A naso/orogastric device that comprises a naso/orogastric tube sized and shaped for being disposed within the esophagus so that at least a distal segment thereof being placed in the stomach lumen of a patient and at least one self expending element disposed around a peripheral surface of the naso/orogastric tube and having a first thickness in a compressed state and a second thickness in an expanded state, the at least one self expending element switching from the compressed state to the expanded state when absorbing moisture. The first thickness is thinner than the second thickness.

A system comprising: a nasogastric tube comprising: (a) a main lumen having one or more proximal connectors for connecting to a source of substances or pressure; (b) at least four vacuum lumens peripherally surrounding said main lumen; and (c) at least four suction ports for sealingly drawing an inner wall of an esophagus thereagainst, each of said at least four suction ports associated with a different one of said at least four vacuum lumens, wherein said at least four suction ports are distributed between at least two different locations along a longitudinal axis of said nasogastric tube.

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 device for collecting colostrum from a breast of a human and dispensing the colostrum to a newborn may include a colostrum collection member and a plunger. The colostrum collection member may include a funnel-shaped proximal portion with a wide, open end for facilitating collection of expressed colostrum, a narrow distal portion with a small-diameter opening for dispensing the expressed colostrum to the newborn, and a cylindrical barrel portion between the funnel-shaped proximal portion and the narrow distal portion. The plunger is configured for advancement through the wide, open end and the barrel portion of the collection member to force the colostrum out of the small-diameter opening.

A nasogastric tube (10) including a main lumen (12) having one or more proximal connectors (14) for connecting to a source of substances or pressure, and one or more vacuum lumens (16) peripherally surrounding the main lumen (12), each vacuum lumen (16) including a vacuum sealing portion (24), which includes one or more suction ports (26) for sealingly drawing an inner wall of an esophagus thereagainst.

Tube holding assemblies and methods for using and making the same are provided, including an assembly for holding a nasogastric tube to a patient's head while also being adjustable along a track that may be positioned underneath the patient's nose but above the patient's mouth and about an axis of rotation.

A feeding tube position confirmation device 102, operable to confirm the position of a predetermined portion of a medical feeding tube in a predetermined portion of a human or animal body, the position confirmation device comprising an optical waveguide 106 dimensioned to be insertable into the lumen of the feeding tube, the optical waveguide having a sensing distal end 108 comprising a distal end material and a sensing material mixed with the distal end material, the sensing material operable to provide a change in optical properties at the distal end 110 of the optical waveguide dependent on the environment to which the sensing distal end 108 of the waveguide is exposed. The sensing material may comprise a reflective material. Methods of manufacture and use of such devices are also described.

Methods and apparatus for accessing and monitoring the gastrointestinal tract are described herein. One variation of a feeding tube system may generally comprise a gastric access device having a length, a controller in communication with the gastric access device, and one or more impedance or conductivity sensors positioned along the length and one or more temperature sensors positioned along the length. The controller may be configured to receive a first signal associated with the impedance or conductivity sensors and a second signal associated with respiration and determine whether a placement of the gastric access device is within a stomach of the subject.

A protective vest device that will adequately secure an infant from the ability to self-dislodge medical life-sustaining supply lines or equipment, while also supporting proper body alignment. The protective device mitigates self-dislodgement while allowing for free movement and proper alignment of infants arms and hands and which are allowed to touch one another, thereby not inhibiting the ability to explore and expand brain development through tactile stimulation and therefore fostering healthy neuronal pathways of the infant. The fostering healthy neuronal pathways is provided by, for example, allowing the hands to touch one another as the infant develops a sense of where it is in space and time as it continues to grow outside of the womb. By maintaining proper body alignment of infant in the device and the configuration of the device, the device supports healthy musculoskeletal development with a stretchy womb like material to mimic the spring back effect of the uterine wall when a fetus pushes against a uterus.

A medical tube position confirmation system for confirming the position of a medical tube that is used to supply nutrients to the interior of a body by means of tube feeding while an end portion thereof is inserted into (placed in) the stomach includes a light guide that is configured to guide light entering through an incident end portion so that the light exits through an exit end portion, and is configured to be insertable into the medical tube so that the exit end portion is disposed in the interior of the stomach, and a light source for emitting light including a wavelength passing through a living body, the light source being optically connected to the incident end of the light guide so that the light enters the light guide, and a scattering part optically connected to the light guide on the exit end portion of the light guide so as to scatter light emitted by the light guide.