PROBE FOR ENTERAL NUTRITION

• US 20120123300A1
• Filed: 02/10/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sidam SRL
• Original Assignee: Sidam SRL
• Inventors: Azzolini, Graziano
• Granted Patent: US 8,864,688 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/593
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/037 Measuring oesophageal pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4238 stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6853 with a balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/12 Arrangements for detecting or locating foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0003 Nasal or oral feeding-tubes, e.g. tube entering body through nose or mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0049 Inflatable Balloons balloon catheters A61M25/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0073 Multi-lumen tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0084 for sensing parameters related to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0088 for sensing parameters related to the device
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0003 having an additional lumen transmitting fluid pressure to the outside for measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters

Abstract

A probe (1) for enteral nutrition includes a tubular element (2) of elongated shape and flexible, with a first extremity (2a) having a supply mouth (4) for the introduction of nutritional substances or the like and a second extremity (2b) positionable inside the stomach of a patient and having at least a dispensing hole (6) for dispensing the nutritional substances, the tubular element (2) having a main channel (7) of communication between the supply mouth (4) and the dispensing hole (6). The probe (1) includes at least a first and a second reading element (8, 9) for reading the pressure inside the digestive system of the patient at two distinct sections of the tubular element (2).

Claims

1-23. -23. (canceled)

24. Probe (1) for enteral nutrition, comprising at least a tubular element (2) of elongated shape and substantially flexible, with a first extremity (2a) having at least a supply mouth (4) for the introduction of nutritional substances or the like and a second extremity (2b) positionable inside the stomach of a patient and having at least a dispensing hole (6) for dispensing said nutritional substances, said tubular element (2) having at least a main communication channel (7) between said supply mouth (4) and said dispensing hole (6), wherein it comprises at least a first and a second reading element (8, 9) for reading the pressure inside the digestive system of the patient at two distinct sections of said tubular element (2).

25. Probe (1) according to claim 24, wherein at least one between said first and second reading element (8, 9) is associated with at least a monitoring unit (M) for monitoring the read pressure measurements.

26. Probe (1) according to claim 25, wherein it comprises at least a first auxiliary channel (10) of communication between said first reading element (8) and said monitoring unit (M).

27. Probe (1) according to claim 26, wherein it comprises at least a second auxiliary channel (15) of communication between said second reading element (9) and said monitoring unit (M).

28. Probe (1) according to claim 27, wherein said main channel (7), said first auxiliary channel (10) and said second auxiliary channel (15) are at least in part inside said tubular element (2).

29. Probe (1) according to claim 24, wherein at least one between said first and second reading elements (8, 9) comprises at least one balloon (8, 9) in elastic material.

30. Probe (1) according to claim 29, wherein said balloon (8, 9) is associable with at least a supply unit (A) of a fluid.

31. Probe (1) according to claim 30, wherein at least one between said first and second auxiliary channels (10, 15) is associable with said supply unit (A).

32. Probe (1) according to claim 31, wherein at least one between said first and second auxiliary channels (10, 15) comprises at least one connection element (13, 18) for the alternative connection to said monitoring unit (M) or to said supply unit (A).

33. Probe (1) according to claim 32, wherein said connection element (13, 18) is of the type of a tap that can be operated manually or the like.

34. Probe (1) according to claim 30, wherein said balloon (8, 9) comprises at least two openings substantially opposite one another, inside which a section of said tubular element (2) is fitted watertight.

35. Probe (1) according to claim 30, wherein, at said balloon (8, 9), said tubular element (2) has at least a communication hole (14a, 14b) for communicating with said first auxiliary channel (10) or said second auxiliary channel (15).

36. Probe (1) according to claim 26, wherein it comprises at least a connection element (22) between said tubular element (2) and at least an outer portion of said first auxiliary channel (10) or said second auxiliary channel (15).

37. Probe (1) according to claim 36, wherein said connection element (22) has a substantially tubular shape and is fitted to measure and watertight along a section of said tubular element (2).

38. Probe (1) according to claim 36, wherein said connection element (22) comprises at least one inner chamber (23, 24) positionable at at least a communication hole (14c, 14d) with a portion of said first auxiliary channel (10) or said second auxiliary channel (15) inside said tubular element (2), said chamber (23, 24) having at least an opening (23a, 24a) associable with at least an extremity of said outer portion of said first auxiliary channel (10) or of said second auxiliary channel (15).

39. Probe (1) according to claim 24, wherein it comprises marking means (19, 20, 21) for marking the position of said probe (1) made of radiopaque material and displayable by means of radiography.

40. Probe (1) according to claim 39, wherein said marker means (19, 20, 21) comprise at least a trace (19) in radiopaque material that extends longitudinally along at least a section of said tubular element (2).

41. Probe (1) according to claim 39, wherein said marker means (19, 20, 21) comprise at least a wrapping (20) in radiopaque material arranged in the proximity of the extremity of said balloon (8, 9).

42. Probe (1) according to claim 41, wherein said wrapping (20) is made in a single body with said balloon (8, 9).

43. Probe (1) according to claim 24, wherein it comprises a first connector (3) associated with said first extremity (2a) and having said supply mouth (4).

44. Probe (1) according to claim 43, wherein at least one between said first and second auxiliary channel (10. 15) comprises a second connector (11, 16) arranged upstream with respect to said connection element (13, 18) and associable with said supply unit (A) and a third connector (12, 17) arranged upstream of said connection element (13, 18) and associable with said monitoring unit (M).

45. Probe (1) according to claim 24, wherein said first reading element (8) is suitable for reading the oesophagal pressure of said patient.

46. Probe (1) according to claim 24, wherein said second reading element (9) is suitable for reading the gastric pressure of said patient.