A system comprising a nasogastric tube comprising a feeding mechanism, a suction mechanism configured to sealingly draw an inner wall of an esophagus against said nasogastric tube, and a gastric decompression mechanism.

There is provided a computer-implemented method for calculating a gastric emptying rate from a stomach lumen into a small intestine of a patient, comprising: using at least one processor for executing the following during an enteral tube feeding of a stomach of the patient by a feeding mechanism: analyzing outputs of at least one stomach sensor located within the stomach for detecting a stop feeding condition; pausing the enteral tube feeding in response to a detection of the stop feeding condition; after a predefined period of time, restarting the enteral tube feeding until the stop condition is redetected by an analysis of said outputs; calculating a gastric emptying rate based on an amount of feeding content delivered during a period between the restarting and the redetection; and instructing the feeding mechanism to adapt a feeding rate of the enteral tube feeding according to the gastric emptying rate.

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.

Embodiments relate to guiding medical care based on detected gastric function. For example, gastric acid stimulant or suppressant is administered, and then a change in the gastric juice H+ concentration is measured. This change is compared to a guidance H+ concentration differential indicative of relatively healthy gastric function. Medical care is guided based on a relatively healthy gastric function if the measured H+ concentration differential is equal to or exceeds the guidance H+ concentration differential, while medical care is guided based on a relatively unhealthy gastric function if the measured H+ concentration differential is less than the guidance H+ concentration differential. Disclosed embodiments implementing this procedure include, but are not limited to, methods, apparatus, processors, computer programs, and computer-readable mediums.

Systems, apparatus, and methods for placing and/or confirming a location of an end of a nasogastric or an orogastric tube within a body cavity are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes an elongated tube and a position indicator. The elongated tube has a first end, a second end, and defines a lumen. The position indicator is coupled to the elongated tube and disposed sufficiently close to the first end such that, when the first end is properly disposed in the cavity of the patient, the position indicator is disposed in the cavity of the patient. The position indicator is configured to produce an indication perceivable outside of the patient that the position indicator is disposed in the cavity of the patient. The indication is an indication differentiable from a sound naturally generated by the cavity of the patient.

A gastric tube temperature sensing apparatus for use during gastric or surgical procedures on a patient includes a gastric tube, such as an NG or OG tube, having a proximal end opposite a distal end and defining a tubular configuration. The gastric tube includes a flexible construction and defines a plurality of spaced apart openings proximate the distal end. An esophageal temperature device includes a temperature sensor situated in the gastric tube proximate the distal end thereof and a temperature monitoring element operatively connected to and displaced from the temperature sensor. The temperature monitoring element is situated external from the gastric tube and in communication with the temperature sensor, such as by wires. The temperature monitoring element may be electrically connected to a vitals monitor or the like. The apparatus includes an adapter for coupling a proximal end of the gastric tube to another device such as a suction pump.

A method of preventing or suppressing a false alarm during administration of food or medicine to a human or animal through a feeding tube having one or more sensors that generate a signal, comprises analyzing the signals to determine whether food or medicine is being administered and, if it is determined that food or medicine is present, preventing or suppressing an alarm. In a further step, the time and length of administration of food or medicine is recorded. When the feeding tube has at least two temperature sensors, differences in the temperatures recorded for the different temperature sensors indicate that food or medicine was administered. In a case where there is only one temperature sensor, the rate and extent of any temperature change of temperatures recorded from that temperature sensor are compared to an algorithm to determine whether feeding occurred. If the feeding tube has two or more electrodes that sense a change in impedance (galvanic or non-galvanic), that change indicates whether food or medicine is being administered. The signals are analyzed by a processor, monitor, or controller that generates an alarm signal.

Embodiments relate to guiding medical care based on detected gastric function. For example, gastric acid stimulant or suppressant is administered, and then a change in the gastric juice H+ concentration is measured. This change is compared to a guidance H+ concentration differential indicative of relatively healthy gastric function. Medical care is guided based on a relatively healthy gastric function if the measured H+ concentration differential is equal to or exceeds the guidance H+ concentration differential, while medical care is guided based on a relatively unhealthy gastric function if the measured H+ concentration differential is less than the guidance H+ concentration differential. Disclosed embodiments implementing this procedure include, but are not limited to, methods, apparatus, processors, computer programs, and computer-readable mediums.

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.

The invention relates to a system for recording breathing efforts of a patient, which comprises a pressure determination device for determining a transpulmonary pressure at the point in time of the breathing effort of the patient. The invention moreover relates to a unit for recording the optimum filling volume of the balloon of an esophageal catheter.