| 摘要 |
An apparatus 100 for use in tube feeding comprises a cylindrical body 110 provided with a first opening 120 and a second opening 130 connected by a flow channel 140. The body 110 comprises reagent 111, for determining a characteristic (preferably pH) of fluid disposed in the body and a transparent window 112 through which the reagent 111 is visible. In use, a first end of an enternal feeding tube releasably engages with the first opening 120. The second, distal end of said feeding tube is disposed inside a patient to be fed. A second feeding tube engages with the second opening 130. The second feeding tube connects the apparatus 100 to a bi-directional pump operable to pump enteral fluid from a reservoir, through the apparatus and into the enternal feeding tube; and to pump fluid from the patient into the body 110 of the apparatus 100. This allows a user to pump fluid from the patient into the body 110 of the apparatus 100 to react with the reagent 111. This thereby provides an indication of the acidity of the fluid, and hence whether the second end of the feeding tube is disposed in the patent's stomach before commencing feeding. |
