The disclosure relates to a method for a non-invasive technique to analyze the fate of probiotics and commensal microbiota from the human upper gastrointestinal tract, namely the ileum. The invention further relates to methods for the enumeration and determination of mechanism of action of probiotics in a non-invasive manner from the end of the small intestine. A composition comprising a probiotic delivered in vivo to healthy individuals with an ileostomy bag is described.

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 and methods for biofilm inoculation including a feeding tube having a distal end for placement in the gut of a patient, and a biofilm coated or otherwise provided on the distal end of the feeding tube for introducing the biofilm to the gut of the patient. In example embodiments, the biofilm can be colostrum, breast milk or one or more probiotics.

A gastrojejunostomy tube may comprise a jejunal tube, gastric tube, and a balloon tube. The jejunal tube may comprise a port at a proximal end and an opening at a distal end. The gastric tube may comprise a port at a proximal end and an opening at a distal end. The gastric tube may be operably, fixedly coupled with the jejunal tube to form a tubular portion of the gastrojejunostomy tube. The balloon tube may comprise a port at a proximal end and a balloon at a distal end, and may be sized to dispose the balloon in the stomach of the target patient. The balloon tube may be selectably removable from the tubular portion of the gastrojejunostomy tube such that the tubular portion remains in the target patient and the balloon tube is removed from the target patient and replaced by another balloon tube.

Disclosed is a percutaneous transabdominal port that provides access to a hollow visceral organ. The percutaneous transabdominal port is hollow and has a channel connecting the external surface of the abdomen to the inside of an organ. A catheter or other instrument may pass through this channel into the organ. The percutaneous transabdominal port has a hollow tube which spans an abdominal wall tract, an internal retainer to prevent unintended removal, and an external retainer to prevent withdrawal into the body. If the internal retainer does not rely on inflation, the hollow tube may be cut to length. An optional seal prevents fluid leakage while permitting passage of catheters or instruments. An optional closure cap is described. A method of inserting, utilizing, and removing the percutaneous transabdominal port is described.

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 system for aiding placement of a nasogastric tube or a nasoduodenal tube and a method for using the same is disclosed, and the system comprises that of: a placing tube; a three-way connector, having a first port, a second port, and a third port, the first port being on the opposite end to the second port, the first port being adjacent to the third port, the first port being connected with a proximal end of the placing tube, the third port being adapted for pumping air or fluid into the three-way connector; an endoscope, having an insertion tube and an image-capturing device, the distal end of the insertion tube being a bending section, the image-capturing device being located in the front end of the bending section; and a display unit, connected with the endoscope.

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 gastrointestinal catheter for insertion into a treatment site in a patient, the treatment site including at least one of a first treatment site and a second treatment site, where the catheter includes at least one of a first and a second treatment member; the proximal portions of the first and second treatment members may be detachably or slidably conjoinable side by side; the distal portions of the first and second treatment members are separate from each other. The distal end of the first treatment member is configured for insertion into the first treatment site; the second treatment member is configured to be placed at a second treatment site. The distal end region of the first treatment member has an anchoring configuration adapted to anchor the distal end region within the first treatment site, the distal end region is further capable of elastically assuming a linear constrained configuration.

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.