Magnetically guided device for insertion through a nasal passageway

A medical device for insertion of a tube through a nasal passageway and into a target organ within a patient, comprising:

• a flexible tube having an insertion end sized for insertion through the patient's nasal cavity and through an internal passageway for extension into a target organ within the patient, said insertion end including a non-porous end segment;
• a magnetic member rotatably disposed within said non-porous end segment of said insertion end;
• a porous segment extended longitudinally along said tube proximal to said insertion end, said porous segment is disposed in spaced-apart relationship from said non-porous end segment having said magnetic member therein, said porous segment allows passage of gas and liquid between an interior of said flexible tube and the target organ;
• and
• a magnetic field positioned external of the patient, said external magnetic field is manipulated to affect the orientation of said magnetic member within the patient;
• whereby upon insertion of said insertion end through the patient's nasal cavity and through the internal passageway of the patient, said rotatable magnetic member and insertion end are guided into the target organ when in the presence of said external magnetic field moved relative to the patient.

A medical device for insertion of a tube through a patient's nasal cavity and into a target organ, comprising:

• a tube for transfer therethrough of fluids between a patient's target organ and the exterior of the patient, said tube having an insertion end sized for insertion into a nasal opening and through internal passageways leading to a target organ within the patient,
• a porous tube segment in spaced apart relationship from a distal end of said insertion end, said porous tube segment provides for transfer of fluids between said tube and the target organ within the patient;
• a magnetic member rotatably disposed within a non-porous end segment in said distal end of said insertion end, said magnetic member is retained in said non-porous end segment extended distal of said porous tube segment whereby said magnetic member rotates without occluding the transfer of fluids through said porous tube segment;
• and
• a magnetic field positioned external of the patient, said external magnetic field is moved proximal to the patient for guidance of said magnetic member and said insertion end through the internal passageway and into the target organ within the patient.

A method for insertion of a magnetically guided tube through a patient's internal passageways and into a target organ of a patient, comprising the steps of:

• using a fluids transfer tube including an insertion end having a non-porous distal end segment containing a magnetic member disposed in a rotating configuration therein;
• inserting said fluids transfer tube through a nasal cavity of the patient;
• guiding said fluids transfer tube through the patient's nasal cavity and through internal passageways leading to a target organ by guiding the path of said magnetic member and said insertion end into the respective internal passageways by positioning an external magnetic field proximal to a dermal surface of the patient;
• positioning said external magnetic field along the dermal surface of the patient for remotely adjusting the position of said magnetic member and said insertion end within the respective internal passageways for insertion into the target organ;
• and
• transferring fluids between a porous tube segment of said fluids transfer tube and the target organ, said step of transferring fluids from said porous tube segment does not interfere with the rotation of said magnetic member within said non-porous end segment spaced apart from said porous tube segment proximal of said insertion end positioned within the target organ in the patient, whereby fluids are transferred during said step of transferring without contacting said magnetic member.