FEEDING TUBE

Abstract

The invention relates to a feeding tube, comprising a shaft (2) which adjoins a tube head (1) and has at least two channels (3, 4), namely a food channel (3) and a fluid channel (4), said shaft carrying at its end a balloon (5) which is connected to the fluid channel (4) and is penetrated by the food channel (3), wherein the tube head (1) comprises supply connections (6, 7) for the channels (3, 4). with the supply connections being fitted with valves (8, 9). In order to provide advantageous constructive conditions, it is proposed that the tube head (1), which forms a tube part that is separate from the shaft (2) forms a plug-in coupling for the shaft (2), which shaft can be cut to length, for connecting the channels (3, 4) to the associated supply connections (6, 7).

Claims

1. A feeding tube, comprising a shaft (2) which adjoins a tube head (1) and has at least two channels (3, 4), namely a food channel (3) and a fluid channel (4), said shaft carrying at its end a balloon (5) which is connected to the fluid channel (4) and is penetrated by the food channel (3), wherein the tube head (1) comprises supply connections (6, 7) for the channels (3, 4), with the supply connections being fitted with valves (8, 9), wherein the tube head (1), which forms a tube part that is Separate from the shaft (2), forms a plug-in coupling for the shaft (2), which shaft can be cut to length, for connecting the channels (3, 4) to the associated supply connections (6, 7).

2. A feed tube, according to claim 1, wherein the plug-in coupling comprises coupling connectors (10) engaging in channels (3, 4) of the shaft (2).

3. A feed tube according to claim 2, wherein the coupling connectors (10), which protrude against the coupling end of the shaft (2) which is cut to length, comprise a tapering insertion end.

4. A feed tube according to claim 2, wherein the coupling end of the shaft (2) is enclosed by a securing sleeve (11).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0010] The subject matter of the invention is shown in the drawing by way of example, which shows a feed tube in accordance with the invention in a schematic longitudinal sectional view.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0011] The illustrated feed tube comprises a shaft 2 which is connected to a tube head 1 and forms two channels 3 and 4, namely a food channel 3 for supplying food and a fluid channel 4 for filling and discharging a balloon 5 provided at the end of the shaft 2. The two channels 3, 4 of the shaft 2 are provided with respective supply connections 6, 7. The supply connection 6 for the supply of food or medications is provided with a nonreturn valve 8 via which food preparations or medications can be introduced into the stomach via the food channel 3 which penetrates the balloon 5. The supply connection 7 for the fluid channel 4 comprises a valve 9 which is spring-loaded in the closing sense and via which the balloon 5 can be filled with a fluid such as water. A discharge of the balloon 5 is also possible via said valve 9.

[0012] In contrast to conventional feed tubes of this kind, the tube head 1 represents a tube part which is separate from the shaft 2, to which the shaft 2 can be connected after being cut to a predetermined length. For this purpose, the tube head 1 forms a plug-in coupling for the shaft 2. Said plug-in coupling could consist of a plug-in receptacle in the tube head 1 which is adapted to the outer circumference of the shaft 2. According to the illustrated embodiment, the tube head 1 forms coupling connectors 10 for the two channels 3, 4 of the shaft 2, which connectors protrude against the coupling end of the shaft 2 and which preferably engage in the shaft 2 by widening the channel walls, so that the shaft 2, with its coupling end, encloses the coupling connectors 10 of the tube head 1 with elastic pretension. For the purpose of securing the connection between the shaft 2 and the coupling connectors 10, the coupling end of the shaft 2 can additionally be enclosed by a securing sleeve 11.