160 results about "Enteral feedings" patented technology

Lockable enteral feeding adapters are disclosed. A female adapter has a female tapered cavity having a circular sidewall, a tapered inner surface and an external surface. The female tapered cavity has an external opening at a proximal end thereof that does not form a liquid-tight connection with a standard male Luer conical fitting. One or more threads are disposed on the external surface of the tapered cavity. A male adapter has a male tapered cone that is sized to mate with the female tapered cavity. The male tapered cone is too large to form an effective connection with a standard female Luer conical fitting. An internally threaded locking ring is mounted around the male tapered cone. Rotation of the locking ring relative to the one or more threads locks the male adapter to the corresponding female adapter to prevent unintentional disengagement of the male and female adapters.

A connector is provided which includes a body with a conduit therethrough and a protrusion extending from the body. The body has a first end, a second end, an inner surface and an outer surface. The protrusion desirably extends from the outer surface of the body and is desirably configured to be received in a second member so as to allow the connector and the second member to be releasably interconnected. Although a connector in accordance with the present invention may be used with feeding sets, enteral feeding tubes and the like, it is use is not limited thereto, nor is its use limited to use in the medical arts.

An enteral feeding unit or system that minimizes the occurrence of gastro-esophogeal-pharynegal reflux during feeding is described. The enteral feeding unit or device includes an automatable feeding pump with a feedback sensor for sensing a relative pressure in a patient's stomach and esophagus, and a regulator system for controlling or monitoring feeding rate to said patient as a function of said relative gastro-esophageal pressure. The system includes a stomach probe that has a fluid-tight closure of the esophagus. The stomach probe, according to the invention, is characterized by a tampon-bladder for watertight closure of the esophagus, in which the tampon-bladder forms from flexible and/or elastic material at least a closed inner cavity for the reception of a fluid medium, through a means (11) of establishing a prescribed pressure for the medium in the tampon-bladder (16) by an inner lumen forming the actual stomach probe, from which an outer hose-like lumen (18) extending to the tampon-bladder (16) is so arranged that between the outer lumen (18) and the inner lumen (17) a channel is formed connected to the inner cavity of the tampon-bladder (16) arranged on the outer lumen (18) by a number of openings (20), whereby the inner cavity of the tampon-bladder (16) is connected via the canal formed between the inner and outer lumina (17, 18) with the means of production of pressure in the tampon-bladder, that is, with a suitably graded reservoir or equalizing vessel (11) for the liquid medium situated above the tampon-bladder and outside the patient.

A nasogastric/orogastric (Ng/Og) airway protection device includes an elongate device body having a distal end for insertion into the stomach through the esophagus and a proximal end. A main lumen extends the length of the device and is configured for at least one of gastric decompression, enteral feeding and enteral medication administration. A sump port is at the distal end. A sump lumen is formed the length of the device body and configured for venting gas and preventing adherence of the device against the gastric wall. An inflatable esophageal cuff is carried by the device body mid-esophagus and an inflation lumen is formed within the device body and connects the inflatable esophageal cuff through which the esophageal cuff is inflated and deflated. Upon inflation of the esophageal cuff, emesis and/or reflux is blocked from passing out of the stomach past the esophageal cuff positioned mid-esophagus to protect a patient's airway.

Lockable enteral feeding adapters are disclosed. A female adapter has a female tapered cavity having a circular sidewall, a tapered inner surface and an external surface. The female tapered cavity has an external opening at a proximal end thereof that does not form a liquid-tight connection with a standard male Luer conical fitting. One or more threads are disposed on the external surface of the tapered cavity. A male adapter has a male tapered cone is sized to mate with the female tapered cavity. The male tapered cone is too large to form an effective connection with a standard female Luer conical fitting. An internally threaded locking ring is mounted around the male tapered cone. Rotation of the locking ring relative to the one or more threads locks the male adapter to the corresponding female adapter to prevent unintentional disengagement of the male and female adapters.

An enteral feeding unit that reduces the occurrence of gastro-esophogeal-pharynegal reflux during feeding includes an automatable feeding pump with a feedback sensor for sensing a relative pressure in a patient's stomach and esophagus, and a regulator system for controlling and monitoring feeding rate to the patient as a function of the relative gastro-esophageal pressure. The system includes a stomach probe that provides a fluid-tight closure of the esophagus. The stomach probe includes a tampon-bladder for watertight closure of the esophagus, in which the tampon-bladder is formed of flexible and/or elastic material. At least an inner cavity of the bladder is provided for the reception of a fluid medium. A prescribed pressure for the medium in the tampon-bladder (53) is maintained by an inner lumen forming the stomach probe, from which an outer hose-like lumen (62) extending to the tampon-bladder (53) is so arranged that between the outer lumen (62) and the inner lumen (61) a channel is formed connected to the inner cavity of the tampon-bladder (53) arranged on the outer lumen (62) by a number of openings (57). The inner cavity (58) of the tampon-bladder (53) is connected via a canal formed between the inner and outer lumina (62) with a suitably graded reservoir or equalizing vessel for the liquid medium situated above the tampon-bladder and outside the patient.

A method and apparatus for controlled feeding of an infant provides a safer and less expensive apparatus for the enteral feeding of a neonatal infant, as well as a mechanism for minimizing separation of fluid for any enteral feeding patient. The apparatus allows for dispensing the feeding solution from conventional baby bottles or breast pump reservoirs, or other convenient reservoirs in combination with a peristaltic pump. The feeding system helps reduce the risk for contaminating the feeding solution by minimizing the handling of the feeding solution. By utilizing a pump which is less expensive than current neonatal feeding pumps, the feeding system is more cost effective in all environments and more suitable for home use.

An enteral feeding assembly is described which includes a base and a catheter positioned through the base. A portion of the catheter extends distally away from the base, and has a retainer provided on a distal end of the catheter. The retainer includes a plurality of struts having a flexible, preformed configuration which cooperate to form at least a portion of a spherical shape with openings between the struts. A shroud is positioned over at least a proximal portion of the struts to prevent the struts from causing irritation or embedding in a body lumen. The retainer is movable between an insertion configuration and a deployed configuration. An obturator and actuator are used to move the retainer between positions. A method for inserting and removing an enteral feeding assembly is also provided.

An enteral feeding adapter system for use with a bottle cap having a dispensing opening, and an oral syringe having a male syringe element. The system includes a cap adapter having a male adapter element configured to be insertable into the dispensing opening to place the cap adapter in fluid communication with the bottle cap. The cap adapter further includes a male ENFit connector in fluid communication with the male adapter element. The enteral feeding adapter system further includes a syringe adapter having a female ENFit connector configured to be selectively engageable with the male ENFit connector to place the syringe adapter in fluid communication with the cap adapter. The syringe adapter further includes a female adapter element in fluid communication with the female ENFit connector and configured to receive the male syringe element to place the syringe adapter element in fluid communication with the oral syringe.

An enteral feeding device and methods of using such device to unclog a feeding tube are described herein, wherein the device includes a first tube having a distal end and a proximal end. The first tube defines a feeding lumen that extends longitudinally through at least a portion of the first tube. The first tube has at least one distal opening capable of allowing introduction of nutrients and/or medicaments from within the feeding lumen through the opening into a gastrointestinal area of a patient when the enteral feeding tube is implanted in a patient. The device also has a wall having a distal end and a proximal end, which extends longitudinally within at least a portion of the first tube. The wall has an exterior surface and an interior surface. At least a portion of the exterior surface of the wall contacts the feeding lumen. The interior surface of the wall and/or the first tube define an inflatable lumen having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the inflatable lumen extends longitudinally through at least a portion of the feeding lumen, and wherein the wall is capable of changing a volume of the feeding lumen by allowing for deflation of the inflatable lumen through removal of a fluid from the inflatable lumen and/or inflation of the inflatable lumen through introduction of a fluid into the inflatable lumen.

An enteral feeding catheter (5) that provides access to both the stomach and the jejunum for feeding, aspiration and decompression. The catheter includes a dual lumen “D” tube (30) that joins to an external “Y” connector (25) at the proximal end of the tube. The connector serves both lumens as a source for fluid or aspiration. The gastric lumen (37) and the jejunal lumen (38) of the “D” tube both connect to a transitional connector bolus in the stomach. The gastric lumen of the “D” tube joins with a lumen in the transitional bolus that communicates with a gastric port (27). The gastric port is recessed to the level of its full internal lumen, thereby providing maximum protection against occlusion and maximum area for outflow. The “D” jejunal lumen connects in the bolus with a lumen that transitions from a “D” shape to a full circle shape. The latter provides for the attachment of a smaller, round, single lumen tube that extends into the jejunum. At the distal end of the jejunal tube is a bolus (11) containing an improved port that is also recessed to the level of the floor of the internal tube lumen to provide maximum protection against occlusion and maximum area for outflow. Both the gastric port in the transitional bolus and the jejunal port in the tip bolus may include a structural arch protruding radially outwardly therefrom. An arch is effective to prevent the body segment of either bolus from bending and restricting the ports. The invention also provides for the insertion of the tube over a guidewire (21) rather than with an internal stylet, as is normally the case with nasally inserted tubes.

The present invention provides a one-piece bottle containing enteral feeding material and having a top end with a threaded section and a bottom end comprising a funneled connector port; and a threaded cap dimensioned to mate with the threaded section of the one-piece bottle; wherein the funneled connector port connects to an enteral feeding assembly; wherein the threaded cap provides a leak proof seal such that there is no exposure point until it is used for feeding, thereby preventing contamination.

Systems, devices and methods for enteral feeding that, in some arrangements, are powered by energy produced by a user of the system. Other arrangements utilize an external source of power. Generally, the systems include a storage assembly configured to hold a nutritional substance to be delivered to the gastrointestinal system of a user, such as through a feeding tube. The systems may include a pump unit, which can be manual, mechanical, hydraulic or electric. In some arrangements, the pump unit is separate from the storage assembly.

The present invention relates to the field of medical devices. Specifically, the invention relates to an enteral feeding device comprising expandable means which prevents or significantly reduces aspirations from the alimentary tract to the respiratory system. In further aspects, the invention relates to systems comprising said enteral feeding device, methods and uses thereof.

A balloon catheter device, for example an enteral feeding catheter, includes a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and catheter walls defining a catheter lumen. A base is located at the proximal end of the catheter and has an opening to the catheter lumen. An inflatable balloon is located at a distal end of the catheter and is inflated through an inflation valve located on the base. An internal cavity is defined in the base and is in fluid communication with the inflatable balloon such that fluid used to inflate the balloon to an operational fill volume fills the internal cavity as well. A translucent window is disposed over the internal cavity such that an interior volume of the cavity is externally viewable. Introduction of a colored fluid through the inflation valve to inflate the balloon results in the colored fluid also being present in the internal cavity, thereby providing an externally visual indication of the inflation state of the balloon.

An inflatable retention system for an enteral feeding tube having a base deployed outside the human body and an indwelling retainer which is deployed within a lumen or cavity of the body by insertion through a stoma from outside the body. The retention system includes a tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an external tube diameter, and tube walls defining a feeding lumen and an inflation lumen. The retention system also includes an inflatable balloon located at a distal end of the tube in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, the balloon having thin, flexible walls, a predetermined spheroid shape, and a volume at which a fluid in the balloon is under no pressure such that upon inflation with a fluid to pressurize fluid in the balloon, the balloon assumes a stable spheroid shape and exhibits a substantially linear pressure versus volume curve.

Abstract of the Disclosure A prebiotic, composition comprising a probiotic and prebiotic, and method of delivering a probiotic, prebiotic or composition directly into the intestinal tract of a mammal are disclosed. The probiotic is any beneficial bacteria and the prebiotic is a substance beneficial to a probiotic. Most preferably, the prebiotic includes a mucopolysaccharide. The method preferably involves delivering the probiotic, prebiotic or composition via a delivery tube, such as an enteral feeding tube, directly to a position downstream of the stomach, most preferably to the jejunum.