Insertion system and methods for nasogastric tubes including feeding tubes

A nasogastric tube insertion system for inserting a nasogastric tube in a human patient, comprising:

• a guide element for insertion into the patient's stomach;
• a nasogastric feeding tube comprising a retaining structure adapted to slidably move along said guide element;
• an inserter element adapted to engage an end of said guide element to enable insertion of said guide element through a patient's nasal passages and into the patient's oropharynx;
• wherein the guide element comprises:
• a thin elongate element having a first end and a second end;
• and
• a swallowable weight affixed to said first end;
• wherein the inserter element comprises a curved insertion section which is configured to follow a curved insertion path through the nasal passages of the patient, wherein the curved insertion section is constructed with a curve that generally conforms to the anatomy of the patient's nasal passages and the curved insertion path;
• wherein the guide element is adapted to releasably engage a tip of the curved insertion section of the inserter element;
• wherein the guide element is adapted to be insertable, with the curved insertion section, along the curved insertion path through a patient's nasal passages and into the patient's oropharynx through employment of the inserter element;
• wherein the guide element is separately insertable into the patient's stomach prior to insertion of the nasogastric tube.

A method for inserting a nasogastric tube in a patient comprising the steps of

• a. engaging an end of a guide element with a tip of a curved insertion section of an inserter element to aid in placing the end of the guide element through the patient's nasal passages and into the patient's oropharynx, wherein the curved insertion section is configured to follow a curved insertion path through the nasal passages of the patient, wherein the curved insertion section is constructed with a curve that generally conforms to the anatomy of the patient's nasal passages and the curved insertion path, wherein the guide element comprises a thin elongate element with a swallowable weight at the end;
• b. inserting the curved insertion section of the inserter element, with the guide element, along the curved insertion path, through the patient's nasal passages and to the patient's oropharynx to position the end of the guide element in the patient's oropharynx;
• c. releasing the end of the guide element from the inserter element;
• d. causing the patient to swallow the swallowable weight of the guide element into the patient's stomach;
• e. inserting the nasogastric tube along the guide element into the patient's stomach after the step of causing the patient to swallow the swallowable weight;
• and
• f. verifying the position of the nasogastric tube in the patient's stomach by examining the patient using an imaging modality.