The present invention includes an indwelling tube having a plurality of projections extending outwardly from an exterior surface of the tube and a retention member designed to receive the tube. The retention member includes a projection passage to enable the retention member to receive and pass projections through the passage when the projection and passage are aligned so that the retention member can slide axially along the tube. When the projections and passage are out of alignment, the retention member can be secured between two projections. The present invention enables accurate placement of the retention member along the tube to aid in securing the tube at a desired depth in a patient's body. In a certain embodiment, the retention member may include a locking passage to receive and temporarily secure a projection to the retention member.

Devices for inducing satiety in enterally fed patients are provided. In one aspect, an enteral feeding device is provided that includes a catheter tube and an expandable bladder secured to a distal end of the catheter tube. The expandable bladder is positionable within a body lumen of a patient for receiving and dispensing nutrients to the patient. In another aspect, a satiety-inducing device for continuously dispensing nutrients to a patient is provided that includes an enteral feeding tube and an expandable bladder secured to the feeding tube near a distal end of the feeding tube such that the expandable bladder is positionable within a body lumen of the patient. The expandable bladder expands upon receipt of nutrients to occupy a volume of the body lumen and contracts as nutrients are continuously dispensed to the patient.

A method and apparatus for determining gastric content volume. The internal temperature of the contents of the stomach is measured at least one predetermined time t after the patient is fed, and the gastric volume determined from the temperature. In preferred embodiments, a known volume of water at a known temperature is injected into the stomach, and the temperature of the stomach contents is measured after the stomach temperature has stabilized. An apparatus for performing the method, in which continuous measurement is possible without disturbing the patient's feeding schedule, and a method for using the inventive method in the control of an automatic feeding apparatus, are also disclosed.

Gastrostomy tubes and systems and methods for implanting them are provided. In one example, the gastrostomy tube includes an elongate tubular member including a first end sized for introduction into the patient's mouth, a second end including an expandable member or other bumper, and a feeding lumen extending between the first and second ends. A bolster is connectable around the first end after the first end has been directed from within the patient's stomach through intervening tissue and extends from the patient's skin and the bumper is placed against the wall of the stomach. An adapter is connectable to the bolster after the first end and excess material of the tubular member beyond the bolster has been separated, the adapter including a connector for removably connecting to a feeding tube.

An enteral feeding tubing connector comprises a body, a bore extending through the body, and a collet slidably disposed in the bore at a first end of the body. The collet is dimensioned to receive and engage a portion of tubing inserted into the collet, and is configured to resist withdrawal of the tubing from the bore and body upon application of force to the tubing that moves the collet out of the bore. A lock is provided on the first end of the body, and is configured to selectively engage the collet and prevent movement of the collet outward relative to the body. A tubing connection is provided at a second, opposite end of the body, the tubing connection providing fluid communication between another portion of tubing, the bore extending through the body, and the portion of tubing inserted into the collet.

There is provided herein a system and a method for guiding insertion of a gastroenteral tube including: an electromagnetic field generator configured to generate an electromagnetic field covering a treatment area; wherein said electromagnetic field generator is external to the patient; a registration sensor configured to mark anatomic locations on the patient's torso; a gastroenteral tube comprising a tip sensor configured to sense its position and/or orientation relative to the electromagnetic field generator; and a processing circuitry configured to: calculate an orientation of the subject relative to the field generator based on the anatomic locations marked by the registration sensor, load a predefined anatomic map representing a torso; aligning the map based on the anatomic locations marked by the registration sensor, and showing on the map a path of the gastroenteral tube insertion; wherein the path is generated according to changes in the strength of the electromagnetic field sensed by the tip sensor's during the insertion of the gastroenteral tube, independent of the subject's movement and independent of deviations in the position and/or orientation of said field generator.

A gastric jejunal (GJ) feeding tube device for GJ feeding of an infant or child is provided. The device comprises a GJ button comprising a GJ button body, a gastric port, a jejunal port, a gastric channel, and a jejunal channel. The device also comprises a multi-lumen tube comprising a multi-lumen tube body, a multi-lumen tube proximal end, and a multi-lumen tube distal end. The device also comprises a jejunal tube comprising a jejunal tube body, a jejunal tube proximal end, a jejunal tube distal end, a spring, and a ring. The spring provides a kink-resistant feature. The ring is positioned at the jejunal tube proximal end. The jejunal tube and the GJ button are operatively connected at the ring and the mating surface by radial compression. The ring has a higher durometer than the jejunal tube body and an outer diameter that does not substantially decrease distally.

A PEG tube having a new internal bumper design is provided that prevents, or at least reduces the chances of, unintended dislodgement of the PEG tube. The internal bumper is disposed on a proximal end of the tubing of the PEG tube and is in a first, placed state when the PEG tube is in a feeding position inside of a patient. In the first, placed state, the internal bumper is a substantially solid structure having a preselected shape and a preselected maximum outer diameter or width. Initiation of a removal process converts the internal bumper from the first, placed state to a second, removal state in which the internal bumper is a generally elongated structure that has an outer diameter or width that is smaller than the maximum outer diameter or width. The smaller diameter or width of the generally elongated structure facilitates withdrawal of the generally elongated structure through the tract in the patient's stomach.

An enteral feeding connector facilitates an increased flow rate into and through the connector to accommodate feeding fluids requiring higher flow rates for delivery. The connector includes a male connector portion including an inlet, a fluid passage in fluid communication with the inlet, and at least one connector projection at the inlet. The connector projection defines a cross-sectional area of the inlet configured to facilitate delivering feeding fluid requiring higher flow rates through the connector.

There is provided a system for managing reflux during an enteral feeding, comprising: (i) a non-transitory memory having stored thereon a code for execution by at least one hardware processor of a computing device, the code comprising: code for receiving electrical signals outputted by at least one reflux event sensor disposed within a digestive system of a patient; code for determining a gastric reflux event based on an analysis of the electrical signals; code for outputting instructions to pause enteral feeding of the patient by a feeding controller that regulates enteral feeding of the patient using an enteral feeding tube positioned within the digestive system of the patient; and (ii) an evacuation controller that directs back-flow of digestive contents from the digestive system of the patient to an external evacuation reservoir through an evacuation tube.