An appliance (1) for enteral nutrition by means of a probe of the type comprising a tubular element of elongated shape and substantially flexible which defines a feeding channel open at the extremities for the introduction of nutritional substances in the stomach of a patient and which comprises at least a first inflatable balloon for detecting the pressure inside the oesophagus of a patient, the tubular element comprising at least a first inlet/outlet mouth for the air in/from the first balloon, the appliance (1) further comprising: at least a pneumatic circuit (3) having pumping means (4) associable at least with the first inlet/outlet mouth for inflating/deflating the first balloon; processing means (8) comprising: detection means which can be connected to the first balloon to detect the patient's oesophageal pressure (p.sub.es); reading means of the pressure of the respiratory tract (p.sub.aw) which can be connected to an external detection device; calculation means operatively connected to the detection means and to the reading means and able to calculate at least the transpulmonary pressure (p.sub.tp); graphic display means (10) operatively connected to the processing means (8) and able to display at least one of the oesophageal pressure (p.sub.es), the pressure of the respiratory tract (p.sub.aw) and the transpulmonary pressure (p.sub.tp).

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 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.

A gastric drainage device includes a tube with a drainage lumen and a hub to receive an inflation device. The tube includes an intragastric portion having a set of holes to permit gastrointestinal contents to pass from a stomach cavity into the drainage lumen. The gastric drainage device includes a bolster with a cylindrical port to receive the tube and a disc to hold the tube in place on a skin side of a gastrostomy site. The gastric drainage device includes a balloon formed around the intragastric portion of the tube, wherein the balloon and the intragastric portion of the tube may be passed through the gastrostomy site into the stomach cavity while the balloon is deflated. Accordingly, the balloon is inflatable within the stomach cavity using the inflation device to secure the gastric drainage device at the gastrostomy site while the gastrointestinal contents are drained from the stomach cavity.

A heated patient tube assembly that carries and gradually warms fluids to a desired temperature and maintains the desired temperature until the fluids are delivered to a patient includes an elongated hollow tube; a heating assembly at least partially embedded within the tube for heating the tube and fluids carried in the tube; and a control assembly for controlling the heating assembly such that the fluids exit the tube at a desired and consistent temperature.

A nasogastric tube comprising at least one main lumen and at least one vacuum lumen comprising at least one suction port for sealingly drawing an inner wall of an esophagus thereagainst, said at least one suction port has a unique concave structure which substantially prevents tissue damage is provided.

A long, thin, flexible medical apparatus, a kit, and a method placing, confirming, and visualizing placement of a gastric tube. The apparatus comprises an elongate body portion, a handle, and a distal tip portion. An ability to insert and remove the body and distal tip portions in relation to the gastric tube over the length of the long, thin, flexible structure provides a positive indication that the lumen is not blocked, obstructed, or otherwise compromised over that length. pH indicator sensors and, additionally or alternatively, radiopaque markers may be retained by the distal tip portion. The pH sensors exhibit a verifiable color change in response to contact with a predetermined subject fluid. The radiopaque markers enable a determination with certainty of the location and orientation of the distal tip portion of the apparatus and of the distal portion of a gastric tube in which the apparatus is disposed.

The stomach tube is a transparent conduit in the form of a plastic tube which is equipped with an optical fibre with illuminating external surface. Its internal end is placed in the section of the stomach tube for insertion in the patient's stomach. An external end for connection with a light source is provided outside the stomach tube in the section of the stomach tube remaining outside the patient's body. The conduit of the stomach tube in its interior includes a first channel which is a transport channel, and a second channel in which the optical fibre is located. The stomach tube is intended for use in bariatric surgery procedures, and in particular in the sleeve gastrectomy procedure.

A long, thin, flexible medical apparatus, a kit including such an apparatus, and a method for employing the apparatus to assist in placing a distal portion of a lumen of a gastric tube in a stomach of a mammal. The apparatus comprises an elongate body portion, a handle portion fixed to a proximal end of the body portion, and a distal tip portion fixed to a distal end of the body portion. An ability to insert the body and distal tip portions into the gastric tube over the length of the long, thin, flexible structure provides a positive indication that the lumen is not blocked, obstructed, or otherwise compromised over that length. pH indicator sensors may be retained by the distal tip portion to exhibit a verifiable color change in response to contact with a predetermined subject fluid, such as gastric fluid, lung fluid, or another bodily fluid.

Embodiments generally relate to a device for monitoring air pressure in the body of a patient. The device comprises a tube comprising a feeding lumen; a sensor lumen positioned parallel to the feeding lumen; at least one sensor positioned in the sensor lumen; and at least one perforation positioned to expose the at least one sensor to an air pressure within the body of a patient when the device is positioned at least partially in the airway of the patient. The at least one sensor is configured to generate data related to the pressure to which the sensor has been exposed.