Enteral feeding apparatus and method

• US 4,381,011 A
• Filed: 05/04/1981
• Issued: 04/26/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Somers, 3rd, Lewis S.
• Original Assignee: Somers, 3rd, Lewis S.
• Inventors: Somers, 3rd, Lewis S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US06/260,332
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 128/635, 128/213 R, 128/222, 128/223, 128/348, 128/780, 128/207.18
• US Class Current: 600/350
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/42 Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the gastrointestinal, the endocrine or the exocrine systems A61B1/00, A61B5/4857, A61B5/486, A61B5/4866, A61B5/4869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0003 Nasal or oral feeding-tubes, e.g. tube entering body through nose or mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0073 Multi-lumen tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0088 for sensing parameters related to the device

Abstract

An improved system and method for enteric feeding of fluid material into a preselected portion of the gastro-intestinal tract of a patient is disclosed. The system comprises an elongated flexible tube with a pH measuring device positioned thereon, a monitoring device capable of processing pH signals to determine the position of the tube, and fluid feed control.

Claims

1. A system for introducing fluid material into a preselected area of the gastro-intestinal tract of a patient, and characterized by:

an elongated flexible tube, said tube having a substantially axial lumen through which fluid can flow, a proximal end and a distal end, and having perforations therethrough along a preselected portion of the distal end of said tube, said perforations communicating from said lumen to the outside of said tube;

means for introducing said fluid into said elongated flexible tube;

pH measuring means positioned on said tube proximate to said distal end, for generating a signal representative of the pH of the body fluid adjacent to said distal end; and

position means operatively connected to said pH measuring means for monitoring said adjacent pH signed and for determining the position of said distal end as a function of said monitored pH.

2. The system as described in claim 1 wherein said pH measuring means is positioned proximate to said perforations.

3. The system as described in claim 1 wherein said pH measuring means is positioned at a preselectd distance remote from said perforations.

4. The system described in claim 1, wherein said means for introducing fluid material into said tube is positioned at the proximal end thereof.

5. The system as described in claim 4, wherein said means for introducing comprises a controlled pump and control means for controlling the operation of said pump as a function of said position determination.

6. The system as described in claim 5, wherein said control means comprises means for turning off said pump upon a determination by said position means that said distal end is positioned outside of a predetermined position.

7. A system for introducing a fluid into the duodenum of a patient comprising:

an elongated flexible tube having a proximal end and a distal end, said tube having a lumen therethrough for passing said fluid to about said distal end;

port means at about the distal end of said tube for passing fluid through to the outside of said tube;

pH measuring means integrally mounted at about the distal end of said tube for generating a pH signal representative of the pH of the body fluid in the area of said distal end;

conductor means for providing electrical conduction between said pH measuring means and the proximal end of said tube;

means connected to said conductor means at about the proximal end of said tube for receiving said pH signal and for providing therefrom an indication of the position of the distal end of said tube relative to the patient'"'"'s duodenum; and

means for introducing fluid into said tube at about the proximal end thereof.

8. A system for enteric feeding into the duodenum of a patient comprising:

an elongated flexible tube having proximal and distal ends, said tube having a substantially axial lumen therethrough for passing fluid material, and perforations formed along the distal end of said tube for passing said fluid material through to the duodenum of a patient;

an electrode integrally mounted to about the distal end of said tube and capable of measuring the pH of the body fluid adjacent to said electrode;

conductor means for transmitting a signal from said electrode to an external pH monitoring device;

a pH monitoring device connected to said conductor means at about the proximal end of said tube, and comprising a pH meter and means for comparing a value from said pH meter to a preselected limit to determine the position of the distal end as a function of pH;

means for introducing fluid material into the proximal end of said tube;

control means for generating a signal based upon the position determination; and

means for terminating the introduction of fluid material into said proximal end of said tube upon the receipt of a signal from said control means, said signal indicating said tube is out of said duodenum.

9. The system of claim 8 in which said means for terminating the introduction of said fluid material is engaged upon receipt of two processed pH signals wherein the ratio of a first pH signal to a second pH signal is within a range of from about 2 to 12.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said terminating means is a clamp.

11. A method for introducing a fluid into a patient'"'"'s duodenum, said method utilizing an elongated flexible tube having means for communicating fluid from a proximal end to and out of a distal end thereof, having a sensor means for sensing pH in the area of said distal end, and providing a signal representative of sensed pH at about said proximal end, the method comprising:

passing said tube through the gastrointestinal tract of said patient until said distal end is positioned in the patient'"'"'s duodenum;

sensing a pH signal with said sensor means in the area of said distal end;

monitoring the pH in the area of the distal end of said tube by comparing said sensed pH signal with a reference value;

determining when said distal end is and is not in said duodenum on the basis of said comparing; and

introducing said fluid through said tube into said duodenum upon a determination that said distal end is in said duodenum.

12. The method of claim 11 comprising the steps of normally introducing fluid material through said tube for release into said duodenum, and inhibiting said fluid introduction upon a determination that said distal end is not in said duodenum.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said inhibiting comprises automatically stopping introduction of said fluid material when said pH comparison indicates that said distal end is outside of said duodenum.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising the further steps of re-positioning said distal end within said duodenum upon said distal end becoming dislodged from said duodenum, and reintroducing said fluid material after said re-positioning.

15. A system for introducing a fluid into the duodenum of a patient comprising:

an elongated flexible tube having proximal and distal ends, said tube having a lumen therethrough for passing said fluid to about said distal end;

port means at about said distal end for passing fluid through to the outside of said tube;

pH measuring means integrally mounted on said tube proximal to said port means for generating a pH signal representative of the pH of the body fluid in the area of said port means;

conductor means for providing electrical conduction between said pH measuring means and the proximal end of said tube;

means connected to said conductor means at about the proximal end of said tube for receiving said pH signal and for providing therefrom an indication of the position of said pH measuring means; and

means for introducing fluid into said tube at about the proximal end thereof.