Nutritional formulas comprising long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) are provided, along with methods and devices for preparing and/or administering nutritional formulas. In some embodiments, a percentage of the LC-PUFAs in the nutritional formula are in the form of monogiycerides and/or free fatty acids. In some embodiments, the nutritional formulas do not comprise added lipase. Also provided are methods for providing nutrition to a subject, methods for improving fat absorption, methods for improving cognitive ability, methods for preventing chronic lung disease, and methods for reducing the length of time a patient requires total parenteral nutrition.

An NG feeding tube tip (50) is disclosed, which has a main body portion that fits to the end of an NG or OG feeding tube (20). The main body has a hollow interior that is in fluid communication with the bore of the NG or OG tube (20); and an aperture (56) in a sidewall through which feed can be given to a patient, and through which a sample of stomach content can be aspirated. The tip (50) is characterised by the outer wall of the main body comprising a recess or groove (60, 62, 80), which intersects the aperture (56), and which extends at least partially around the exterior surface of the main body. The recess or groove (60, 62, 80) prevents or inhibits an aperture-occluding seal between the stomach wall (30) and the NG or OG tube tip being formed, especially when a vacuum is applied to the NG or OG tube (20) during an aspiration procedure.

A system (100) for artificially feeding a patient, comprising: a pressure sensor (114) fluidly connectable to an inflatable balloon (B) via a first lumen of a balloon catheter (130); a controller (110) operatively connected to the pressure sensor (114) for obtaining the measured pressure values; a food pump (112) fluidly connectable to a second lumen of the balloon catheter having at lea st one opening (132) for providing food; the controller (110) operatively connected to the food pump (112) for driving the food pump at a configurable flow rate; wherein the controller (110) contains computer executable instructions comprising: first code fragments for performing a first algorithm (1300) for extracting gastric motility information from the measured pressure values, and second code fragments for performing a second algorithm for dynamically adjusting (708) said flow rate based on said extracted gastric motility information.

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.

Systems, apparatus, and methods for placing an elongated tube within a patient's body are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes an elongated tube, a magnetic tip, and an inflatable member. The elongated tube can have a first end and a second end, and can define a first lumen and a second lumen. The first lumen can extend from the first end to the second end. The magnetic tip can be coupled to the first end of the elongated tube. The magnetic tip can be tapered toward a distal end of the magnetic tip. An inflatable member can be disposed within the elongated tube proximal of the tapered magnetic tip and fluidically coupled to the second lumen such that the inflatable member can receive fluid via the second lumen.

A laryngeal mask apparatus includes a mask portion, a breathing tube and a suction tube. The suction tube is adapted for connection to a suction-producing device. The suction tube further includes suction ports that suck fluids and secretions from the patient's hypopharyngeal region when suction is created within the interior of the suction tube. The breathing tube is adapted for connection to a ventilating system. Air flows through the breathing tube and into the mask portion. A capillary tube is positioned within the interior of the suction tube. When the mask portion is positioned within a patient's throat and suction is created within interior of the suction tube, the suction ports suck the fluids and secretions in the patient's hypopharyngeal region. At the same time, the suction tube and capillary tube cooperate to provide a stream of air that decreases the direct suction forces on the mucosa of the patient's throat that are caused by the suction ports. The laryngeal mask apparatus includes a scope tube having an interior and an inner tube disposed within the interior of the scope tube. The inner tube is sized for receiving a gastric tube.

The invention discloses a multi-tube body adapter which is connected to a plurality of outer tubes for application to a digestive system and a respiratory system of a human body. The multi-tube body adapter includes a housing to form an accommodating space of the multi-chamber. The plurality of chambers is not in communication with each other. One end of the plurality of chambers respectively provides a connection port and the other end of the plurality of chambers is commonly connected to an extension having a plurality of openings. By connecting with the chamber, the connection port and the opening, a supply path for separately providing the supply path of the respiratory system and the digestive system can be formed.

Tube tip detection systems, enteral tubes, and methods for detecting tube misplacement in a patient's airway are provided. For example, a tube tip detection system comprises an enteral tube having a tip, a first sensing component disposed at the tip, and a feedback display. Feedback from the first sensing component is displayed on the feedback display to indicate to a user of the tube tip detection system whether the tip is misplaced in a patient's airway. Similarly, an enteral tube comprises a tip, a length, and a sensing component. The sensing component is a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) infrared carbon dioxide sensor. Further, a detection method comprises embedding a carbon dioxide sensing component into an enteral tube, inserting the enteral tube into the patient through the patient's nose or mouth, and monitoring feedback from the carbon dioxide sensing component to determine if the enteral tube is traveling into the patient's airway.

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.

A fluid delivery device and system is operable to fluidly couple a pair of fluid delivery conduits. One embodiment includes a fluid delivery device sized to meet ANSI/AAMI ID54:1996(R) 2005 and not mate with ANSI/HIMA MD70.1 or ISO 594/1 and ISO 594/2 standards for intravenous ports and connectors to prevent accidental intravenous delivery of fluids intended for enteral delivery. The system includes at least one of a locking tab and a stop flange configured to not mate with matching connectors not configured to satisfy the enteral feeding standards and not specifically configured to mate with the fluid delivery device.