NG tube with gastric volume detection

A method for detecting Gastric Residual Volume (GRV), comprising:

• inserting an enteral tube and a GRV detection sensor comprising a plurality of fluid detection circuits coupled to the enteral tube into a patient's stomach, wherein each of the fluid detection circuits individually provides an indication of whether gastric contents have been detected by that fluid detection circuit, each fluid detection circuit comprising:
• a light emitting photodiode;
• a phototransistor to detect light emitted from the photodiode;
• and
• a chamber coupled between the photodiode and the phototransistor and having open ends to allow gastric contents to flow into the chamber and alter an amount of light detected by the phototransistor;
• sensing and providing an indication of GRV;
• and
• receiving the indication of the GRV from the GRV detection sensor and displaying the GRV.

A Gastric Residual Volume (GRV) detection sensor, comprising a plurality of fluid detection circuits to provide an indication of whether gastric contents have been detected, each fluid detection circuit including:

• a light emitting photodiode;
• a phototransistor to detect light emitted from the photodiode;
• and
• a chamber coupled between the photodiode and the phototransistor and having open ends to allow gastric contents to flow into the chamber and alter an amount of light detected by the phototransistor, the GRV varying in accordance with a number of fluid detection circuits indicating that gastric contents have been detected.