Method for ascertaining and setting a filling volume of a balloon of a catheter, which is placed in the esophagus of a living being, wherein the balloon is filled and/or emptied using a fluid. According to the invention, the balloon is filled and/or emptied step-by-step using at least two volume steps, a pressure difference between a pressure at the end of an expiration (Pmin) and a pressure at the end of an inspiration (Pmax) is determined for at least two volume steps, a relative pressure difference between Pmin and Pmax is determined, a border range is defined on the basis of the relative pressure difference, and an optimum filling volume is ascertained in consideration of the border range.

There is provided feeding tubes including an electromagnetic sensor including a sensor body comprising a core positioned at a distal end of the sensor lumen, and a wire extending along the length of the feeding tube, wherein an RF induced heating of the feeding tube in an MRI environment is below 5 degrees.

A device and method for verifying the proper position of catheters in the body by means of acoustic reflectometry, the device including a sound source, one or more sound receivers, a tube with compliant walls and open distal end to be introduced through an entrance to a body cavity, the sound source and receiver(s) coupled to the proximal end of the tube, a processor for causing the sound source to generate an acoustic excitation signal, the processor processing the acoustic signals sensed by the sound receiver(s) and generating an approximation of the acoustic impulse response of the tube, and the processor analyzing the acoustic impulse response to determine the position of the tube in the body cavity.

An enteral feeding tube includes a tube body particularly adapted or configured to resist kinking and clogging. That tube body is characterized by a particular equation.

A feeding tube device for postpyloric feeding that comprises a bendable feeding tube having a proximal end, a central portion and, and a distal end and a delivery lumen therealong for conducting a digestible substance therethrough, an imaging unit having an image sensor mounted on a tip of the distal end to image an imaging space thereinfront, and a tilting mechanism for tilting the distal end in relation to the central portion. The distal end has at least one lateral tilt and feeding opening therealong for delivering the digestible substance therethrough, the at least one lateral tilt and feeding opening are laid out so that when the tilting mechanism tilts the distal end the at least one lateral tilt and feeding opening narrows.

Disclosed is a system and method for the placement of elongate medical members within a patient’s body using coaptive ultrasound that combines magnetic guidance with ultrasound visualization of the medical member in the patient’s body. A coaptive ultrasound probe adaptor magnetically attracts an elongate medical member within the patient with sufficient force so as to allow the operator to manually guide the member to its intended location. The adaptor mates with an ultrasound probe to provide the medical operator ultrasound feedback of the position of the member, thus allowing internal placement without the need for more specialized medical equipment.

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.

A device and method for verifying the proper position of catheters in the body by means of acoustic reflectometry, the device including a sound source, one or more sound receivers, a tube with compliant walls and open distal end to be introduced through an entrance to a body cavity, the sound source and receiver(s) coupled to the proximal end of the tube, a processor for causing the sound source to generate an acoustic excitation signal, the processor processing the acoustic signals sensed by the sound receiver(s) and generating an approximation of the acoustic impulse response of the tube, and the processor analyzing the acoustic impulse response to determine the position of the tube in the body cavity.

A catheter device according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a tube to be inserted into a body; a light emitting unit, which is provided on a distal end side of the tube, and includes an infrared light emitting element configured to emit infrared light for verifying a position of the tube; a power supply line configured to supply electric power to the infrared light emitting element; and a conduction detection unit including a visible light emitting element configured to notify a conduction state between the power supply line and the infrared light emitting element by means of visible light. With the catheter device, operation of the light emitting unit can be visually checked before inserting the tube.

A flow control apparatus adapted to receive a feeding set includes a housing capable of receiving at least a portion of the feeding set. A pumping device is supported by the housing and positioned to contact the feeding set when the feeding set is received by the housing so the pumping device acts on the feeding set to produce fluid flow in the feeding set for delivery of fluid to a subject. An ultrasonic sensor is supported by the housing and arranged with respect to the pumping device to produce a sensor signal indicative of a viscosity of the fluid delivered through the feeding set. A control circuit is in communication with the ultrasonic sensor for receiving the sensor signal from the sensor indicative of the viscosity of the fluid and in communication with the pumping device to control operation thereof.