A flow control apparatus adapted for a feeding set includes a housing capable of receiving at least a portion of the feeding set, a pumping device for acting on the feeding set to produce fluid flow in the feeding set for delivery of fluid. The apparatus has a sensor arranged with respect to the pumping device to produce a signal indicative of a rotational position of a rotor, and a control circuit in communication with the sensor and in communication with the pumping device. The control circuit controls operation of the motor at a first output to rotate the rotor to produce fluid flow in the feeding set and at a second output effectively less than the first output, the control circuit monitoring the sensor signal during operation of the motor at the second output to determine occlusion in the feeding set.

A FORS feeding tube system employing a feeding tube (30) for channeling a fluid flow from a proximal end and a distal end of the feeding tube (30), and further employing a FORS sensor (40) for generating sensing data informative of a shape reconstruction of a segment or an entirety of FORS sensor (40). The feeding tube (30) and the FORS sensor (40) are integrated to configure a FORS feeding tube (20), and the sensing data is further informative of a shape of a segment or an entirety of FORS feeding tube (20) derived from the integration of feeding tube (30) and FORS sensor (40). The FORS feed tube system may further employ a navigation controller to control a tracking of a positioning of a segment or an entirety of the FORS feeding tube (20) within an anatomical tract (e.g., a gastrointenstinal tract).

A feeding tube assembly comprising a feeding tube body and an optical system. The feeding tube body includes an administration lumen and an optical lumen. The optical lumen is isolated relative to the administration lumen, with the distal end opening corresponding to the distal opening of the administration lumen. The optical system includes an optical element and an end dispersion element. The optical element is positioned within the optical lumen and the first end of the optical element is attachable to a fiber optic line. The end dispersion element is positioned at the second end of the optical element and is structurally configured to disperse light transmitted through the optical element.

An in vivo placing tube having a positioning device is disclosed herein. It comprises a tube having an invasive end and a handheld end communicated with the invasive end; a field coil buried in the invasive end of the tube; and an induced circuit board having an induction coil and a warning element electrically connected to the induction coil.

Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for maintaining oral hydration. A device may include a perforated tube, covered by an outer cover made of an absorbent material. The tube may be shaped such that it allows a patient using the device to open and close his or her jaw, without displacement and also to allow other medical devices to be used on the patient simultaneously.

An apparatus for use in tube feeding has a cylindrical body provided with first and second openings connected by a flow channel. The body has a reagent, for determining a characteristic of fluid disposed in the body and a transparent window to view the reagent. In use, a first end of an internal feeding tube releasably engages with the first opening. The second, distal end of the feeding tube is disposed inside a patient. A second feeding tube engages with the second opening. The second feeding tube connects the apparatus to a bi-directional pump operable: to pump internal fluid from a reservoir, through the apparatus and into the internal feeding tube; and to pump fluid from the patient into the body of the apparatus. This allows a user to pump fluid from the patient into the body of the apparatus to react with the reagent.

A system and a method for an insertion device positioning guidance system comprising: an electromagnetic field generator configured to generate an electromagnetic field covering a treatment area; a plate sensor configured to be positioned within the treatment area in a location defining an orientation of a subject; a reference sensor configured to be positioned, within the treatment area, on the subject's torso, the reference sensor is configured to define a reference coordinate system representing the position and orientation of the subject's torso relative to said field generator; a registration sensor configured to mark at least a first and a second anatomic locations relative to the reference coordinate system; and a processor configured to operate said field generator, read signals obtained from said the plate sensor, said reference sensor and said registration sensor, calculate a position and orientation thereof relative to said field generator, generate a 3D anatomic map representing the torso of the subject and the first and second anatomic locations, said processor is further configured to facilitate visualization on the 3D anatomic map of a position, orientation and/or path of a tip sensor, located in a distal tip section of the insertion device, with respect to the first and second anatomic locations, independent of the subject's movement and independent of deviations in the position and/or orientation of said field generator, thus determination of a successful medical procedure is facilitated.

A percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy tube device includes an elongate tube extending between a first end and a second end. A flange is coupled to the elongate tube at the second end. A force sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a force applied to the flange. Systems including the percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy tube device are also disclosed.

A catheter assembly incorporating a pre-biased indicator, the assembly includes a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and catheter walls defining a catheter lumen. The assembly further includes a base located at the proximal end of the catheter, the base defining an opening to the catheter lumen, the base having a first end and a second end. An inflatable balloon having a predetermined fill volume is located at a distal end of the catheter. An inflation valve is located on the base; the inflation valve is in fluid communication with the balloon through an inflation lumen defined by the catheter walls. The pre-biased indicator located on the base in fluid communication with the balloon is configured to provide a discrete visual signal that the pressure of a fluid in the balloon is different from a predetermined level of pressure or the volume of the balloon is different from the predetermined fill volume.

A system and a method for an insertion device positioning guidance system comprising: an electromagnetic field generator configured to generate an electromagnetic field covering a treatment area; a plate sensor configured to be positioned within the treatment area in a location defining an orientation of a subject; a reference sensor configured to be positioned, within the treatment area, on the subject's torso, the reference sensor is configured to define a reference coordinate system representing the position and orientation of the subject's torso relative to said field generator; a registration sensor configured to mark at least a first and a second anatomic locations relative to the reference coordinate system; and a processor configured to operate said field generator, read signals obtained from said the plate sensor, said reference sensor and said registration sensor, calculate a position and orientation thereof relative to said field generator, generate a 3D anatomic map representing the torso of the subject and the first and second anatomic locations, said processor is further configured to facilitate visualization on the 3D anatomic map of a position, orientation and/or path of a tip sensor, located in a distal tip section of the insertion device, with respect to the first and second anatomic locations, independent of the subject's movement and independent of deviations in the position and/or orientation of said field generator, thus determination of a successful medical procedure is facilitated.