FLUID AND NUTRITION DELIVERY DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE

摘要

A gastric feeding tube and method of use where the tube is of sufficient length for insertion into an esophagus of a subject via the nose or mouth. The gastric feed tube comprises a tube having a distal portion, a middle portion and a proximal portion, an outer surface and an inner surface forming a wall of the tube having a thickness and wherein the wall of the tube defines a lumen of a defined geometry, the lumen having an opening at a distal end of the tube for positioning in a stomach or jejunum of the subject and an opening at the proximal end of the tube for positioning outside of the nose or mouth of the subject wherein the lumen extends longitudinally through the tube connecting the opening at the distal end of the tube and the opening at the proximal end of the tube. The defined geometry of the lumen has a transverse major axis and a transverse minor axis that are perpendicular and wherein a portion of the inner surface of the wall of the tube along the transverse major axis comprises a rib that protrudes into the lumen and thickens the portion of the inner surface of the wall of the tube. The rib prevents the tube from fully collapsing and blocking the lumen when the tube is in use under normal conditions.

主权项

1. A gastric feeding tube of sufficient length for insertion into an esophagus of a subject via the nose or mouth, the gastric feed tube comprising:
a tube having a distal portion, a middle portion and a proximal portion, an outer surface and an inner surface forming a wall of the tube having a thickness and wherein the wall of the tube defines a lumen of a defined geometry, the lumen having an opening at a distal end of the tube for positioning in a stomach or jejunum of the subject and an opening at the proximal end of the tube for positioning outside of the nose or mouth of the subject wherein the lumen extends longitudinally through the tube connecting the opening at the distal end of the tube and the opening at the proximal end of the tube; the defined geometry of the lumen has a transverse major axis and a transverse minor axis that are perpendicular and wherein a portion of the inner surface of the wall of the tube along the transverse major axis comprises a rib that protrudes into the lumen and thickens the portion of the inner surface of the wall of the tube as compared to the wall of the tube adjacent to the rib and wherein the wall of the tube along the transverse minor axis is shaped with an outward curve as compared to the wall of the tube along the transverse major axis wherein the outward curve acts as a hinge to permit the tube to partially collapse along the transverse minor axis of the tube when pressure is applied to the outer surface of the tube by the esophagus or upper airway passage to increase an area of the tube along the major transverse axis in contact with the esophagus or upper airway passages; and the rib prevents the tube from fully collapsing and blocking the lumen when the tube is in use under normal conditions.