith, the magnetic flux of said leader magnet permeating body tissue of the abdomen and said follower magnet and thereby establishing a magnetic coupling between said follower magnet and said leader magnet at a predetermined distance between said follower magnet and said leader magnet, the magnetic coupling causing said follower magnet to move in response to movement of said leader magnet;
• and
• a shielded magnetic reed switch positioned adjacent said follower magnet, wherein said shielded magnetic reed switch actuates within the predetermined distance between said follower magnet and said leader magnet to indicate establishment of the magnetic coupling.

Apparatus for intubating a patient to introduce nutrition into the small intestine, comprising:

• an elongated flexible catheter having a follower magnet at a distal end portion thereof, said catheter having an access channel extending to a lumen for conducting a nutrient to an eyelet communicating with said lumen at said distal end of said catheter upstream of said follower magnet;
• a leader magnet having a magnetic field of a predetermined magnetic flux associated therewith, the magnetic flux of said leader magnet permeating body tissue of the abdomen and said follower magnet and thereby establishing a magnetic coupling between said follower magnet and said leader magnet at a predetermined distance between said follower magnet and said leader magnet, the magnetic coupling causing said follower magnet to move in response to movement of said leader magnet;
• and
• a sensor positioned adjacent said follower magnet for detecting the presence of said leader magnet at the predetermined distance between said follower magnet and said leader magnet, and wherein said sensor is connected to an electrical circuit, said sensor comprising:
• a ferrous metal housing;
• a magnetic reed switch having a predetermined magnetic flux requirement for actuation of said magnetic reed switch, said magnetic reed switch being disposed within said ferrous metal housing, wherein said ferrous metal housing shields said magnetic reed switch from the magnetic flux associated with said leader magnet until said ferrous metal housing is fully saturated and the predetermined magnetic flux requirement is available within said ferrous metal housing to actuate said magnetic reed switch, thereby providing an input to the electrical circuit.