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US 9,295,395 B2Granted
Interactive NGT system
AssigneeART Healthcare Ltd.
InventorsLiron Elia, Tahel Meyerovitch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is an NGT system, the system comprises a nasogastric tube having a diameter and length configured to pass through an esophagus such that the lumen of the NGT maintains fluid communication with a portion of the digestive tract, and a digestive tract sensor operatively associated with the NGT, the digestive tract sensor configured to sense from inside the body and transmit signals in response to one or both of conditions relating to nourishment states of the digestive tract, and positioning of the NGT.
Claims29
A gastric feeding tube system, comprising:
- a gastric feeding tube having at least one opening in a lateral surface thereof, said gastric feeding tube having a diameter and length configured to pass through an esophagus such that the lumen of the gastric tube is in an operative position for feeding within a portion of the digestive tract;
- at least one impedance sensor positioned to be inside the body of a patient when the feeding tube is in an operative position for feeding said patient, said at least one impedance sensor positioned to measure impedance of gastric contents in said at least one opening for identifying a presence of reflux fluid in the esophagus above the esophageal sphincter;
- wherein when said gastric feeding tube is in said operative position said at least one opening is in a portion of the esophagus above the esophageal sphincter;
- wherein said at least one impedance sensor transmits signals when the presence of reflux fluid above the esophageal sphincter is identified based on the readings of said at least one impedance sensor;
- and
- a controller responsive to signals from the digestive tract sensor arrangement to at least one of initiating aspiration of gastric contents including said reflux fluid from the digestive tract by an aspiration pump and generating an alert signal for presentation to an operator.
3 more elements
A gastric feeding tube system, comprising:
- a gastric feeding tube having at least one opening on a lateral surface thereof and having a diameter and length configured to pass through an esophagus such that the lumen of the gastric tube is within a portion of the digestive tract and the end of said gastric tube is in the digestive tract within the patient's stomach and said at least one opening is located above the esophageal sphincter in a portion of the esophagus;
- a digestive tract sensor arrangement coupled with said gastric feeding tube and including a position sensor mounted to measure impedance of gastric contents in said at least one opening;
- and
- a controller which receives signals from said position sensor, interprets the signals to determine whether a tip of said feeding tube is near the esophageal sphincter, is passing the esophageal sphincter or is in the stomach, and provides accordingly and responsive to signals from said position sensor a display that alerts an operator when the gastric feeding tube is improperly positioned.
1 more element
A method of controlling feeding of a patient via a gastric tube into a digestive tract, the method comprising:
- positioning a gastric tube having at least one opening on a lateral surface thereof within the patient's gastric system such that the end of said gastric tube is in the digestive tract within the patient's stomach and said at least one opening is located above the esophageal sphincter in a portion of the esophagus;
- measuring impedance of gastric contents in said at least one opening;
- identifying a presence of gastric fluids according to said impedance;
- initiating at least one of aspiration through said tubing system and a generation of an alert signal for presentation to an operator in response to the identification of said presence.
1 more element
A method of feeding a patient through a gastric tube comprising:
- positioning a gastric tube having at least one opening on a lateral surface thereof within the patient's gastric system such that the end of said gastric tube is in the digestive tract, within the patient's stomach, and said at least one opening is located above the esophageal sphincter in a portion of the esophagus;
- measuring impedance in said at least one opening within the patient's body;
- feeding the patient via said gastric tube according to a nourishment plan for the patient;
- and
- suspending and restarting said feeding according to said impedance.
2 more elements
A method of inserting a gastric feeding tube into the digestive tract of a patient, the method comprising:
- positioning a gastric tube having at least one opening on a lateral surface thereof within the patient's gastric system such that the end of said gastric tube is in the digestive tract, within the patter's stomach, and said at least one opening is located above the esophageal sphincter in a portion of the esophagus;
- measuring impedance in said at least one opening;
- calculating a position of the gastric tube in the digestive tract based on said impedance;
- and
- instructing a user to refine the position of said gastric tube based upon said position.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.