Methods and apparatus for guiding medical care based on sensor data from the gastrointestinal tract are described utilizing an apparatus which can be used with enteral feeding. Generally, the apparatus includes an elongated body having a length configured for insertion into a stomach and at least one pair of electrodes located along the length of the elongated body and positionable for placement within the stomach. A controller in electrical communication with the at least one pair of electrodes is included and the control may also be configured to measure a conductivity or impedance between the pair of electrodes and to determine a gastric residual volume of the stomach based on the measured conductivity or impedance.

An enteral feeding tube capable of delivering nutrients and/or medications to a patient at multiple points in the gastrointestinal tract and/or aspirating the gastrointestinal tract, comprising two or more channels each with at least one opening, said channels running parallel to the other until one channel ends, each channel keeping the fluid separated from the other channel, said channels being open at the proximal end and closed or open at the distal end and each channel having one or more perforations of same or variable size.

A systems and methods for determining a position of a medical tube within a patient is provided. In one example, systems and methods are provided for a self- detection positioning system that is capable of determining a location of a distal end of a medical tube placed within a patient, and notifying a physician of the location of the distal end of the medical tube.

A nasogastric tube is provided, and includes an adapter and an extension in order to construct a first path and a second path that are separated from each other. The extension is constructed as a single tube body with a front end disposed on the adapter, the extension has a first passage and a second passage that are separated from each other. The adapter includes a first connection port and a second connection port respectively connected to the first passage and the second passage. The extension has a first opening connected to the first passage, a portion of the extension where the first opening exists is configured to define a working portion, the working portion is configured to be positioned only in the hypopharynx, and the working portion is ranged from 0.1 cm to 3 cm in an elongated direction of the extension.

An apparatus for coupling radiation into and out of an optical fiber includes an optical element, a radiation system and a sensor system. The optical element is for coupling radiation into and out of the optical fiber. The radiation system produces input radiation, so that the input radiation is at least partially received by the optical element. The sensor system is for receiving output radiation from the optical element and operates to generate a signal indicative of at least one characteristic of the output radiation. The optical element, the radiation system and the sensor system are generally co-axial and the radiation system and the sensor system are both disposed on the same side of the optical element.

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 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 enternal 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.

A speaking valve adaptor is disclosed for assisting with speech or language expression during the respiratory recovery of a human. The speaking valve adaptor including a speaking valve port, the port being orthogonal to a first interface port, the first interface port adapted to support tracheostomy or endotracheal tubing, a second interface port adapted to support at least one of a suction tubing and a bronchoscopy tubing, and a third interface port adapted to support a connection to a ventilator. The speaking valve adaptor may be used by the patient for introduction of at least one of sounds and words while connected to the ventilator. A corresponding respiratory management system which implements the speaking valve adaptor and configurable ventilator settings adapted for assisting with more effective speech or language expression during patient recovery or use is also disclosed.

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.

A catheter suitable for delivering an electric current to the body, in particular a catheter having electrodes that can be positioned independently of the main elongate shaft of the catheter. More particularly the catheters include a movable sleeve that incorporates the electrodes. A movable sleeve includes one or more electrodes and advances in the construction of the electrodes and related components is disclosed. Methods for positioning electrodes at a treatment site in the body for diagnostic or therapeutic applications, particularly electrical pharyngeal stimulation are also disclosed.

The invention is related to a feeding tube (1, 11, 15) in particular for total parental nutrition and/or medicine dosing including at least one inner tubing (9), at least one lumen (2, 13), at least one sensing element, in particular an electrode (3), the sensing element being connected to at least one monitoring device by a wiring (4, 12, 17) for internal monitoring of a patient's vital functions. The wiring (4, 12, 17) is at least partially wounded in tight contact with a surface of the inner tubing (9). Wherein the inner tubing (9) is at least partially surrounded by an outer tubing (8) in order to cover the inner tubing (9) and/or the wiring (4, 12, 17).