ENTERAL FEEDING CATHETER ASSEMBLY INCORPORATING AN INDICATOR

摘要

A balloon catheter device (20) comprises a catheter (26) having a proximal end (28), a distal end (30), and catheter walls (32) defining a catheter lumen (34). The device (20) further includes a base (36) located at the proximal end (28) of the catheter (26) defining an opening to the catheter lumen (34). An inflatable balloon (24) having a predetermined fill volume is located at a distal end (30) of the catheter. The inflatable balloon (24) contains a fluid under pressure upon inflation to its predetermined fill volume and after inflation further containing a reserve volume of fluid that is less than the predetermined fill volume when the fluid is no longer under pressure. An inflation valve (46) is located on the base (36); the inflation valve (46) is in fluid communication with the balloon (24). A pre-biased pressure indicator (22) is in fluid communication with the balloon (24). The pre-biased pressure indicator (22) comprises a non-electrical indicator responsive only to pressure communicated from the balloon (24) crossing a predetermined threshold pressure and providing only a first discrete visual signal when the balloon (24) is inflated to its predetermined fill volume and a second discrete visual signal when the fluid in the retainer balloon (24) is no longer under pressure, with no signal of other inflation states therebetween. The second discrete visual signal provides warning that the retainer balloon volume has reached the reserve volume.